FedEx saw strong results driven by increased demand this past quarter, and the company plans to spend more to keep up with the growth in volume, the Memphis-based logistics giant reported Tuesday.
FedEx posted $19.3 billion in revenue for the 2021 fiscal years first quarter, up from $17 billion the year-before quarter. Net income was an adjusted $1.28 billion, up 60% from fiscal 2020s first quarter. The quarter ended Aug. 31.
“Our earnings growth underscores the importance of our business initiatives and investments over the last several years, and, in many ways, the world has accelerated to meet our strategies,” said Chairman and CEO Fred Smith in a statement. “I would like to thank our team members whose efforts during this time have helped keep the worlds health care, industrial and at-home supply chains moving despite the challenges of the global pandemic.”
In a regulatory filing, FedEx said it saw “unprecedented demand for our residential delivery services, rivaling our peak holiday season traffic.” FedEx Grounds average daily package volume skyrocketed from 8.8 million the year-before quarter to 11.6 million this quarter, an increase of 31%.
Demand for FedExs more profitable commercial delivery services “improved sequentially” as businesses continued to reopen amid COVID-19-related shutdowns, FedEx said.
FedEx Express, which leans on commercial shipments, made a major rebound in the quarter. Operating income at Express increased nearly 150% from the year before.
In a news release, FedEx said its raising its capital spending forecast to $5.1 billion, an increase of $200 million, due to “initiatives to support increased volume levels.”
“While business demand improved in the first quarter, continued uncertainties cloud our ability to forecast full-year earnings,” said Chief Financial Officer Alan Graf in a statement. “However, we expect to continue to benefit from our strong position in the U.S. and international package and freight markets, yield improvement opportunities and cost management initiatives.”
FedEx reported adjusted earnings per share of $4.87 for the quarter, which smashed Wall Street expectations. Investment research firm Zacks predicted earnings per share of $2.54 earnings prior to earnings.
FedEx riding high amid COVID-19 demand spike
The results come as FedEx stock has been trading at highs not seen since 2018. Industry analysts have been impressed by surging home delivery volumes at FedEx Ground, and FedEx Express is seeing newfound demand with the grounding of passenger planes limiting air cargo alternatives.
FedEx Express, FedExs largest company, has been busier at its World Hub in Memphis and its pilots have encountered flight demand comparable to the holidays.
Express made $9.6 billion in revenue and $710 million in operating income this past quarter. That’s up from the year-before quarters $8.9 billion in revenue and $285 million in operating income.
Volume growth in FedExs international priority and home delivery services helped bolster results, FedEx said in its release. International Priority provides time-definite delivery of imports and exports in 1 to 3 business days.
Average daily package volume at Express increased 5% in all from the year-before quarter.
Prior to a better-than-expected quarter in June, FedEx posted a string of disappointing results. A global trade slowdown hurt demand for FedEx Express services, costs from integrating European courier TNT Express continued to mount and FedEx Ground saw profits shrink amid heavy investments.
The COVID-19 pandemic then accelerated trends FedEx executives said the company was already preparing for, such as the e-commerce boom.
FedEx Ground has been the primary beneficiary of the online shopping rush. It reported $7 billion in revenue and $834 million in operating income. Thats ahead of $5.2 billion and $644 million, respectively, in the year-before quarter.
FedEx stock was trading at $258.72 per share in after-hours trading. About a month ago, the stock traded at $206.64 a share.
