UNION PACIFIC CORP - Quarter Report: 2022 June (Form 10-Q)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

For purposes of this report, unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to the “Corporation”, “Company”, “UPC”, “we”, “us”, and “our” mean Union Pacific Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Union Pacific Railroad Company, which will be separately referred to herein as “UPRR” or the “Railroad”.

1. Basis of Presentation

Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto contained in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at December 31, 2021, is derived from audited financial statements. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2022.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with GAAP as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC).

2. Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. (ASU) 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, which requires business entities to provide certain disclosures when they have received government assistance and use a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy to other accounting guidance. The ASU was effective January 1, 2022, and had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and can be adopted on a prospective basis no later than December 31, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Operations and Segmentation

The Railroad, along with its subsidiaries and rail affiliates, is our one reportable operating segment. Although we provide and analyze revenues by commodity group, we treat the financial results of the Railroad as one segment due to the integrated nature of our rail network. Our operating revenues are primarily derived from contracts with customers for the transportation of freight from origin to destination.

The following table represents a disaggregation of our freight and other revenues:

Although our revenues are principally derived from customers domiciled in the U.S., the ultimate points of origin or destination for some products we transport are outside the U.S. Each of our commodity groups includes revenues from shipments to and from Mexico. Included in the above table are revenues from our Mexico business, which amounted to $681 million and $618 million, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, and $1.3 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.

4. Stock-Based Compensation

We have several stock-based compensation plans where employees receive nonvested stock options, nonvested retention shares, and nonvested stock units. We refer to the nonvested shares and stock units collectively as “retention awards”. Starting in July 2021, employees are also able to participate in our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). 

Information regarding stock-based compensation appears in the table below:

Stock Options – Stock options are granted at the closing price on the date of grant, have 10-year contractual terms, and vest no later than 3 years from the date of grant. None of the stock options outstanding at June 30, 2022, are subject to performance or market-based vesting conditions.

The table below shows the annual weighted-average assumptions used for Black-Scholes valuation purposes:

The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant; the expected dividend yield is calculated as the ratio of dividends paid per share of common stock to the stock price on the date of grant; the expected life is based on historical and expected exercise behavior; and expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price over the expected life of the stock option.

A summary of stock option activity during the six months ended June 30, 2022, is presented below:

At June 30, 2022, there was $23 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years. Additional information regarding stock option exercises appears in the following table:

Retention Awards – Retention awards are granted at no cost to the employee, vest over periods lasting up to 4 years, and dividends and dividend equivalents are paid to participants during the vesting periods.

Changes in our retention awards during the six months ended June 30, 2022, were as follows:

At June 30, 2022, there was $113 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested retention awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years.

Performance Retention Awards – In February 2022, our Board of Directors approved performance stock unit grants. This plan is based on performance targets for annual return on invested capital (ROIC) and operating income growth (OIG) compared to companies in the S&P 100 Industrials Index plus the Class I railroads. We define ROIC as net operating profit adjusted for interest expense (including interest on average operating lease liabilities) and taxes on interest divided by average invested capital adjusted for average operating lease liabilities.

Changes in our performance retention awards during the six months ended June 30, 2022, were as follows:

At June 30, 2022, there was $37 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested performance retention awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years. This expense is subject to achievement of the performance measures established for the performance stock unit grants.

5. Retirement Plans

We provide defined benefit retirement income to eligible non-union employees through qualified and non-qualified (supplemental) pension plans. Qualified and non-qualified pension benefits are based on years of service and the highest compensation during the latest years of employment, with specific reductions made for early retirements. Non-union employees hired on or after January 1, 2018, are no longer eligible for pension benefits, but are eligible for an enhanced 401(k) plan.

Expense

Pension expense is determined based upon the annual service cost of benefits (the actuarial cost of benefits earned during a period) and the interest cost on those liabilities, less the expected return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets that recognizes changes in fair value over a 5-year period. This practice is intended to reduce year-to-year volatility in pension expense, but it can have the effect of delaying the recognition of differences between actual returns on assets and expected returns based on long-term rate of return assumptions. Differences in actual experience in relation to assumptions are not recognized in net income immediately, but are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss and, if necessary, amortized as pension expense.

The components of our net periodic pension cost were as follows:

Cash Contributions

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, cash contributions totaled $0 to the qualified pension plans. Any contributions made during 2022 will be based on cash generated from operations and financial market considerations. Our policy with respect to funding the qualified pension plans is to fund at least the minimum required by law and not more than the maximum amount deductible for tax purposes. At June 30, 2022, we do not have minimum cash funding requirements for 2022.

