CP Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

CALGARY, AB, Jan. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) today announced its fourth-quarter results, including revenues of $3.8 billion, diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.10 and core adjusted combined diluted EPS^{1, 2} of $1.18.

Fourth-quarter 2023 results¹

• Reported operating ratio (OR) increased by 200 basis points to 61.8 percent from 59.8 percent in Q4 2022
• Core adjusted combined OR² decreased 220 basis points to 58.7 percent from 60.9 percent in Q4 2022
• Reported diluted EPS decreased to $1.10 from $1.36 in Q4 2022
• Core adjusted combined diluted EPS² increased to $1.18 from $1.14 in Q4 2022
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-reportable train accident frequency declined 23 percent to 1.08 from 1.40 in Q4 2022 on a combined basis³
• FRA-reportable personal injury frequency declined 15 percent to 1.10 from 1.29 in Q4 2022 on a combined basis³

"I am proud of how our team of incredible railroaders finished this transformational year with a strong fourth quarter, allowing CPKC to deliver volume growth and best-in-class earnings growth in 2023," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive Officer. "Since our historic combination in April 2023, our united CPKC team has steadily built momentum, bringing new competition to supply chains and creating more value for our customers, while remaining focused on service and safety."

Full-year 2023 results¹

• Reported OR increased by 280 basis points to 65.0 percent from 62.2 percent in 2022
• Core adjusted combined OR² increased 30 basis points to 62.0 percent from 61.7 percent in 2022
• Reported diluted EPS increased to $4.21 from $3.77 in 2022
• Core adjusted combined diluted EPS² increased two percent to $3.84 from $3.77 in 2022
• FRA-reportable train accident frequency declined 32 percent to 0.99 from 1.45 in 2022 on a combined basis³
• FRA-reportable personal injury frequency declined 12 percent to 1.14 from 1.30 in 2022 on a combined basis³

In 2023, CPKC led the industry with the lowest FRA-reportable train accident frequency among Class 1 railroads, building on Canadian Pacific's legacy of 17 consecutive years of industry leadership.

Full-year 2024 guidance

• CPKC expects core adjusted combined diluted EPS² to grow double digits versus 2023 core adjusted combined diluted EPS² of $3.84
• Capital expenditures of $2.75 billion
• Other components of net periodic benefit recovery will increase by approximately $23 million from $327 million in 2023

"Looking forward to 2024, we are confident that our unique synergy opportunities, along with improving macro-economic conditions, can overcome a weak Canadian grain crop and position us for another strong performance this year, our first full year as a combined company," Creel added. "We stand ready to deliver on our commitments to our customers and our shareholders with long term sustainable growth."

Conference Call Details
CPKC will discuss its results with the financial community in a conference call beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. MT) on Jan. 30, 2024.

Conference Call Access
Canada and U.S.: 800-267-6316 
International: 203-518-9783 
*Conference ID: CPKCQ423
Callers should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call.

Webcast
We encourage you to access the webcast and presentation material in the Investors section of CPKC's website at investor.cpkcr.com. 

A replay of the fourth-quarter conference call will be available through Feb. 6, 2024, at 800-839-6136 (Canada/U.S.) or 402-220-2572 (International). 

Forward looking information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws in both the U.S. and Canada. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and statements about possible future events, conditions, and results of operations or performance. Forward-looking information may contain statements with words or headings such as "financial expectations", "key assumptions", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "will", "outlook", "guidance", "should" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This news release contains forward-looking information relating, but not limited, to statements concerning financial guidance for 2024, the success of our business, the realization of anticipated benefits and synergies of the CP-KCS combination, and the opportunities arising therefrom, our operations, priorities and plans, business prospects and demand for our services and growth opportunities.

The forward-looking information that may be in this news release is based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to CPKC's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to: changes in business strategies, North American and global economic growth and conditions; commodity demand growth; sustainable industrial and agricultural production; commodity prices and interest rates; performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out our business plan; geopolitical conditions, applicable laws, regulations and government policies; the availability and cost of labour, services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CPKC; and carbon markets, evolving sustainability strategies, and scientific or technological developments. Although CPKC believes the expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty.

Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. By its nature, CPKC's forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking information, including, but not limited to, the following factors: changes in business strategies and strategic opportunities; general Canadian, U.S., Mexican and global social, economic, political, credit and business conditions; risks associated with agricultural production such as weather conditions and insect populations; the availability and price of energy commodities; the effects of competition and pricing pressures, including competition from other rail carriers, trucking companies and maritime shippers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico; North American and global economic growth and conditions; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity prices and commodity demand; uncertainty surrounding timing and volumes of commodities being shipped via CPKC; inflation; geopolitical instability; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; changes in fuel prices; disruption in fuel supplies; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; compliance with environmental regulations; labour disputes; changes in labour costs and labour difficulties; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; transportation of dangerous goods; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out business plans; services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations; currency and interest rate fluctuations; exchange rates; effects of changes in market conditions and discount rates on the financial position of pension plans and investments; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; the effects of current and future multinational trade agreements on the level of trade among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico; climate change and the market and regulatory responses to climate change; anticipated in-service dates; success of hedging activities; operational performance and reliability; customer, regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; regulatory and legislative decisions and actions; the adverse impact of any termination or revocation by the Mexican government of Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.'s Concession; public opinion; various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, and cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; acts of terrorism, war or other acts of violence or crime or risk of such activities; insurance coverage limitations; material adverse changes in economic and industry conditions, including the availability of short and long-term financing; the demand environment for logistics requirements and energy prices, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions, and disruptions to global supply chains; the realization of anticipated benefits and synergies of the CP-KCS transaction and the timing thereof; the satisfaction of the conditions imposed by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in its March 15, 2023 final decision; the success of integration plans for KCS; other disruptions arising from the CP-KCS integration; estimated future dividends; financial strength and flexibility; debt and equity market conditions, including the ability to access capital markets on favourable terms or at all; cost of debt and equity capital; improvement in data collection and measuring systems; industry-driven changes to methodologies; and the ability of the management of CPKC to execute key priorities, including those in connection with the CP-KCS transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. These and other factors are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CPKC with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and "Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements" in CPKC's annual and interim reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.

Any forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, CPKC undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information, or the foregoing assumptions and risks affecting such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Measures
Although CPKC has provided forward-looking non-GAAP measures (core adjusted combined diluted EPS) management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, the forward-looking core adjusted combined diluted EPS to the most comparable GAAP measure, due to unknown variables and uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value. In recent years, the Company has recognized acquisition-related costs, the merger termination payment received, KCS' gain on unwinding of interest rate hedges (net of Canadian Pacific's (CP) associated purchase accounting basis differences and tax), loss on derecognition of CPKC's previously held equity method investment in KCS, discrete tax items, changes in the outside basis tax difference between the carrying amount of the Company's equity investment in KCS and its tax basis of the investment, settlement of Mexican taxes relating to prior years, changes in income tax rates, and changes to an uncertain tax item. Acquisition-related costs include legal, consulting, financing fees, integration costs including third-party services and system migration, debt exchange transaction costs, community investments, fair value gain or loss on FX forward contracts and interest rate hedges, FX gain on U.S. dollar-denominated cash on hand from the issuances of long-term debt to fund the KCS acquisition, restructuring, employee retention and synergy incentive costs, and transaction and integration costs incurred by KCS which were recognized within Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. KCS has also recognized FX gains and losses. These items may not be non-recurring and may include items that are settled in cash. Specifically, due to the magnitude of the acquisition, its significant impact to the Company's business and complexity of integrating the acquired business and operations, the Company expects to incur the acquisition-related costs beyond the year of acquisition. These or other similar, large unforeseen transactions affect diluted EPS but may be excluded from CPKC's core adjusted combined diluted EPS. Additionally, the Canadian-to-U.S. dollar and Mexican peso-to-U.S. dollar exchange rates are unpredictable and can have a significant impact on CPKC's reported results but may be excluded from CPKC's core adjusted combined diluted EPS. For further information regarding non-GAAP measures, see below.

About CPKC
With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC. CP-IR

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS AT
(unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(unaudited)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
December 31, 2023
(unaudited)

1    Description of business and basis of presentation

The terms "CPKC" or "the Company" in this unaudited consolidated financial information refers to Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise.

CPKC owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway spanning Canada, the United States ("U.S."), and Mexico. CPKC provides rail and intermodal transportation services over a network of approximately 20,000 miles, serving the principal markets in Canada, as well as the U.S. Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast regions, and Mexico.

On April 14, 2023, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited ("CPRL") assumed control of Kansas City Southern ("KCS") and changed its name to Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited. This unaudited consolidated financial information includes KCS as a consolidated subsidiary from April 14, 2023.  Prior to April 14, 2023, the Company's 100% interest in KCS was reported as an equity investment.

This unaudited consolidated financial information, expressed in Canadian dollars, reflects management's estimates and assumptions that are necessary for its fair presentation in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). It does not include all disclosures required under GAAP for annual or interim financial statements. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included.

The accounting policies used in preparing this unaudited consolidated financial information are consistent with the accounting policies used in preparing the 2022 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, and should be read in conjunction with such financial statements and related notes included in CPRL's 2022 annual report on Form 10-K.

2    Income taxes 

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a deferred tax recovery of $7 million and $58 million, respectively, for the revaluation of deferred income tax balances on unitary state apportionment changes.

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a deferred tax recovery of $24 million to reverse an uncertain tax position as this amount was no longer expected to be realized, and a deferred tax recovery of $27 million and $19 million, respectively, on the outside basis difference of the change in the equity investment in KCS.

Mexican Tax Audits

Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V. (also known as Canadian Pacific Kansas City Mexico) ("CPKCM") closed audit examinations with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (the "SAT") for the tax years 2016-2020 in September 2023, and the tax years 2009-2010, 2013 and 2015 in November 2023. The audit examinations were for corporate income tax and value added tax ("VAT").

