FedEx shares fall as demand weakness hurts results, outlook; analysts remain positive

Investing.com – FedEx reported mixed fiscal fourth-quarter results as earnings beat, but revenue missed Wall Street estimates amid ongoing demand weakness and rising costs.

FedEx Corporation (NYSE:) shares fell almost 3% in pre-open Wednesday trading following the report.

FedEx adjusted EPS of $4.94 on revenue of $21.90 billion. Analysts polled by Capital IQ anticipated EPS of $3.97 on revenue of $22.59B.

The company attributed the mixed quarterly results to ongoing “demand weakness and cost inflation,” as operating margin slipped to 6.9% from 8.9% a year earlier.

Looking ahead to 2024, the company guided EPS of $15.00 to $17.00, before the MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments and $16.50 to $18.50 after, compared with estimates of $14.87. Revenue growth year over year was guided at a flat to low-single-digit-percent.

For fiscal 2024, FedEx expects to repurchase $2.0B of stock. Total repurchases during fiscal 2023 were over 9 million shares or 4% of the shares outstanding at the beginning of the year, the company said.

FedEx touted progress on its turnaround efforts, targeting $1.8B in cost savings for 2024 as its ground operations and personnel in Canada are expected to transition to Federal Express Canada starting in April 2024.

FedEx also said its CFO Mike Lenz will retire at the end of July.

BofA analysts cut the price target on FedEx by $5 to $290 per share but remain Buy-rated on the stock.

“Showing early progress, Ground volumes declined yet margins improved in 2H23, the first time it achieved that in its history,” the analysts commented.

Citi analysts also reiterated a Buy rating on FDX stock and said:

“While we think investors will be somewhat disappointed with the guide, we note that it captures significant headwinds to Express from Intl yield weakness adding credibility (and potential upside), and coupled with a good F4Q, we think the reaction will be tempered. CFO Mike Lenz’s retirement is likely viewed positively, further tempering pressure on shares.”

(Additional reporting by Senad Karaahmetovic)