Kansas City Southern Reports Second Quarter Results

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE:KSU) reported second quarter 2015 revenues of $586 million, a decrease of 10% compared to second quarter 2014. Overall, carload volumes were 6% lower than in second quarter 2014. Excluding the estimated impacts of lower U.S. fuel prices and peso depreciation, revenue declined 2% compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Second quarter revenue declined in all commodity groups except Chemicals & Petroleum, which grew 1%. Energy revenue declined 46% driven by lower volumes in utility coal due to lower natural gas prices and in frac sand volumes as a result of the significant decline in U.S. drilling operations.

Operating expenses in the second quarter were $399 million, 8% lower than 2014 when excluding lease termination costs in 2014. Excluding the estimated impacts of lower U.S. fuel prices and peso depreciation, operating expenses declined 1% compared to the second quarter of 2014, when excluding lease termination costs in 2014.

Operating income for the second quarter of 2015 was $187 million compared with $214 million a year ago, when excluding lease termination costs in 2014. KCS reported a second quarter 2015 adjusted operating ratio of 68.1%, a 1.1 point increase compared to second quarter 2014.

Reported net income in the second quarter of 2015 totaled $112 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, compared with $130 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2014. Excluding the impacts of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and lease termination costs, adjusted diluted earnings per share for second quarter 2015 was $1.03 compared to $1.21 in 2014.

“KCS continued to scale its operations in both the U.S. and Mexico and has made strides in improving its network fluidity,” stated KCS’ Chief Executive Officer David L. Starling. “Our actions contributed to the Company attaining a solid second quarter operating ratio despite volume challenges, particularly in its Energy commodity group. We expect our system performance and operating metrics to continue to improve throughout the remainder of the year.

“As evidenced in the weekly industry carload data, there are still uncertainties in many of the primary markets served by rail. However, KCS’ average daily volumes increased each month throughout the second quarter and the initial results from the first few weeks of July suggest the positive trend may be continuing.”

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Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City Southern is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. Kansas City Southern's North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws concerning potential future events involving KCS and its subsidiaries, which could materially differ from the events that actually occur. Words such as “projects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify many of these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon information currently available to management and management’s perception thereof as of the date hereof. Differences that actually occur could be caused by a number of external factors over which management has little or no control, including: competition and consolidation within the transportation industry; the business environment in industries that produce and use items shipped by rail; loss of the rail concession of KCS’ subsidiary, Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.; the termination of, or failure to renew, agreements with customers, other railroads and third parties; interest rates; access to capital; disruptions to KCS’ technology infrastructure, including its computer systems; natural events such as severe weather, hurricanes and floods; market and regulatory responses to climate change; credit risk of customers and counterparties and their failure to meet their financial obligations; legislative and regulatory developments and disputes; rail accidents or other incidents or accidents on KCS’ rail network or at KCS’ facilities or customer facilities involving the release of hazardous materials, including toxic inhalation hazards; fluctuation in prices or availability of key materials, in particular diesel fuel; dependency on certain key suppliers of core rail equipment; changes in securities and capital markets; availability of qualified personnel; labor difficulties, including strikes and work stoppages; insufficiency of insurance to cover lost revenue, profits or other damages; acts of terrorism or risk of terrorist activities; war or risk of war; domestic and international economic conditions; political and economic conditions in Mexico and the level of trade between the United States and Mexico; increased demand and traffic congestion; the outcome of claims and litigation involving KCS or its subsidiaries; and other factors affecting the operation of the business. More detailed information about factors that could affect future events may be found in filings by KCS with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including KCS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (File No. 1-4717) and subsequent reports. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. KCS is not obligated to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.