EX-99.1 2 a2019q3pressreleasestatssu.htm CN Q3 2019 EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE Exhibit

Press Release

cn100logoa04.jpg
Celebrating 100 years

CN reports strong third-quarter financial results

Productivity gains and cost management efforts drive Company's operating ratio to 57.9%

MONTREAL, October 22, 2019 CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

"CN delivered strong results, despite a softening economy,” said JJ Ruest, president and chief executive officer of CN. “Our team of experienced railroaders swiftly aligned resources with the weaker demand to achieve solid efficiency gains. We remain committed to our long-term agenda of growing faster than the economy at low incremental cost, and to taking Scheduled Railroading to the next level by deploying advanced operating technology.”

Financial results highlights
Third-quarter 2019 compared to third-quarter 2018
Revenues increased by four per cent, or C$142 million, to C$3,830 million.
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by eight per cent (or 11 per cent on an adjusted basis (1)) to C$1.66.
Operating ratio of 57.9 per cent, an improvement of 1.6 points.
Operating income increased by eight per cent, or C$121 million, to C$1,613 million.
Strong balance sheet with adjusted debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA of less than 2.0X (1).

Revised 2019 financial outlook (2) 
In light of the deterioration in North American rail demand, as the economy continues to weaken, CN is now targeting to deliver 2019 adjusted diluted EPS growth in the high single-digit range this year versus last year's adjusted diluted EPS of C$5.50 (1), compared with its July 23, 2019 financial outlook which called for low double-digit growth in adjusted diluted EPS; and now assumes slightly negative volume growth in 2019 in terms of revenue ton miles (RTMs).

Third-quarter 2019 revenues, traffic volumes and expenses
Revenues for the third quarter of 2019 were C$3,830 million, an increase of C$142 million or four per cent, when compared to the same period in 2018. The increase was mainly due to freight rate increases and higher intermodal revenues.

RTMs, measuring the relative weight and distance of freight transported by CN, declined by one per cent from the year-earlier period. Freight revenue per RTM increased by six per cent over the year-earlier period, mainly
driven by freight rate increases and higher intermodal revenues.
 
Operating expenses for the third quarter increased by one per cent to C$2,217 million, mainly driven by increased purchased services and material expense, as well as higher depreciation and amortization expense; partly offset by lower fuel costs and record fuel productivity.
 


CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter 1


Press Release

(1) Non-GAAP Measures
CN reports its financial results in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). CN also uses non-GAAP measures in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, such as adjusted performance measures. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For further details of these non-GAAP measures, including a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, refer to the attached supplementary schedule, Non-GAAP Measures.

CN's full-year adjusted diluted EPS outlook (2) excludes the expected impact of certain income and expense items, as well as those items noted in the reconciliation tables provided in the attached supplementary schedule, Non-GAAP Measures. However, management cannot individually quantify on a forward-looking basis the impact of these items on its EPS because these items, which could be significant, are difficult to predict and may be highly variable. As a result, CN does not provide a corresponding GAAP measure for, or reconciliation to, its adjusted diluted EPS outlook.

(2) Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "assumes," "outlook," "plans," "targets," or other similar words.

2019 key assumptions
CN has made a number of economic and market assumptions in preparing its 2019 outlook. The Company now assumes that North American industrial production for the year will increase in the range of 0.5 to one per cent (compared to its July 23, 2019 assumption of approximately one per cent), and continues to assume U.S. housing starts of approximately 1.25 million units and U.S. motor vehicle sales of approximately 17 million units. For the 2018/2019 crop year, the grain crops in both Canada and the United States were in line with their respective three-year averages. The Company assumes that the 2019/2020 grain crop in Canada will be in line with the three-year average and that the 2019/2020 grain crop in the United States will be below the three-year average. CN now assumes RTM volume growth in 2019 will be slightly negative compared to 2018 (compared to its July 23, 2019 assumption that total RTMs would increase in the mid single digits). CN assumes continued pricing above rail inflation. CN assumes that in 2019, the value of the Canadian dollar in U.S. currency will be approximately $0.75, and now assumes that in 2019 the average price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) will be in the range of US$55 to US$60 per barrel (compared to its July 23, 2019 assumption in the range of US$60 to US$65 per barrel). In 2019, CN plans to invest approximately C$3.9 billion in its capital program, of which C$1.6 billion is targeted toward track and railway infrastructure maintenance.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic and business conditions; industry competition; inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations; changes in fuel prices; legislative and/or regulatory developments; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; actions by regulators; increases in maintenance and operating costs; security threats; reliance on technology and related cybersecurity risk; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; transportation of hazardous materials; various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe weather, droughts, fires, floods and earthquakes; climate change; labor negotiations and disruptions; environmental claims; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; timing and completion of capital programs; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in CN's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F, filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators and available on CN's website, for a description of major risk factors.

Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

This earnings news release, as well as additional information, including the Financial Statements, Notes thereto and MD&A, is contained in CN’s Quarterly Review available on the Company's website at www.cn.ca/financial-results and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov through EDGAR.



2 CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter



Press Release

CN is a true backbone of the economy transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca.

- 30 -

Contacts:
 
Media
Investment Community
Jonathan Abecassis
Paul Butcher
Senior Manager
Vice-President
Media Relations
Investor Relations
(514) 399-7956
(514) 399-0052
 



CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter 3


Selected Railroad Statistics – unaudited


 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
 
2019

2018

 
2019

2018

Financial measures
 

 

 
 
 
Key financial performance indicators (1)
 

 

 
 
 
Total revenues ($ millions)
3,830

3,688

 
11,333

10,513

Freight revenues ($ millions)
3,618

3,463

 
10,790

9,947

Operating income ($ millions)
1,613

1,492

 
4,375

4,041

Adjusted operating income ($ millions) (2)
1,613

1,492

 
4,459

4,041

Net income ($ millions)
1,195

1,134

 
3,343

3,185

Adjusted net income ($ millions) (2)
1,195

1,102

 
3,293

2,963

Diluted earnings per share ($)
1.66

1.54

 
4.62

4.31

Adjusted diluted earnings per share ($) (2)
1.66

1.50

 
4.56

4.01

Free cash flow ($ millions) (2)
700

585

 
1,499

1,881

Gross property additions ($ millions)
961

1,002

 
3,061

2,267

Share repurchases ($ millions)
394

521

 
1,271

1,537

Dividends per share ($)
0.5375

0.4550

 
1.6125

1.3650

Financial position (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets ($ millions)
44,096

40,209

 
44,096

40,209

Total liabilities ($ millions)
25,596

22,603

 
25,596

22,603

Shareholders' equity ($ millions)
18,500

17,606

 
18,500

17,606

Financial ratio
 
 
 
 
 
Operating ratio (%)
57.9

59.5

 
61.4

61.6

Adjusted operating ratio (%) (2)
57.9

59.5

 
60.7

61.6

Operational measures (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Statistical operating data
 
 
 
 
 
Gross ton miles (GTMs) (millions)
124,410

123,042

 
367,875

359,622

Revenue ton miles (RTMs) (millions)
60,849

61,642

 
184,245

181,848

Carloads (thousands)
1,531

1,525

 
4,487

4,439

Route miles (includes Canada and the U.S.)
19,500

19,500

 
19,500

19,500

Employees (end of period)
27,290

26,143

 
27,290

26,143

Employees (average for the period)
27,269

25,905

 
26,803

25,216

Key operating measures
 
 
 
 
 
Freight revenue per RTM (cents)
5.95

5.62

 
5.86

5.47

Freight revenue per carload ($)
2,363

2,271

 
2,405

2,241

GTMs per average number of employees (thousands)
4,562

4,750

 
13,725

14,262

Operating expenses per GTM (cents)
1.78

1.78

 
1.89

1.80

Labor and fringe benefits expense per GTM (cents)
0.56

0.57

 
0.59

0.58

Diesel fuel consumed (US gallons in millions)
110.1

113.4

 
342.5

339.9

Average fuel price ($/US gallon)
3.05

3.42

 
3.13

3.32

GTMs per US gallon of fuel consumed
1,130

1,085

 
1,074

1,058

Car velocity (car miles per day)
209

195

 
198

183

Through dwell (hours)
7.7

7.8

 
7.9

8.6

Through network train speed (miles per hour)
18.7

17.9

 
18.2

17.8

Locomotive utilization (trailing GTMs per total horsepower)
201

207

 
200

207

Safety indicators (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Injury frequency rate (per 200,000 person hours)
1.90

1.60

 
1.95

1.78

Accident rate (per million train miles)
1.75

1.90

 
2.08

2.18

(1)
Amounts expressed in Canadian dollars and prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), unless otherwise noted.
(2)
See supplementary schedule entitled Non-GAAP Measures for an explanation of these non-GAAP measures.
(3)
Statistical operating data, key operating measures and safety indicators are unaudited and based on estimated data available at such time and are subject to change as more complete information becomes available. Definitions of these indicators are provided on CN's website, www.cn.ca/glossary.
(4)
Based on Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reporting criteria.



