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Expeditors International of Washington Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 32% in the quarter: Second-quarter revenues were $3,502,335 thousand against $2,651,885 thousand a year earlier. First-half revenues were $6,285,297 thousand, up 18%. Source
  • Operating income rose 41%: Operating income was $349,618 thousand against $247,736 thousand. First-half operating income was $644,446 thousand, up 25%. Source
  • Customs grew double digits again: Customs brokerage and other services revenue was $1,296,571 thousand against $1,024,316 thousand. This is the second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth across customs and other products. Source
  • Restructuring charge of $25 million: The results include a $25 million pretax restructuring charge for the Global Technology team. Source
  • Air buy and sell rates highly elevated: Management said air buy and sell rates were highly elevated during the quarter, as demand for air capacity exceeded available space, particularly late in the quarter. Source
  • Air tonnage up 14% year over year: Tonnage rose 14% from a year ago and 16% from the first quarter of 2026, mainly on Asia-U.S. and Asia-Europe lanes that management said were less affected by the conflict. Source
  • Ocean volumes rose sequentially: Ocean volumes rose 7% from the first quarter of 2026, the first sequential increase since the third quarter of 2025. Source

“Our excellent performance this quarter, with double-digit growth across most of our products, is demonstrating that our strategy around operational excellence is working and allowing us to take market share.”

Daniel R. Wall, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Costs SourceAnnual, going forward, after the Global Technology restructuringapproximately $50 million annuallyNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A figure for expected annual cost reduction from the Global Technology restructuring was given for the first time. Source
  • New: The Global Technology function is being restructured, with a $25 million pretax charge recorded in the quarter. Source
  • New: In July the company announced an expansion of its Critical Logistics Services to include global Aircraft on Ground capabilities. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 32% in the quarter: Second-quarter revenues were $3,502,335 thousand against $2,651,885 thousand a year earlier. First-half revenues were $6,285,297 thousand, up 18%. Source
  • Operating income rose 41%: Operating income was $349,618 thousand against $247,736 thousand. First-half operating income was $644,446 thousand, up 25%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.03: Diluted EPS was $2.03 against $1.34, up 51%. Net earnings attributable to shareholders rose 45% to $266 million. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted average shares were 131,372 thousand in the quarter against 136,631 thousand a year earlier, and 132,724 thousand year to date against 137,537 thousand. Source

Segments and regions

  • Airfreight revenue rose sharply: Airfreight services revenue was $1,494,842 thousand against $951,787 thousand. First-half airfreight revenue was $2,525,705 thousand against $1,853,547 thousand. Source
  • Ocean revenue rose year over year: Ocean freight and ocean services revenue was $710,922 thousand against $675,782 thousand. Ocean operating expenses were $531,886 thousand against $483,475 thousand. Source
  • Customs grew double digits again: Customs brokerage and other services revenue was $1,296,571 thousand against $1,024,316 thousand. This is the second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth across customs and other products. Source
  • United States and Europe income higher: Operating income was $169,472 thousand for the United States against $125,094 thousand, $59,956 thousand for North Asia against $55,866 thousand, and $33,777 thousand for Europe against $25,043 thousand. Source

“our operating efficiency increased to 32.2% in Q2, inclusive of the restructuring charge and before the lower operating costs noted above take effect.”

David A. Hackett, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Products and customers

  • AI hyperscalers drive air demand: Management said demand from AI hyperscalers continues to be heavy and has increased demand for freighter space in the air market. Source
  • Hyperscalers need upper-deck access: Management said some hyperscalers are requiring upper-deck access for their servers, which adds to freighter demand. Source
  • Tariffs add customs complexity and clients: Management said the customs business benefited from tariff-related complexity, new customers and higher declarations from existing customers. Source

Costs, restructuring and headcount

  • Restructuring charge of $25 million: The results include a $25 million pretax restructuring charge for the Global Technology team. Source
  • Property sale gain offset part of charge: A $16 million gain on the sale of an underutilized property partly offset the restructuring charge in the quarter. Source
  • Restructuring not driven by cost cuts: Management described the restructuring as a strategic change to the Global Technology function, not one driven by cost reduction. Source
  • Headcount flat with first quarter: Headcount was essentially flat against the first quarter of 2026. Full-time equivalents were 20,389 at June 30, 2026, against 19,666 a year earlier. Source

Margins and pricing

  • Air buy and sell rates highly elevated: Management said air buy and sell rates were highly elevated during the quarter, as demand for air capacity exceeded available space, particularly late in the quarter. Source
  • Ocean rates rose late in quarter: Management said ocean rates increased late in the quarter as demand rose, and profitability per container increased in the second quarter. Source
  • Ocean downturn may be flattening: Management said the company may be starting to see a flattening of the long ocean market downturn. Source
  • IEEPA filings lifted customs pricing: Management said a temporary surge in IEEPA-related filings drove higher customs pricing, while cost discipline and productivity investments also helped results. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Air tonnage up 14% year over year: Tonnage rose 14% from a year ago and 16% from the first quarter of 2026, mainly on Asia-U.S. and Asia-Europe lanes that management said were less affected by the conflict. Source
  • Ocean volumes rose sequentially: Ocean volumes rose 7% from the first quarter of 2026, the first sequential increase since the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Monthly air and ocean growth varied: Airfreight kilos rose 13% in April, 14% in May and 15% in June year over year. Ocean FEU fell 9% in April, fell 1% in May and rose 9% in June. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Shareholder returns of $461 million: Share repurchases and dividends totaled $461 million in the quarter and $748 million for the first half of 2026. Source
  • Buybacks at $151.50 average price: The company repurchased 2.3 million shares in the quarter at an average price of $151.50, and 4.3 million shares in the first half at $148.87. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower than last year: Net cash from operating activities was $178,640 thousand in the quarter against $179,212 thousand, and $487,874 thousand for the first half against $521,834 thousand. Source
  • Receivables rose from December: Accounts receivable were $2,631,118 thousand at June 30, 2026, against $2,021,889 thousand at December 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents were $1,031,448 thousand. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Technology and AI investment continues: Management said it will keep investing in artificial intelligence and technology talent, consistent with its modernization strategy, to raise operating margins over the long term. Source
  • Temperature-controlled capacity expanding: Management said the company continues to invest in its facilities to expand capacity for growing temperature-controlled demand. Source
  • Growth focus by region and product: Management said focusing on growth in each region, product and district generated growth and diversification across the business. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Investor Day in New York: The company plans an Investor Day for shareholders and analysts on the morning of November 18, 2026, in New York City. Source
  • Investor questions due August 7: Investor questions received by the end of business on August 7, 2026 will be considered in management's 8-K responses to selected questions. Source
  • Restructuring headcount cuts in third quarter: The headcount reduction from the restructuring is not yet in the second-quarter figures and will primarily be realized in the third quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Airfreight tonnage, year over year Source+14%
Ocean container volume, year over year Sourceflat
Ocean volume, sequential Source+7% vs Q1 2026

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited the Middle East conflict as reducing passenger flights and belly capacity, which affects air cargo supply. Source
  • Demand: E-commerce from North Asia is recovering toward pre-restriction levels, which management said adds pressure on air capacity and rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: In the first quarter, management said operating efficiency achieved its 30% historical target.
  • Not stated: In the first quarter, management said the ocean capacity and demand imbalance continued as expected.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.