QR National has got off to a strong start in 2012, with relatively dry weather boosting hopes of a healthy half year earnings report next month, as well as the railroad group's share price – which recently hit a new high of $2.78.
This time last year the company's haulage operations were battling to keep going amid the devastation caused by the Queensland floods but rains this year have been lighter, which bodes well for QR National's coal haulage forecasts, The Australian Financial Review reports.
Investors are also expecting a resolution of the uncertainty over what the Queensland government plans to do with its 34 per cent stake in the company, which it must hold until August.
Some investors have been nervous the government will flood the market when it offloads its shares. But bankers say QR National is considering selling part of its regulated network operations to a superannuation fund and using part of the proceeds to buy some of the government's holdings.
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