Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

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 quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017;


•	Condensed consolidated comprehensive income statements for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017;


•	Consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; and


•	Consolidated cash flow statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.

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

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.

Fiscal Year

Through the second quarter 2017, CSX followed a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar with the last day of each reporting period ending on a Friday. On July 7, 2017 the Board of Directors of CSX approved a change in the fiscal reporting calendar from a 52/53 week year ending on the last Friday of December to a calendar year ending on December 31 each year, effective beginning with fiscal third quarter 2017. Related to the change in the fiscal calendar:


•	Fiscal year 2018 (January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018) will contain 365 days, and fiscal year 2017 (December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2017) contained 366 days.


•	Fiscal first quarter 2018 (January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018) contained 90 days, and fiscal first quarter 2017 (December 31, 2016 through March 31, 2017) contained 91 days.


•	Fiscal second quarter 2018 (April 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018) contained 91 days, and fiscal second quarter 2017 (April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017) contained 91 days.


•	Fiscal third quarter 2018 (July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018) contained 92 days, and fiscal third quarter 2017 (July 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017) contained 92 days.

This change did not materially impact the comparability of the Company’s financial results. Accordingly, the change to a calendar fiscal year was made on a prospective basis and operating results for prior periods were not adjusted. The Company was not required to file a transition report because this change was not deemed a change in fiscal year for purposes of reporting subject to Rule 13a-10 or Rule 15d-10 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as the new fiscal year commenced with the end of the prior fiscal year end and within seven days of the prior fiscal year end.

Except as otherwise specified, references to “third quarter(s)” or “nine months” indicate CSX's fiscal periods ending September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, and references to "year-end" indicate the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits entities to reclassify tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of tax reform to retained earnings. Companies that elect to reclassify these amounts must reclassify stranded tax effects for all items accounted for in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company adopted this standard update in first quarter 2018 and applied it prospectively. Adoption resulted in the reclassification of $107 million in tax effects related to employee benefit plans from accumulated other comprehensive loss, increasing retained earnings by the same amount.

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

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires that only the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs be recorded as compensation cost in operating expense on the consolidated income statement. All other components of net periodic benefit cost (interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of net loss, special termination benefits and settlement and curtailment effects) should be presented as non-operating charges on the consolidated income statement. If these non-operating charges are related to prior year restructuring activities, they are presented as restructuring charge - non-operating. Other non-operating charges are presented as other income - net. The Company adopted the provisions of this standard during first quarter 2018 and applied them retrospectively. The retrospective impact of adoption for third quarter and nine months 2017 is shown in the following table.



	Third Quarter 2017						Nine Months 2017
(Dollars in millions)	As Previously Reported		Reclass		As Reclassified		As Previously Reported		Reclass			As Reclassified
Operating Expense:
Labor and Fringe	$	717	$	8	$	725	$	2,249	$	22		$	2,271
Restructuring Charge	1		—		1		296		(70		)	226
Non-Operating Income (Expense):
Restructuring Charge - Non-Operating	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(70	)	$	(70	)
Other Income - Net	6		8		14		19		22			41

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 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. In-depth reviews of commercial contracts were completed and changes to processes and internal controls to meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements were implemented. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption did not affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Disclosures related to the nature, amount and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are included in Note 11, Revenues.

Pronouncements to be adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Leases, which will require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as a right-of-use asset with a corresponding lease liability, and lessors to recognize a net lease investment. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures will also be required. This standard update is effective for CSX beginning with the first quarter 2019 and the Company plans to adopt it using the cumulative-effect adjustment transition method approved by the FASB in July 2018. Changes to processes and internal controls to meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements have been identified and are being implemented. Software has been implemented that will assist in the recognition of additional assets and liabilities to be included on the balance sheet related to leases currently classified as operating leases with durations greater than twelve months, with certain allowable exceptions. In addition to lease agreements, service contracts and other agreements are also being reviewed to determine if they contain an embedded lease. The Company continues to evaluate the expected impact of this standard update on disclosures, but does not anticipate any material changes to operating results or liquidity as a result of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities that will be recorded.

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

In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU Leases - Land Easement Practical Expedient, which permits entities to forgo the evaluation of existing land easement arrangements to determine if they contain a lease as part of the adoption of the Leases ASU issued in February 2016. Accordingly, the Company’s accounting treatment of existing land easements will not change. CSX will adopt this standard update concurrently with the Leases ASU issued in February 2016. New land easement arrangements, or modifications to existing arrangements, after the adoption of the standard update will still be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of a lease.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates step two, the calculation of the implied fair value of goodwill, from the goodwill impairment test. Impairment will be quantified in step one of the test as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. This standard update is effective beginning first quarter 2020 and must be applied prospectively. The Company does not believe this standard update will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.