CSX Corporation (CSX)

Over the past six months, CSX's stock has seen a significant increase. Key events impacting the stock price include the Q3 2025 earnings announcement, where CSX reported revenue of $3.59 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.44. The company also declared a quarterly dividend. An investor group, Ancora Holdings, urged CSX to explore a merger agreement and pressured for the removal of CEO Joe Hinrichs.

Demand for CSX's products and services exhibits seasonality influenced by mixed demand trends, with strong export coal volume and strength in forest products and chemicals. Interest-rate-sensitive sectors such as automotive, steel, and housing have been under pressure. There is an anticipation of increased demand for thermal coal. A push to frontload cargo earlier in the year to avoid tariffs was noted to be affecting typical seasonal demand for trucks. A seasonal lift in demand across the transportation platform was not observed by some industry players heading into the holidays.

CSX Corp. operates in the railroad industry, providing rail-based transportation services, including traditional rail service and intermodal containers and trailers. The company transports commodities such as chemicals, coal, agricultural products, and offers solutions like rail-to-truck transfers. CSX also has subsidiaries, including Quality Carriers, a provider of bulk liquid chemical truck transportation in North America.

CSX Transportation operates a network of approximately 20,000 to 21,000 route miles of track, spanning 26 states in the eastern United States, the District of Columbia, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The network serves major population centers and provides access to over 70 ocean, river, and lake port terminals. CSX also has alliances with western railroads to access Pacific ports.

In the past year, CSX has maintained a positive brand reputation, earning a spot on Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list. CSX recognized 62 customers with its 31st Annual Chemical Safety Excellence Award. The company's 2024 Sustainability Report emphasizes progress in Safety, Service, Sustainability, and Stewardship. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs stated that the company has had the best customer service in the industry over the last two years, and the company undertook several initiatives to reinforce its safety protocols.

CSX Corporation has substantial institutional ownership, with 2684 institutional owners and shareholders holding a total of 1,644,637,394 shares, representing approximately 68% of the company's shares. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and State Street Corp.