Canadian Pacific reports first quarter 2020 operating results
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
A CP trained derailed near Minneapolis yesterday.
Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced first-quarter operating results, including revenues of $2.04 billion, an operating ratio (“OR”) of 59.2 percent, diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $2.98 and adjusted diluted EPS of $4.42.
“These impressive Q1 2020 results are due to the efforts of our CP family, the leadership of our talented management team and strict adherence to the foundations of our precision scheduled railroading model,” said Keith Creel, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The entire CP team is proud to deliver for our customers, shareholders and the broader economy today, and always.”
First-quarter highlights
- Revenues increased by 16 percent to a Q1 record $2.04 billion, from $1.77 billion last year
- Reported diluted EPS was $2.98, a 4 percent decrease from $3.09 last year, and adjusted diluted EPS was $4.42, a 58 percent increase from $2.79 last year
- Operating ratio improved by 1,010 basis points to a Q1 record 59.2 percent
- Operating income increased by 54 percent to $834 million from $543 million last year
Updated 2020 outlook
As a result of the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to business operations and the broader macroeconomy, CP has updated its 2020 outlook.
Based on CP’s current view of the demand environment, the company now expects volume, as measured in revenue ton miles, to be down mid-single digits and adjusted diluted EPS to be roughly flat year over year1.
In spite of currency headwinds, CP continues to expect capital expenditures of $1.6 billion as the company takes advantage of available track time to better position the network for recovery and support long-term shareholder returns.
CP’s revised guidance assumes a Canadian-to-U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.40, other components of net periodic benefit recovery to decrease by approximately $40 million versus 2019 and an effective tax rate of 25 percent.
“We have had a tremendous start to 2020. Our operating team is tried and tested, and has shown exemplary leadership during a challenging period, including now managing the COVID-19 crisis,” said Creel. “The same operating model that produced record results for CP during good times now serves us well during challenging economic times. The company is in a strong position from both a balance sheet and liquidity perspective, and as we navigate through this extraordinary period, we remain well-positioned not only to weather this storm, but to recover stronger on the other side. I could not be prouder of the team, particularly those on the operating side who continue to deliver for North Americans.”
1 CP’s expectation for adjusted diluted EPS in 2020 is based on 2019’s adjusted diluted EPS of $16.44. CP’s reported diluted EPS was $17.52 in 2019.
Conference call details
CP will discuss its results with the financial community in a conference call beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. MT) today.
Conference Call Access
Toronto participants dial in number: 1-647-427-7450
Operator assisted toll free dial in number: 1-888-231-8191
Callers should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call.
Webcast
We encourage you to access the webcast and presentation material in the Investors section of CP’s website at investor.cpr.ca
A replay of the first-quarter conference call will be available by phone through to April 28, 2020 at 416-849-0833 or toll free 1-855-859-2056, password 1650409.
Access to the webcast and audio file of the presentation will be available at investor.cpr.ca
Non-GAAP Measures
Although CP has provided a forward-looking non-GAAP measure (adjusted diluted EPS), management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, the forward-looking adjusted diluted EPS to the most comparable GAAP measure, due to unknown variables and uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value. In past years, CP has recognized significant asset impairment charges, management transition costs related to senior executives and discrete tax items. These or other similar, large unforeseen transactions affect diluted EPS but may be excluded from CP’s adjusted diluted EPS. Additionally, the U.S.-to-Canadian dollar exchange rate is unpredictable and can have a significant impact on CP’s reported results but may be excluded from CP’s adjusted diluted EPS. In particular, CP excludes the FX impact of translating the Company’s debt and lease liabilities, the impact from changes in income tax rates and a provision for uncertain tax item from adjusted diluted EPS. Please see Note on Forward-looking information below for further discussion.
For information regarding non-GAAP measures, including reconciliations to the nearest GAAP measures, see the attached supplementary schedule non-GAAP Measures.
Note on forward-looking information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and statements about possible future events, conditions, and results of operations or performance. Forward-looking information may contain statements with words or headings such as “financial expectations”, “key assumptions”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “will”, “outlook”, “should” or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This news release contains forward-looking information relating, but not limited to, statements concerning 2020 volume as measured in revenue ton-miles, adjusted diluted EPS, capital program investments, the U.S.-to-Canadian dollar exchange rate, annualized effective tax rate, other components of net periodic benefit recovery, the success of our business, our operations, priorities and plans, anticipated financial and operational performance, business prospects and demand for our services.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to CP’s experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to: North American and global economic growth; commodity demand growth; sustainable industrial and agricultural production; commodity prices and interest rates; foreign exchange rates (as specified herein); effective tax rates (as specified herein); performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out our business plan; geopolitical conditions, applicable laws, regulations and government policies; the availability and cost of labour, services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CP; and the anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on CP businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition. Although CP believes the expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. By its nature, CP’s forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking information, including, but not limited to, the following factors: changes in business strategies; general North American and global economic, credit and business conditions; risks associated with agricultural production, such as weather conditions and insect populations; the availability and price of energy commodities; the effects of competition and pricing pressures; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity prices; uncertainty surrounding timing and volumes of commodities being shipped via CP; inflation; geopolitical instability; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; changes in fuel prices; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; labour disputes; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; transportation of dangerous goods; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; currency and interest rate fluctuations; effects of changes in market conditions and discount rates on the financial position of pension plans and investments; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; climate change; various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, and cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; and the pandemic created by the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus (and the disease known as COVID-19) and resulting effects on economic conditions, the demand environment for logistics requirements and energy prices, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions, and disruptions to global supply chains. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. These and other factors are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CP with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements” in CP’s annual and interim reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, CP undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information, or the foregoing assumptions and risks affecting such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
A Canadian Pacific news release.
Editor’s Note: While we don’t usually include the forward-looking information in quarterly financial reports, this report contains information about COVID-19 that should be useful to readers. DCL
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