OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2024 second quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.74 per diluted share. This compares to 2023 second quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share.

“Our second quarter performance demonstrates the team’s ability to deliver strong results,” said Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer. “This provides further proof that our strategy to be the best in safety, service, and operational excellence will drive success. The entire Union Pacific team is energized behind this strategy and wants to win. As we build on the foundation we’ve laid over the past 12 months, we look forward to demonstrating what’s possible for our great company.”

Second Quarter Summary: 2024 vs. 2023

Financial Results: Solid Operating Income Growth Driven by Core Pricing Gains, Operating Efficiency, and Intermodal Equipment Sale

• Operating revenue of $6.0 billion was up 1% driven by core pricing gains and increased volume partially offset by business mix and reduced fuel surcharge.
• Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue grew 2% as revenue carloads grew slightly.
• Operating ratio was 60.0%, an improvement of 300 basis points. Lower quarterly fuel prices and an existing environmental remediation compliance order negatively impacted the operating ratio 10 and 30 basis points, respectively. A sale of intermodal equipment aided the operating ratio 70 basis points.
• Operating income of $2.4 billion was up 9%.

Operating Performance: Continued Improvement Across Safety and Operational Excellence as Network Challenged by Weather

• Union Pacific’s year-to-date reportable personal injury and reportable derailment rates both improved.
• Quarterly freight car velocity of 201 daily miles per car was flat.
• Quarterly locomotive productivity was 134 gross ton-miles (GTMs) per horsepower day, a 6% improvement.
• Average maximum train length was 9,544 feet, a 2% increase.
• Quarterly workforce productivity improved 5% to 1,031 car miles per employee.
• Fuel consumption rate of 1.080, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs, improved 1%.

2024 Outlook

Updated

• Second half volume outlook remains uncertain based on economic indicators and coal demand
• Profitability outlook continues positive momentum with strong service product, improving network efficiency, and solid pricing
• Share repurchases of ~$1.5 billion in 2024

Affirmed

• Pricing dollars in excess of inflation dollars
• No change to long-term capital allocation strategy
  • Capital plan of $3.4 billion

Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call

Union Pacific will webcast its second quarter 2024 earnings release presentation live at and via teleconference on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877-407-8293 (or for international participants, 201-689-8349).

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable, and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at .

.

This news release and related materials contain statements about the Company’s future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the potential impacts of public health crises, including pandemics, epidemics and the outbreak of other contagious diseases, such as the coronavirus and its variant strains (COVID); the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars and other geopolitical tensions in the middle east, and any impacts on our business operations, financial results, liquidity, and financial position, and on the world economy (including customers, employees, and supply chains), including as a result of fluctuations in volume and carloadings; expectations as to general macroeconomic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally, and volatility in interest rates and fuel prices; closing of customer manufacturing, distribution, or production facilities; expectations as to operational or service improvements; expectations as to hiring challenges; availability of employees; expectations regarding the effectiveness of steps taken or to be taken to improve operations, service, infrastructure improvements, and transportation plan modifications; expectations as to cost savings, revenue growth, and earnings; the time by which goals, targets, or objectives will be achieved; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to business, financial, and operational results, future economic performance, and general economic conditions; proposed new products and services; estimates of costs relating to environmental remediation and restoration; estimates and expectations regarding tax matters; expectations that claims, litigation, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, labor negotiations or agreements, cyberattacks or other matters. These statements are, or will be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information, or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management’s beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company’s future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024. The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References to the Company’s website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.