CSX Updates Third Quarter and Full-Year Expectations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX (NYSE: CSX) Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik Eliasson, formerly the company's Chief Financial Officer, today reviewed performance to date and updated investors on the company's third quarter and full-year expectations at the Cowen and Company 8^th Annual Global Transportation Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The company delivered strong financial, service and efficiency improvements in the first six months of 2015, but expects the second half of the year to be more challenging given intensifying headwinds in its coal markets.

"In the third quarter, we see strong pricing that reflects the value of our service, and we continue to drive greater asset utilization and reduce costs as we match our resources with demand while improving our service product," Eliasson said.  "At the same time, overall volume to date is down about two percent, with both our domestic coal and merchandise markets tracking slightly below the company's original third quarter expectations."

"While we continue to target flat earnings per share for the third quarter, achieving that estimate will be more challenging given the weaker than expected volumes," said Eliasson.  "In addition, with the volume declines this quarter and ongoing challenges to coal that are expected to continue in the fourth quarter, CSX now expects full-year earnings per share growth in the mid-single digits."

That earnings growth will be delivered despite domestic coal revenue declines that may exceed $400 million for the year. As CSX continues to focus on its value drivers of growing merchandise and intermodal business, value pricing and efficiency savings, the company still expects to drive meaningful full-year margin expansion this year as it progresses towards its longer term goal of a mid-60s operating ratio.

About CSX Disclosures and the Company

This announcement, as well as additional financial information, is available on the company's website at http://investors.csx.com.  CSX also uses social media channels to communicate information about the company. Although social media channels are not intended to be the primary method of disclosure for material information, it is possible that certain information CSX posts on social media could be deemed to be material.  Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review the information we post on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX) and on Slideshare (http://www.slideshare.net/HowTomorrowMoves).  The social media channels used by CSX may be updated from time to time.

More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX).

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. 

SOURCE CSX

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