Union Pacific Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

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Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) reported a first quarter 2021 net income of $1.3 billion, or $2.00 per diluted share, down from $1.5 billion, or $2.15 per diluted share, in Q1 2020. Operating revenue declined 4% to $5.0 billion, with business volumes down 1%. Freight revenue dropped 5% due to a less favorable business mix and volume declines. The operating ratio increased to 60.1%. The company repurchased 6.7 million shares for $1.4 billion. Despite challenges, Union Pacific remains optimistic about economic recovery and affirms its 2021 guidance.

Positive

• Repurchased 6.7 million shares for $1.4 billion.
• Improved locomotive productivity by 5%.
• 12% increase in workforce productivity.

Negative

• Operating revenue decreased 4% year-over-year.
• Freight revenue fell 5% due to unfavorable business mix.
• Operating ratio rose to 60.1%, 110 basis points higher than previous year.

OMAHA, Neb., April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2021 first quarter net income of $1.3 billion, or $2.00 per diluted share. This compares to $1.5 billion, or $2.15 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2020.

"The first quarter presented some real challenges that impacted our results, but the team did a great job managing the business," said Lance Fritz, Union Pacific chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "We generated solid productivity through efficient use of our resources despite the significant weather event that covered most of our network in February and early March. I am particularly proud of the women and men of Union Pacific who rolled up their sleeves and kept the network safe, efficient and stable. Looking to the rest of the year, an improving economic outlook, our continued commitment to value based pricing that exceeds inflation and the opportunity for strong productivity give us confidence to affirm our 2021 guidance."

First Quarter Summary
Operating revenue of $5.0 billion was down 4% in first quarter 2021 compared to first quarter 2020. First quarter business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, decreased 1% compared to 2020 driven by declines in industrial and bulk shipments, partially offset by strength in premium carloads. In addition, for the first quarter 2021 compared to 2020:

• Quarterly freight revenue declined 5%, as core pricing gains were more than offset by a less favorable business mix, decreased fuel surcharge revenue, and volume declines.
• Union Pacific's 60.1% operating ratio increased 110 basis points, negatively impacted by weather and rising fuel prices in the quarter.

	Operating Ratio	Earnings Per Diluted Share
First Quarter 2020	59.0%	$2.15
Weather Impact	(1.6) pts	($0.16)
Fuel Impact	(1.0) pts	($0.11)
Core Results	1.5 pts	$0.12
First Quarter 2021	60.1%	$2.00

 

• Union Pacific's reportable personal injury rate was 0.85 per 200,000 employee-hours compared to 0.80 for first quarter 2020.
• Fuel consumption rate, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand gross ton-miles (GTMs), was flat.
• Quarterly freight car velocity was 209 daily miles per car, a 1% decline.
• Quarterly locomotive productivity was 138 gross ton-miles per horsepower day, a 5% improvement.
• Quarterly workforce productivity was 1,002 car miles per employee, a 12% improvement.
• Average maximum train length was 9,247 feet, a 10% increase.
• The company repurchased 6.7 million shares in first quarter 2021 at an aggregate cost of $1.4 billion.

Summary of First Quarter Freight Revenues

• Bulk down 1%
• Industrial down 13%
• Premium up 2%

2021 Outlook
"During the quarter our service product and lower cost structure enabled us to win new business and develop opportunities to grow," Fritz said. "There are many more growth opportunities to capture by also helping our customers efficiently and reliably reduce the carbon intensity of their supply chains. When we add improved safety results, we create strong value for all of our stakeholders."

First Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call
Union Pacific will webcast its first quarter 2021 earnings release presentation live at www.up.com/investor and via teleconference on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877-407-8293 (or for international participants, 201-689-8349).

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC
Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.

Supplemental financial information is attached.

This news release and related materials contain statements about the Company's future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the Company's expectations with respect to economic conditions and demand levels, its ability to improve network performance, its results of operations, and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These statements are, or will be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to the Company's and its subsidiaries' business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management's beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company's future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company's and its subsidiaries' future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2020, which was filed with the SEC on February 5, 2021. The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References to our website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages,	1st Quarter
For the Periods Ended March 31,	2021		2020		%
Operating Revenues
Freight revenues	$	4,649	$	4,880	(5)	%
Other		352		349	1
Total operating revenues		5,001		5,229	(4)
Operating Expenses
Compensation and benefits		1,026		1,059	(3)
Depreciation		549		547	-
Purchased services and materials		490		521	(6)
Fuel		411		434	(5)
Equipment and other rents		212		227	(7)
Other		320		298	7
Total operating expenses		3,008		3,086	(3)
Operating Income		1,993		2,143	(7)
Other income, net		51		53	(4)
Interest expense		(290)		(278)	4
Income before income taxes		1,754		1,918	(9)
Income taxes		(413)		(444)	(7)
Net Income	$	1,341	$	1,474	(9)	%
Share and Per Share
Earnings per share - basic	$	2.01	$	2.15	(7)	%
Earnings per share - diluted	$	2.00	$	2.15	(7)
Weighted average number of shares - basic		667.6		684.3	(2)
Weighted average number of shares - diluted		669.2		686.2	(2)
Dividends declared per share	$	0.97	$	0.97	-
Operating Ratio		60.1%		59.0%	1.1	pts
Effective Tax Rate		23.5%		23.1%	0.4	pts

