Analyzing GWR’s European Carloads in February 2017

Genesee & Wyoming’s (GWR) European carloads remained unchanged YoY (year-over-year) in February 2017. During the same period of 2016, GWR hauled the same quantity of railcars. With the acquisition of Freightliner, GWR’s European operations assumed more significance. GWR’s other-than-coal carloads also remained unchanged in February 2017 on a YoY basis.

GWR’s minerals and stone traffic rose by 651 carloads, or 6.2%, mainly on account of higher shipments in Poland. However, the company’s intermodal traffic fell by 858 carloads, or 1.2%.

For Genesee & Wyoming, the term “carload” represents physical railcars and the estimated railcar equivalents of commodities for which the company is paid. Genesee & Wyoming is often compared with class I railroads, as its operations span 75% of the US, parts of Canada, Australia, and some parts of Europe. Other US-based class I rail carriers include Norfolk Southern (NSC), CSX (CSX), Kansas City Southern (KSU), and Union Pacific (UNP).

The transportation and logistics sector makes up part of the industrial sector. The ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF (SSO) invests ~7.6% of its holdings in this sector. For more information, you can compare this week’s rail data with the previous week in Market Realist’s Week Ended March 4: Was US Rail Traffic on the Right Track?

For ongoing updates on major US railroad stocks, keep checking in with Market Realist’s Railroads page.