4 CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter



Supplementary Information – unaudited


 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
 
2019

2018

% Change
Fav (Unfav)

% Change at
constant
currency
Fav (Unfav) (1)

 
2019

2018

% Change
Fav (Unfav)

% Change at
constant
currency
Fav (Unfav)
(1)

Revenues ($ millions) (2)
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Petroleum and chemicals
788

665

18
%
18
%
 
2,298

1,845

25
%
22
%
Metals and minerals
425

457

(7
%)
(8
%)
 
1,286

1,292

%
(3
%)
Forest products
450

508

(11
%)
(12
%)
 
1,393

1,420

(2
%)
(4
%)
Coal
168

169

(1
%)
(1
%)
 
508

486

5
%
3
%
Grain and fertilizers
552

568

(3
%)
(3
%)
 
1,770

1,698

4
%
3
%
Intermodal
1,018

897

13
%
13
%
 
2,860

2,574

11
%
10
%
Automotive
217

199

9
%
9
%
 
675

632

7
%
4
%
Total freight revenues
3,618

3,463

4
%
4
%
 
10,790

9,947

8
%
6
%
Other revenues
212

225

(6
%)
(6
%)
 
543

566

(4
%)
(6
%)
Total revenues
3,830

3,688

4
%
3
%
 
11,333

10,513

8
%
6
%
Revenue ton miles (RTMs) (millions) (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Petroleum and chemicals
14,042

12,437

13
%
13
%
 
41,148

34,609

19
%
19
%
Metals and minerals
6,458

7,442

(13
%)
(13
%)
 
19,860

21,924

(9
%)
(9
%)
Forest products
6,813

7,920

(14
%)
(14
%)
 
20,902

22,803

(8
%)
(8
%)
Coal
4,563

4,474

2
%
2
%
 
13,556

12,916

5
%
5
%
Grain and fertilizers
12,722

13,481

(6
%)
(6
%)
 
41,634

41,671

%
%
Intermodal
15,294

14,982

2
%
2
%
 
44,176

44,883

(2
%)
(2
%)
Automotive
957

906

6
%
6
%
 
2,969

3,042

(2
%)
(2
%)
Total RTMs
60,849

61,642

(1
%)
(1
%)
 
184,245

181,848

1
%
1
%
Freight revenue / RTM (cents) (2) (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Petroleum and chemicals
5.61

5.35

5
%
4
%
 
5.58

5.33

5
%
2
%
Metals and minerals
6.58

6.14

7
%
6
%
 
6.48

5.89

10
%
7
%
Forest products
6.61

6.41

3
%
2
%
 
6.66

6.23

7
%
4
%
Coal
3.68

3.78

(3
%)
(3
%)
 
3.75

3.76

%
(2
%)
Grain and fertilizers
4.34

4.21

3
%
3
%
 
4.25

4.07

4
%
3
%
Intermodal
6.66

5.99

11
%
11
%
 
6.47

5.73

13
%
12
%
Automotive
22.68

21.96

3
%
3
%
 
22.73

20.78

9
%
7
%
Total freight revenue / RTM
5.95

5.62

6
%
5
%
 
5.86

5.47

7
%
5
%
Carloads (thousands) (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Petroleum and chemicals
177

161

10
%
10
%
 
519

469

11
%
11
%
Metals and minerals
270

268

1
%
1
%
 
774

775

%
%
Forest products
93

108

(14
%)
(14
%)
 
289

317

(9
%)
(9
%)
Coal
86

86

%
%
 
256

252

2
%
2
%
Grain and fertilizers
145

156

(7
%)
(7
%)
 
461

463

%
%
Intermodal
693

685

1
%
1
%
 
1,980

1,966

1
%
1
%
Automotive
67

61

10
%
10
%
 
208

197

6
%
6
%
Total carloads
1,531

1,525

%
%
 
4,487

4,439

1
%
1
%
Freight revenue / carload ($) (2) (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Petroleum and chemicals
4,452

