Railcar leasing company GATX Corporation has reported a 2016 fourth quarter net income of $30.9 million or $0.77 per diluted share. The 2015 fourth quarter net income was $58.2 million or $1.37 per diluted share. Both the 2016 and 2015 fourth quarters include net negative impacts from tax adjustments and other items of $0.37 per diluted share and $0.07 per diluted share, respectively.
Full year 2016 net income was $257.1 million or $6.29 per diluted share, compared to the full year 2015 net income of $205.3 million or $4.69 per diluted. The 2016 full year results include a net benefit from tax adjustments and other items of $0.52 per diluted share. The 2015 full year results include a net negative impact from tax adjustments and other items of $0.68 per diluted share.
GATX President and CEO Brian A. Kenney stated, “GATX achieved record earnings per share again in 2016 despite the rail industry experiencing a second year of reduced carloadings and a large oversupply of railcars. Our well-diversified fleet, quality customer base, and outstanding service helped Rail North America maintain high utilization of 98.9 percent at year end. We continued to optimize our fleet by selling railcars into a robust secondary market, with Rail North America remarketing income eclipsing $46 million in 2016. We also continued to improve the efficiency of our maintenance network, in part by successfully executing our strategy of servicing more of our railcars within our owned network.”
“Lease rates experienced significant pressure during the year. The fourth quarter renewal lease rate change of GATX’s Lease Price Index decreased by 36.2 percent,” added Kenney. “In response to the lower lease rate environment, we successfully shortened the term of lease renewals, achieving an average renewal term of 29 months in the fourth quarter of 2016.”
For the fourth quarter of 2016, Rail North America reported segment profit of $48.5 million compared to $98.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. For full year 2016, Rail North America reported segment profit of $321.9 million, compared to $379.5 million in 2015. Rail North America’s wholly owned fleet was approximately 122,000 cars, including more than 17,700 boxcars, at December 31, 2016.
“Many of the market challenges we faced in 2016 continue as we move into 2017,” Kenney continued. “As a result, we currently expect 2017 earnings to be in the range of $4.40 - $4.60 per diluted share. Our guidance represents a level of performance that is considerably higher than in prior downturns. This illustrates our success over the last several years of stretching lease terms to lock in attractive lease rates; optimizing the fleet through secondary market acquisitions and divestitures; improving the efficiency of our maintenance network; and, ultimately, focusing our business on our core strengths.”
“In the fourth quarter of 2016, there were some improved metrics in the North American rail industry as well as some new pockets of opportunity with certain customers. Absent these positive signs becoming a trend, the downturn in the North American rail industry may be more prolonged than in prior cycles. However, regardless of economic and industry fundamentals, we believe that GATX is well positioned to outperform our competitors, pursue growth opportunities, and provide excellent service to our customers across the globe,” Kenney concluded.