FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) today reported financial results for the quarter ended February 28.
FedEx reported (adjusted measures exclude the items listed below for the applicable fiscal year):
Fiscal 2022 | Fiscal 2021 | |||||||
As Reported | Adjusted | As Reported | Adjusted | |||||
Revenue | $23.6 billion | $23.6 billion | $21.5 billion | $21.5 billion | ||||
Operating income | $1.33 billion | $1.46 billion | $1.01 billion | $1.06 billion | ||||
Operating margin | 5.6% | 6.2% | 4.7% | 4.9% | ||||
Net income | $1.1 billion | $1.22 billion | $892 million | $939 million | ||||
Diluted EPS | $4.20 | $4.59 | $3.30 | $3.47 | ||||
This year’s and last year’s quarterly consolidated results have been adjusted for:
Impact per diluted share | Fiscal 2022 | Fiscal 2021 | |||||
Business realignment costs | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.03 | |||
TNT Express integration expenses | 0.08 | 0.14 | |||||
“The continued execution of our strategies drove improved third quarter results,” said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman and chief executive officer. “I am proud of our team members around the world, who are constantly proving their resilience amidst a rapidly evolving global environment. FedEx is supporting our team members and others affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as we hope to soon see a return to peace.”
Third quarter operating income improved due to higher revenue per shipment and a net fuel benefit at all transportation segments. The quarter’s results also benefited from lower variable compensation expense and less severe winter weather, resulting in favorable year-over-year comparisons. The improved results were partially offset by the effects of the Omicron variant, as well as higher purchased transportation costs and wage rates.
“We successfully executed during the holiday peak season, resulting in record December operating income,” said Michael C. Lenz, FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Our strong quarterly operating income increase was dampened by the surge of the Omicron variant which caused disruptions to our networks and diminished customer demand in January and into February. We remain focused on revenue quality and operational efficiency initiatives to mitigate inflationary pressures and drive earnings improvement.”
Third quarter net income included a tax benefit of $78 million ($0.29 per diluted share) related to revisions of prior year estimates for actual tax return results. Last year’s net income included discrete tax benefits of $108 million ($0.40 per diluted share).
FedEx Express operating results increased, driven by higher yields, a net fuel benefit, and lower variable compensation expense. The improved results were partially offset by the negative effects of the Omicron variant, which constrained near-term economic growth, labor availability, and shipping demand. These effects also resulted in lower express freight revenue, as air capacity limitations drove a temporary suspension of International Economy Express Freight services and certain U.S. Domestic Express Freight services during the quarter. These negative effects on third quarter results fully offset the estimated benefit from less severe winter weather.
FedEx Ground operating results declined primarily due to increased rates for purchased transportation and employee wages, network inefficiencies, and expansion-related costs. These costs were partially offset by higher revenue per package, a boost from two additional ground commercial operating weekdays, and a net fuel benefit. Average daily volume was flat, as Ground Economy declined and growth in commercial and FedEx Home Delivery services was constrained by the effects of the Omicron variant.
FedEx Freight third quarter operating income nearly tripled, driven by a continued focus on revenue quality and profitable growth. Revenue per shipment increased 19% and average daily shipments grew 2% during the quarter, while the operating margin increased 850 basis points to 15.0%.
The previously announced accelerated share repurchase program (ASR) was completed during the quarter and 6.1 million shares were delivered under the ASR agreement. The decrease in outstanding shares benefited third quarter results by $0.06 per diluted share. Cash on-hand as of February 28, 2022 was $6.1 billion.
Outlook
FedEx is unable to forecast the year-end fiscal 2022 mark-to-market (MTM) retirement plans accounting adjustment. As a result, FedEx is unable to provide a fiscal 2022 earnings per share or effective tax rate (ETR) outlook on a GAAP basis.
FedEx now expects for the fiscal year:
- Earnings per diluted share of $18.60 to $19.60 before the year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, compared to the prior forecast of $18.25 to $19.25 per diluted share;
- Earnings per diluted share of $20.50 to $21.50 before (i) the year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, and excluding (ii) estimated TNT Express integration expenses, (iii) estimated costs associated with business realignment activities, and (iv) the second quarter fiscal 2022 MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments, unchanged from the prior forecast;
- ETR of 22% to 23% prior to the year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, compared to the prior forecast of 24%; and
- Capital spending of $7.0 billion, compared to the prior forecast of $7.2 billion.
These forecasts assume continued growth in U.S. industrial production and global trade, a continued gradual improvement in labor availability, no new COVID-19 related business restrictions, current fuel price expectations and no additional adverse geopolitical developments. FedEx’s ETR and earnings per share forecasts are based on current law and related regulations and guidance.
