CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) Announces Earnings Results

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02, FiscalAI reports. CSX had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 22.21%.The firm had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.44 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis.

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

• CSX posted a strong second quarter, with volume up 6%, revenue up 10% to a new quarterly record, and EPS up 23%. Operating income rose 17% as margins expanded 240 basis points despite fuel headwinds.
• The company raised full-year 2026 guidance, now expecting mid- to high-single-digit revenue growth, more than 350 basis points of operating margin expansion, and free cash flow growth above 80%. Capital spending remains unchanged at under $2.4 billion.
• CSX said it made meaningful progress on safety and productivity, including a 19% improvement in FRA injury rate, a 30% improvement in train accident rate, and better fuel efficiency for the fourth straight quarter. Management also highlighted continued cost discipline and lower non-fuel expenses.
• Service metrics were pressured by stronger-than-expected volume and crew tightness in some areas, leading to higher dwell even as velocity improved. Management expects sequential service improvement and only a modest headcount increase to support demand.
• Commercial momentum was broad-based, led by intermodal and solid merchandise performance, with management citing truck-to-rail conversion opportunities, the Howard Street Tunnel, and new service offerings as growth drivers. The company said pricing remains above plan and should benefit from tighter truck capacity and market repricing.

CSX Price Performance

Shares of CSX stock traded up $0.13 on Friday, reaching $52.94. The stock had a trading volume of 2,081,317 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,183,368. The business’s 50 day moving average is $47.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.08. The company has a market cap of $98.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.21. CSX has a 1 year low of $31.80 and a 1 year high of $53.31. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34.

CSX Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. CSX’s payout ratio is presently 34.36%.

Trending Headlines about CSX

Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CSX reported Q2 EPS of $0.54, ahead of estimates, on revenue of $3.94 billion, also above expectations, with revenue up 10.1% year over year. CSX earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Operating income rose 17% and operating margin expanded by 240 basis points to 38.3%, signaling stronger efficiency and profitability. CSX Q2 results release
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its 2026 outlook after volume increased 6% and intermodal shipments grew 9%, reinforcing confidence in demand and pricing trends. Reuters report on CSX results
• Positive Sentiment: Several brokerages turned more constructive after the earnings beat, including JPMorgan, Bank of America, TD Cowen, and UBS, with multiple price targets lifted into the mid-$50s. Analyst target updates
• Neutral Sentiment: CSX also received a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from brokerages, which supports the bullish setup but does not by itself change the near-term story. Consensus recommendation article
• Neutral Sentiment: One analyst, Morgan Stanley, kept a Sell rating with a $32 target, showing there is still some disagreement about upside. Morgan Stanley sell rating

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of CSX from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of CSX from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Truist Financial set a $46.00 price objective on shares of CSX in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Stephens started coverage on shares of CSX in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $57.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of CSX in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.54.

Insider Activity

In other CSX news, Director John J. Zillmer sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.45, for a total transaction of $464,500.00. Following the sale, the director owned 353,714 shares in the company, valued at $16,430,015.30. This trade represents a 2.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Kevin S. Boone sold 136,708 shares of CSX stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.70, for a total value of $6,384,263.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 208,622 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,742,647.40. This trade represents a 39.59% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CSX

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in CSX in the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CSX in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $67,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp bought a new stake in shares of CSX in the 4th quarter worth approximately $136,000. McMillan Office Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of CSX in the 4th quarter valued at $152,000. Finally, Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of CSX by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,235 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $480,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CSX Company Profile

CSX Corporation is a leading North American transportation company that provides rail-based freight services and supply-chain solutions. Its operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, moves a wide range of goods for customers across multiple industries, using a combination of long-haul rail service, intermodal operations and terminal and yard services. The company focuses on delivering efficient, reliable freight transportation between major production centers, consumption markets and port gateways.

CSX’s freight portfolio includes intermodal containers and trailers, bulk commodities, industrial products and specialized unit trains.