CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) Announces Earnings Results

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The transportation company reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.04, FiscalAI reports. CSX had a net margin of 22.21% and a return on equity of 24.98%. The company had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.96 billion.

Here are the key takeaways from CSX’s conference call:

• Strong third-quarter performance: Adjusted EPS rose 30% year over year to $0.57, while volume increased 5% and the operating margin expanded 420 basis points to 39.1%. Higher revenue and lower non-fuel costs drove a 25% increase in operating income.
• CSX raised its 2026 revenue-growth outlook to the high-single-digit range and maintained expectations for more than 350 basis points of full-year margin expansion, capital expenditures below $2.4 billion, and free-cash-flow growth above 80%.
• Intermodal was a key growth engine, with volume up 7% to a record level and revenue up 20%, supported by truck-to-rail conversions, tight trucking capacity, new services, and expanded double-stack operations through Baltimore.
• Management highlighted continued productivity gains, including record fuel efficiency, a 17% reduction in the FRA injury rate, a 4% decline in the accident rate, and a pipeline of more than 100 efficiency initiatives planned for 2027.
• Management expects normal fourth-quarter seasonal cost pressure, including higher labor and PS&O expenses and weaker winter fuel efficiency; intermodal trip-plan compliance also declined, while fertilizer volumes fell 13% and some Atlanta operations experienced temporary service tightness.

CSX Price Performance

Shares of CSX stock traded up $0.32 on Wednesday, hitting $48.40. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 14,221,522 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,365,559. CSX has a 52-week low of $33.63 and a 52-week high of $53.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $48.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $47.46. The company has a market capitalization of $89.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.21.

CSX Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 30th. CSX’s payout ratio is 32.37%.

Insider Activity

In other CSX news, CAO Angela C. Williams sold 30,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total value of $1,598,700.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,437 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $556,187.73. This represents a 74.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total transaction of $684,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 59,643 shares in the company, valued at $3,141,993.24. This trade represents a 17.90% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of CSX from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $53.00 price objective on shares of CSX in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of CSX from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of CSX from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $52.00 price target (up from $49.00) on shares of CSX in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.17.

Key CSX News

Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CSX reported third-quarter revenue of $4.02 billion, above the $3.96 billion consensus estimate, while diluted EPS of $0.57 exceeded expectations by $0.04. Revenue rose 12% year over year, and EPS increased 54%. CSX Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Operating income climbed 44% to $1.57 billion, while the operating margin expanded 880 basis points to 39.1%. Compared with adjusted results from last year, operating income rose 25%, net earnings increased 29% and EPS grew 30%. CSX Corp. Announces Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Total freight volume increased 5% to 1.69 million units, with intermodal volume up 7%, indicating broad volume momentum and supporting the company’s earnings growth. CSX Q3 Revenue and EPS Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: TD Cowen maintained its $54 price target, suggesting continued upside potential but no fresh change in its valuation view. TD Cowen CSX Price Target
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider activity shows four open-market sales and no purchases over the past six months. Separately, Raymond James reduced its CSX price target to $53 from $56, signaling some valuation caution despite the strong quarter. Raymond James Cuts CSX Price Target

About CSX

CSX Corporation is a transportation company whose primary business is freight railroading through its CSX Transportation subsidiary. The company operates an extensive rail network across the eastern United States, serving major industrial centers, population hubs, ports and distribution markets.

CSX transports a broad range of products, including chemicals, agricultural and food products, forest products, minerals, metals, automotive goods and other manufactured merchandise. Its services also include intermodal transportation, which combines rail service with trucks and containers, as well as the movement of coal and other bulk commodities.

The company traces its roots to the formation of CSX Corporation in 1980 through the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.