KC Southern's profit jumps on higher revenue

Kansas City Southern nearly doubled its first-quarter earnings from the same period last year, despite higher fuel costs and other increased expenses. Revenue rose 9.6 percent from last year.

In a release before the market opened on Thursday, the Kansas City-based company (NYSE: KSU) reported earnings available to common shareholders of $32.9 million, or 39 cents a share, for the quarter that ended March 31. This compares with earnings of $17 million, or 21 cents a share, last year.

Spokesman Bill Galligan said the company had "significant improvement both above and below the line."

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Operating income was $83.4 million, up 15.2 percent from $72.4 million last year.

Revenue for the quarter was $450.6 million, compared with $411.3 million last year.

In the release, the company attributed the higher revenue "to a continued strong pricing environment and carload/unit growth in some of the company's business segments."

Kansas City Southern ranks No. 10 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of area public companies.