CSX Corporation (CSX)
CSX is a massive American railway company that moves everything from coal and grain to consumer goods across the eastern United States.
Is CSX Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: CSX is a massive American railway company that moves everything from coal and grain to consumer goods across the eastern United States.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Increased reliance on rail for long-haul logistics.
Long-term shift away from coal and heavy industry.
What does CSX Corporation do?
Think of CSX as the backbone of American industry, operating thousands of miles of track to haul heavy freight where lorries simply can't compete on efficiency. The income arrives from charging businesses to transport raw materials and finished products across its vast network. Their profitability hinges on how well they control operating costs, since even small gains in fuel efficiency or train speed can translate into big jumps in bottom-line profit.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and quality, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.1% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 10% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 22% of sales into profit
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 24%)
- Momentum screens high (82/100)
- Dominant position in the eastern US rail network
- Strong profit margins for a heavy industry business
- High return on shareholder capital
- Potential for labour disputes or strikes
- Strict government regulation on safety and pricing
- Rising fuel costs impacting operating expenses
What do CSX Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does CSX Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does CSX Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - CSX Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.1% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does CSX Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
CSX Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-22 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-22 | $0.52 | $0.54 | Beat +4% |
| 2026-04-22 | $0.39 | $0.43 | Beat +11% |
| 2026-01-22 | $0.41 | $0.39 | Missed -5% |
| 2025-10-16 | $0.42 | $0.44 | Beat +4% |
| 2025-07-23 | $0.42 | $0.44 | Beat +6% |
| 2025-04-16 | $0.37 | $0.34 | Missed -8% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, CSX Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Masco CorporationWhat are the scenarios for CSX Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of CSX Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Dominant position in the eastern US rail network
- Strong profit margins for a heavy industry business
- High return on shareholder capital
- High price-to-earnings ratio suggests high expectations
- Heavily reliant on the health of the wider industrial economy
- Significant exposure to declining sectors like coal
- Potential for labour disputes or strikes
- Strict government regulation on safety and pricing
- Rising fuel costs impacting operating expenses
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, multi-year decline in US manufacturing output
- Major regulatory changes that force a breakup of the rail network
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.