First quarter earnings per diluted share flat at $2.70, reflecting a 7% headwind from fuel and leap year
First quarter operating income flat at $2.4 billion
First quarter revenue carloads up 7%
First quarter freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge up 4%
OMAHA, Neb., April 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2025 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.70 per diluted share. This compares to 2024 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.69 per diluted share.
"The team delivered a solid start to the year as we worked closely with our customers to meet their needs in an uncertain environment," said Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer. "Looking to the rest of 2025, we will continue to execute our strategy that emphasizes safety, service, and operational excellence. Building on a strong foundation with our record First Quarter operating performance, we are positioned to deliver."
First Quarter Summary: 2025 vs. 2024
Financial Results: Volume Growth and Robust Core Pricing Gains Offset by Business Mix and Fuel Headwinds; First Quarter Records for Freight Revenue
Operating revenue of $6.0 billion was flat on 7% volume growth and solid core pricing gains offset by business mix, reduced fuel surcharge revenue, lower other revenue, and impact from leap year.
Core pricing dollars net of inflation were accretive to operating ratio.
Operating ratio was 60.7%, flat compared to 2024. Lower fuel prices and leap year unfavorably impacted the operating ratio 90 basis points.
Operating expenses were flat as productivity improvements and lower fuel costs offset volume-related costs and inflation.
Operating Performance: Continued Improvement in Service and Operational Excellence; First Quarter Records for Personal Injury Rate, Fuel Consumption Rate, Freight Car Velocity, and Workforce Productivity
Union Pacific’s reportable personal injury rate improved, matching our best-ever quarterly performance.
Quarterly freight car velocity was 215 daily miles per car, a 6% improvement.
Quarterly locomotive productivity was 136 gross ton-miles (GTMs) per horsepower day, a 1% improvement.
Average maximum train length was 9,490 feet, a 2% increase.
Quarterly workforce productivity improved 9% to 1,091 car miles per employee.
Fuel consumption rate improved 1% to 1.107, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs.
On Track With Investor Day Targets
Focused on Our Strategy Amid Uncertain Macro Environment
Affirming 2025 Outlook:
Volume impacted by mixed economic backdrop, coal demand, and challenging year-over-year international intermodal comparisons
Pricing dollars accretive to operating ratio
Earnings per share growth consistent with attaining the 3-year CAGR target of high-single to low-double digit
Industry-leading operating ratio and return on invested capital
No change to long-term capital allocation strategy - Capital plan of $3.4 billion - Share repurchases of $4.0 to $4.5 billion
First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call
Union Pacific will webcast its first quarter 2025 earnings release presentation live at www.up.com/investor and via teleconference on Thursday, April 24, 2025, 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 www.up.com.
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 future 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 (including those in response to increased traffic); 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 planned capital investments; proposed new products and services; estimates of costs relating to environmental remediation and restoration; estimates and expectations regarding tax matters; estimates and expectations regarding current or potential tariffs; 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 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 7, 2025. 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.
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
Millions, except per share amounts and percentages, for the periods Ended March 31,
2025
2024
%
Operating revenues
Freight revenues
$
5,691
$
5,616
1
%
Other revenues
336
415
(19
)
Total operating revenues
6,027
6,031
-
Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits
1,212
1,223
(1
)
Purchased services and materials
631
613
3
Depreciation
610
594
3
Fuel
603
658
(8
)
Equipment and other rents
241
216
12
Other
359
355
1
Total operating expenses
3,656
3,659
-
Operating income
2,371
2,372
-
Other income, net
78
92
(15
)
Interest expense
(322
)
(324
)
(1
)
Income before income taxes
2,127
2,140
(1
)
Income tax expense
(501
)
(499
)
-
Net income
$
1,626
$
1,641
(1
)%
Share and per share
Earnings per share - basic
$
2.71
$
2.69
1
%
Earnings per share - diluted
$
2.70
$
2.69
-
Weighted average number of shares - basic
601.0
609.2
(1
)
Weighted average number of shares - diluted
601.9
610.2
(1
)
Dividends declared per share
$
1.34
$
1.30
3
Operating ratio
60.7
%
60.7
%
- pts
Effective tax rate
23.6
%
23.3
%
0.3 pts
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited)
For the periods ended March 31,
2025
2024
%
Freight revenues (millions)
Grain & grain products
$
950
$
943
1
%
Fertilizer
210
201
4
Food & refrigerated
260
285
(9
)
Coal & renewables
416
388
7
Bulk
1,836
1,817
1
Industrial chemicals & plastics
607
572
6
Metals & minerals
521
515
1
Forest products
321
338
(5
)
Energy & specialized markets
633
679
(7
)
Industrial
2,082
2,104
(1
)
Automotive
581
611
(5
)
Intermodal
1,192
1,084
10
Premium
1,773
1,695
5
Total
$
5,691
$
5,616
1
%
Revenue carloads (thousands)
Grain & grain products
214
210
2
%
Fertilizer
49
47
4
Food & refrigerated
43
46
(7
)
Coal & renewables
185
177
5
Bulk
491
480
2
Industrial chemicals & plastics
169
164
3
Metals & minerals
174
170
2
Forest products
51
53
(4
)
Energy & specialized markets
143
154
(7
)
Industrial
537
541
(1
)
Automotive
195
207
(6
)
Intermodal [a]
874
739
18
Premium
1,069
946
13
Total
2,097
1,967
7
%
Average revenue per car
Grain & grain products
$
4,434
$
4,494
(1
)%
Fertilizer
4,339
4,271
2
Food & refrigerated
6,058
6,231
(3
)
Coal & renewables
2,250
2,189
3
Bulk
3,744
3,787
(1
)
Industrial chemicals & plastics
3,601
3,486
3
Metals & minerals
2,986
3,030
(1
)
Forest products
6,264
6,297
(1
)
Energy & specialized markets
4,433
4,416
-
Industrial
3,877
3,886
-
Automotive
2,971
2,947
1
Intermodal [a]
1,364
1,468
(7
)
Premium
1,658
1,792
(7
)
Average
$
2,714
$
2,855
(5
)%
[a] For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload.
