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Union Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results
Omaha, Neb., January 23, 2025
- Fourth quarter earnings per diluted share of $2.91, up 7%
- Fourth quarter operating ratio of 58.7%
- Full year earnings per diluted share of $11.09, up 6%
- Full year operating ratio of 59.9%
- Full year return on invested capital of 15.8%
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2024 fourth quarter net income of $1.8 billion, or $2.91 per diluted share. These results include $40 million of labor expense related to the ratification of a crew staffing agreement. This compares to 2023 fourth quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.71 per diluted share.
Reported net income for full year 2024 was $6.7 billion, or $11.09 per diluted share. These full year results compare to full year 2023 net income of $6.4 billion, or $10.45 per diluted share.
“Our strong fourth quarter results represent a great capstone to a very successful year for Union Pacific,” said Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer. “The team has fully embraced our strategy to lead the industry in safety, service, and operational excellence. That commitment has produced industry leading financial results in 2024, punctuated by our strong finish to the year. We will carry this momentum into 2025 as we seek to unlock the full potential of the UP franchise.”
Fourth Quarter Summary: 2024 vs. 2023
Financial Results: Strong Service and Efficient Performance Enabled Volume Growth; Fourth Quarter Records for Operating Income and Net Income
- Operating revenue of $6.1 billion was down 1% driven by lower fuel surcharge revenue, unfavorable business mix, and lower other revenue, partially offset by increased volume and core pricing gains.
- Revenue carloads were up 5%.
- Operating ratio was 58.7%, an improvement of 220 basis points. This includes an unfavorable 70 basis point impact from the ratification of a crew staffing agreement.
- Operating income of $2.5 billion was up 5%.
Operating Performance: Improved Network Fluidity Amid Volume Growth; Fourth Quarter Record for Workforce Productivity
- Quarterly freight car velocity improved 1% to 219 daily miles per car.
- Quarterly locomotive productivity declined 3% to 136 gross ton-miles (GTMs) per horsepower day.
- Quarterly workforce productivity increased 6% to 1,118 car miles per employee.
- Fuel consumption rate improved 1% to 1.078, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs.
Full Year Summary: 2024 vs. 2023
Financial Results: Higher Operating Revenue Driven by Volume and Core Pricing Gains
- Operating revenue of $24.3 billion was up 1% driven by increased volume and core pricing gains, partially offset by lower fuel surcharge revenue, unfavorable business mix, and lower other revenue.
- Revenue carloads increased 3%.
- Operating ratio of 59.9% improved 240 basis points.
- Operating Income of $9.7 billion was up 7%.
- Union Pacific’s 2024 capital program totaled $3.4 billion.
- The company repurchased 6.3 million shares in 2024 at an aggregate cost of $1.5 billion.
Operating Performance: Strong Improvement Across Safety, Service, and Operational Excellence; Full Year Record for Workforce Productivity
- Union Pacific’s reportable personal injury and reportable derailment rates both improved.
- Freight car velocity improved 2% to 208 daily miles per car.
- Locomotive productivity improved 5% to 135 GTMs per horsepower day.
- Workforce productivity improved 6% to 1,062 car miles per employee.
- Fuel consumption rate improved 1% to 1.082, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs.
2025 Outlook: On Track with Investor Day Targets
- Volume impacted by mixed economic backdrop, coal demand, and challenging year-over-year international intermodal comparisons
- Pricing dollars accretive to operating ratio
- Earnings per share growth consistent with attaining the 3-year CAGR target of high-single to low-double digit
- Industry-leading operating ratio and return on invested capital
- No change to long-term capital allocation strategy
- Capital plan of $3.4 billion
- Share repurchases of $4.0 to $4.5 billion
Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call
Union Pacific will provide a webcast for its fourth quarter 2024 earnings release presentation live at https://investor.unionpacific.com and via teleconference on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877-407-8293 (or for international participants, 201-689-8349).
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable, and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.
Union Pacific Investor contact: Diana Prauner at 402-544-4227 or dprauner@up.com
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This news release and related materials contain statements about the Company’s future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the potential impacts of public health crises, including pandemics, epidemics and the outbreak of other contagious diseases, such as the coronavirus and its variant strains (COVID); the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars and other geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and any impacts on our business operations, financial results, liquidity, and financial position, and on the world economy (including customers, employees, and supply chains), including as a result of fluctuations in volume and carloadings; expectations as to general macroeconomic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally, and future volatility in interest rates and fuel prices; closing of customer manufacturing, distribution, or production facilities; expectations as to operational or service improvements; expectations as to hiring challenges; availability of employees; expectations regarding the effectiveness of steps taken or to be taken to improve operations, service, infrastructure improvements, and transportation plan modifications (including those in response to increased traffic); expectations as to cost savings, revenue growth, and earnings; the time by which goals, targets, or objectives will be achieved; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to business, financial, and operational results, future economic performance, and planned capital investments ; proposed new products and services; estimates of costs relating to environmental remediation and restoration; estimates and expectations regarding tax matters; estimates and expectations regarding potential tariffs; expectations that claims, litigation, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, labor negotiations or agreements, cyberattacks or other matters. These statements are, or will be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information, or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management’s beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.
Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company’s future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024. The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).
Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References to the Company’s website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.
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The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.
Media Contact
Clarissa Beyah
402-957-4793
cbeyah@up.com