In a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter financial results, CP's CEO Keith Creel said the Calgary-headquartered railway is in growth mode as it awaits a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
"In spite of a historically tight labour market in '22, it was a record year of hiring at CP," Creel said. "We added more than 1,600 conductors over the course of last year, and we made some significant progress with our labour agreements." "Assuming a positive response from the STB, the synergies that we one day will realize will take some people. So we're hiring a few thousand at a time, and we're spending cap-ex at record levels on our property and KCS on their properties."
All of the activity comes against the backdrop of an uncertain economic environment. On Tuesday, CP Rail said it earned $1.27 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $532 million in the same period of 2021. CP has declined to issue forward guidance for 2023, given the pending merger decision and the potential for macro-economic headwinds such as a possible recession. The company said instead, it will provide guidance at an investor day later this year.
How much of this this does Gates own, sneaky bastard?