CSX (CSX) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

CSX (CSX) reported $3.59 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 0.9%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares to $0.46 a year ago.The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.22% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.6 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.42, the EPS surprise was +4.76%.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.Here is how CSX performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:Operating Margin: 30.3% versus 65.7% estimated by four analysts on average.Volume - Merchandise - Chemicals: 164 thousand compared to the 167.59 thousand average estimate based on three analysts.Volume - Merchandise - Agricultural and Food Products: 110 thousand versus the three-analyst average estimate of 107.91 thousand.Volume - Merchandise - Automotive: 99 thousand compared to the 99.39 thousand average estimate based on three analysts.Revenue- Intermodal: $527 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $517.94 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.5%.Revenue- Coal: $490 million compared to the $488.06 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -11.4% year over year.Revenue- Merchandise- Chemicals: $697 million versus $722.8 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -4.1% change.Revenue- Merchandise- Agricultural and Food Products: $382 million compared to the $418.66 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -8.2% year over year.Revenue- Merchandise- Automotive: $306 million versus $310.08 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.7% change.Revenue- Merchandise- Forest Products: $247 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $259.2 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -4.6%.Revenue- Merchandise- Metals and Equipment: $224 million compared to the $213.13 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.7% year over year.Revenue- Merchandise- Fertilizers: $126 million compared to the $139.15 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +6.8% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for CSX here>>>Shares of CSX have returned +10.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.Free Report: Profiting from the 2nd Wave of AI ExplosionThe next phase of the AI explosion is poised to create significant wealth for investors, especially those who get in early. It will add literally trillion of dollars to the economy and revolutionize nearly every part of our lives.Investors who bought shares like Nvidia at the right time have had a shot at huge gains.But the rocket ride in the "first wave" of AI stocks may soon come to an end. The sharp upward trajectory of these stocks will begin to level off, leaving exponential growth to a new wave of cutting-edge companies.Zacks' AI Boom 2.0: The Second Wave report reveals 4 under-the-radar companies that may soon be shining stars of AI’s next leap forward.Access AI Boom 2.0 now, absolutely free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CSX Corporation (CSX): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks