Union Pacific said Thursday it earned $485 million, or $1.78 per share, during the quarter that ended Dec. 31. That's up from $296 million, or $1.10 per share, in the same period a year earlier.
Union Pacific and competitor Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. have sparred for years over which one should be known as the nation's largest railroad. Last week, Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern renewed the argument when its earnings report revealed it was the nation's largest railroad by freight revenue in the third quarter of 2006.
Union Pacific held the edge in fourth-quarter freight revenue with $3.78 billion, compared with Burlington Northern's $3.77 billion. Burlington Northern's claim also doesn't consider total revenue, where Union Pacific also held the edge, $3.96 billion to $3.88 billion, in the fourth quarter.
The rest of the U.S. railroad universe includes CSX Corp., which reported $2.4 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter to remain No. 3, Norfolk Southern Corp., which had $2.32 billion in revenue, and Canadian National Railway Co., which had $1.64 billion in revenue. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. doesn't report earnings until today.But Union Pacific spokeswoman Kathryn Blackwell said those revenue figures shouldn't matter. She said the Omaha-based railroad bases its claim to be the nation's largest on the 32,400 miles of track it operates. Burlington Northern remains close by that measure, with about 32,000 miles.The dispute may ultimately matter more to railroad buffs than corporate executives."At the end of the day, it's not important to me," said Jim Young, Union Pacific's president and chief executive. "What's most important is looking at your service, your profitability, where you're going with the direction of the company."Burlington Northern spokes-man Pat Hiatte said his company is more concerned about improving its performance."That's really the focus: customer service and meeting the transportation needs of the country," Hiatte said.The dispute doesn't concern analysts either. They say investors should care more about which railroad is most profitable."I don't think it matters one iota who is larger," said Randy Cousins, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.In profits, Burlington Northern was the leader last year with $1.89 billion to Union Pacific's $1.61 billion.Union Pacific and Burlington Northern reported strong performances last week. Union Pacific's earnings of $1.78 per share in the fourth quarter surpassed the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, which had forecast a profit of $1.57 per share.Union Pacific officials said greater efficiencies and strong demand for the coal and agricultural products it ships helped boost profits.
But Union Pacific spokeswoman Kathryn Blackwell said those revenue figures shouldn't matter. She said the Omaha-based railroad bases its claim to be the nation's largest on the 32,400 miles of track it operates. Burlington Northern remains close by that measure, with about 32,000 miles.
The dispute may ultimately matter more to railroad buffs than corporate executives.
"At the end of the day, it's not important to me," said Jim Young, Union Pacific's president and chief executive. "What's most important is looking at your service, your profitability, where you're going with the direction of the company."
Burlington Northern spokes-man Pat Hiatte said his company is more concerned about improving its performance."That's really the focus: customer service and meeting the transportation needs of the country," Hiatte said.The dispute doesn't concern analysts either. They say investors should care more about which railroad is most profitable."I don't think it matters one iota who is larger," said Randy Cousins, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.In profits, Burlington Northern was the leader last year with $1.89 billion to Union Pacific's $1.61 billion.Union Pacific and Burlington Northern reported strong performances last week. Union Pacific's earnings of $1.78 per share in the fourth quarter surpassed the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, which had forecast a profit of $1.57 per share.Union Pacific officials said greater efficiencies and strong demand for the coal and agricultural products it ships helped boost profits.
Burlington Northern spokes-man Pat Hiatte said his company is more concerned about improving its performance.
"That's really the focus: customer service and meeting the transportation needs of the country," Hiatte said.
The dispute doesn't concern analysts either. They say investors should care more about which railroad is most profitable.
"I don't think it matters one iota who is larger," said Randy Cousins, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.
In profits, Burlington Northern was the leader last year with $1.89 billion to Union Pacific's $1.61 billion.
Union Pacific and Burlington Northern reported strong performances last week. Union Pacific's earnings of $1.78 per share in the fourth quarter surpassed the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, which had forecast a profit of $1.57 per share.
Union Pacific officials said greater efficiencies and strong demand for the coal and agricultural products it ships helped boost profits.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Lets mess with the UP & BNSF and tell 'em that the KCS is the biggest and looking to buy one of the two.
CC
Who is larger? Well, I would base that on number of railroad miles, and the article states that UP has the lead by 400 miles. If you base it on different things, then it gets kind of confusing...
AnonymousIt's not over yet.
Well Anonymous, this thread was made 16 years, 10 months ago! It wasn't over in 2007! Now being 2023, what has changed with BNSF and UP? How much mileage does each have now? I guess it would be good to know profits. Class One railroads have sold some trackage to Shortlines since! Yes Chris30 let's mention KCS buying the two! Well, now that Canadian Pacific bought KCS in 2023 and became "CPKC" should mean that CPKC is the largest by sheer mileage! The first railroad between Canada, United States and Mexico should have to be more mileage! Yet UP and BNSF has lots of mileage in the states! Now, I thought UP was the largest because they had more than 7,000 locomotives! They would be the largest in this case! How many locomotives do they each have now? This fluctuates over the years. I don't think CP and KCS combined would have nearly this many engines. I also read a few places online that "BNSF" is North America's largest! What has changed since UP became the largest after buying SP in 1996? Thought that was when it happened. BNSF has not had any buyouts of other railroads since their beginning. What do all the statistics look like in 2023? This is very interesting!!!!
Robert Jackson
see linked article @https://seekingalpha.com/article/4590310-riding-rails-of-profit-returns-berkshire-had-from-bnsf
A more recently published piece on BNSF (ie: investing by Berkshire Hathaway)
FTA: linked site,[in part] "...BNSF, I quickly recalled a few data about this huge railroad. Its network is the product of almost 400 different railroads that merged or were acquired in an ongoing process that took 170 years. Currently, BNSF operates 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and 3 Canadian provinces; 23,000 route miles are directly owned, while another 9,000 route miles are operated. As we read in Berkshire 2022 Annual Report: BNSF owns or holds under non-cancelable leases exceeding one year approximately 7,500 locomotives and 68,000 freight cars, in addition to maintenance of way and other equipment. In the ordinary course of business, BNSF incurs significant costs in repairing and maintaining its properties. In 2022, BNSF recorded approximately $2 billion in repairs and maintenance expense..."(cont>) "...In the landscape of North American railroads, it is clear that BNSF's main competitor is Union Pacific (UNP). North American Class 1 railroads must be seen in couples forming different duopolies across certain areas and routes. This makes these companies highly insulated from new competition. Not even trucking can really compete in terms of costs, as railroads are much more fuel efficient. However, trucks obviously have greater flexibility in terms of routes..."
So there you have a small window into the current Anmerican RR scene..
And employee legit special claims still get declined
SFbrkmnAnd employee legit special claims still get declined
That is Class 1 standard - no matter the carrier.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD SFbrkmn And employee legit special claims still get declined That is Class 1 standard - no matter the carrier.
SFbrkmn And employee legit special claims still get declined
They know that a large percentage of people won't follow through and process the claims through the union. Some won't even file a valid claim because they feel it will just be declined.
I try to tell them that it's not important whether they pay a claim immediately or after going through the entire process, that sometimes can take years. The important thing is that you are saying that the company violated the working contract they agreed to.
I've suggested that we stop calling them "claims" and call the "grievances" like most nonrailroad unions do.
Jeff
jeffhergert BaltACD SFbrkmn And employee legit special claims still get declined That is Class 1 standard - no matter the carrier. They know that a large percentage of people won't follow through and process the claims through the union. Some won't even file a valid claim because they feel it will just be declined. I try to tell them that it's not important whether they pay a claim immediately or after going through the entire process, that sometimes can take years. The important thing is that you are saying that the company violated the working contract they agreed to. I've suggested that we stop calling them "claims" and call the "grievances" like most nonrailroad unions do. Jeff
It is up to Union members to see, through all available processes, that 'their' agreement with the company is upheld. The company will, as a matter of policy, try to violate the agreement in multiple ways - only Union members are in a position to see and know these violations are taking place and they must file grieviences and claims about the violations and persue them to an adjucicated conclusion.
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