Norfolk Southern's Q4 2015 Earnings Review: Top Line Headwinds Adversely Impact Results

Norfolk Southern announced its fourth quarter results and conducted a conference call with analysts on January 27.  As expected, a decline in shipment volumes, particularly coal shipments, and lower fuel surcharge revenues, negatively impacted the company’s Q4 results. Norfolk Southern’s railway operating revenues declined 12% year-over-year to $2.5 billion.  Net income (excluding restructuring charges that impacted net income by $31 million) stood at $392 million, around 23% lower year-o...