FedEx’s Revenue Falls, Operating Income Tumbles in Fiscal Second Quarter

Image: FedEx’s revenue faced significant pressure during its second quarter of fiscal 2023. Image Source: FedEx By Brian Nelson, CFA On December 20, FedEx Corp (FDX) didn’t deliver what investors wanted when it issued its fiscal second-quarter results for its fiscal 2023. Though the firm’s non-GAAP earnings per share came in slightly better than the consensus forecast, the company’s top line missed by a large margin, declining ~3% on a year-over-year basis. We recently lowered our fair value estimate of FedEx to $214 per share from $293 per share, but even this reduced estimate may be a bit too bright given our growing concerns over its fiscal 2025 targets. We continue to be cautious on shares of FedEx in light … Read more

Union Pacific Outperforming North American Rail Traffic Trends But Facing Inefficiencies and Inflation Hurdles

Image Source: Chuckcars By Brian Nelson, CFA On November 30, the Association of American Railroads reported that North American rail traffic is down 1.9% on a year-to-date basis through November 26. Carloads of chemicals, coal, motor vehicles and parts, nonmetallic minerals, and petroleum products were strong, but weakness in farm products, forest products, grain, and metallic ores and metals weighed on overall strength. Rail remains among the most economical way to ship goods over long distances. The railroads were front and center in the news recently about a potential work stoppage over the issue of paid sick leave. President Joe Biden, however, was able to put an end to the potential for a strike by signing “into law a joint … Read more

FedEx Beats Estimates, Raises Guidance

Image Source: FedEx Corporation – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2022 Earnings Infographic By Callum Turcan On December 16, the logistics giant FedEx Corporation (FDX) reported second quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended November 30, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The firm also moderately raised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2022 in conjunction with its earnings update after previously reducing its full fiscal year guidance when reporting its fiscal first quarter earnings update. FedEx noted in its fiscal second quarter earnings press release that “higher revenue per shipment at all transportation segments” positively benefited its operating income performance and helped offset headwinds from labor shortages and related supply chain constraints. The company also recently announced a … Read more

FedEx Indicates Its Outlook Is Improving

Image Shown: An overview of FedEx Corporation’s revenue generation by business segment in fiscal 2020. Image Source: FedEx Corporation – June 2020 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan On June 30, FedEx Corporation (FDX) reported fourth quarter fiscal 2020 earnings (period ended May 31, 2020) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Shares of FDX rallied during normal trading hours on July 1 as the air freight and logistics company’s outlook looked better than feared. Management did not provide full year guidance for fiscal 2021 given the uncertainties created by the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. During the firm’s latest quarterly conference call FedEx noted (emphasis added): “The economic outlook is highly uncertain making forecasting incredibly challenging. Around the world, we … Read more

JB Hunt Scales Back

Image Source: JB Hunt Transportation Services Inc – First Quarter 2020 Earnings IR Presentation By Callum Turcan JB Hunt Transportation Services Inc (JBHT) offers trucking freight and other logistics services to customers in North America, including intermodal services (which is the firm’s largest business segment by revenue). On April 14, the company reported first-quarter 2020 results, which showed its top-line beat consensus expectations while its bottom-line missed consensus expectations. Part of the reason why JB Hunt missed bottom-line expectations was due to incentive pay increases related to the ongoing coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic and the need to compensate frontline workers for the risks they are taking (and we appreciate all the work frontline workers are doing during these challenging times). Shares … Read more

FedEx’s Earnings Miss

Image Source: FedEx Corporation – 2019 Annual Stockholders Meeting September 2019 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan In the days leading up to FedEx Corp (FDX) latest earnings report where the firm missed by a mile (we’ll cover that in a moment, but first, let’s look how we got here), news broke that Amazon (AMZN) is now blocking third-party sellers that use its marketplace platform from using the FedEx Ground delivery service (which handles North American volumes) to ship to Prime customers. This comes on the heels of FedEx and Amazon ending two significant shipping contracts earlier this year, including the arrangement where FedEx Ground would handle some of Amazon’s packages, a deal that expired at the end of August. Please … Read more

Analysis of Marcus Corp (MCS) and Schneider National Trucking (SNDR)

Image Source: Dan Executive Summary – Marcus Corp has done well in establishing itself as a meaningful regional player in the movie theater market, and its ability to outperform the industry in terms of box office results and profitability in its movie theater operations–thanks in part to its solid portfolio of owned real estate–is impressive. However, inconsistent free cash flow generation and a notable debt load give us some reason for pause, as does its weak Dividend Cushion ratio, and we see little valuation opportunity present in shares at this time. Schneider National Trucking operates a broad portfolio of freight transportation and logistics solutions that appear to be positioned well for profitable growth thanks to a diversified customer base, the … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending February 2

Below we provide a list of firms that raised or lowered their dividends during the week ending February 2. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. AFLAC (AFL): now $0.52 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.45. Amtek (AME): now $0.14 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.09. Andeavor Logistics (ANDX): now $1.00 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.9852. Apartment Investment (AIV): now $0.38 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.36. AvalonBay Communities (AVB): now $1.47 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.42. … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week October 30

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending October 30. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week AbbVie (ABBV): now $1.30 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.18. Agnico Eagle (AEM): now $0.35 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Amkor Technology (AMKR): now $0.04 per share quarterly dividend. Arbor Realty Trust (ABR): now $0.32 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.31. Artisan Partners Asset Management (APAM): now $0.83 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.67. B. Riley Financial (RILY): now $0.375 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week January 29

Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending January 29. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week 1st Source (SRCE): now $0.29 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.28. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): now $1.50 per share quarterly dividend, was $1.34. Allegiance Bancshares (ABTX): now $0.12 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.10. Anthem (ANTM): now $1.13 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.95. Apartment Income REIT (AIRC): now $0.43 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.41. Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM): now $0.37 per share quarterly dividend, was … Read more