CSX Backs FY EPS Growth Outlook - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - CSX Corp. (CSX) said that it continues to expect earnings per share growth for the full year to be in the mid-to-high single digit range, as well as meaningful margin expansion as the company makes progress toward a mid-60s operating ratio.

Earnings growth this year will be driven predominantly by accelerating pricing performance and productivity gains approaching $200 million as the company cycles strong volume comparisons and additional headwinds coal.

At the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2015 Transportation Conference in Boston, CSX Chief Financial Officer Fredrik Eliasson outlined the company's view of second quarter volume, which is tracking slightly below expected levels due to very strong comparisons to last year. However, the company still expects second quarter earnings per share growth that is flat to slightly up compared to last year.

Eliasson highlighted CSX's financial performance over the past decade, during which the company delivered a compound annual growth rate in earnings per share of 20 percent, despite the loss of nearly $900 million in coal revenue over the last few years.