FedEx Corp. Reports Second Quarter Earnings & Increased Full-Year Earnings Outlook
Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx Corp. reported earnings of $0.89 per diluted share for the second quarter ended November 30. Excluding certain charges described below, second quarter earnings were $1.16 per diluted share, compared to $1.10 per diluted share a year ago.
"Solid demand for our transportation solutions, outstanding customer service from FedEx team members and a healthier global economy helped drive second-quarter revenue higher," said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our yield improvement strategy is working, holiday peak season volumes are exceeding our expectations and our economic forecast for calendar 2011 has improved. Accordingly, we have increased our earnings outlook for our current fiscal year."
Reported results for the current quarter include costs related to the previously announced combination of the company's FedEx Freight and FedEx National LTL operations and a reserve associated with a legal matter at FedEx Express, which together negatively impacted earnings by a net $0.27 per diluted share. Last year's second quarter results included a benefit from plan design changes to a self-insurance program at FedEx Express, which increased earnings by a net $0.05 per diluted share.
Second Quarter Results
FedEx Corp. reported the following consolidated results for the second quarter:
- Revenue of $9.63 billion, up 12 percent from $8.60 billion the previous year
- Operating income of $469 million, down 18 percent from $571 million last year
- Operating margin of 4.9 percent, down from 6.6 percent the previous year
- Net income of $283 million, down 18% from $345 million a year ago
While shipments and yields grew in all transportation segments, earnings were reduced by costs related to the January 30, 2011 combination of FedEx Freight and FedEx National LTL operations, including severance costs associated with personnel reductions and non-cash asset impairment charges. Earnings were also reduced by a reserve for a legal matter at FedEx Express. The reinstatement of certain employee compensation programs, and higher pension and aircraft maintenance expenses, also impacted earnings.
Outlook
FedEx projects earnings to be $0.95 to $1.15 per diluted share in the third quarter and $5.00 to $5.30 per diluted share for fiscal 2011, up from the company's previous estimate of $4.80 to $5.25 per diluted share. This guidance excludes any FedEx Freight combination costs and the second quarter legal reserve, and also assumes stable fuel prices and continued moderate growth in the global economy. Including costs from the FedEx Freight combination and the legal reserve, earnings are expected to be $0.78 to $1.04 per diluted share for the third quarter and $4.59 to $4.95 per diluted share for fiscal 2011. The company reported earnings of $0.76 per diluted share in last year's third quarter. The capital spending forecast for fiscal 2011 remains $3.5 billion.
"Our operating performance in the quarter was impacted by strong compensation and benefits headwinds as we reinstated programs curtailed during the recession," said Alan B. Graf, Jr., FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer. "During the quarter, we also realized more normalized growth in FedEx International Priority shipments and higher fuel prices than our earnings guidance had assumed. Yield improvement and cost management remain our focus. We expect margins to improve in the second half of fiscal 2011 and in fiscal 2012, as we continue to benefit from solid global demand for our differentiated services and as certain cost headwinds subside next fiscal year."
For more information visit www.fedex.com.