“Our strategic investments are fundamentally changing the way we perform and execute in e-commerce, demonstrated by our strong performance during the peak month of December,” said Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief operating officer. “We are committed to delivering for our customers, and remain focused on our strategic initiatives to increase productivity, lower our cost to serve and create shareholder value.”
Corporate Overview
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $92 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.
Additional information and operating data are contained in the company’s annual report, Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs, Form 8-Ks and Statistical Books. These materials, as well as a webcast of the earnings release conference call to be held at 5:30 p.m. EDT on March 17, are available on the company’s website at investors.fedex.com. A replay of the conference call webcast will be posted on our website following the call.
The Investor Relations page of our website, investors.fedex.com, contains a significant amount of information about FedEx, including our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and financial and other information for investors. The information that we post on our Investor Relations website could be deemed to be material information. We encourage investors, the media and others interested in the company to visit this website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to management’s views with respect to future events and financial performance and underlying assumptions. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate; our ability to meet our labor and purchased transportation needs while controlling related costs; a significant data breach or other disruption to our technology infrastructure; the continuing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic; anti-trade measures and additional changes in international trade policies and relations; the effect of any international conflicts or terrorist activities, including as a result of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine; our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, effectively respond to changes in market dynamics and achieve the anticipated benefits and associated cost savings of such strategies and actions, including our ability to successfully implement our FedEx Express workforce reduction plan in Europe and to continue to transform and optimize the FedEx Express international business, particularly in Europe; damage to our reputation or loss of brand equity; changes in the business or financial soundness of the U.S. Postal Service, including strategic changes to its operations to reduce its reliance on the air network of FedEx Express; changes in fuel prices or currency exchange rates, including significant increases in fuel prices as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; our ability to match capacity to shifting volume levels; the effect of intense competition; our ability to effectively operate, integrate, leverage and grow acquired businesses and realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and other strategic transactions; the future rate of e-commerce growth and our ability to successfully expand our e-commerce services portfolio; the timeline for recovery of passenger airline cargo capacity; evolving or new U.S. domestic or international laws and government regulations, policies and actions; future guidance, regulations, interpretations, challenges or judicial decisions related to our tax positions; legal challenges or changes related to service providers engaged by FedEx Ground and the drivers providing services on their behalf; an increase in self-insurance accruals and expenses; our ability to quickly and effectively restore operations following adverse weather or a localized disaster or disturbance in a key geography; our ability to achieve our goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2040; and other factors which can be found in FedEx Corp.’s and its subsidiaries’ press releases and FedEx Corp.’s filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The financial section of this release is provided on the company’s website at investors.fedex.com
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021 Results
The company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP” or “reported”). We have supplemented the reporting of our financial information determined in accordance with GAAP with certain non-GAAP (or “adjusted”) financial measures, including our adjusted third quarter fiscal 2022 and 2021 consolidated operating income and margin, net income and diluted earnings per share, and adjusted third quarter fiscal 2022 and 2021 FedEx Express segment operating income and margin. These financial measures have been adjusted to exclude the effect of the following items:
- Business realignment costs incurred in fiscal 2022 and 2021; and
- TNT Express integration expenses incurred in fiscal 2022 and 2021.
The costs related to business realignment activities in connection with the FedEx Express workforce reduction plan in Europe are excluded from our third quarter fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 consolidated and FedEx Express segment non-GAAP financial measures because they are unrelated to our core operating performance and to assist investors with assessing trends in our underlying businesses.
We have incurred and expect to incur significant expenses through fiscal 2022 in connection with our integration of TNT Express. We have adjusted our third quarter fiscal 2022 and 2021 consolidated and FedEx Express segment financial measures to exclude TNT Express integration expenses because we generally would not incur such expenses as part of our continuing operations. The integration expenses are predominantly incremental costs directly associated with the integration of TNT Express, including professional and legal fees and other operating expenses. Internal salaries and employee benefits are included only to the extent the individuals are assigned full-time to integration activities. The integration expenses do not include costs associated with our business realignment activities.
We believe these adjusted financial measures facilitate analysis and comparisons of our ongoing business operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, the company’s and our business segments’ core operating performance, and may assist investors with comparisons to prior periods and assessing trends in our underlying businesses. These adjustments are consistent with how management views our businesses. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and evaluating the company’s and each business segment’s ongoing performance.
Our non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement and should be read together with, and are not an alternative or substitute for, and should not be considered superior to, our reported financial results. Accordingly, users of our financial statements should not place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. As required by SEC rules, the tables below present a reconciliation of our presented non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Fiscal 2022 Earnings Per Share and Effective Tax Rate Forecasts
Our fiscal 2022 earnings per share (EPS) forecast is a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes (i) the fiscal 2022 year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, (ii) estimated fiscal 2022 TNT Express integration expenses, (iii) estimated fiscal 2022 business realignment costs, and (iv) the second quarter fiscal 2022 MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments. Our fiscal 2022 effective tax rate (ETR) forecast is a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes the effect of the fiscal 2022 year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment.