6. Other Income

Other income included the following:

7. Income Taxes

In the second quarter of 2022, the state of Nebraska enacted legislation to reduce its corporate income tax rate for future years resulting in a $55 million reduction of our deferred tax expense.

In the second quarter of 2021, the states of Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Idaho enacted legislation to reduce their corporate income tax rates for future years resulting in a $43 million reduction of our deferred tax expense.

8. Earnings Per Share

The following table provides a reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share:

9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/Loss

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss were as follows (net of tax):

10. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable includes freight and other receivables reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts. At June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, our accounts receivable were reduced by $9 million and $10 million, respectively. Receivables not expected to be collected in one year and the associated allowances are classified as other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. At June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, receivables classified as other assets were reduced by allowances of $47 million and $51 million, respectively.

Receivables Securitization Facility – The Railroad maintains an $800 million, 3-year receivables securitization facility (the Receivables Facility) maturing in July 2022, with the intent to renew under comparable terms and conditions. Under the Receivables Facility, the Railroad sells most of its eligible third-party receivables to Union Pacific Receivables, Inc. (UPRI), a consolidated, wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary that may subsequently transfer, without recourse, an undivided interest in accounts receivable to investors. The investors have no recourse to the Railroad’s other assets except for customary warranty and indemnity claims. Creditors of the Railroad do not have recourse to the assets of UPRI.

The amount recorded under the Receivables Facility was $600 million and $300 million at June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Receivables Facility was supported by $1.7 billion and $1.3 billion of accounts receivable as collateral at June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively, which, as a retained interest, is included in accounts receivable, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

The outstanding amount the Railroad maintains under the Receivables Facility may fluctuate based on current cash needs. The maximum allowed under the Receivables Facility is $800 million with availability directly impacted by eligible receivables, business volumes, and credit risks, including receivables payment quality measures such as default and dilution ratios. If default or dilution ratios increase one percent, the allowable outstanding amount under the Receivables Facility would not materially change.

11. Properties

The following tables list the major categories of property and equipment, as well as the weighted-average estimated useful life for each category (in years):

12. Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities

13. Financial Instruments

Short-Term Investments – All of the Company’s short-term investments consist of time deposits and government agency securities. These investments are considered Level 2 investments and are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $46 million of short-term investments. All short-term investments have a maturity of less than one year and are classified as held-to-maturity.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The fair value of our short- and long-term debt was estimated using a market value price model, which utilizes applicable U.S. Treasury rates along with current market quotes on comparable debt securities. All of the inputs used to determine the fair market value of the Corporation’s long-term debt are Level 2 inputs and obtained from an independent source. At June 30, 2022, the fair value of total debt was $27.7 billion, approximately $4.3 billion less than the carrying value. At December 31, 2021, the fair value of total debt was $32.9 billion, approximately $3.2 billion more than the carrying value. The fair value of the Corporation’s debt is a measure of its current value under present market conditions. The fair value of our cash equivalents approximates their carrying value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

14. Debt

Credit Facilities – During the second quarter 2022, we replaced our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility, which was scheduled to expire in June 8, 2023, with a new $2.0 billion facility that expires May 20, 2027 (the Facility). The Facility is based on substantially similar terms as those in the previous credit facility as described below. At June 30, 2022, we had $2.0 billion of credit available under our revolving credit facility, which is designated for general corporate purposes and supports the issuance of commercial paper. Credit facility withdrawals totaled $0 during the six months ended June 30, 2022. Commitment fees and interest rates payable under the Facility are similar to fees and rates available to comparably rated, investment-grade borrowers. The Facility allows for borrowings at floating rates based on Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), plus a spread, depending upon credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt. The Facility, requires UPC to maintain a debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) coverage ratio.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, we issued $2.0 billion and repaid $2.2 billion of commercial paper with maturities ranging from 7 to 86 days, and at June 30, 2022, we had $250 million of commercial paper with a weighted average interest rate of 1.5% outstanding. Our revolving credit facility supports our outstanding commercial paper balances, and, unless we change the terms of our commercial paper program, our aggregate issuance of commercial paper will not exceed the amount of borrowings available under the Facility.

