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Union Pacific Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $1,701 million, up 5% from $1,626 million. Diluted EPS was $2.87, up 6% from $2.70. Operating income rose 4% to $2,458 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $2.93: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.93, compared with $2.70 reported for the first quarter of 2025. The adjusted measure excludes acquisition-related expense, per the release's reconciliation. Source
  • Operating ratio improved 20 basis points: Reported operating ratio was 60.5%, against 60.7% a year earlier. The adjusted operating ratio was 59.9%, an 80 basis point improvement. Source
  • Management reported best-ever marks: Management described the quarter as best ever for terminal dwell and locomotive productivity, and best first quarter for velocity, train length, workforce productivity and fuel consumption rate. Source
  • Bulk revenue rose 10%: Bulk freight revenue rose 10% to $2,026 million, with grain up 11% and coal and renewables up 17%. Grain carloads rose 14% and coal and renewables carloads rose 16%. Source
  • Carloads fell 1%: Revenue carloads were 2,083 thousand, down 1%. Intermodal and premium carloads each fell 9%. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $631 million: Free cash flow was $631 million, against $468 million. Cash provided by operating activities was $2,440 million, up from $2,210 million. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: The company made no share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026, against $1,420 million a year earlier. The accelerated repurchase pending final settlement was $300 million in 2025. Source

“Our safety, service, and operating momentum continued in the first quarter as we further challenged 'what's possible' from our great railroad,”

Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Earnings per share Source2026 (reported diluted EPS)mid-single digit growth; 3-year CAGR target of high-single to low-double digit through 2027Kept
Capital plan Source2026$3.3 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: 2026 guidance is restated as affirmed; the EPS growth, the 3-year CAGR target and the $3.3 billion capital plan carry over from the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $1,701 million, up 5% from $1,626 million. Diluted EPS was $2.87, up 6% from $2.70. Operating income rose 4% to $2,458 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $2.93: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.93, compared with $2.70 reported for the first quarter of 2025. The adjusted measure excludes acquisition-related expense, per the release's reconciliation. Source
  • Operating revenue rose 3%: Operating revenue reached $6.2 billion. Management attributed growth to core pricing gains, fuel surcharge revenue and business mix, partly offset by 1% fewer carloads and lower other revenue. Source
  • Freight revenue rose 4%: Freight revenue was $5,893 million, up 4%. Excluding fuel surcharge, freight revenue grew 3%. Source
  • Operating ratio improved 20 basis points: Reported operating ratio was 60.5%, against 60.7% a year earlier. The adjusted operating ratio was 59.9%, an 80 basis point improvement. Source

Service and operating performance

  • Management reported best-ever marks: Management described the quarter as best ever for terminal dwell and locomotive productivity, and best first quarter for velocity, train length, workforce productivity and fuel consumption rate. Source
  • Car velocity rose 9%: Freight car velocity was 235 daily miles per car, up 9% from 215. Source
  • Safety rates both improved: The reportable personal injury rate and reportable derailment rate both improved, according to management. Source
  • Service indexes rose 4 and 5 points: Intermodal service performance index was 98%, up 4 points. Manifest service performance index was 98%, up 5 points. Source

“We grew reported net income 5%, increased earnings per share 6%, and improved our operating ratio.”

Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer

Freight by commodity group

  • Bulk revenue rose 10%: Bulk freight revenue rose 10% to $2,026 million, with grain up 11% and coal and renewables up 17%. Grain carloads rose 14% and coal and renewables carloads rose 16%. Source
  • Industrial revenue rose 5%: Industrial revenue was $2,191 million, up 5%. Chemicals and plastics rose 8%, metals and minerals rose 7%, and forest products fell 1%. Source
  • Premium revenue fell 5%: Premium revenue was $1,676 million, down 5%. Intermodal revenue fell 6% to $1,116 million, and automotive revenue fell 4% to $560 million. Source

Volumes, yields and traffic

  • Carloads fell 1%: Revenue carloads were 2,083 thousand, down 1%. Intermodal and premium carloads each fell 9%. Source
  • Revenue per car rose 4%: Average revenue per car was $2,829, up 4% from $2,714 a year earlier. Source
  • Ton-miles rose 7%: Revenue ton-miles totaled 111,498 million, up 7%, and premium ton-miles fell 8%. Source

“we have a solid foundation for another year of industry-leading results.”

Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer

Costs, fuel and margins

  • Operating expenses rose 3%: Total operating expenses were $3,759 million, up 3%. Purchased services and materials rose 7%, fuel rose 7%, and compensation and benefits rose 1%. Source
  • Fuel expense rose 7%: Fuel expense was $643 million, up 7%. The average fuel price per gallon was $2.69, up 7%, on 235 million gallons consumed, flat year on year. Source
  • Equipment rents fell 9%: Equipment and other rents were $219 million, down 9%. Other income, net rose 17% to $91 million, and interest expense fell 1% to $320 million. Source
  • Fuel consumption rate improved 4%: Fuel consumption rate was 1.064 gallons per thousand GTMs, a 4% improvement from 1.107. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $631 million: Free cash flow was $631 million, against $468 million. Cash provided by operating activities was $2,440 million, up from $2,210 million. Source
  • Capital investments rose to $937 million: Capital investments were $937 million, against $906 million, and cash used in investing activities was $988 million. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: The company made no share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026, against $1,420 million a year earlier. The accelerated repurchase pending final settlement was $300 million in 2025. Source
  • Cash balance fell to $735 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $735 million at March 31, 2026, from $1,266 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Leverage ratios declined: Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.5 on a trailing twelve-month basis, down from 2.7. Total debt was $30,651 million, down from $31,814 million. Source

Combination, workforce and equipment

  • Transcontinental combination in process: Management said the company is advancing through the regulatory process to create America's first transcontinental railroad. Source
  • Workforce productivity rose 7%: Workforce productivity was 1,163 car miles per employee, up 7%. Average total employees were 28,647, down 5%. Source
  • Locomotive productivity rose 6%: Locomotive productivity was 144 gross ton-miles per horsepower day, up 6% from 136 a year earlier. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Merger costs of $36 million reduced reported diluted EPS by $0.06 in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management's 2026 guidance cites a muted economic forecast and an aim to meet customer demand with service. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states the 2026 plan is on track with its Investor Day targets. Source
  • Not stated: The release lists operating ratio improvement as a 2026 item, with no status update given. 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.