GATX Corporation has reported a net income of $95.7 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, for the 2016 third quarter compared to last year’s third quarter net income of $39.5 million, or $.91 per diluted share. Net income for 2016 year-to-date was $226.2 million or $5.49 per diluted share, compared to the same time period in 2015 with $147.1 million or $3.33 per diluted share. The 2016 third quarter results include a $49.1 million pre-tax residual sharing fee settlement from the Portfolio Management segment, or $0.75 per diluted share and $0.74 per diluted share year-to-date.
“Market dynamics in the North American rail industry are similar to recent quarters,” said GATX President and CEO Brian A. Kenney. “A growing oversupply of railcars, fewer railcar loadings, and improved railroad velocity continue to present significant challenges.”
“Railcar lessors are aggressively attempting to place new deliveries and their existing idle railcars, resulting in declining lease rates,” continued Kenney. “In the third quarter, the renewal lease rate change of GATX’s Lease Price Index decreased by 21.4 percent, the average renewal term was 29 months, and our renewal success rate was 74.1 percent.”
The Rail North America segment of GATX reported a profit of $87.9 million for the 2016 third quarter, compared to $90 million in last year’s third quarter. Lower segment profit was a result of lower revenues, partially offset by lower maintenance expenses.
Rail North America’s wholly owned fleet was approximately 123,000 cars as of September 30, 2016, including approximately 18,100 boxcars. Excluding the boxcar fleet, fleet utilization was 99 percent at the end of the third quarter, compared to 99.2 percent at the end of the 2015 third quarter.
“Despite the difficult market conditions, Rail North America is performing well,” said Kenney. “Our fleet utilization increased to 99.0 percent in the quarter; we further optimized our fleet by selling railcars in the secondary market at attractive prices, and we are successfully placing future years’ railcar deliveries from our committed purchase agreement. This continued success is a direct result of GATX’s well-diversified fleet, high-quality customer base, and outstanding service.”
Rail International’s third quarter segment profit was $23.3 million, compared to $15.5 million in the 2015 third quarter.
“Our strategy in this market is to aggressively protect fleet utilization, reduce the length of lease term as rates decline, continue to improve efficiency within our maintenance network, tightly control SG&A, and capitalize on attractive growth opportunities as asset prices fall,” concluded Kenney. “Based on year-to-date performance, we are maintaining our 2016 full-year earnings guidance of$5.55-$5.75 per diluted share. This guidance excludes the $0.74 per share contribution from the Portfolio Management fee noted above.”