Shelf Registration Statement and Significant New Borrowings – On February 3, 2022, the Board of Directors renewed its authorization for the Company to issue up to $12.0 billion of debt securities under the Company’s current three-year shelf registration filed on February 10, 2021. This reauthorization replaces the original Board authorization, which had $2.5 billion in remaining authority. Under our shelf registration, we may issue, from time to time any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or warrants for debt securities or preferred stock in one or more offerings.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, we issued the following unsecured, fixed-rate debt securities under our shelf registration:

We used the net proceeds from the offerings for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase programs. These debt securities include change-of-control provisions. At June 30, 2022, we had remaining authority to issue up to $8.5 billion of debt securities under our shelf registration.

Debt Redemption – On April 15, 2022, we redeemed all $750 million of outstanding 4.163% notes due July 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. 

Receivables Securitization Facility – As of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, we recorded $600 million and $300 million, respectively, of borrowings under our Receivables Facility as secured debt. (See further discussion of our receivables securitization facility in Note 10).

15. Commitments and Contingencies

Asserted and Unasserted Claims – Various claims and lawsuits are pending against us and certain of our subsidiaries. We cannot fully determine the effect of all asserted and unasserted claims on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. To the extent possible, we have recorded a liability where asserted and unasserted claims are considered probable and where such claims can be reasonably estimated. We do not expect that any known lawsuits, claims, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, or guarantees will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity after taking into account liabilities and insurance recoveries previously recorded for these matters.

Personal Injury – The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) governs compensation for work-related accidents. Under FELA, damages are assessed based on a finding of fault through litigation or out-of-court settlements. We offer a comprehensive variety of services and rehabilitation programs for employees who are injured at work.

Approximately 94% of the recorded liability is related to asserted claims and approximately 6% is related to unasserted claims at June 30, 2022. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate outcome of personal injury claims, it is reasonably possible that future costs to settle these claims may range from approximately $347 million to $381 million. We record an accrual at the low end of the range as no amount of loss within the range is more probable than any other. Estimates can vary over time due to evolving trends in litigation.

Our personal injury liability activity was as follows:

Environmental Costs – We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. We have identified 359 sites where we are or may be liable for remediation costs associated with alleged contamination or for violations of environmental requirements. This includes 30 sites that are the subject of actions taken by the U.S. government, including 20 that are currently on the Superfund National Priorities List. Certain federal legislation imposes joint and several liability for the remediation of identified sites; consequently, our ultimate environmental liability may include costs relating to activities of other parties, in addition to costs relating to our own activities at each site.

Our environmental liability activity was as follows:

The environmental liability includes future costs for remediation and restoration of sites, as well as ongoing monitoring costs, but excludes any anticipated recoveries from third-parties. Cost estimates are based on information available for each site, financial viability of other potentially responsible parties, and existing technology, laws, and regulations. The ultimate liability for remediation is difficult to determine because of the number of potentially responsible parties, site-specific cost sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties, the degree of contamination by various wastes, the scarcity and quality of volumetric data related to many of the sites, and the speculative nature of remediation costs. Estimates of liability may vary over time due to changes in federal, state, and local laws governing environmental remediation. Current obligations are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

Insurance – The Company has a consolidated, wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary (the Captive), that provides insurance coverage for certain risks including workers compensation, general liability, auto liability, and FELA claims. The Captive receives direct premiums, which are netted against the Company’s premium costs in other expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. We record both liabilities and reinsurance receivables using an actuarial analysis based on historical experience in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Indemnities – Our maximum potential exposure under indemnification arrangements, including certain tax indemnifications, can range from a specified dollar amount to an unlimited amount, depending on the nature of the transactions and the agreements. Due to uncertainty as to whether claims will be made or how they will be resolved, we cannot reasonably determine the probability of an adverse claim or reasonably estimate any adverse liability or the total maximum exposure under these indemnification arrangements. We do not have any reason to believe that we will be required to make any material payments under these indemnity provisions.

16. Share Repurchase Programs

Effective April 1, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 100 million shares of our common stock by March 31, 2025. These repurchases may be made on the open market or through other transactions. Our management has sole discretion with respect to determining the timing and amount of these transactions.

Our previous authorization, which was effective April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2022, was approved by our Board of Directors for up to 150 million shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2022, we repurchased a total of 83.3 million shares of our common stock under the 2019 authorization.

The table below represents shares repurchased under the repurchase program in the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:

Management's assessments of market conditions and other pertinent factors guide the timing and volume of all repurchases. We expect to fund any share repurchases under this program through cash generated from operations, the sale or lease of various operating and non-operating properties, debt issuances, and cash on hand. Open market repurchases are recorded in treasury stock at cost, which includes any applicable commissions and fees.