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited)
	1st Quarter
For the Periods Ended March 31,	2021		2020		%
Freight Revenues (Millions)
Grain & grain products	$	766	$	689	11	%
Fertilizer		170		174	(2)
Food & refrigerated		235		250	(6)
Coal & renewables		341		421	(19)
Bulk		1,512		1,534	(1)
Industrial chemicals & plastics		435		495	(12)
Metals & minerals		375		469	(20)
Forest products		316		303	4
Energy & specialized markets		530		627	(15)
Industrial		1,656		1,894	(13)
Automotive		447		524	(15)
Intermodal		1,034		928	11
Premium		1,481		1,452	2
Total	$	4,649	$	4,880	(5)	%
Revenue Carloads (Thousands)
Grain & grain products		203		175	16	%
Fertilizer		44		46	(4)
Food & refrigerated		45		48	(6)
Coal & renewables		174		208	(16)
Bulk		466		477	(2)
Industrial chemicals & plastics		140		154	(9)
Metals & minerals		146		174	(16)
Forest products		60		56	7
Energy & specialized markets		139		162	(14)
Industrial		485		546	(11)
Automotive		180		208	(13)
Intermodal [a]		796		709	12
Premium		976		917	6
Total		1,927		1,940	(1)	%
Average Revenue per Car
Grain & grain products	$	3,782	$	3,940	(4)	%
Fertilizer		3,852		3,768	2
Food & refrigerated		5,234		5,277	(1)
Coal & renewables		1,958		2,022	(3)
Bulk		3,246		3,219	1
Industrial chemicals & plastics		3,113		3,205	(3)
Metals & minerals		2,563		2,697	(5)
Forest products		5,244		5,457	(4)
Energy & specialized markets		3,828		3,866	(1)
Industrial		3,417		3,469	(1)
Automotive		2,485		2,525	(2)
Intermodal [a]		1,299		1,307	(1)
Premium		1,517		1,583	(4)
Average	$	2,413	$	2,516	(4)	%
[a]  For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload.

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)
	Mar. 31,		Dec. 31,
Millions, Except Percentages	2021		2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,183	$	1,799
Short-term investments		60		60
Other current assets		2,476		2,355
Investments		2,167		2,164
Properties, net		54,062		54,161
Operating lease assets		1,581		1,610
Other assets		264		249
Total assets	$	61,793	$	62,398
Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity
Debt due within one year	$	1,565	$	1,069
Other current liabilities		3,306		3,104
Debt due after one year		25,117		25,660
Operating lease liabilities		1,171		1,283
Deferred income taxes		12,307		12,247
Other long-term liabilities		2,073		2,077
Total liabilities		45,539		45,440
Total common shareholders' equity		16,254		16,958
Total liabilities and common shareholders' equity	$	61,793	$	62,398

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
Millions,	Year-to-Date
For the Periods Ended March 31,	2021		2020
Operating Activities
Net income	$	1,341	$	1,474
Depreciation		549		547
Deferred income taxes		54		91
Other - net		14		43
Cash provided by operating activities		1,958		2,155
Investing Activities
Capital investments		(536)		(807)
Maturities of short-term investments		24		70
Purchases of short-term investments		(24)		(70)
Other - net		31		-
Cash used in investing activities		(505)		(807)
Financing Activities
Share repurchase programs		(1,347)		(2,556)
Dividends paid		(650)		(660)
Debt repaid		(47)		(305)
Net issuance of commercial paper		(15)		(1)
Debt issued		-		2,996
Accelerated share repurchase programs pending final settlement		-		(400)
Other - net		(14)		(71)
Cash used in financing activities		(2,073)		(997)
Net Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash		(620)		351
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year		1,818		856
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period	$	1,198	$	1,207
Free Cash Flow*
Cash provided by operating activities	$	1,958	$	2,155
Cash used in investing activities		(505)		(807)
Dividends paid		(650)		(660)
Free cash flow	$	803	$	688

*	Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; however, we believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financing.

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Operating and Performance Statistics (unaudited)
	1st Quarter
For the Periods Ended March 31,	2021		2020	%
Operating/Performance Statistics
Freight car velocity (daily miles per car) [a]	209		211	(1)	%
Average train speed (miles per hour) *	25.2		25.4	(1)
Average terminal dwell time (hours) *	23.5		23.8	(1)
Locomotive productivity (GTMs per horsepower day)	138		131	5
Gross ton-miles (GTMs) (millions)	193,087		201,297	(4)
Train length (feet)	9,247		8,396	10
Intermodal car trip plan compliance (%)	77		85	(8)	pts
Manifest/Automotive car trip plan compliance (%)	68		64	4	pts
Workforce productivity (car miles per employee)	1,002		894	12
Total employees (average)	29,755		33,872	(12)
Locomotive Fuel Statistics
Average fuel price per gallon consumed	$ 1.85		$ 1.87	(1)	%
Fuel consumed in gallons (millions)	216		225	(4)
Fuel consumption rate**	1.119		1.117	-
Revenue Ton-Miles (Millions)
Grain & grain products	20,348		16,111	26	%
Fertilizer	2,995		3,044	(2)
Food & refrigerated	4,498		4,506	-
Coal & renewables	17,536		20,005	(12)
Bulk	45,377		43,666	4
Industrial chemicals & plastics	7,055		7,174	(2)
Metals & minerals	6,876		8,533	(19)
Forest products	6,318		6,041	5
Energy & specialized markets	9,590		12,046	(20)
Industrial	29,839		33,794	(12)
Automotive	3,773		4,489	(16)
Intermodal	18,375		17,734	4
Premium	22,148		22,223	-
Total	97,364		99,683	(2)	%

[a]	Prior years have been recast to conform to the current year presentation.
*	Surface Transportation Board reported performance measures.
**	Fuel consumption is computed as follows: gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands.

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP
Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA*
Millions, Except Ratios	Mar. 31,		Dec. 31,
for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a]	2021		2020
Net income	$	5,216	$	5,349
Add:
Income tax expense		1,600		1,631
Depreciation		2,212		2,210
Interest expense		1,153		1,141
EBITDA	$	10,181	$	10,331
Adjustments:
Other income, net		(285)		(287)
Interest on operating lease liabilities**		53		59
Adjusted EBITDA	$	9,949	$	10,103
Debt	$	26,682	$	26,729
Operating lease liabilities		1,465		1,604
Unfunded pension and OPEB, net of taxes of $190 and $195		619		637
Adjusted debt	$	28,766	$	28,970
Adjusted debt / Adjusted EBITDA		2.9		2.9
Comparable Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA*
	Mar. 31,		Dec. 31,
for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a]	2021		2020
Adjusted debt / Adjusted EBITDA		2.9		2.9
Factors Affecting Comparability:
Brazos yard impairment [b]		(0.1)		(0.1)
Comparable Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA*	2.8		2.8

[a]	The trailing twelve months income statement information ended March 31, 2021, is recalculated by taking the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, subtracting the three months ended March 31, 2020, and adding the three months ended March 31, 2021.
[b]	Adjustments remove the impact of $209 million from net income and $69 million from income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2020. See page 7 for a reconciliation to GAAP.
*	Total debt plus operating lease liabilities plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB obligation divided by net income plus income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, interest expense, and adjustments for other income, net and interest on operating lease liabilities. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and adjustments for other income, net and interest on operating lease liabilities) and comparable adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA are considered non-GAAP financial measures by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe these measures are important to management and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to sustain given debt levels (including leases) with the cash generated from operations. In addition, a comparable measure is used by rating agencies when reviewing the Company's credit rating. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA and comparable adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income. The table above provides reconciliations from net income to adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA and comparable adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA. At March 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, the incremental borrowing rate on operating leases was 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively.
**	Represents the hypothetical interest expense we would incur (using the incremental borrowing rate) if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases.

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP
Financial Performance*
Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages		Reported results			Brazos Yard			Adjusted results
	(GAAP)			Impairment			(non-GAAP)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Income taxes	$	1,631		$	69		$	1,700
Net income	$	5,349		$	209		$	5,558

*

The above table reconciles our results for the year ended December 31, 2020, to adjusted results that exclude the impact of certain items identified as affecting comparability. We use adjusted income taxes and adjusted net income, as applicable, among other measures, to evaluate our actual operating performance. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide valuable information regarding earnings and business trends by excluding specific items that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing operating results of our business, providing a useful way for investors to make a comparison of our performance over time and against other companies in our industry. Since these are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, income taxes and net income.

 

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SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation

FAQ

What were Union Pacific's earnings for Q1 2021?

Union Pacific reported a net income of $1.3 billion, or $2.00 per diluted share in Q1 2021.

How did Union Pacific's revenue change in Q1 2021?

Operating revenue declined 4% to $5.0 billion compared to Q1 2020.

What is the operating ratio for Union Pacific in Q1 2021?

Union Pacific's operating ratio increased to 60.1% in Q1 2021.

How many shares did Union Pacific repurchase in Q1 2021?

Union Pacific repurchased 6.7 million shares at a cost of $1.4 billion.

What challenges did Union Pacific face in Q1 2021?

Union Pacific faced significant weather impacts and a less favorable business mix affecting revenue.