Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Canadian Pacific (CP) Q1 Earnings Beat, Revenues Miss Mark

Read MoreHide Full Article

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s (CP - Free Report) first-quarter 2021 earnings (excluding a penny from non-recurring items) of $3.54 (C$4.48) per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.47. Quarterly earnings increased 7.3% on a year-over-year basis due to low costs.

However, quarterly revenues of $1,547 million (C$1,959 million) missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,581.8 million. The top line was hurt by a decline in freight revenues.

Freight revenues, contributing 97.9% to the top line, fell 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. The company’s freight segment consists of Grain (up 7.2%), Coal (up 8.7%), Potash (down 9.8%), Fertilizers and sulphur (up 10%), Forest products (up 2.6%), Energy, chemicals and plastics (down 21%), Metals, minerals and consumer products (down 15.9%), Automotive (up 24.1%), and Intermodal (down 2.7%). In the reported quarter, total freight revenues per revenue ton-miles (RTMs) slipped 4% year over year. Total freight revenues per carload also declined 4% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.


Operating income dropped 6%, while operating expenses dipped 2% year over year in the quarter under review. Operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues on an adjusted basis) deteriorated to 60.2% in the first quarter from 59.2% in the year-ago quarter. The downside was due to $33 million cost incurred in relation to its impending acquisition of Kansas City Southern . Notably, a lower value of the operating ratio bodes well.

Both Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Liquidity

The company exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of C$360 million compared with C$247 million at the end of the first quarter of 2020. Long-term debt amounted to C$7,958 million compared with C$8,585 million at the end of December 2020.

2021 Guidance

Canadian Pacific anticipates adjusted earnings per share to increase in double-digits in 2021 compared with C$17.67 reported in 2020. Additionally, volumes, measured in RTMs, are expected to be in high single digits. Capital expenditures for the year are estimated at C$1.55 billion.

Sectorial Snapshot

Within the broader Transportation sector, Delta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) recently reported first-quarter 2021 results.

Delta, carrying a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), incurred a loss (excluding $1.70 from non-recurring items) of $3.55 per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $3.08. Meanwhile, total revenues of $4,150 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,821.3 million.

J.B. Hunt, a Zacks #3-Ranked player, reported earnings of $1.37 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.18. Total operating revenues of $2,618.1 million also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,486.9 million.

Bitcoin, Like the Internet Itself, Could Change Everything

Blockchain and cryptocurrency has sparked one of the most exciting discussion topics of a generation. Some call it the “Internet of Money” and predict it could change the way money works forever. If true, it could do to banks what Netflix did to Blockbuster and Amazon did to Sears. Experts agree we’re still in the early stages of this technology, and as it grows, it will create several investing opportunities.

Zacks’ has just revealed 3 companies that can help investors capitalize on the explosive profit potential of Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies with significantly less volatility than buying them directly.

See 3 crypto-related stocks now >>

Published in