First look: Union Pacific profit up 7% in fourth quarter

Grain, fertilizer volumes drive improvement

Eight Midwest lawmakers want the Surface Transportation Board to compel Union Pacific to address rail service. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) on Thursday said fourth-quarter profit increased 7% on improved grain and fertilizer shipments, and core pricing gains.

Net income for the Omaha, Nebraska-based company was $1.76 billion, or $2.91 per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $1.65 billion, or $2.71 per share, in 2023. 

Intermodal volumes were 6% better on strong imports through West Coast port gateways.

Net income for all of 2024 was $6.7 billion, or $11.09 per diluted share, from net income of $6.4 billion, or $10.45 per diluted share, in 2023.

Shares rose more than 4% in pre-market trading.

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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.