among them are companies like railroad operator csx. intel and oil services giant. all three of those companies are slated to report earnings later on this week. and some experts think there's a reason to proceed with caution. >> given the earnings growth this year is expected to be a more muted, any where in 0% to 2%, that would also point to more muted stock market returns over the next six to 18 months. >> reporter: not everyone is as optimistic about the growth and the overall picture could be helped along by the sense that america is a safer market to be in at least on a relative basis. >> there are two key reasons request the market is likely to do well in the six to 12 months. earnings are poised to respond, to come in better than expectations. the second one is as the fed renormalizes it should convince investors that businesses. >> it will be more of a balancing act for investor portfolios and about evaluating risks. still with as many stocks in downward trends, caution will be an investing theme going forward. for "nightly business report." >>> still ahead

csx and officials of the federal railroad administration. rosemary, i'll come join you in the studio at the bottom of the hour. live in the digital operations center vai sikahema nbc 10. >> thanks vai. >>> the justice department says there is no indication that several church fires throughout the south are connected. some are wondering if it's more than a quincecoincidence. five years right now are under investigation. investigators say nationally, 34 fires of various causes are reported at religious institutions every week. most frequently involving synagogues and mosques. >>> meantime a scholarship fund has been created in the name of former south carolina senator reverend clementa pinckney. he was one of the nine members of the charleston church killed by alleged shooter dylann roof. the scholarship fund provides educational support for members of the church where that shooting happened. anonymous donors have contributed $3 million. >>> a 300 pound bear gave residents in one pennsylvania neighborhood quite the surprise yesterday morning. the bear was spotted yesterday in a nantyicoke community. they even had to cut away branches to get t

railroad profitability, operating ratio. that hit a record low 66.8% for the quarter. energy the biggest focus. domestic coal volumes expected to fall 10% in 2015 for csxnd export coal which has been dented by the strong dollar is expected to remain weak. but there was a relative bright spot that was intermodal, containers of cargo that move between trains, trucks, and ships. >> we've been able to grow that market about 7% a free on the domestic side over the last three years and our domestic intermodal this quarter was actually up 9%. we think there's great vibrancy there. >> the railroad also reiterating earlier eps guidance for 2015 and look at shares of csx in the after hours. they're trading up 23% on that earnings beat. melissa, back over to you. >> thank you, morgan brennan. guy adami, where are you on rails? >> i think the quarter was okay. i don't think it was spectacular. i think the stock's traded off 20% in the last month or so. i think this -- to me it's a classic relief rally. does it have room to 35? probably. but this quarter did nothing to make me believe that the rails have straightened themselves out. >> i think the scarier read-thro

csx. i chair the committee tasked with ptc operability across 60,000 miles of railroad. given the recent amtrak tragedy and remembering those impacted by ptc preventible accidents i believe four issues are presented for resolution by this kmiety. number one why are railroads unable to meet ptc by 2015. number two why are a few able to meet 2015 and the remainder could. no and number three, what happened if an extension is not passed and foub foub four what is next. a turn key system did not exist in 2008 and had to be create and that task tips. as one of the many railroads working on ptc every day let me reflect briefly on accountable. i'm ultimately responsible for ptc at csx and unfor the nartly it will not be completed by the deadline. this is not the result of lack of will or commitment. to the contrary. csx has ensured executive support. we are hundreds of millions of dollars over budget but csx has never hesitated to complete with the required capital. congress shares in this responsibility. the 2015 deadline was not grounded in fact. it was a political compromise