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Expeditors International of Washington Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and operating income rose sharply: Revenue was $4.1 billion, up 42%, and operating income was $445.4 million, up 55%, from the same quarter of 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS up on three drivers: Management attributed the 62% rise in diluted EPS, to $2.65 from $1.64, to operating income growth, a lower tax rate and a lower share count. Source
  • Airfreight tonnage up about 13%: Airfreight tonnage rose about 13%, driven mainly by South Asia exports; airfreight revenue was $1.54 billion against $1.02 billion. Source
  • Ocean volume up 7% amid typhoons: Ocean container volume rose 7%, with September up 12%. Ocean revenue was $1.10 billion against $746.1 million, and the typhoons idled capacity at major Asian hubs. Source
  • Customs revenue grew at double digits: Customs brokerage and other services revenue was $1.46 billion against $1.13 billion, with every product in the group growing at double-digit rates. Source
  • Operating efficiency reached 36.7%: Management said operating efficiency rose to 36.7%, well above its historical target of 30%. Source
  • Returns of $946 million year-to-date: Management said it returned $197 million through share repurchases in the quarter and $946 million through dividends and repurchases for the first nine months. Source

“We continue to gain share, particularly in markets that we have made a strategic focus.”

Daniel R. Wall, President and Chief Executive Officer

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and operating income rose sharply: Revenue was $4.1 billion, up 42%, and operating income was $445.4 million, up 55%, from the same quarter of 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS up on three drivers: Management attributed the 62% rise in diluted EPS, to $2.65 from $1.64, to operating income growth, a lower tax rate and a lower share count. Source
  • Nine-month EPS and revenue higher: For the first nine months, diluted EPS was $6.38 against $4.46, up 43%, and revenue was $10.39 billion, up 27%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Operating income concentrated in US and Asia: Third-quarter operating income was $236.6 million in the United States, $77.9 million in North Asia, $57.6 million in South Asia and $34.6 million in Europe. Source
  • Revenue rose in every region: Every regional revenue line rose on the year-earlier quarter, with the United States at $1.34 billion against $928.9 million. Source
  • South Asia and Europe revenue higher: South Asia revenue was $691.8 million against $406.1 million a year earlier, and Europe revenue was $533.5 million against $487.9 million. Source

“Through those efforts, we are now charting a course for durable performance no matter what the operating environment.”

Daniel R. Wall, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Airfreight tonnage up about 13%: Airfreight tonnage rose about 13%, driven mainly by South Asia exports; airfreight revenue was $1.54 billion against $1.02 billion. Source
  • Ocean volume up 7% amid typhoons: Ocean container volume rose 7%, with September up 12%. Ocean revenue was $1.10 billion against $746.1 million, and the typhoons idled capacity at major Asian hubs. Source
  • Customs revenue grew at double digits: Customs brokerage and other services revenue was $1.46 billion against $1.13 billion, with every product in the group growing at double-digit rates. Source
  • Tariff fees behind customs strength: Management said much of the customs strength came from tariff-related additional-line fees and post-entry activity that began in Q3 2025. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating efficiency reached 36.7%: Management said operating efficiency rose to 36.7%, well above its historical target of 30%. Source
  • Directly related costs rose 49%: Directly related costs of transportation and other expenses rose 49% to $2.89 billion, from $1.94 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Salaries and related costs higher: Salaries and related costs were $588.3 million against $490.4 million a year earlier. Source

“We had another exceptional quarter and our pipeline of new business remains strong, showing the durability of our earnings growth.”

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

Demand and the order book

  • Air rates stayed elevated: Management said airfreight rates stayed elevated, with demand outpacing available capacity, and cited geopolitical events among the causes. Source
  • Air capacity constrained by fleet: Management said air capacity remains constrained by limited fleet expansion and new aircraft delivery delays. Source
  • Ocean carriers secured capacity: Management said demand held steady and that carrier relationships secured capacity for existing and new customers. Source
  • China-U.S. e-commerce nearly recovered: China-U.S. e-commerce tonnage has nearly returned to its level before the May 2025 U.S. termination of de minimis shipments. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Returns of $946 million year-to-date: Management said it returned $197 million through share repurchases in the quarter and $946 million through dividends and repurchases for the first nine months. Source
  • Buybacks at higher average prices: The company repurchased 1.1 million shares in the quarter at an average $178.36, and 5.4 million in the nine months at $154.87. Source
  • Operating cash flow slightly higher in quarter: Net cash from operating activities was $212.6 million in the quarter, against $201.4 million, and $700.4 million for nine months, against $723.2 million. Source
  • Receivables rose sharply: Accounts receivable reached $3.09 billion at September 30, 2026, against $2.02 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Cash balance lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.09 billion at September 30, 2026, against $1.31 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Capital expenditure higher: Purchases of property and equipment were $18.3 million in the quarter, against $11.1 million, and $42.9 million for nine months, against $40.1 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Investing in temperature control and AI: Management said it is investing in temperature-controlled facilities, critical logistics services, productivity initiatives, and artificial intelligence and other technology. Source
  • Decoupling headcount from revenue: Management said it seeks to decouple headcount growth from revenue growth over the long term. Source
  • Diversifying customer base deliberately: Management said it has been deliberate about expanding its customer base to diversify revenues, and that hyperscaler demand is outpacing the market. Source

People and headcount

  • Headcount up only 1%: Management said headcount rose only 1% from the prior year while revenue grew 42%, which it linked to the scalability of the operating model. Source
  • Global Technology headcount reduced: Global Technology full-time equivalents were 1,151 at September 30, 2026, against 1,406 at June 30, 2026 and 1,483 a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring expected to cut costs: The previous release said the Global Technology restructuring would lower the cost structure by about $50 million a year, nearly 10% of corporate overhead.

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Investor Day on November 18: Management plans an Investor Day in New York on the morning of November 18, 2026, for shareholders and analysts. Source
  • Investor questions due November 6: Questions received by November 6, 2026 will be considered in management's 8-K responses to selected questions. Source
  • Congestion expected through 2026: Management expects congestion and supply chain challenges to persist through the rest of 2026. Source
  • More AI and technology investment planned: Management said it will keep making high-return investments, including more in AI and technology, to lift net operating margins over the long term. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Airfreight kilos, year-over-year increase (quarter) Source13%
Ocean freight FEU, year-over-year increase (quarter) Source7%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Air capacity is limited by fleet expansion and new aircraft delivery delays, as management described. Source
  • Regulatory: Aircraft were redeployed away from Asia-Europe e-commerce because of European Union rules aimed at de minimis imports. Source
  • Demand: Growth is concentrated in certain customers, such as hyperscalers, which management said it is working to diversify beyond. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to the Investor Day as previously announced, with no change in its plan described. Source
  • Ahead: Management said operating efficiency of 36.7% is well above its historical target of 30%. Source

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.