The Omaha, Nebraska, railroad earned $1.53 billion, or $2.51 per share, during the quarter, That's down from $1.9 billion, or $3.05 per share.
The number of shipments Union Pacific delivered slipped 3% in the quarter, and while costs improved about 4% they remained elevated at $3.76 billion.
But the average speed of the railroad's trains increased to 200 daily miles per car.
Shares of Union Pacific gained more than 3% Thursday to trade for $213.16 around midday.
Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest railroads and operates more than 30,000 miles of track in 23 western states.
Persons:
Jim Vena, “, ”, Vena, Edward Jones, Jeff Windau, he'll
Organizations:
— Union Pacific's, FactSet Research, Union Pacific, Union, Union Pacific's, of Union Pacific
Locations:
OMAHA, Neb, The Omaha , Nebraska, Norfolk Southern, Ohio