FedEx Corp. Reports First Quarter Results

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) today reported the following consolidated results for the first quarter ended August 31 (adjusted measures exclude the items listed below for the applicable fiscal year):

This year’s and last year’s quarterly consolidated results have been adjusted for:

“We’re moving with speed and agility to navigate a difficult operating environment, pulling cost, commercial, and capacity levers to adjust to the impacts of reduced demand,” said Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief executive officer. “As our team continues to work aggressively to address near-term headwinds, we’re meaningfully strengthening our business and customer experience, including delivering an outstanding peak.”

First quarter consolidated operating results were adversely impacted by global volume softness that accelerated in the final weeks of the quarter due to weakening economic conditions. In addition, results were negatively affected by service challenges at FedEx Express. Yield improvements, including fuel surcharge increases, more than offset the decline in volume, resulting in an increase in revenue for the quarter.

In response, the company implemented cost actions and continued its focus on yield management and revenue quality to mitigate the effect of volume declines. However, the impact of cost actions lagged volume declines and operating expenses remained high relative to demand.

FedEx Express operating income declined 69% due to an 11% year-over-year reduction in global package and freight volume. The impact of cost actions lagged volume declines and operating expenses remained high relative to demand. These factors were partially offset by yield management actions, including higher fuel surcharges.

FedEx Ground operating income increased 3% primarily due to yield management actions, including higher fuel surcharges, and growth in FedEx Home Delivery. These factors were partially offset by higher operating expenses, primarily due to increased purchased transportation costs and other operating expenses.

FedEx Freight operating income increased 67%, driven by yield management actions, including higher fuel surcharges, partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefits and lower shipments.

Strategic Business Update

Fiscal 2023 Cost Reduction Initiatives

In order to align fiscal 2023 costs with demand due to a weaker-than-expected business environment, the company is prioritizing actions to quickly reduce costs.

In fiscal 2023, the company expects to generate total cost savings of $2.2-2.7 billion, including reduction in variable incentive compensation, compared to the company’s prior plan. In the first quarter, the company realized approximately $300 million of these savings and expects to realize approximately $700 million in savings in the second quarter.

Expected cost savings in fiscal 2023 will consist of:

• $1.5-1.7 billion at FedEx Express, including reducing flight frequencies and temporarily parking aircraft;
• $350-500 million at FedEx Ground, including closing select sort operations, suspending certain Sunday operations, and other linehaul expense actions; and
• $350-500 million across shared and allocated overhead expenses, including reducing vendor utilization, deferring certain projects, and closing certain FedEx Office and corporate office locations.

Global Transformation Program

FedEx has also launched a comprehensive program in support of its “Deliver Today, Innovate for Tomorrow” strategy. In addition to the cost savings detailed above, by fiscal 2025 the company expects to generate approximately $4.0 billion in incremental annualized cost savings across its existing network, including:

• Approximately $1.4 billion in FedEx Express operating expenses;
• Approximately $1.1 billion in FedEx Ground operating expenses; and
• Approximately $1.5 billion in shared and allocated overhead expenses.

In addition, the program is supporting initiatives to recognize approximately $2.0 billion in long-term benefits from the company’s network optimization strategy (Network 2.0).

“With the immediate focus on reducing fiscal 2023 costs, we are becoming a leaner and more focused company well positioned to create long-term value for our stockholders supported by our global transformation program,” concluded Subramaniam.

2023 Rate Increases

Effective January 2, 2023, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Home Delivery rates will increase by an average of 6.9%. FedEx Freight rates will increase by an average of 6.9%-7.9% dependent on the customer’s transportation rate scale. Details related to these and additional changes to rates, surcharges, and fees are available at fedex.com/en-us/shipping/current-rates.html.

Outlook

As previously announced, FedEx forecasts:

• Second quarter fiscal 2023 revenue of $23.5 to $24.0 billion;
• Second quarter fiscal 2023 earnings per diluted share of $2.65 or greater, and earnings per diluted share excluding costs related to business optimization initiatives and business realignment activities of $2.75 or greater;
• Anticipated capital spending for fiscal year 2023 of $6.3 billion; and
• Repurchase of $1.5 billion of FedEx common stock during fiscal 2023. The company expects to repurchase $1.0 billion of FedEx common stock during the second quarter.

These forecasts assume the company’s current economic forecast and fuel price expectations, no additional COVID-19-related business restrictions, successful completion of the planned stock repurchases during the second quarter, and no additional adverse geopolitical developments. FedEx’s earnings per share forecast is based on current law and related regulations and guidance.

“I am confident the cost actions we’re implementing with urgency will enhance efficiency and drive improved profitability in support of our long-term financial targets,” said Michael C. Lenz, FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer.

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 $95 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 550,000 employees 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 September 22, 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 regarding expected cost savings, future financial targets, business strategies, management’s views with respect to future events and financial performance, and the assumptions underlying such targets, strategies, and statements. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “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 fiscal 2023 cost reduction initiatives and the global transformation program in support of our fiscal 2025 financial performance goals; our ability to achieve our fiscal 2025 financial performance goals; 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 and other geopolitical and regulatory developments; our ability to match capacity to shifting volume levels; the effect of intense competition; an increase in self-insurance accruals and expenses; 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; 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

First Quarter Fiscal 2023 and Fiscal 2022 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 first quarter fiscal 2023 and 2022 consolidated operating income and diluted earnings per share and adjusted first quarter fiscal 2023 and 2022 FedEx Express segment operating income. These financial measures have been adjusted to exclude the impact of the following items (as applicable):

• Business optimization costs in fiscal 2023;
• Business realignment costs in fiscal 2023 and 2022; and
• TNT Express integration expenses incurred in fiscal 2022.

Costs related to business optimization initiatives and costs related to realignment activities in connection with the FedEx Express workforce reduction plan in Europe are excluded from our first quarter fiscal 2023 and 2022 consolidated and FedEx Express segment non-GAAP financial measures, as applicable, because they are unrelated to our core operating performance and to assist investors with assessing trends in our underlying businesses.

We incurred significant expenses through fiscal 2022 in connection with our integration of TNT Express. We have adjusted our first quarter fiscal 2022 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.

First Quarter Fiscal 2023

FedEx Corporation

FedEx Express Segment

First Quarter Fiscal 2022

FedEx Corporation

FedEx Express Segment

Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Earnings Per Share Forecast

Our second quarter fiscal 2023 earnings per share (EPS) forecast is a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes estimated fiscal 2023 costs related to business optimization initiatives and business realignment activities. We do not expect to record mark-to-market retirement plan accounting adjustments during the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

We have provided this non-GAAP financial measure for the same reasons that were outlined above for historical non-GAAP measures. These items are excluded from our second quarter fiscal 2023 EPS forecast for the same reasons described above for historical non-GAAP measures. The table below outlines the impacts of these items on our second quarter fiscal 2023 EPS forecast.

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