First Stop on the Railroad Earnings Express

• Email
• Share
• Print

The engine of global growth may suddenly feel like the big engine that won't, but one American rail company remains right on track.

Eastern U.S. rail carrier CSX (NYSE: CSX) delivered unabashedly solid earnings in a panic-driven market this week. Coming through on the raised outlook issued last month, the company reported a 40% increase in net earnings at $0.94 per share and reiterated guidance for compound annual earnings growth of 20% to 25% through 2010.

That 40% jump in earnings came with only an 18% increase in revenue, which points to impressive operational efficiency, and coincides with a reduction in the operating ratio of 250 basis points, to 75.2%. Railroads' track operating ratio, which is calculated as operating expenses divided by revenue, is a key metric. With a large percentage of revenue going to maintaining operations, cost control and efficiency are paramount. CSX aims to decrease that ratio to the high 60s by 2010.

If the domestic economy is slamming on the brakes, where did this revenue growth come from? It certainly did not come from the once-profitable business of hauling automobiles or construction supplies. As I mentioned last month, coal now accounts for nearly 30% of all revenue for CSX, and shipping Appalachian coal from miners like Massey Energy (NYSE: MEE) or CONSOL Energy (NYSE: CNX) to Eastern ports for global export has apparently remained robust despite all this panic about the global growth engine. CSX cited export coal, grain, ethanol, and metals as major drivers of the quarterly performance.

Considering the strong earnings from Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) released Thursday, and these seven signs that coal remains a hot commodity despite the indiscriminate sell-off among mining equities, I believe that the global demand for coal could surprise many Fools in its resilience amid the financial crisis. Though competitors like Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI) also benefit from increased coal export volumes, CSX's geographical focus with respect to coveted Appalachian coal and nearby ports should offer a competitive advantage.

Nearly 1,400 Motley Fool CAPS members, including 248 All-Stars, expect CSX to outperform the S&P 500. In all, the CAPS community has shared its collective insight on 21 rail companies. Join the free CAPS community today and share your views on how the rail industry will fare through the current financial crisis.

Further Foolishness:

• Cheaper fuel could help margins along.
• Norfolk Southern was chugging along last quarter.
• Massey Energy has some legal troubles.