Union Pacific reported a jump in third-quarter adjusted profit on Thursday, helped by higher fuel surcharge revenue and core pricing strength, which more than offset cost pressures.The Middle East conflict has pushed energy prices higher, increasing fuel costs for transportation companies and putting pressure on margins across sectors, including trucking, logistics and aviation.US MarketsPowered ByAs on 22 Oct 2026, 01:30 AM ISTS&P 500 Top GainersSuper Micro Computer35.57(9.55%)Charles River344.87(9.33%)Datadog273.09(6.50%)Dell Technologies485.88(5.27%)Gainers»S&P 500 Top LosersCoterra Energy32.56(-8.62%)AT&T21.91(-6.45%)DexCom80.26(-6.39%)Netflix65.04(-5.31%)Losers»US railroads, however, have relied on pricing discipline and operational efficiencies to support profitability, while improvements in service reliability and network fluidity have helped attract new freight volumes and retain customers.Union Pacific said higher fuel prices hurt its operating ratio by 140 basis points during the quarter, pushing it down to 59.1%.The railroad's total operating revenue for the quarter ended September 30 came in at $7.2 billion, compared with $6.24 billion from a year earlier.(You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
