(Source: CN press release, July 20, 2015)
MONTREAL — CN reported its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.
Second-quarter 2015 financial highlights:
• Net income was C$886 million, or C$1.10 per diluted share, compared with net income of C$847 million, or C$1.03 per diluted share, for second-quarter 2014. The Q2-2015 results included a deferred income tax expense of C$42 million (C$0.05 per diluted share) resulting from the enactment of a higher provincial corporate income tax rate.
• Excluding the deferred income tax expense, Q2-2015 adjusted diluted EPS increased 12 per cent to C$1.15 from year-earlier diluted EPS of C$1.03. (1)
• Q2-2015 operating income increased eight per cent to C$1,362 million.
• Second-quarter 2015 revenues were flat at C$3,125 million, carloadings decreased by three per cent, and revenue ton-miles declined by seven per cent.
• CN’s operating ratio for Q2-2015 improved by 3.2 points to 56.4 per cent from 59.6 per cent the year before.
• Free cash flow for the first six months of 2015 was C$1,051 million, compared with C$1,270 million for the year-earlier period. (1)
Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer, said: “I’m proud of our very solid second-quarter results, driven by the team’s swift action to recalibrate resources and double-down on efficiency, while continuing to improve customer service.
“CN is pleased to reaffirm its outlook for double-digit adjusted EPS growth in 2015 versus last year’s adjusted diluted EPS of C$3.76 despite volume growth that remains constrained by weakness in several markets, as well as challenging year-over-year comparables. (2)
“We’re focused on our long-term agenda and investing C$2.7 billion in CN’s capital program this year to support it, with an emphasis on the integrity and safety of the network.”
Foreign currency impact on results
Although CN reports its earnings in Canadian dollars, a large portion of its revenues and expenses is denominated in U.S. dollars. The fluctuation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar affects the conversion of the Company’s U.S.-dollar-denominated revenues and expenses. On a constant currency basis, CN’s net income for the second quarter of 2015 would have been lower by C$64 million, or C$0.08 per diluted share. (1)
Second-quarter 2015 revenues, traffic volumes and expenses
Revenues for the second quarter of 2015 were flat at C$3,125 million. Revenues increased for automotive (17 per cent), forest products (eight per cent), petroleum and chemicals (four per cent), and intermodal (two per cent). Revenues declined for metals and minerals (five per cent), grain and fertilizers (seven per cent), and coal (26 per cent).
The revenue performance was mainly attributable to the positive translation impact of the weaker Canadian dollar on U.S.-dollar-denominated revenues; freight rate increases; and strong overseas intermodal demand and higher volumes of finished vehicle traffic. These factors were almost entirely offset by a lower applicable fuel surcharge rate; lower volumes of Canadian grain versus the prior year’s record crop; decreased shipments of coal due to weaker global demand; reduced shipments of energy-related commodities, including crude oil, frac sand, and drilling pipe; as well as lower volumes of semi-finished steel products and iron ore.
Carloadings for the quarter declined by three per cent to 1,414 thousand.
Revenue ton-miles, measuring the relative weight and distance of rail freight transported by CN, declined by seven per cent over the year-earlier quarter. Rail freight revenue per revenue ton-mile, a measurement of yield defined as revenue earned on the movement of a ton of freight over one mile, increased by seven per cent over the year-earlier period, driven by the positive translation impact of the weaker Canadian dollar and freight rate increases, partly offset by a lower applicable fuel surcharge rate and an increase in the average length of haul.
Operating expenses for the quarter decreased by five per cent to C$1,763 million, mainly due to lower fuel costs and lower labor and fringe benefits expense, partly offset by the negative translation impact of a weaker Canadian dollar on U.S.-dollar-denominated expenses as well as increased purchased services and material expense.