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)
Millions
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,411
$
1,016
Other current assets
3,128
3,005
Investments
2,704
2,664
Properties, net
58,710
58,343
Operating lease assets
1,142
1,297
Other assets
1,397
1,390
Total assets
$
68,492
$
67,715
Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity
Debt due within one year
$
2,227
$
1,425
Other current liabilities
3,995
3,829
Debt due after one year
30,615
29,767
Operating lease liabilities
758
925
Deferred income taxes
13,144
13,151
Other long-term liabilities
1,714
1,728
Total liabilities
52,453
50,825
Total common shareholders' equity
16,039
16,890
Total liabilities and common shareholders' equity
$
68,492
$
67,715
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
Millions, for the periods ended March 31,
2025
2024
Operating Activities
Net income
$
1,626
$
1,641
Depreciation
610
594
Deferred and other income taxes
(7
)
23
Other - net
(19
)
(136
)
Cash provided by operating activities
2,210
2,122
Investing Activities
Capital investments*
(906
)
(797
)
Other - net
(32
)
(5
)
Cash used in investing activities
(938
)
(802
)
Financing Activities
Debt issued
1,996
400
Share repurchase programs
(1,420
)
-
Dividends paid
(804
)
(795
)
Debt repaid
(370
)
(1,358
)
Accelerated share repurchase programs pending final settlement
(300
)
-
Other - net
20
302
Cash used in financing activities
(878
)
(1,451
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
394
(131
)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year
1,028
1,074
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
$
1,422
$
943
Free Cash Flow**
Cash provided by operating activities
$
2,210
$
2,122
Cash used in investing activities
(938
)
(802
)
Dividends paid
(804
)
(795
)
Free cash flow
$
468
$
525
*
Capital investments include locomotive and freight car early lease buyouts of $127 million in 2025 and $96 million in 2024.
**
Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; however, we believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financing.
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
** Methodology used to report is not comparable with the reporting to the STB under docket number EP 770.
*** Fuel consumption is computed as follows: gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands.
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP (unaudited)
Debt / net income
Millions, except ratios
for the trailing twelve months ended [1]
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Debt
$
32,842
$
31,192
Net income
6,732
6,747
Debt / net income
4.9
4.6
Adjusted debt / adjusted EBITDA*
Millions, except ratios
for the trailing twelve months ended [1]
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Net income
$
6,732
$
6,747
Add:
Income tax expense
2,049
2,047
Depreciation
2,414
2,398
Interest expense
1,267
1,269
EBITDA
$
12,462
$
12,461
Adjustments:
Other income, net
(336
)
(350
)
Interest on operating lease liabilities [2]
40
48
Adjusted EBITDA (a)
$
12,166
$
12,159
Debt
$
32,842
$
31,192
Operating lease liabilities
1,062
1,271
Adjusted debt (b)
$
33,904
$
32,463
Adjusted debt / adjusted EBITDA (b/a)
2.8
2.7
[1]
The trailing twelve months income statement information ended March 31, 2025, is recalculated by taking the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, subtracting the three months ended March 31, 2024, and adding the three months ended March 31, 2025.
[2]
Represents the hypothetical interest expense we would incur (using the incremental borrowing rate) if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases.
*
Adjusted debt (total debt plus operating lease liabilities plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB (other post-retirement benefit) obligations) to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and adjustments for other income and interest on present value of operating leases) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the Company’s ability to sustain given debt levels (including leases) with the cash generated from operations. In addition, a comparable measure is used by rating agencies when reviewing the Company’s credit rating. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is debt to net income ratio. The tables above provide reconciliations from net income to adjusted EBITDA, debt to adjusted debt, and debt to net income to adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA. At both March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, the incremental borrowing rate on operating leases was 3.8%. Pension and OPEB were funded at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024.
Union Pacific Investor contact: Diana Prauner at 402-544-4227 or dprauner@up.com Union Pacific Media contact: Clarissa Beyah at 402-957-4793 or cbeyah@up.com
