Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Background

CSX Corporation (“CSX”), and together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”), based in Jacksonville, Florida, is one of the nation's leading transportation companies. The Company provides rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers.

CSX's principal operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (“CSXT”), provides an important link to the transportation supply chain through its approximately 21,000 route mile rail network, which serves major population centers in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company's intermodal business, also part of CSXT, links customers to railroads via trucks and terminals.

Other entities

In addition to CSXT, the Company’s subsidiaries include CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc. (“CSX Intermodal Terminals”), Total Distribution Services, Inc. (“TDSI”), Transflo Terminal Services, Inc. (“Transflo”), CSX Technology, Inc. (“CSX Technology”) and other subsidiaries. CSX Intermodal Terminals owns and operates a system of intermodal terminals, predominantly in the eastern United States and also performs drayage services (the pickup and delivery of intermodal shipments) for certain CSXT customers and trucking dispatch operations. TDSI serves the automotive industry with distribution centers and storage locations. Transflo connects non-rail served customers to the many benefits of rail by transferring products from rail to trucks. Today, the biggest Transflo markets are chemicals and agriculture, which include shipments of plastics and ethanol. CSX Technology and other subsidiaries provide support services for the Company.

CSX’s other holdings include CSX Real Property, Inc., a subsidiary responsible for the Company’s real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities. These activities are classified in other income - net because they are not considered to be operating activities of the Company. Results of these activities fluctuate with the timing of real estate transactions.

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the following:


•	Consolidated income statements for the three months ended March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2014;


•	Consolidated comprehensive income statements for the three months ended March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2014;


•	Consolidated balance sheets at March 27, 2015 and December 26, 2014; and


•	Consolidated cash flow statements for the three months ended March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2014.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been omitted from these interim financial statements. CSX suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes included in CSX's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed current reports on Form 8-K.

NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Fiscal Year

CSX follows a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar with the last day of each reporting period ending on a Friday:


•	The first fiscal quarters of 2015 and 2014 consisted of 13 weeks ending on March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2014, respectively.


•	Fiscal year 2015 and 2014 will each consist of 52 weeks ending on December 25, 2015 and December 26, 2014, respectively.

Except as otherwise specified, references to “first quarter(s)” or “three months” indicate CSX's fiscal periods ending March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2014, and references to "year-end" indicate the fiscal year ended December 26, 2014.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts on uncollectible amounts related to freight receivables, government reimbursement receivables, claims for damages and other various receivables. The allowance is based upon the credit worthiness of customers, historical experience, the age of the receivable and current market and economic conditions. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account. Allowance for doubtful accounts of $39 million and $41 million is included in the consolidated balance sheets as of the end of first quarter 2015 and December 2014, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an Accounting Standards Update, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires that a company recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Companies will need to use more judgment and estimates than under the guidance currently in effect, including estimating the amount of variable revenue to recognize over each identified performance obligation. Additional disclosures will be required to help users of financial statements understand the nature, amount and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts. In April 2015, the FASB voted for a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard. If approved, the new standard will become effective for CSX beginning with the first quarter 2018 and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

Other Items

Dividend Increase and share repurchases

On April 14, 2015, the Company announced a 13 percent increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.18 per common share, payable on June 15, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 29, 2015. Also, on April 14, 2015, the Company announced a new $2 billion share repurchase program, which is expected to be completed over the next 24 months.

NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued

During first quarters 2015 and 2014, CSX repurchased $127 million, or four million shares, and $127 million, or five million shares, respectively, of common stock under the $1 billion share repurchase program announced in April 2013. As of the date of this filing, the Company had completed all share repurchases under this program. Management's assessment of market conditions and other factors guides the timing and volume of repurchases. Future share repurchases are expected to be funded by cash on hand, cash generated from operations and debt issuances. In accordance with the Equity Topic in the FASB's Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"), the excess of repurchase price over par value is recorded in retained earnings. Generally, retained earnings is only impacted by net earnings and dividends.