BNSF Reports 4Q Profit; Revenue Reaches Record

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter profit dipped slightly but rose on a per-share basis, while its revenue reached a record.

The western freight railroad’s net income was $517 million, or $1.46 per share, compared with $519 million, or $1.42 per share, the previous year.

Freight revenue rose 9% to an all-time quarterly record of $4.12 billion, the parent of BNSF Railway Co. said in a statement.

Fourth-quarter operating income was $950 million, compared to $943 million in the previous fourth quarter. That reflected a $257 million increase in fuel expense, resulting from higher fuel prices.

For the full year, BNSF earned $1.83 billion, or $5.10 per share, compared with $1.89 billion, or $5.11 per share, in 2006.