Core Insights - CSX Corporation is a leading transportation company in the U.S. focused on rail-based freight transportation, operating an extensive rail network and competing with major rail companies like Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern [1] Financial Performance - CSX's Q3 2025 earnings report showed revenue of $3.59 billion, slightly missing year-over-year expectations but exceeding consensus estimates [3] - The adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for CSX was $0.44, surpassing estimates despite a $164 million goodwill impairment related to Quality Carriers; without this impairment, the adjusted EPS would have been approximately $0.51 [3] Market Position and Stock Performance - Cowen & Co. maintained a "Buy" rating for CSX, with the stock priced at approximately $36.84, and TD Cowen raised the price target from $38 to $39; the current stock price is $36.93, reflecting a 2.61% increase [2] - CSX's market capitalization is approximately $68.85 billion, with a trading volume of 4.41 million shares [4] Operational Efficiency - CSX has improved operational efficiency, with car miles per day increasing to 136.6 and enhanced fuel efficiency; the company has also expanded its intermodal services in the Northeast [4]

Core Insights - CSX Corporation reported mixed third-quarter 2025 results with earnings per share of 44 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents, but revenues of $3.59 billion missed expectations and declined 1% year over year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income for the third quarter decreased significantly to $1.25 billion, with an adjusted operating margin of 34.9% [3]. - Total revenues of $3.59 billion narrowly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, primarily due to lower export coal prices and a decline in merchandise volume [2]. - Merchandise revenues fell 1% year over year to $2.21 billion, while intermodal revenues increased 4% to $527 million [4]. - Coal revenues plummeted 11% year over year to $490 million, with coal volumes decreasing by 3% [5]. Segment Performance - Merchandise volumes decreased by 1% year over year to $660 million, while intermodal segment volumes increased by 5% [4]. - Trucking revenues totaled $207 million, down 3% year over year, while other revenues grew significantly by 38% to $155 million [5]. Liquidity and Guidance - CSX ended the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $602 million, down from $933 million at the end of 2024, while long-term debt remained flat at $18.5 billion [6]. - For 2025, CSX expects total volume growth and plans to focus on operational excellence and efficiency initiatives, with capital expenditures projected at $2.5 billion [7].

Group 1 - The service Beyond the Wall Investing offers significant savings on equity research reports, potentially saving thousands of dollars annually for subscribers [1] - Features of Beyond the Wall Investing include a fundamentals-based portfolio, weekly insights from institutional investors, short-term trade alerts based on technical signals, and community engagement [2] - The article emphasizes that the analyst has no current positions in the mentioned companies but may initiate a long position in CSX within the next 72 hours [2] Group 2 - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that no specific investment recommendations are provided [3] - The platform does not act as a licensed securities dealer or investment adviser, and the opinions expressed may not represent the views of Seeking Alpha as a whole [3]

Core Insights - U.S. stock futures are trading lower, indicating a cautious market sentiment ahead of key earnings reports [1] Company Earnings and Performance - Slb NV (NYSE:SLB) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share on revenue of $8.97 billion [2] - CSX Corp. (NASDAQ:CSX) reported third-quarter revenue of $3.59 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $3.58 billion, with adjusted earnings of $0.44 per share, beating expectations of $0.43 per share [2] - American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) is anticipated to post quarterly earnings of $4.00 per share on revenue of $18.05 billion [2] - Truist Financial Corp. (NYSE:TFC) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.00 per share on revenue of $5.20 billion [2] Stock Movements - SLB shares fell 0.3% to $32.82 in after-hours trading [2] - CSX shares rose 2.3% to $36.80 in after-hours trading [2] - American Express shares gained 0.5% to $324.58 in after-hours trading [2] - Newsmax Inc. (NYSE:NMAX) shares increased by 1.5% to $10.99 after announcing a $5 million purchase of Bitcoin and Trump Coin [2] - Truist Financial shares gained 0.6% to $41.33 in after-hours trading [2]

Core Insights - CSX's profits declined in Q3 due to an 11% drop in coal revenue, despite improvements in key operating metrics [1][3] - The company remains optimistic about future growth, citing strong customer relationships and ongoing efforts to enhance industrial capacity [2][5] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income fell 8% to $1.25 billion, with revenue decreasing 1% to $3.58 billion; earnings per share dropped 4% to 44 cents [3] - The adjusted operating ratio increased by 2.5 points to 65.1% [3] Volume and Traffic - Overall quarterly volume increased by 1%, with merchandise traffic down 1%, intermodal traffic up 5%, and coal down 3% [4] - The decline in coal was attributed to an 11% drop in export coal tonnage, while domestic coal volume rose by 8% [4] Operational Metrics - Key operational metrics showed improvement: average train velocity increased by 2%, terminal dwell time decreased by 8%, and intermodal trip plan compliance rose to 93% [6] - Merchandise trip plan compliance improved by three points to 83% [6] Strategic Outlook - CSX anticipates overall volume growth despite mixed business conditions, with challenges from trade policies, commodity prices, interest rates, and a weak trucking market [5] - The completion of major construction projects ahead of schedule contributed to operational efficiency [7]

Market Overview - Markets experienced a downward trend after a strong opening, with the Dow closing down 301 points (-0.65%), S&P 500 down 0.63%, and Nasdaq down 0.47% [2] - The small-cap Russell 2000 fell 52 points (-2.09%), reversing its previous gains [2] - Bond yields decreased, with the 10-year yield at +3.98% and the 2-year yield at +3.42% [2] Regional Bank Concerns - A $50 million loan default at Zions Bancorp (ZION) contributed to market declines, with Zions shares dropping 13% [3] - The default raised concerns about the overall economy and the health of regional banks, impacting index levels [3] CSX Earnings Report - CSX reported Q3 earnings of 37 cents per share, below the expected 42 cents, although adjusted earnings would have been 44 cents per share [4] - Revenues of $3.59 billion slightly missed the $3.60 billion forecast [4] - Despite good volume levels (+2% quarter over quarter), pricing weakness in export coal affected performance [5] - CSX shares rose 2.8% in late trading, contributing to an 11.5% year-to-date gain [5] Upcoming Economic Reports - No significant economic data is expected on Friday due to the ongoing federal government shutdown [6]