4,130

8
%
7
%
 
4,428

3,934

13
%
10
%
Metals and minerals
1,574

1,705

(8
%)
(8
%)
 
1,661

1,667

%
(3
%)
Forest products
4,839

4,704

3
%
2
%
 
4,820

4,479

8
%
5
%
Coal
1,953

1,965

(1
%)
(1
%)
 
1,984

1,929

3
%
1
%
Grain and fertilizers
3,807

3,641

5
%
4
%
 
3,839

3,667

5
%
3
%
Intermodal
1,469

1,309

12
%
12
%
 
1,444

1,309

10
%
9
%
Automotive
3,239

3,262

(1
%)
(1
%)
 
3,245

3,208

1
%
(1
%)
Total freight revenue / carload
2,363

2,271

4
%
3
%
 
2,405

2,241

7
%
5
%
(1)
See supplementary schedule entitled Non-GAAP Measures for an explanation of this non-GAAP measure.
(2)
Amounts expressed in Canadian dollars.
(3)
Statistical operating data and related key operating measures are unaudited and based on estimated data available at such time and are subject to change as more complete information becomes available.


CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter 5


Non-GAAP Measures – unaudited


In this supplementary schedule, the "Company" or "CN" refers to Canadian National Railway Company, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Financial information included in this schedule is expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
CN reports its financial results in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company also uses non-GAAP measures that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, including adjusted performance measures, constant currency, free cash flow and adjusted debt-to-adjusted EBITDA multiple. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. From management's perspective, these non-GAAP measures are useful measures of performance and provide investors with supplementary information to assess the Company's results of operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.


Adjusted performance measures

Management believes that adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating ratio are useful measures of performance that can facilitate period-to-period comparisons, as they exclude items that do not necessarily arise as part of CN's normal day-to-day operations and could distort the analysis of trends in business performance. Management uses adjusted performance measures, which exclude certain income and expense items in its results that management believes are not reflective of CN's underlying business operations, to set performance goals and as a means to measure CN's performance. The exclusion of such income and expense items in these measures does not, however, imply that these items are necessarily non-recurring. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company's adjusted net income was $3,293 million, or $4.56 per diluted share, which excludes a deferred income tax recovery of $112 million ($0.15 per diluted share) in the second quarter, resulting from the enactment of a lower provincial corporate income tax rate, and a depreciation and amortization expense of $84 million, or $62 million after-tax ($0.09 per diluted share) in the first quarter, related to costs previously capitalized for a Positive Train Control (PTC) back office system following the deployment of a replacement system.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company's adjusted net income was $1,102 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, and $2,963 million, or $4.01 per diluted share, respectively. The adjusted figures for the three months ended September 30, 2018 exclude a gain on disposal of property located in Montreal, Quebec (the "Doney and St-Francois Spurs") of $36 million, or $32 million after-tax ($0.04 per diluted share). The adjusted figures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 also exclude a gain on transfer of the Company’s finance lease in the passenger rail facilities in downtown Montreal, Quebec, together with its interests in related railway operating agreements (the “Central Station Railway Lease”) of $184 million, or $156 million after-tax ($0.21 per diluted share) and a gain on disposal of land located in Calgary, Alberta, excluding the rail fixtures (the “Calgary Industrial Lead”), of $39 million, or $34 million after-tax ($0.05 per diluted share), both in the second quarter.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income and earnings per share, as reported for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, to the adjusted performance measures presented herein:
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
In millions, except per share data
2019

 
2018

 
2019

 
2018

Net income
$
1,195

 
$
1,134

 
$
3,343

 
$
3,185

Adjustments:


 


 


 


Depreciation and amortization

 

 
84

 

Other income

 
(36
)
 

 
(259
)
Income tax expense (recovery) (1)

 
4

 
(134
)
 
37

Adjusted net income
$
1,195

 
$
1,102

 
$
3,293

 
$
2,963

Basic earnings per share
$
1.66

 
$
1.55

 
$
4.63

 
$
4.32

Impact of adjustments, per share

 
(0.04
)
 
(0.07
)
 
(0.30
)
Adjusted basic earnings per share
$
1.66

 
$
1.51

 
$
4.56

 
$
4.02

Diluted earnings per share
$
1.66

 
$
1.54

 
$
4.62

 
$
4.31

Impact of adjustments, per share

 
(0.04
)
 
(0.06
)
 
(0.30
)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
1.66

 
$
1.50

 
$
4.56

 
$
4.01

(1)
The tax effect of adjustments reflects tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction and the nature of the item for tax purposes.



