Summary
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP) reported its first-quarter results for 2018, showing a decrease in net income and diluted earnings per share compared to the previous year. This decline was primarily attributed to foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar-denominated debt and the absence of a significant management transition recovery that boosted earnings in Q1 2017. However, excluding these items, adjusted diluted EPS increased by 8% and adjusted net income rose by 6%, driven by higher freight volumes. Total revenues saw a 4% increase, largely due to a 6% growth in revenue ton miles (RTMs), indicating increased operational activity. Despite this, operating performance metrics like average train speed decreased and terminal dwell time increased, primarily due to challenging winter operating conditions. The company also initiated a share repurchase program, buying back 1.4 million shares for $318 million in the quarter, contributing to a reduction in outstanding shares.
Key Highlights
- 1Total revenues increased by 4% to $1,662 million, driven by a 6% increase in Revenue Ton Miles (RTMs).
- 2Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) decreased by 18% to $2.41, but Adjusted Diluted EPS increased by 8% to $2.70, reflecting underlying operational improvements.
- 3Operating income decreased by 11% due to harsh winter conditions, cost inflation, and foreign exchange losses, but adjusted operating income showed a modest 2% decline.
- 4The company repurchased approximately 1.4 million common shares for $318 million during the quarter as part of its normal course issuer bid.
- 5Operating expenses increased by 12%, largely due to higher compensation and benefits, increased fuel costs driven by price and volume, and the impact of severe winter weather.
- 6Safety indicators showed a slight decrease in personal injuries but an increase in train accidents compared to the prior year.
- 7CP's credit ratings remained stable with a mid-investment grade rating from S&P and Moody's, with a target for Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.0-2.5.