Core Insights - CSX reported $3.59 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 0.9% and an EPS of $0.44 compared to $0.46 a year ago, with a revenue surprise of -0.22% and an EPS surprise of +4.76% [1] Financial Performance - The operating margin was reported at 30.3%, significantly lower than the estimated 65.7% by analysts [4] - Revenue from intermodal services was $527 million, exceeding the average estimate of $517.94 million, representing a year-over-year increase of +3.5% [4] - Revenue from coal was $490 million, slightly above the average estimate of $488.06 million, but showing a year-over-year decline of -11.4% [4] Volume Metrics - Volume for merchandise chemicals was 164 thousand, slightly below the average estimate of 167.59 thousand [4] - Volume for agricultural and food products was 110 thousand, surpassing the average estimate of 107.91 thousand [4] - Volume for automotive merchandise was 99 thousand, closely matching the average estimate of 99.39 thousand [4] Revenue Breakdown - Revenue from merchandise chemicals was $697 million, below the estimated $722.8 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -4.1% [4] - Revenue from agricultural and food products was $382 million, compared to the average estimate of $418.66 million, indicating a year-over-year change of -8.2% [4] - Revenue from automotive merchandise was $306 million, slightly below the average estimate of $310.08 million, but showing a year-over-year increase of +1.7% [4] - Revenue from forest products was $247 million, below the average estimate of $259.2 million, representing a year-over-year decline of -4.6% [4] - Revenue from metals and equipment was $224 million, exceeding the average estimate of $213.13 million, with a year-over-year increase of +7.7% [4] - Revenue from fertilizers was $126 million, below the average estimate of $139.15 million, but showing a year-over-year increase of +6.8% [4] Stock Performance - CSX shares have returned +10.6% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Third quarter reported operating income was $1.1 billion, and earnings per share was $0.37, including a $164 million impairment charge [17] - Adjusted revenue decreased by about $30 million, or 1%, due to unfavorable mix and coal pricing, while adjusted expenses increased by 3% [17][19] - Year-to-date free cash flow reached $1.1 billion, with over $850 million in cash outflows for the Blue Ridge project [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchandise revenue and volume were down 1%, with minerals volume and revenue up 8% and 12% respectively [11][12] - Coal revenue declined 11% for the quarter on a 3% lower total volume, while utility coal tonnage increased by 22% year over year [13][15] - Intermodal revenue was up 4% on a 5% increase in volume, benefiting from strong growth with key customers [10][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Business conditions are mixed, with customers facing uncertainty from shifting trade policies and weak global commodity prices [11] - The domestic coal market shows steady trends, while the chemical and forest product markets have faced challenges, with volume down 7% [12][70] - The intermodal market is expected to grow, particularly with the completion of the Howard Street Tunnel, which will enhance service offerings [11][80] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to be the best-performing railroad in North America, focusing on financial performance, safety, and customer service [4][5] - Completion of major infrastructure projects like the Howard Street Tunnel and Blue Ridge Subdivision is expected to enhance capacity and resiliency [10][11] - The company is actively pursuing strategic opportunities to create value for shareholders while maintaining strong customer relationships [25][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's operational performance and ability to navigate mixed economic conditions [25] - The company anticipates easing year-over-year headwinds into the fourth quarter, supported by strong operational execution and cost control [18] - There is optimism regarding the coal market and potential improvements in the chemical and forest product sectors as economic conditions stabilize [70] Other Important Information - The company has returned over $2 billion to shareholders year-to-date and remains committed to shareholder distributions [23] - The company expects to maintain its capital expenditure guidance of $2.5 billion for the full year, excluding the Blue Ridge project [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company position itself against peers pursuing mergers? - The company emphasizes running its operations effectively to create value and be prepared for strategic opportunities when they arise [31][32] Question: How will the completion of infrastructure projects impact the company? - The completion of the Blue Ridge and Howard Street projects is expected to enhance operational efficiency and cost reduction, setting the stage for growth [36][37] Question: What are the company's priorities moving forward? - The focus is on driving best-in-class performance, building a high-performance culture, and capitalizing on strategic opportunities [51] Question: How does the company view the current market conditions? - The company acknowledges mixed market conditions but remains optimistic about growth opportunities, particularly in intermodal and coal sectors [70][72] Question: What are the cash flow priorities for 2026? - The company plans to prioritize shareholder returns and may consider debt reduction, depending on cash flow performance [90]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are optimistic about CSX's future direction under new CEO Steve Angel despite a 22% drop in third-quarter earnings, focusing on potential strategic deals and the company's performance [1] Financial Performance - CSX reported earnings of $694 million, or 37 cents per share, for the quarter, down from $894 million, or 46 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding a $164 million goodwill impairment charge, earnings would have been $818 million, or 44 cents per share [6] Leadership and Strategy - CEO Steve Angel aims to make CSX the best-performing railroad and is open to considering strategic opportunities that benefit shareholders, although he did not commit to a merger [2] - Angel emphasized the importance of timing for any strategic opportunities and stated that the company should focus on creating value in the interim [3] Competitive Landscape - CSX faces pressure from investors to pursue a merger to compete effectively against the merged Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern railroad, which could enhance delivery efficiency [3] - Potential merger partners BNSF and CPKC have expressed disinterest in merging, preferring cooperative agreements to achieve similar benefits without the complications of a merger [3][4] Industry Context - Observers believe that CSX and BNSF may be at a competitive disadvantage if the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is approved, as it would streamline operations and reduce delivery times [4] - Angel, while new to the railroad industry, draws parallels between railroads and industrial gas companies, highlighting a focus on safety and investment in high-traffic areas [5]

CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) reported third quarter operating income of $1.09 billion and net earnings of $694 million, or $0.37 per share. Excluding a non-cash goodwill impairment of $164 million, adjusted operating income for the quarter was $1.25 billion and adjusted net earnings were $818 million, or $0.44 per share. Earnings for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company beat analysts’ consensus forecast of $0.42 cents per share. It was the first earnings report under new chief executive Steve Angel, who succe ...