Stock price when the opinion was issued
From last-mid-October to mid-February, transports rallied 25% on hopes of better interest rates and better volumes. Then, the Iran war and oil spike came out of nowhere and this sector has fallen 12%. FedEx is more than doubled since last April. It just reported a strong beat and forecast through 2029. It will spin off its freight business which could unlock value. Revenues and EPS beat. Operating margin also surprised well. Still has room to run as it trades at only 16x PE for 2027.
Last night, they reported a surprisingly good quarter, so shares jumped 2.3%. It has struggled since summer 2024 and especially during the tariff spring of 2025. Is still -17.6% this year and has been downgraded recently. Total revenue is +3% YOY, driven by core FedEx express business. Adjusted EPS easily beat and issued a positive full-year forecast. They raised revenue growth outlook. Cutbacks, like removing stations and pick-up times, (Network 2.0) is cutting costs without angering customers. Also, are making their European business more efficiency with more productivity. He sees more upside, though is a little cautious due to tariffs. FedEx has done very well navigating this tricky economy. Trades at under 13x PE, cheap. Pays a safe 2.5% dividend.
He sold it at $295 recently. Loves the company, but earnings revisions came down. He bought at $262. He may re-buy it if the price and valuation are right. FedEx is a dominant player and the management team proves they can execute. The founder family still owns a lot of shares, and such families don't make crazy decision to preserve their stake. Also, cost savings and a huge share buyback are plusses. Also, they have fewer unionized employees than UPS.
He likes the UPS name. There are really only two big players in the space, them and FedEx. He prefers FedEx and owns that one. The problem is that there is a growing need for capital to move towards same-day delivery. He thinks FedEx did a smart thing pushing back on Amazon pricing terms and they have reduced their exposure to them to only 1% of revenues.