Accelerated Share Repurchase Programs – The Company has established accelerated share repurchase programs (ASRs) with financial institutions to repurchase shares of our common stock. These ASRs have been structured so that at the time of commencement, we pay a specified amount to the financial institutions and receive an initial delivery of shares. Additional shares may be received at the time of settlement. The final number of shares to be received is based on the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the ASR term, less a discount and subject to potential adjustments pursuant to the terms of such ASR.

On February 18, 2022, the Company received 7,012,232 shares of its common stock repurchased under ASRs for an aggregate of $2.2 billion. Upon settlement of these ASRs in the second quarter of 2022, we received 1,847,185 additional shares.

On May 26, 2021, the Company received 7,209,156 shares of its common stock repurchased under ASRs for an aggregate of $2.0 billion. Upon settlement of these ASRs in the third quarter of 2021, we received 1,983,859 additional shares.

ASRs are accounted for as equity transactions, and at the time of receipt, shares are included in treasury stock at fair market value as of the corresponding initiation or settlement date. The Company reflects shares received as a repurchase of common stock in the weighted average common shares outstanding calculation for basic and diluted earnings per share.

17. Related Parties

UPRR and other North American railroad companies jointly own TTX Company (TTX). UPRR has a 36.79% economic and voting interest in TTX while the other North American railroads own the remaining interest. In accordance with ASC 323 Investments - Equity Method and Joint Venture, UPRR applies the equity method of accounting to our investment in TTX.

TTX is a rail car pooling company that owns rail cars and intermodal wells to serve North America’s railroads. TTX assists railroads in meeting the needs of their customers by providing rail cars in an efficient, pooled environment. All railroads have the ability to utilize TTX rail cars through car hire by renting rail cars at stated rates.

UPRR had $1.6 billion recognized as investments related to TTX in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of both June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021. TTX car hire expenses of $98 million and $95 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $192 million and $191 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, are included in equipment and other rents in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, UPRR had accounts payable to TTX of $65 million and $57 million as of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively. 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022, Compared to

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

For purposes of this report, unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to “UPC”, “Corporation”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” shall mean Union Pacific Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Union Pacific Railroad Company, which we separately refer to as “UPRR” or the “Railroad”.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and applicable notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 1, and other information included in this report. Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).

The Railroad, along with its subsidiaries and rail affiliates, is our one reportable business segment. Although we provide and analyze revenues by commodity group, we treat the financial results of the Railroad as one segment due to the integrated nature of our rail network.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of these financial statements requires estimation and judgment that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. If these estimates differ materially from actual results, the impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements may be material. Our critical accounting estimates are available in Item 7 of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the first six months of 2022, there have not been any significant changes with respect to the policies used to develop our critical accounting estimates.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarterly Summary

The Company reported earnings of $2.93 per diluted share on net income of $1.8 billion and an operating ratio of 60.2% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to earnings of $2.72 per diluted share on net income of $1.8 billion and an operating ratio of 55.1% for the second quarter of 2021. Freight revenues increased 14% in the quarter compared to the same period in 2021 driven by a 16% increase in average revenue per car (ARC), partially offset by a 1% decline in volume. The ARC increase was due to higher fuel surcharge revenues, core pricing gains, and positive mix of traffic (for example, a relative decrease in intermodal shipments, which have a lower ARC). 

As we entered the quarter, our service metrics were deteriorating caused by congestion across the system hindering our ability to handle all the market demand. To address this congestion, we accelerated hiring and training new employees, temporarily relocated train, engine, and yard employees to areas with the greatest need, added locomotives to the fleet in select locations, and reduced freight car inventory from our network, including asking customers to reduce their freight car inventory by adjusting their pipeline when their inventory exceeded set thresholds in our servicing yards. These actions had a negative impact on volumes across all three commodity groups. In addition, intermodal volumes declined with the on-going supply chain disruptions and the COVID shutdowns in China. Partially offsetting these declines were some recovery of the automotive market and strong demand for rock. 

Crude oil prices remained above $100 a barrel throughout most of the quarter, as the global energy market was impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, driving an 87% increase in our average fuel price for the quarter. Along with the higher cost of fuel, costs increased due to the additional resources deployed to improve network fluidity, higher inflation, and higher personal injury costs. These increased costs mostly offset the higher revenues as operating income increased 1% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2021.

Operating Revenues