greeksoup/ stock research

CSX Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income rose 17%: Operating income was $1.51 billion, against $1.28 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Revenue rose 10% on fuel and volume: Revenue was $3.94 billion, up 10%, attributed to higher fuel surcharge revenue along with higher volume and pricing. Source
  • Volume rose 6% across markets: Total volume was 1.68 million units, 6% above the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operating margin up 240 basis points: Operating margin was 38.3%, 240 basis points higher than in the prior-year quarter. Source

“Our railroaders successfully managed substantial volume growth while maintaining a consistent focus on safety and productivity, which allowed us to deliver improved financial performance”

Steve Angel, president and chief executive officer

Results and growth drivers

  • Operating income rose 17%: Operating income was $1.51 billion, against $1.28 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Revenue rose 10% on fuel and volume: Revenue was $3.94 billion, up 10%, attributed to higher fuel surcharge revenue along with higher volume and pricing. Source

Volume and intermodal growth

  • Volume rose 6% across markets: Total volume was 1.68 million units, 6% above the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Intermodal led volume growth: Intermodal volume grew 9%, which the release names as the lead driver of volume growth. Source

“Our second quarter results reflect the solid progress we’re making at CSX.”

Steve Angel, president and chief executive officer

Margins and expenses

  • Operating margin up 240 basis points: Operating margin was 38.3%, 240 basis points higher than in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Operating income grew faster than revenue: Operating income rose 17% while revenue rose 10%, so the profit line grew faster than sales. Source

Comparison with first quarter

  • First-quarter volume growth was 3%: First-quarter volume was 1.56 million units, 3% above the prior-year quarter, against 6% in the second quarter.
  • First-quarter revenue rose 2%: First-quarter revenue was $3.48 billion, up 2%, with higher merchandise pricing and intermodal volume among the drivers.
  • First-quarter earnings per share: First-quarter operating income was $1.25 billion and diluted EPS was $0.43.

Management commentary

  • First-quarter service and expense remarks: In the first quarter, management cited reliable and efficient service through changing market conditions and an improving expense profile.
  • First-quarter prospects remarks: In the first quarter, the CEO said he was encouraged by the railroad's prospects for that year and over the long term.
  • Second quarter called solid progress: The CEO said the second-quarter results reflected solid progress at CSX. Source

Disclosure and call details

  • Detailed financials in quarterly report: Detailed financial information is in the CSX Quarterly Financial Report, on the company website and in Form 8-K. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 July 2026

  • Service execution to be strengthened: Management said it will strengthen service execution in the second half while building momentum across the business. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said the company continues to make progress toward best-in-class performance. The second-quarter release does not restate this.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.