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Union Pacific Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating revenue grew 3 percent: Operating revenue reached $6.2 billion, up 3% from $6,091 million, on core pricing gains partly offset by lower fuel surcharge. Operating income rose 6% to $2,549 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $3.01: Net income was $1,788 million, up 7%. Diluted EPS was $3.01 against $2.75 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $3.08. Source
  • Intermodal revenue fell 3 percent: Intermodal freight revenue fell 3% to $1,199 million. Management described the international intermodal comparison as challenging. Source
  • Operating ratio improved on both bases: Reported operating ratio was 59.2%, down 110 basis points. Adjusted operating ratio was 58.5%, down 180 basis points. Management said pricing dollars are accretive to operating ratio. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose year to date: Cash provided by operating activities was $7,065 million year to date, up from $6,684 million. Free cash flow was $1,856 million, against $1,855 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share repurchases paused for merger: Share repurchase programs totaled $2,679 million year to date, against $831 million a year earlier. Repurchases are now paused for the merger. Source
  • Transaction awaits regulatory approval: Management said the team is focused on regulatory approval of the Norfolk Southern transaction while continuing operating improvements. Source

“Our third quarter results serve as a proof point that we are successfully executing on our strategy”

Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital plan Source2025$3.4 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance withdrawn: The second quarter share repurchase range of $4.0 to $4.5 billion no longer appears; repurchases are paused for the Norfolk Southern merger. Source
  • Guidance kept: The $3.4 billion capital plan is stated again without change from the second quarter release. Source
  • New: The release describes a pending combination with Norfolk Southern, which the second quarter release did not mention. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Operating revenue grew 3 percent: Operating revenue reached $6.2 billion, up 3% from $6,091 million, on core pricing gains partly offset by lower fuel surcharge. Operating income rose 6% to $2,549 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $3.01: Net income was $1,788 million, up 7%. Diluted EPS was $3.01 against $2.75 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $3.08. Source
  • Freight revenue excluding fuel grew 4%: Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge grew 4%, which the company described as a best ever quarter record. Total freight revenue was $5,927 million, up 3%. Source

Segments and products

  • Bulk revenue rose 7 percent: Bulk freight revenue rose 7% to $1,930 million. Coal and renewables grew 16% to $470 million, and grain and grain products grew 6% to $975 million. Source
  • Industrial revenue rose 3 percent: Industrial freight revenue rose 3% to $2,194 million, with industrial chemicals and plastics up 8% and metals and minerals up 7%. Energy and specialized markets fell 3%. Source
  • Intermodal revenue fell 3 percent: Intermodal freight revenue fell 3% to $1,199 million. Management described the international intermodal comparison as challenging. Source

“As we work towards regulatory approval, our team is focused and driving continued improvements in our pursuit of what's possible.”

Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer

Operating performance and service

  • Freight car velocity improved 8 percent: Freight car velocity was 226 daily miles per car, an 8% improvement. Average terminal dwell fell 9% to 20.4 hours. Source
  • Locomotive productivity improved 4 percent: Locomotive productivity was 140 gross ton-miles per horsepower day, up 4%. Average train length rose 2% to 9,801 feet. Source
  • Workforce productivity improved 6 percent: Workforce productivity rose to 1,165 car miles per employee. The company reported that its reportable injury and derailment rates both improved. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating ratio improved on both bases: Reported operating ratio was 59.2%, down 110 basis points. Adjusted operating ratio was 58.5%, down 180 basis points. Management said pricing dollars are accretive to operating ratio. Source
  • Fuel expense rose 1 percent: Fuel expense was $616 million, up 1%. Gallons consumed rose 3% to 235 million, and the average price per gallon fell 2% to $2.56. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 1 percent: Total operating expenses were $3,695 million, up 1%, while operating income rose 6% to $2,549 million. Source
  • Average employees fell 4 percent: Average total employees fell 4% to 28,871 in the quarter, while workforce productivity rose 6%. Source
  • Nine-month adjustments bridge to adjusted EPS: Nine-month reported diluted EPS was $8.87. Adjustments for acquisition-related expense, a deferred tax adjustment and a crew staffing agreement bring it to $8.82. Source

Demand and volumes

  • Revenue carloads flat, ton-miles up: Revenue carloads were flat at 2,163 thousand in the quarter. Revenue ton-miles rose 5% to 108,855 million. Source
  • Coal and bulk ton-miles rose: Coal and renewables revenue ton-miles rose 22% to 24,013 million, and bulk ton-miles rose 12%. Coal and renewables carloads rose 13% to 216 thousand. Source
  • Intermodal service index up 12 points: Intermodal service performance index was 98%, up 12 points. Manifest service performance index was 100%, up 11 points. Source
  • Intermodal carloads fell 5 percent: Intermodal carloads fell 5% to 860 thousand in the quarter. Year to date, intermodal carloads rose 4% to 2,551 thousand. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose year to date: Cash provided by operating activities was $7,065 million year to date, up from $6,684 million. Free cash flow was $1,856 million, against $1,855 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital investments rose year to date: Capital investments were $2,792 million year to date, against $2,530 million a year earlier, and include $311 million of locomotive and freight car early lease buyouts. Source
  • Share repurchases paused for merger: Share repurchase programs totaled $2,679 million year to date, against $831 million a year earlier. Repurchases are now paused for the merger. Source
  • Dividend per share rose 3 percent: Dividends declared per share were $1.38 in the quarter, up 3% from $1.34, and $4.06 year to date. Dividends paid were $2,418 million year to date. Source
  • Leverage ratios little changed: Debt was $31,807 million at September 30, 2025. Debt to net income was 4.5 and adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.6, against 2.7 at December 31, 2024. Source

Norfolk Southern transaction

  • Merger costs excluded from adjusted results: Results include merger costs of $41 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, which the company excludes from adjusted results. Source
  • Adjusted operating income reconciled from reported: The reconciliation to GAAP shows reported operating income of $2,549 million adjusted to $2,590 million for the quarter. Source
  • Transaction awaits regulatory approval: Management said the team is focused on regulatory approval of the Norfolk Southern transaction while continuing operating improvements. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 October 2025

  • Merger awaits regulatory approval: Management said it is working toward regulatory approval of the Norfolk Southern transaction. The release gives no closing date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volumes (revenue carloads) Source2,163 thousand, flat year over year
Revenue per unit (average revenue per car) Source$2,740, up 3%
Operating ratio Source59.2%
Fuel cost (average price per gallon consumed) Source$2.56, down 2%
Fleet productivity (freight car velocity) Source226 daily miles per car, up 8%
Fleet productivity (locomotive productivity) Source140 GTMs per horsepower day, up 4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management flagged a challenging international intermodal comparison; intermodal freight revenue fell 3% in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: The Norfolk Southern transaction depends on regulatory approval, and management said the team is working toward it. Source
  • Financial: Merger costs of $41 million were recorded in the quarter, adding $0.07 to reported diluted EPS. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track with its Investor Day targets, including an industry-leading operating ratio and return on invested capital. Source
  • On track: Management said EPS growth is consistent with attaining the 3-year CAGR target of high-single to low-double digit. Source
  • Not stated: Management restated the $3.4 billion capital plan for 2025; the release does not state progress against it. Source

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.