BNSF Sees ‘Double-Digit’ Profit Growth This Year

urlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said late Monday it expects its 2006 profit to grow by at least 10%, as its consumer goods intermodal and coal businesses grow, Bloomberg reported.

Earnings will grow at a “double-digit” pace this year through 2010, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Hund said, without giving a specific percentage, Bloomberg reported.

Sales will climb 7% to 10% a year, the railroad said. Sales reached a record $13 billion last year.

The company in April forecast that its 2006 earnings would rise about 20%, to $4.81 a share, which was not changed Monday, Bloomberg said. About two-thirds of the revenue growth will come from higher volume and the rest from price increases, Chief Marketing Officer John Lanigan said.

By 2010, consumer goods shipments will climb to 45% of sales from 41%, or $5.16 billion last year, Lanigan said. Coal will increase to 20% of sales, from 19%, or $2.45 billion.