We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Kansas City Southern Aided by Cost Cuts Amid Low Volumes
Read MoreHide Full Article
We recently issued an updated report on Kansas City Southern . Factors like reduced rail freight traffic and change in Mexico fuel excise tax credit hurt the company’s financials. However, adoption of the precision scheduled railroading model and its shareholder-friendly approach are aiding growth.
Kansas City Southern's adoption of the precision scheduled railroading model is aimed at improving operational efficiencies and reducing network congestion. Improvement in adjusted operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) is an added positive. This can be attributed to the company's efforts to cut costs. Lower the value of this key metric, the better. Kansas City Southern expects 2020 operating ratio in the 60-61% range.
Trump's decision to indefinitely suspend 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico bodes well for Kansas City Southern, since the company generates a significant amount of revenues from the country.
The company's efforts to reward its shareholders through dividend payments and buybacks are impressive. It raised quarterly dividend payout on its common stock by 11.1% to 40 cents a share ($1.60 annually).
However, Kansas City Southern is being hurt by reduced rail freight traffic. Overall volume declined 1% in 2019. Softness pertaining to intermodal volume (down 5% in 2019), automotive volume (down 4%) and weaknesses in the crude oil (down 20% in 2019) are resulting in low rail traffic volume.
Also, change in Mexico fuel excise tax credit has resulted in increased cost of fuel for the company in Mexico. Notably, the loss of the Mexican Fuel Excise Tax Credit hurt fourth-quarter adjusted operating ratio to the tune of roughly 90 basis points.
Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, shipments might get hurt, which is likely to be reflected in its first-quarter 2020 results.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to consider
Kansas City Southern currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Long-term expected earnings per share (three to five years) growth rate for GATX, HöeghLNG and Teekay Tankers is pegged at 15%, 8.5% and 3%, respectively.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
Kansas City Southern Aided by Cost Cuts Amid Low Volumes
We recently issued an updated report on Kansas City Southern . Factors like reduced rail freight traffic and change in Mexico fuel excise tax credit hurt the company’s financials. However, adoption of the precision scheduled railroading model and its shareholder-friendly approach are aiding growth.
Kansas City Southern's adoption of the precision scheduled railroading model is aimed at improving operational efficiencies and reducing network congestion. Improvement in adjusted operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) is an added positive. This can be attributed to the company's efforts to cut costs. Lower the value of this key metric, the better. Kansas City Southern expects 2020 operating ratio in the 60-61% range.
Trump's decision to indefinitely suspend 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico bodes well for Kansas City Southern, since the company generates a significant amount of revenues from the country.
The company's efforts to reward its shareholders through dividend payments and buybacks are impressive. It raised quarterly dividend payout on its common stock by 11.1% to 40 cents a share ($1.60 annually).
Kansas City Southern Price
Kansas City Southern price | Kansas City Southern Quote
However, Kansas City Southern is being hurt by reduced rail freight traffic. Overall volume declined 1% in 2019. Softness pertaining to intermodal volume (down 5% in 2019), automotive volume (down 4%) and weaknesses in the crude oil (down 20% in 2019) are resulting in low rail traffic volume.
Also, change in Mexico fuel excise tax credit has resulted in increased cost of fuel for the company in Mexico. Notably, the loss of the Mexican Fuel Excise Tax Credit hurt fourth-quarter adjusted operating ratio to the tune of roughly 90 basis points.
Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, shipments might get hurt, which is likely to be reflected in its first-quarter 2020 results.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to consider
Kansas City Southern currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Transportation sector are GATX Corporation (GATX - Free Report) , Höegh LNG Partners LP and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (TNK - Free Report) . GATX and Teekay Tankers sport a Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy), whereas Höegh LNG carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Long-term expected earnings per share (three to five years) growth rate for GATX, HöeghLNG and Teekay Tankers is pegged at 15%, 8.5% and 3%, respectively.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>