6 CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter



Non-GAAP Measures – unaudited


The following table provides a reconciliation of operating income and operating ratio, as reported for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, to the adjusted performance measures presented herein:
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
In millions, except percentage
2019

 
2018

 
2019

2018

Operating income
$
1,613

 
$
1,492

 
$
4,375

$
4,041

Adjustment: Depreciation and amortization

 

 
84


Adjusted operating income
$
1,613

 
$
1,492

 
$
4,459

$
4,041

Operating ratio (1)
57.9
%
 
59.5
%
 
61.4
%
61.6
%
Impact of adjustment

 

 
(0.7)-pts


Adjusted operating ratio
57.9
%
 
59.5
%
 
60.7
%
61.6
%
(1)
Operating ratio is defined as operating expenses as a percentage of revenues.


Constant currency

Financial results at constant currency allow results to be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons in the analysis of trends in business performance. Measures at constant currency are considered non-GAAP measures and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Financial results at constant currency are obtained by translating the current period results denominated in US dollars at the foreign exchange rates of the comparable period in the prior year. The average foreign exchange rates were $1.32 and $1.33 per US$1.00 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $1.31 and $1.29 per US$1.00 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
On a constant currency basis, the Company's net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 would have been lower by $5 million ($0.01 per diluted share) and $63 million ($0.09 per diluted share), respectively.


Free cash flow

Management believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of liquidity as it demonstrates the Company's ability to generate cash for debt obligations and for discretionary uses such as payment of dividends, share repurchases, and strategic opportunities. The Company defines its free cash flow measure as the difference between net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in investing activities, adjusted for the impact of business acquisitions, if any. Free cash flow does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities as reported for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, to free cash flow:
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
In millions
2019

 
2018

 
2019

 
2018

Net cash provided by operating activities
$
1,692

 
$
1,564

 
$
4,405

 
$
4,001

Net cash used in investing activities
(992
)
 
(979
)
 
(3,073
)
 
(2,120
)
Net cash provided before financing activities
700

 
585

 
1,332

 
1,881

Adjustment: Acquisition, net of cash acquired (1)

 

 
167

 

Free cash flow
$
700

 
$
585

 
$
1,499

 
$
1,881

(1)
Relates to the acquisition of the TransX Group of Companies ("TransX"). See Note 3 - Business combination to CN's 2019 unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.




CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter 7


Non-GAAP Measures – unaudited


Adjusted debt-to-adjusted EBITDA multiple

Management believes that the adjusted debt-to-adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiple is a useful credit measure because it reflects the Company's ability to service its debt and other long-term obligations. The Company calculates the adjusted debt-to-adjusted EBITDA multiple as adjusted debt divided by adjusted EBITDA. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
The following table provides a reconciliation of debt and net income to the adjusted measures presented below, which have been used to calculate the adjusted debt-to-adjusted EBITDA multiple:
In millions, unless otherwise indicated
As at and for the twelve months ended September 30,
2019

 
2018

Debt
$
13,768

 
$
11,894

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Operating lease liabilities, including current portion (1)
536

 
495

Pension plans in deficiency
476

 
458

Adjusted debt
$
14,780

 
$
12,847

Net income
$
4,486

 
$
5,796

Interest expense
524

 
484

Income tax expense (recovery)
1,278

 
(422
)
Depreciation and amortization
1,521

 
1,299

EBITDA
7,809

 
7,157

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Other income
(144
)
 
(287
)
Other components of net periodic benefit income
(317
)
 
(305
)
Operating lease cost (1)
190

 
200

Adjusted EBITDA
$
7,538

 
$
6,765

Adjusted debt-to-adjusted EBITDA multiple (times)
1.96

 
1.90

(1)
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02: Leases and related amendments (Topic 842) in the first quarter of 2019. The Company now includes operating lease liabilities, as defined by Topic 842, in adjusted debt and excludes operating lease cost, as defined by Topic 842, in adjusted EBITDA. Comparative balances previously referred to as present value of operating lease commitments and operating lease expense have not been adjusted and are now referred to as operating lease liabilities and operating lease cost, respectively. See Note 2 - Recent accounting pronouncements to CN's 2019 unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.


8 CN | 2019 Quarterly Review – Third Quarter