Union Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

Fourth Quarter Operating Ratio of 63.2 percent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fourth Quarter Results

Full Year 2015 Results

Omaha, Neb., January 21, 2016 – Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2015 fourth quarter net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.31 per diluted share compared to $1.4 billion, or $1.61 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter 2014.

“Total volumes decreased 9 percent in the quarter, more than offsetting another quarter of solid core pricing gains,” said Lance Fritz, Union Pacific chairman, president and chief executive officer.  “On the cost side, we continued to adjust resources throughout the quarter and also made solid progress with our productivity initiatives.  As a result of these efforts, we achieved a quarterly operating ratio of 63.2 percent.”

Fourth Quarter Summary

Operating revenue of $5.2 billion was down 15 percent in the fourth quarter 2015 compared to the fourth quarter 2014.  Fourth quarter business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, declined 9 percent compared to 2014.  Volumes declined in each of the Company’s business groups with the exception of automotive.  In addition:

Summary of Fourth Quarter Freight Revenues

2015 Full Year Summary

For the full year 2015, Union Pacific reported net income of $4.8 billion or $5.49 per diluted share versus $5.2 billion or $5.75 per diluted share in 2014, representing 8 and 5 percent decreases, respectively.  Operating revenue totaled $21.8 billion as compared to $24.0 billion in 2014.  Operating income totaled $8.1 billion, an 8 percent decrease compared to 2014.  In addition:

2016 Outlook

“This past year was a difficult one in many respects, but our team did outstanding work in the face of dramatic declines in volumes, and shifts in our business mix,” Fritz said.  “Overall economic conditions, uncertainty in the energy markets, commodity prices, and the strength of the U.S. dollar will continue to have a major impact on our business this year.  However, we are well-positioned to efficiently serve customers in existing markets as they rebound.  The strength and diversity of the Union Pacific franchise also will provide tremendous opportunities for new business development as both domestic and global markets evolve.  When combined with our unrelenting focus on safety, productivity, and service, these opportunities will translate into an excellent experience for our customers and strong value for our shareholders in the years ahead.”

Fourth Quarter 2015 Earnings Conference Call

Union Pacific will host its fourth quarter 2015 earnings release presentation live over the Internet and via teleconference on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time.  The presentation will be webcast live over the internet on Union Pacific’s website at www.up.com/investor.  Alternatively, the webcast can be accessed directly through the following link.  Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877/407-8293 (or for international participants, 201/689-8349).

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure.  The railroad’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific  serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

Union Pacific Investor contact: Mike Staffenbeal at 402-544-4227.

Union Pacific Media contact: Aaron Hunt at 402-544-0100.

Supplemental financial information is attached. 

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This presentation and related materials contain statements about the Company’s future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the Company’s expectations with respect to economic conditions and demand levels; and its ability to generate financial returns, improve network performance and cost efficiency, and provide returns to its shareholders.  These statements are, or will be, forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information or statements regarding:  projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance;  and management’s beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved.  Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company’s future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement.  Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2014, which was filed with the SEC on February 6, 2015.  The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).  

Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made.  The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information.  If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.  References to our website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.

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UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited)

*Each intermodal container or trailer equals one carload.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)

*Certain prior period amounts have been adjusted for the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standard Updates 2015-03 and 2015-17 related to the presentation of deferred debt issuance costs and current deferred taxes.

**Adjusted Debt to Capital and Return on Invested Capital are non-GAAP measures; however, management believes that they are important measures in evaluating our financial performance. See pages 8 and 9 for a reconciliation to GAAP.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

*Capital investments include $327 million of locomotive and freight car early lease buyouts.

**The 2015 dividends paid amount includes the fourth quarter 2014 dividend of $438 million, which was paid on January 2, 2015, the first quarter 2015 dividend of $484 million, which was paid on March 30, 2015, the second quarter 2015 dividend of $479 million, which was paid on June 30, 2015, the third quarter 2015 dividend of $476 million, which was paid on September 30, 2015, as well as the fourth quarter 2015 dividend of $467 million, which was paid on December 30, 2015. Beginning in 2015, the timing of the dividend declaration and payable dates was aligned to occur within the same quarter.

***Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; however, we believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financing.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Operating and Performance Statistics (unaudited)

*Fuel consumption is computed as follows: gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands.    

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited)

*Each intermodal container or trailer equals one carload.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP

*  Total debt divided by total debt plus equity. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our balance sheet strength and is important in managing our credit ratios and financing relationships.

**The prior period amount has been adjusted for the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standard Update 2015-03 related to the presentation of deferred debt issuance costs.

*  Total debt plus net present value of operating leases plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB obligation divided by total debt plus net present value of operating leases plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB obligation plus equity. Operating leases were discounted using 4.8% at December 31, 2015, and 5.3% at December 31, 2014. The discount rate reflects our effective interest rate. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the total amount of leverage in our capital structure including off-balance sheet lease obligations.

**The prior period amount has been adjusted for the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standard Update 2015-03 related to the presentation of deferred debt issuance costs.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP

*ROIC is considered a non-GAAP financial measure by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K, and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the Corporation’s long-term capital investments, and we currently use ROIC as a performance criteria in determining certain elements of equity compensation for our executives. ROIC should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is Return on Average Common Shareholders’ Equity.

**The prior period amounts have been adjusted for the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standard Update 2015-03   related to the presentation of deferred debt issuance costs.