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, the settlement of these audits resulted in payments of $60 million and $135 million, respectively, as well as a $16 million reduction to the April 14, 2023 refundable VAT balance recorded in the third quarter of 2023, which was classified within "Accounts receivable, net". The settlements primarily resulted in an increase to "Goodwill". They also resulted in an increase in "Income tax expense" of $1 million and $13 million during the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, respectively. In addition, an income tax expense of $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was recognized to reserve for future audit settlements.

As a result, as at December 31, 2023, the estimated impact of potential future audit settlements for tax years after 2020 that were substantially reserved included a reduction to the April 14, 2023 VAT balance of $9 million and an income tax reserve of $3 million.

2014 Tax Assessment

The CPKCM 2014 Tax Assessment, which is currently in litigation, is expected to be resolved by the Administrative Court in 2024.

3    Business acquisition

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred $32 million and $190 million, in acquisition-related costs, respectively, of which:

• $7 million and $71 million were recognized in "Compensation and benefits" primarily related to restructuring costs, retention and synergy related incentive compensation costs;
• $1 million and $2 million were recognized in "Materials";
• $24 million and $111 million were recognized in "Purchased services and other" including third party purchased services, and payments made to certain communities across the combined network to address the environmental and social impacts of increased traffic as required by voluntary agreements with communities and conditions imposed by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (the "STB") pursuant to the STB's final decision approving the Company and KCS's joint merger application, including, but not limited to, payments related to new crossings, closure of existing crossings and other infrastructure projects; and
• $nil and $6 million, were recognized in "Other expense".

KCS incurred acquisition-related costs of $11 million between January 1, 2023 and April 13, 2023, which were included in "Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern".

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred $17 million and $74 million in acquisition-related costs, respectively, recognized in "Purchased services and other". Acquisition-related costs of $10 million and $49 million incurred by KCS during the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, were included in "Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern". Equity earnings of KCS recognized for the three months and year ended December 31, 2022 also included KCS's gain on unwinding of interest rate hedges of $212 million, which is net of the Company's associated purchase accounting basis differences and tax. The basis differences were related to depreciable property, plant and equipment, intangible assets with definite lives, and long-term debt, and amortized over the related assets' remaining useful lives, and the remaining terms to maturity of the debt instruments.

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, KCS purchase accounting included in Net income was  $87 million ($62 million after deferred tax recovery of $25 million) and $297 million ($228 million after deferred tax recovery of $69 million), respectively, including costs of:

• $85 million and $234 million recognized in "Depreciation and amortization";
• $1 million and $1 million recognized in "Purchased services and others";
• $6 million and $17 million recognized in "Net interest expense";
• $nil and $2 million recognized in "Other expense";
• $nil and $48 million recognized in "Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern"; and
• a recovery of $5 million and $5 million recognized in "Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest".

During the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022, KCS purchase accounting recognized in "Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern" was $42 million and $163 million, respectively.

4    Debt 

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company repaid at maturity $1 billion 1.589% 2-year Notes. In addition, the Company repaid at maturity U.S. $199 million ($272 million) 3.85% Senior Notes by release of funds from the trustee as discussed below in "Satisfaction and Discharge of the KCS 2023 Notes".

Commercial paper program

The Company has a commercial paper program which enables it to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of U.S. $1.5 billion in the form of unsecured promissory notes. The commercial paper program is backed by the U.S. $2.2 billion revolving credit facility. As at December 31, 2023, the Company had total commercial paper borrowings outstanding of U.S. $800 million ($1,058 million) included in "Long-term debt maturing within one year" on the Company's Balance Sheets (December 31, 2022 - $nil). The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as at December 31, 2023 was 5.59%. The Company presents issuances and repayments of commercial paper, all of which have a maturity of less than 90 days, in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a net basis.

Satisfaction and Discharge of the KCS 2023 Notes

On April 24, 2023, KCS irrevocably deposited U.S. $647 million of non-callable government securities with the trustee of two series of notes that matured in 2023 (the "KCS 2023 Notes") to satisfy and discharge KCS's obligations under the KCS 2023 Notes. These notes were not included within the previously completed debt exchange on April 19, 2023 of seven series of the KCS notes ("Old Notes") for notes issued by Canadian Pacific Railway Company (the "CPRC Notes"). As a result of the satisfaction and discharge, the obligations of the Company under the indenture with respect to the KCS 2023 Notes were terminated, except those provisions of the indenture that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge. The Company utilized existing cash resources and issuances of commercial paper to fund the satisfaction and discharge. On May 15, 2023 and November 15, 2023, the U.S. $439 million 3.00% Senior Notes and U.S. $199 million 3.85% Senior Notes respectively, were repaid by release of funds from the trustee. In the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the government securities purchased towards settlement of the May maturity were treated as a cash equivalent. The purchase of government securities of U.S. $198 million ($267 million) associated with the November maturity, along with the settlement of these government securities for U.S. $200 million ($274 million) were presented within investing activities. This transaction together with the debt exchange previously disclosed relieved KCS from continuous disclosure obligations.

Summary of Rail Data⁽¹⁾

Summary of Rail Data (Continued)⁽¹⁾

Summary of Rail Data (Continued)⁽¹⁾

Summary of Rail Data (Continued)⁽¹⁾