Kansas City Southern’s 4Q Profit Falls

Kansas City Southern said Thursday it earned $32 million, 33 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, compared with $36.4 million, or 40 cents, the previous year.

The railroad’s revenue dropped 4% to $406.8 million from $423.8 million a year ago. Carloads fell 1%.

For the full 2009 year, profit fell to $57 million, or 61 cents per share, from $168.7 million, or $1.86 per share, in 2008. Revenue dropped 20.1% to $1.9 billion.

Carlods for the year fell 11% from 2008.