We have provided these non-GAAP financial measures for the same reasons that were outlined above for historical non-GAAP measures. These items are excluded from our fiscal 2022 EPS and ETR forecasts, as applicable, for the same reasons described above for historical non-GAAP measures. The fiscal 2022 year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment is excluded from our fiscal 2022 EPS and ETR forecasts because it is unrelated to our core operating performance and to assist investors with assessing trends in our underlying businesses.
We are unable to predict the amount of the year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, as it is significantly affected by changes in interest rates and the financial markets, so such adjustment is not included in our fiscal 2022 EPS and ETR forecasts. For this reason, a full reconciliation of our fiscal 2022 EPS and ETR forecasts to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is impracticable. It is reasonably possible, however, that our fiscal 2022 year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment could have a material effect on our fiscal 2022 consolidated financial results and ETR.
The table included below titled “Fiscal 2022 Earnings Per Share Forecast” outlines the effects of the items that are excluded from our fiscal 2022 EPS forecast, other than the year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment.
Third Quarter Fiscal 2022
FedEx Corporation
Operating | Income | Net | Diluted | |||||||||||||||||
Dollars in millions, except EPS | Income | Margin | Taxes1 | Income2 | Per Share | |||||||||||||||
GAAP measure | $ | 1,326 | 5.6 | % | $ | 263 | $ | 1,112 | $ | 4.20 | ||||||||||
Business realignment costs3 | 107 | 0.5 | % | 25 | 82 | 0.31 | ||||||||||||||
TNT Express integration expenses4 | 29 | 0.1 | % | 6 | 23 | 0.08 | ||||||||||||||
Non-GAAP measure | $ | 1,462 | 6.2 | % | $ | 294 | $ | 1,217 | $ | 4.59 | ||||||||||
FedEx Express Segment
Operating | ||||||||
Dollars in millions | Income | Margin5 | ||||||
GAAP measure | $ | 520 | 4.6 | % | ||||
Business realignment costs | 107 | 0.9 | % | |||||
TNT Express integration expenses | 24 | 0.2 | % | |||||
Non-GAAP measure | $ | 651 | 5.8 | % | ||||
Third Quarter Fiscal 2021
FedEx Corporation
Operating | Income | Net | Diluted | |||||||||||||||||
Dollars in millions, except EPS | Income | Margin | Taxes1 | Income2 | Per Share | |||||||||||||||
GAAP measure | $ | 1,005 | 4.7 | % | $ | 157 | $ | 892 | $ | 3.30 | ||||||||||
TNT Express integration expenses4 | 49 | 0.2 | % | 10 | 39 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||
Business realignment costs3 | 10 | — | 2 | 8 | 0.03 | |||||||||||||||
Non-GAAP measure | $ | 1,064 | 4.9 | % | $ | 169 | $ | 939 | $ | 3.47 | ||||||||||
FedEx Express Segment
Operating | ||||||||
Dollars in millions | Income | Margin | ||||||
GAAP measure | $ | 463 | 4.3 | % | ||||
TNT Express integration expenses | 41 | 0.4 | % | |||||
Business realignment costs | 10 | 0.1 | % | |||||
Non-GAAP measure | $ | 514 | 4.8 | % | ||||
Fiscal 2022 Earnings Per Share Forecast
Dollars in millions, except EPS | Adjustments | Diluted | ||||
Earnings per diluted share before year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment (non-GAAP)6 | $18.60 to $19.60 | |||||
TNT Express integration expenses | $ | 150 | ||||
Income tax effect1 | (32 | ) | ||||
Net of tax effect | $ | 118 | 0.44 | |||
Business realignment costs | $ | 250 | ||||
Income tax effect1 | (55 | ) | ||||
Net of tax effect | $ | 195 | 0.73 | |||
Second quarter fiscal 2022 MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments7 | $ | 260 | ||||
Income tax effect1 | (65 | ) | ||||
Net of tax effect | $ | 195 | 0.73 | |||
Earnings per diluted share with adjustments6 | $20.50 to $21.50 | |||||
Notes: | |
1 – | Income taxes are based on the company’s approximate statutory tax rates applicable to each transaction. |
2 – | Effect of “total other (expense) income” on net income amount not shown. |
3 – | Business realignment costs were recognized at FedEx Express. |
4 – | These expenses were recognized at FedEx Corporation and FedEx Express. |
5 – | Does not sum to total due to rounding. |
6 – | The year-end MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment, which is impracticable to calculate at this time, is excluded. |
7 – | The MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 reflect a noncash loss associated with the termination of a TNT Express European pension plan and a curtailment charge related to the U.S. FedEx Freight pension plan. |