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CLEVELAND - Activist investor Ancora Holdings Group has publicly disclosed a letter sent to CSX Corporation’s (NASDAQ:CSX) board of directors urging the railroad operator, currently valued at $67.7 billion and trading near its 52-week high of $37.10, to formally announce it is exploring merger options following the recently announced combination of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. According to InvestingPro data, CSX has demonstrated strong momentum with an 11.96% return over the past six months.
In the letter dated August 6, Ancora, which describes itself as a growing shareholder with more than $10 billion in assets under management, criticized CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs for what it called "sustained operational deterioration" and urged the board to immediately announce the retention of an investment bank to explore merger possibilities. The criticism comes as CSX generates $14.15 billion in revenue and $6.64 billion in EBITDA over the last twelve months, with InvestingPro analysis indicating the stock is currently fairly valued.
The investor group specifically suggested CSX should pursue discussions with BNSF Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited to maximize shareholder value in response to industry consolidation.
Ancora cited several concerns about CSX’s performance under Hinrichs’ leadership, including what it described as "anemic shareholder returns," a deterioration in operational performance with the operating ratio increasing from 58% when Hinrichs joined in 2022 to approximately 67% year-to-date 2025, and issues with executive recruitment and retention.
The letter also claimed CSX missed opportunities to engage in substantive discussions about forming a transcontinental railroad, suggesting Hinrichs may have been reluctant to pursue merger talks that could have eliminated his position.
Ancora indicated it would consider running a proxy contest to replace Hinrichs if a merger cannot be arranged, stating the company should install "a qualified operator" in the CEO role.
According to the press release, Ancora made the letter public after the company allegedly ignored their private communication and after learning that CSX’s advisors were reportedly discussing the correspondence with media members without attribution. With analyst price targets ranging from $27 to $45 per share, InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed financial health scores, 13 additional ProTips, and comprehensive analysis through the Pro Research Report, helping investors navigate this period of potential corporate transformation.
In other recent news, CSX Corp. reported second-quarter earnings per share of $0.44, surpassing both Benchmark’s estimate and the consensus by two cents, aided by reduced operating expenses. Benchmark responded by raising its price target for CSX to $40 from $37, maintaining a Buy rating due to network improvements and upcoming project completions. Meanwhile, BMO Capital downgraded CSX from Outperform to Market Perform, citing uncertainty surrounding potential rail mergers that could influence the sector’s outlook. In line with this, CSX is collaborating with Goldman Sachs to explore rail consolidation options following a merger among competitors. Additionally, hedge fund Toms Capital Investment Management acquired a 5.6 million share stake in CSX and has requested a meeting with the company’s board, potentially indicating interest in a merger. CSX’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Kevin Boone, is set to speak at Deutsche Bank’s 2025 Transportation Conference, with the event being broadcast live on the company’s investor relations website. These developments come as the company navigates a changing landscape in the rail industry.
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