(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Robust carload numbers are continuing to bring good news to BNSF Railway when compared to 2016 levels.
Slumping volumes in 2016 saw the total intermodal and carload volumes down 4.94% from 2015 levels, with coal shipments slumping 20.88% from 2015 levels.
Coal is still leading the way in the recovery, with shipments up a strong 15.82% through August 19, as compared to the same period in 2016.
Also up a solid 5.77% are intermodal shipments.
While petroleum shipments continue to slide, with year-to-date numbers down 15.41%, the combined intermodal and carloads numbers are up 6.74% in the aggregate.
The rise in shipments has BNSF rehiring 4,000 of the 5,000 employees it laid off in 2015.
© 2017 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.