Financial Performance - In 2024, the company generated total freight revenues of 22.8billion,withBulkshipmentsaccountingfor3224,250 million, a slight increase from 24,119millionin2023[257].−Freightrevenuesaccountedfor22,811 million in 2024, compared to 22,571millionin2023,reflectingagrowthof1.066,747 million, up from 6,379millionin2023,representinganincreaseof5.789,713 million in 2024 from 9,082millionin2023,markingagrowthof6.9514,537 million in 2024 from 15,037millionin2023,areductionof3.3211.09 in 2024, compared to 10.45in2023,anincreaseof6.146,638 million for 2024, compared to 6,347millionin2023,anincreaseof4.589,346 million in 2024, compared to 8,379millionin2023,markingariseof11.567,715 million, a slight increase from 67,132millionin2023[260].−Totalliabilitiesdecreasedto50,825 million in 2024 from 52,344millionin2023,representingareductionof2.965,628 million in 2024, up from 62,093millionin2023,indicatingagrowthof8.13,212 million in 2024, compared to 3,173millionin2023,reflectinganincreaseof1.2350 million, down from 491millionin2023,primarilyduetoaone−timetransactionin2023[351].−Totalincometaxexpensefor2024is2,047 million, an increase from 1,854millionin2023[353].−Theeffectivetaxratefor2024is23.3245 million, compared to 253millionin2023and243 million in 2022[402]. - Accruals for environmental liability increased to 129millionin2024from99 million in 2023 and 84millionin2022[402].−Paymentsmadetowardsenvironmentalliabilitywere106 million in 2024, slightly down from 107millionin2023andupfrom74 million in 2022[402]. - The ending balance of environmental liability at December 31, 2024, was 268million,anincreasefrom245 million in 2023 and 253millionin2022[402].−Environmentalliabilityincludesfuturecostsforremediationandrestoration,excludinganticipatedrecoveriesfromthirdparties[402].−Estimatesofliabilitymayvaryovertimeduetochangesinenvironmentallawsandregulations[403].−Currentobligationsarenotexpectedtomateriallyaffectthecompany′sconsolidatedresultsofoperations,financialcondition,orliquidity[403].OperationalMetrics−Thecompanyoperates32,880routemiles,connectingkeyU.S.portsandfacilitatingfreightmovementacrossNorthAmerica[37].−ThecompanyisthelargestautomotivecarrierwestoftheMississippiRiver,operatingoraccessing39vehicledistributioncenters[43].−Thecompany’srailnetworksupportsthetransportationofcoalshipments,withthePowderRiverBasinbeingthelargestsourceofcoalbusiness[39].−Thecompanymaintainsacomprehensivesecurityplanandhasnotexperiencedanymaterialdisruptionduetocyberthreats[61].−Thecompanycontinuestofaceregulatoryscrutinyfromvariousfederalandstateagencies,impactingoperationalcostsandcompliance[71].StockandCompensation−Thecompanyrecognizesfreightrevenuesovertimeasfreightmovesfromorigintodestination,withexpensesrecognizedasincurred[283].−AsofDecember31,2024,1,203,484stockoptionsand1,218,529retentionshareswereoutstandingunderthe2021StockIncentivePlan[309].−Thecompanyhasseveralstock−basedcompensationplanswith31,063,392sharesauthorizedandavailableforgrantasofDecember31,2024[311].−Totalstock−basedcompensationbeforetaxfor2024was118 million, an increase of 10.3% from 107millionin2023[312].−Theweighted−averagegrant−datefairvalueofoptionsgrantedin2024was61.75, up from 48.31in2023,representinga27.835 million, an increase of 52.2% from 23millionin2023[315].−Thetotalunrecognizedcompensationexpenserelatedtononvestedretentionawardsattheendof2024was70 million, expected to be recognized over 1.1 years[316]. Debt and Liabilities - Total debt decreased to 31.192billionin2024from32.579 billion in 2023, a reduction of approximately 4.25%[385]. - The fair value of total debt was estimated at 25.3billionasofDecember31,2024,whichisapproximately5.9 billion less than the carrying value[383]. - The company had 20millioninshort−terminvestmentsasofDecember31,2024,upfrom16 million in 2023, marking a 25% increase[382]. - The total lease liabilities decreased to 1.380billionin2024from1.758 billion in 2023, a decline of approximately 21.5%[394]. - The company recorded a personal injury liability of 379millionattheendof2024,downfrom383 million in 2023, a decrease of 1.04%[401]. - The total principal of debt maturities as of December 31, 2024, is 32.885billion,withsignificantmaturitiesoccurringin2025and2026[386].−Thecompanyhad2.0 billion of credit available under its revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2024[386]. Pension and Benefits - The projected benefit obligation (PBO) at the end of 2024 was 3.513billion,downfrom3.880 billion at the end of 2023, a decrease of 9.5%[324]. - The fair value of plan assets at the end of 2024 was 4.068billion,downfrom4.400 billion at the end of 2023, a decrease of 7.5%[324]. - The net periodic pension cost for 2024 was (3)million,comparedto0 million in 2023, indicating a shift to a net benefit[330]. - The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for all defined benefit pension plans was 3.3billionattheendof2024,downfrom3.6 billion in 2023[327]. - The discount rate for benefit obligations increased to 5.61% in 2024 from 5.00% in 2023[328]. - Expected benefit payments for 2025 are projected at 231million,withatotalof1,177 million for the years 2030-2034[333]. - The pension plan's target asset allocation for 2025 includes 20% to 30% in equity securities and 70% to 80% in debt securities, aiming for a long-term return of 5.25%[334]. - The average credit rating of the debt portfolio remains at AA- with a weighted-average maturity of 22 years[335].