FedEx is scheduled to report earnings after Thursday’s close. The stock hit a record high of $319.90/share in 2021 and is currently trading near $246. The stock is prone to big moves after reporting earnings and can easily gap up if the numbers are strong. Conversely, if the numbers disappoint, the stock can easily gap down. To help you prepare, here is what the Street is expecting:
Earnings Preview
The company is expected to report a gain of $4.65/share on $21.89 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the so-called Whisper number is a gain of $4.71/share. The Whisper number is the Street’s unofficial view on earnings.
A Closer Look At The Fundamentals
The company has seen up and down earnings over the last few years. In 2020, the company made $9.50/share. In 2021, earnings vaulted to $18.17. Then, earnings grew to $20.61 in 2022. Earnings slid to $14.96 in 2023 and $17.80 in 2024. In 2025, earnings are expected to come in at $18.93 and $21.90 in 2026. The stock sports a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 15 which is lower than the benchmark S&P 500.
A Closer Look At The Technicals
Technically, the stock is in a long downtrend and not acting very well. The stock is trading below its 50-day moving average line (DMA) and below its longer-term 200-day moving average line which are both not healthy signs.
Company History
FedEx, originally known as Federal Express, was founded in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas. Smith, a Yale graduate, conceived the idea for an overnight delivery service in a term paper, which he later turned into a successful business. He raised $91 million in venture capital to support his vision. On April 17, 1973, Federal Express began operations in Memphis, Tennessee, with 389 team members. Memphis was chosen for its central U.S. location and favorable weather conditions. The company’s first night saw 14 aircraft deliver 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, FedEx expanded rapidly. By 1983, it became the first U.S. company to reach $1 billion in revenue within a decade of founding without mergers or acquisitions. FedEx expanded internationally in 1984, reaching Europe and Asia, and acquired Flying Tiger Line in 1988, becoming the largest full-service cargo airline. In 1994, Federal Express officially shortened its name to “FedEx” for marketing purposes, reflecting its broader service offerings. FedEx continued to innovate, earning the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1990 as the first service company to do so.
By recent years, FedEx had grown into an approximately $87.7 billion global enterprise, serving over 220 countries and territories. Its operations include around 698 aircraft, over 200,000 vehicles, and roughly 5,000 facilities, with more than 500,000 employees handling about 15 million shipments daily. FedEx continues to innovate, unveiling a state-of-the-art automated sorting facility at the Memphis World Hub in October 2024. This facility enhances operational efficiency and speeds up delivery times. FedEx also focuses on sustainability and customer experience through its 2025 Plan, aiming to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining operational excellence.
Company Profile
FedEx Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates through FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services segments.
The FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; and time-critical transportation services. The FedEx Ground segment provides small-package ground delivery services. The FedEx Freight segment offers less-than-truckload freight transportation services. The FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection, and back-office support services.
In addition, the company offers supply chain management solutions; and air and ocean freight forwarding and cargo transportation, specialty transportation, customs brokerage, third party logistics and supply chain, and document and business solutions, as well as provides trade management tools and data.
Pay Attention To How The Stock Reacts To The News
From where I sit, the most important trait I look for during earnings season is how the market and a specific company reacts to the news. Remember, always keep your losses small and never argue with the tape.
Disclosure: The stock has been featured on FindLeadingStocks.com.
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