Currencies and Restructuring Costs Derail Genesee & Wyoming Inc's Earnings Growth

The first quarter didn't go quite as well as Genesee & Wyoming (GWR +0.00%) planned. While the regional rail operator enjoyed the benefits from the first full quarter of operations at two recent acquisitions, several other issues weighed on earnings, which sank during the quarter. That said, the company expects to put many of these matters in the rearview mirror because of several catalysts it sees on the horizon that should drive full-year results higher.

Genesee & Wyoming results: The raw numbers

Data source: Genesee & Wyoming.

Image source: Getty Images.

What happened with Genesee & Wyoming this quarter? 

Recent transactions impacted results:

• Revenue in North America increased 6.6% to $319.5 million, driven by higher agricultural products and coal freight revenue. The company also benefited from last year's acquisition of the Providence and Worchester Railroad Company, which added $7.4 million in revenue during the quarter. Those revenue drivers helped push adjusted operating income in the segment up 2.8% over last year, to $72.9 million.
• Genesee & Wyoming's Australian segment experienced a 42.7% year-over-year increase in revenue, which rose to $73.9 million as a result of its Glencore Rail joint venture. That deal helped drive adjusted operating income up 70.9% to $17.6 million.
• Meanwhile, the U.K./Europe segment continued to be a slight drag on results as revenue slipped 4.1% to $125.7 million. That said, foreign currency fluctuations were the primary culprit here, scraping $14.2 million off the top line. Without that impact, revenue in the segment would have increased 7.6% from last year due to improved intermodal, minerals and stone, and agricultural products freight revenue. However, the segment still operated in the red, with its adjusted loss widening from $1.4 million to $3.9 million due to the continued restructuring of the recently acquired ERS business.
• While adjusted net operating income rose along with revenue, earnings slumped on a per-share basis. One factor was Genesee & Wyoming's increased share count as a result of the Glencore Rail deal. In addition to that, the company's adjusted result included a $0.05-per-share loss due to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on an intercompany loan as well as a $0.05-per-share loss related to the restructuring of the ERS business.

What management had to say 

CEO Jack Hellmann commented on what drove results in the quarter:

In the first quarter of 2017, we successfully completed the integration of the Providence & Worcester in the U.S., we operated the first full quarter of Glencore Rail in Australia, and we made good progress in the restructuring of ERS in Continental Europe. Nonetheless, our first quarter financial results were weaker than expected as North American same railroad carload growth of 3% was at the low end of our outlook and our operating ratio was a bit higher than plan, primarily due to track washout and derailment expense. Meanwhile, our 51%-owned Australian business performed better than plan due to the reopening of a customer manganese mine in March, while our U.K./Europe operations were below plan due to a customer bankruptcy in Continental Europe and higher operating costs in our U.K. intermodal business.

The first quarter was mixed as Genesee & Wyoming benefited from two of its recently completed deals as well as improving operating conditions in Australia. That said, several headwinds pushed back against these positives, including slower growth and unanticipated expenses in North America, as well as continued issues in its European businesses. However, what this quarter demonstrates to investors is the power of the company's business model, which enabled it to benefit not only from acquisition-driven growth but its geographic diversity. 

Looking forward 

That differentiated business model has the company optimistic about what lies ahead. Hellmann noted in the press release that there are several positives on the horizon across all three of its business segments:

In North America, we continue to see modest carload growth with several customer projects starting up later in the year. In Australia, we expect to benefit from shipments from a reopened manganese mine in the Northern Territory and continue to see significant new business opportunities, making us optimistic for 2017 and beyond. In the U.K./Europe, we expect to complete the restructuring of ERS in the second quarter, to close on the previously announced acquisition of Pentalver in early May, and to see improving intermodal performance as new U.K. port calling patterns are established by the shipping lines, collectively yielding a significant improvement in financial performance in the second half of 2017.

Hellmann also pointed out that the Genesee & Wyoming continues to generate robust cash flow, which gives it the flexibility to make more deals.