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FedEx Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 18 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and earnings both rose: Revenue was $23.5 billion, up 7% from $22.0 billion. GAAP diluted EPS was $4.04 against $3.03; adjusted diluted EPS was $4.82 against $4.05. Source
  • Operating income rose on yields and savings: GAAP operating income was $1.38 billion, a 5.9% margin, against $1.05 billion and 4.8%. Management cited yields, structural cost reductions and higher U.S. domestic volume. Source
  • Federal Express operating income rose 47%: Federal Express operating income was $1.55 billion against $1.05 billion, a 7.6% margin against 5.6%. Segment revenue rose 8% to $20.4 billion. Source
  • FedEx Freight operating income fell 71%: FedEx Freight operating income was $90 million against $312 million, a 4.2% margin against 14.3%. Segment revenue fell 2% to $2.1 billion. Source
  • Package volume and yield both rose: Total average daily package volume was 17.9 million, up 5%. Composite package yield rose 4% to $16.46, and U.S. domestic composite yield rose 5% to $14.47. Source
  • Labor and purchased transport costs rose: Salaries and employee benefits rose 7% to $8.40 billion, and purchased transportation rose 7% to $5.89 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $276 million: The company bought about 1.2 million shares in the quarter. The year-to-date decrease in shares benefited second quarter EPS by $0.05. Source
  • FedEx Freight spin-off on track: After separation, FedEx Freight will be a separately traded public company, and the spin-off is reported as continuing to advance. Source

“FedEx delivered an outstanding second quarter as we successfully executed our growth strategy and advanced our network transformation, while navigating a highly challenging external environment,”

Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFiscal 20265% to 6%Raised from 4% to 6%
Diluted EPS before MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments SourceFiscal 2026$14.80 to $16.00Raised from $14.20 to $16.00
Diluted EPS excluding listed items (non-GAAP) SourceFiscal 2026$17.80 to $19.00Raised from $17.20 to $19.00
Pension contributions SourceFiscal 2026$275 millionLowered from up to $400 million
Permanent cost reductions from transformation SourceFiscal 2026$1 billionKept
Effective tax rate before MTM adjustments SourceFiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Capital spending SourceFiscal 2026$4.5 billionKept
FedEx Freight spin-off costs (EPS adjustment) SourceFiscal 2026$600 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Revenue growth forecast low end raised to 5%, from 4%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Diluted EPS before MTM adjustments low end raised to $14.80, from $14.20. Source
  • Guidance raised: Diluted EPS excluding listed items low end raised to $17.80, from $17.20. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Pension contributions forecast cut to $275 million from up to $400 million. Source
  • New: Q2 includes a partial reversal of a loss accrual for an international regulatory matter, a benefit of $12 million or $0.07 per diluted share, excluded from adjusted results. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and earnings both rose: Revenue was $23.5 billion, up 7% from $22.0 billion. GAAP diluted EPS was $4.04 against $3.03; adjusted diluted EPS was $4.82 against $4.05. Source
  • Operating income rose on yields and savings: GAAP operating income was $1.38 billion, a 5.9% margin, against $1.05 billion and 4.8%. Management cited yields, structural cost reductions and higher U.S. domestic volume. Source
  • Spin-off costs weighed on GAAP results: Spin-off costs reduced GAAP diluted EPS by $0.72, with business optimization costs at $0.10 and fiscal year change costs at $0.03. Source
  • Six-month earnings rose 20%: For the six months, diluted EPS was $7.50 against $6.24, and operating income was $2.56 billion against $2.13 billion. Source

Segments and regions

  • Federal Express operating income rose 47%: Federal Express operating income was $1.55 billion against $1.05 billion, a 7.6% margin against 5.6%. Segment revenue rose 8% to $20.4 billion. Source
  • FedEx Freight operating income fell 71%: FedEx Freight operating income was $90 million against $312 million, a 4.2% margin against 14.3%. Segment revenue fell 2% to $2.1 billion. Source
  • FedEx Freight decline drivers: Management attributed the FedEx Freight decline to lower shipments and higher wage rates, partly offset by increased yield. Source
  • Federal Express headwinds from costs: Federal Express gains were partly offset by higher wage rates, variable incentive pay and purchased transportation rates, along with trade policy effects and an aircraft grounding. Source

“I am extremely proud of our team members worldwide for their commitment to make every FedEx experience outstanding this Peak season.”

Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief executive officer

Products and customers

  • U.S. domestic package revenue up 12%: U.S. domestic package revenue rose 12% to $13.4 billion. U.S. priority rose 11%, U.S. deferred 16% and U.S. ground 11%. Source
  • Package volume and yield both rose: Total average daily package volume was 17.9 million, up 5%. Composite package yield rose 4% to $16.46, and U.S. domestic composite yield rose 5% to $14.47. Source
  • International Priority yield rose 9%: International Priority revenue per package was $65.18 against $59.59, up 9%. International economy yield fell 4% to $41.17. Source
  • Freight volumes and revenue declined: U.S. freight pounds per day fell 23% to 2.1 million and U.S. freight revenue fell 21% to $304 million. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fuel expense fell 6%: Fuel expense was $889 million against $947 million, down 6%. Six-month fuel expense was $1.76 billion, down 13%. Source
  • Labor and purchased transport costs rose: Salaries and employee benefits rose 7% to $8.40 billion, and purchased transportation rose 7% to $5.89 billion. Source
  • Business optimization spending fell 91%: Business optimization costs were $30 million against $326 million a year earlier. Source
  • Separation costs recorded in quarter: Separation and other costs were $213 million, against none a year earlier. Source

“The progress we are making on our strategic initiatives is tangible, and we are committed to creating significant value creation in the years ahead.”

John Dietrich, FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer

Demand and the order book

  • International economy revenue fell: International economy package revenue fell 5% to $1.5 billion. Total international export ADV fell 1% to 1.16 million. Source
  • Freight shipments fell, pricing rose: Average daily FedEx Freight shipments fell 4% to 87.4 thousand, while composite revenue per shipment rose 2% to $375.97. Source
  • Forecast assumes no adverse developments: Forecasts assume current economic and fuel price expectations, and no additional adverse economic, geopolitical or trade developments. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases totaled $276 million: The company bought about 1.2 million shares in the quarter. The year-to-date decrease in shares benefited second quarter EPS by $0.05. Source
  • Remaining authorization and cash on hand: $1.3 billion remained under the 2024 authorization at November 30, 2025, and cash on hand was $6.6 billion. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow rose: Six-month cash from operations was $3.67 billion, against $2.51 billion. Six-month capital expenditures were $1.38 billion. Source
  • Capital expenditures down 7%: Capital expenditures were $757 million in the quarter, down 7% from $818 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • FedEx Freight spin-off on track: After separation, FedEx Freight will be a separately traded public company, and the spin-off is reported as continuing to advance. Source
  • Fiscal year end moves to December: Board approved changing the fiscal year end from May 31 to December 31, effective June 1, 2026.
  • Business optimization covers transformation initiatives: Business optimization costs relate to Network 2.0, the Europe workforce reduction plan and DRIVE initiatives, aimed at long-term profitability and lower overhead. Source

Accounting items and interest

  • Other retirement plans income rose: Other retirement plans, net income was $59 million against $50 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net interest expense rose: Net interest expense was $135 million against $102 million, up 32%. Source

Coming up, as management said on 18 December 2025

  • FedEx Freight Investor Day: FedEx Freight will hold an Investor Day in New York City on April 8, 2026. Source
  • FedEx Freight spin-off date: The spin-off of FedEx Freight is planned to be executed on June 1, 2026, as a tax-efficient transaction. Source
  • Shipping rate increase in January: As previously announced, FedEx parcel and FedEx Freight LTL shipping rates are set to rise by an average of 5.9% effective January 5, 2026.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volumes (total ADV, thousands) Source17,906, up 5%
Yield (composite package, $) Source$16.46, up 4%
Revenue per unit (composite freight yield, $ per pound) Source$1.21, down 1%
Fuel costs Source$889 million, down 6%
Fleet SourceMD11 fleet grounded

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Aircraft grounding of the MD11 fleet was cited as a factor affecting Federal Express results. Source
  • External: Global trade policy changes were named as a factor affecting Federal Express results. Source
  • Financial: Management said MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments could have a material effect on fiscal 2026 results and ETR. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the planned FedEx Freight spin-off continues to advance. Source
  • Not stated: Repurchases are subject to market conditions; the company says it will evaluate further buybacks, where the prior quarter said it expects to continue. 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.