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FedEx Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 3 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income rose to $1.35 billion: Reported operating income was $1.35 billion, a 5.6% margin, against $1.29 billion and a 5.8% margin. Adjusted operating income was $1.62 billion, a 6.7% margin. Source
  • Federal Express income up 21%: Federal Express operating income was $1.57 billion, a 7.4% margin, up from $1.29 billion. Adjusted segment income was $1.68 billion, a 7.9% margin. Source
  • Trade and cost items offset gains: Offsets at Federal Express included higher variable incentive compensation and wage rates, global trade policy impacts, higher purchased transportation rates, and the MD-11 groundings. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for nine months: Cash provided by operating activities was $5.7 billion for nine months, against $4.5 billion. Capital expenditures were $2.3 billion, down 10%. Source
  • Spin-off on track for June 1: Management said the planned spin-off of FedEx Freight into a new publicly traded company is on track for June 1, 2026. Source

“Team FedEx delivered another quarter of strong financial results and excellent service for our customers, powered by disciplined operational execution, the resilience of our global network, and the accelerating impact of our advanced digital solutions,”

Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFiscal 20266.0% to 6.5%Raised from 5% to 6%
Diluted EPS before MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments SourceFiscal 2026$16.05 to $16.85Raised from $14.80 to $16.00
Diluted EPS excluding spin-off, business optimization, fiscal year change and international regulatory items SourceFiscal 2026$19.30 to $20.10Raised from $17.80 to $19.00
Transformation-related permanent cost reductions SourceFiscal 2026more than $1 billionRaised from $1 billion
Effective tax rate before MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments SourceFiscal 2026approximately 24%Lowered from approximately 25%
Pension contributions SourceFiscal 2026$275 millionKept
Capital spending SourceFiscal 2026no more than $4.1 billionLowered from $4.5 billion
FedEx Freight spin-off costs excluded from adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$700 millionRaised from $600 million
Business optimization costs excluded from adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$290 millionLowered from $310 million
Fiscal year change costs excluded from adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$30 millionKept
International regulatory matter, partial reversal, excluded from adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$(12) millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth forecast raised to 6.0% to 6.5%, from 5% to 6%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Diluted EPS before MTM adjustments raised to $16.05 to $16.85, from $14.80 to $16.00. Source
  • Guidance raised: Diluted EPS after listed exclusions raised to $19.30 to $20.10, from $17.80 to $19.00. Source
  • Guidance raised: Transformation-related permanent cost reductions forecast at more than $1 billion, from $1 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Spin-off costs excluded from EPS forecast raised to $700 million, from $600 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Effective tax rate before MTM adjustments lowered to approximately 24%, from approximately 25%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Business optimization costs excluded from EPS forecast lowered to $290 million, from $310 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Capital spending forecast lowered to no more than $4.1 billion, from $4.5 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: Pension contributions forecast remains at $275 million. Source
  • New: FedEx Freight completed issuance of $3.7 billion of senior notes on February 5, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 8% in quarter: Total revenue was $24.0 billion, against $22.2 billion a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $69.7 billion, up 6% from $65.7 billion. Source
  • Operating income rose to $1.35 billion: Reported operating income was $1.35 billion, a 5.6% margin, against $1.29 billion and a 5.8% margin. Adjusted operating income was $1.62 billion, a 6.7% margin. Source
  • Tax benefit added to net income: Net income included a $99 million tax benefit, or $0.41 per diluted share, from recognizing certain foreign tax loss carryforwards. Reported diluted EPS was $4.41, against $3.76. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $5.25 against $4.51: Adjusted net income was $1.26 billion and adjusted diluted EPS was $5.25, against $1.09 billion and $4.51 a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Federal Express income up 21%: Federal Express operating income was $1.57 billion, a 7.4% margin, up from $1.29 billion. Adjusted segment income was $1.68 billion, a 7.9% margin. Source
  • Trade and cost items offset gains: Offsets at Federal Express included higher variable incentive compensation and wage rates, global trade policy impacts, higher purchased transportation rates, and the MD-11 groundings. Source
  • FedEx Freight operating income fell to $8 million: FedEx Freight operating income was $8 million, a 0.4% margin, against $261 million and a 12.5% margin a year earlier. Source
  • FedEx Freight shipments down 6%: Average daily FedEx Freight shipments were 80.2 thousand, down 6% from 85.1 thousand a year earlier. Source

“Our third quarter results and improved financial outlook reflect the resilience of our business and outstanding execution against our strategy to drive profitable growth,”

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

Package and freight volumes and yields

  • U.S. domestic package volume up 5%: Total U.S. domestic average daily package volume was 15,496 thousand, up 5%. U.S. ground home delivery and economy volume rose 5%, to 8,315 thousand. Source
  • International Priority yield up 11%: International Priority revenue per package was $66.16, up from $59.65. Average daily International Priority volume was 566 thousand, up 1%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Salaries and benefits rose 12%: Salaries and employee benefits were $8.8 billion, up 12%, from $7.9 billion a year earlier. Nine-month salaries and employee benefits rose 7% to $25.3 billion. Source
  • Fuel expense fell 4%: Fuel expense was $856 million, down 4%, while nine-month fuel expense fell 10% to $2.6 billion. Source
  • Purchased transportation rose 8%: Purchased transportation was $6.1 billion, up 8%, from $5.6 billion a year earlier. Nine-month purchased transportation rose 6%. Source
  • Separation and business optimization costs: Separation and other costs were $202 million in the quarter. Business optimization costs were $65 million, against $179 million a year earlier. Source

“As we look ahead, we are very well positioned to drive higher profitability and generate strong free cash flow both this fiscal year and longer-term, supporting meaningful stockholder value creation.”

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

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose for nine months: Cash provided by operating activities was $5.7 billion for nine months, against $4.5 billion. Capital expenditures were $2.3 billion, down 10%. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks in nine months: Dividends paid were $1.0 billion and purchases of common stock were $796 million for nine months, against $2.5 billion of purchases a year earlier. Source
  • Debt proceeds and cash balance: Debt issuance proceeds were $4.7 billion for nine months. Cash and cash equivalents were $8.0 billion at February 28, with $3.7 billion of restricted cash. Source

FedEx Freight separation and InPost

  • Spin-off on track for June 1: Management said the planned spin-off of FedEx Freight into a new publicly traded company is on track for June 1, 2026. Source
  • $3.7 billion of notes issued: FedEx Freight intends to distribute the net proceeds of its senior notes to FedEx Corporation as part of the consideration for the asset contribution. Source
  • Accretion expected in first year: Management said FedEx's minority investment in InPost is anticipated to be accretive to FedEx earnings in the first year, with incremental accretion thereafter. Source

Reporting basis and fiscal year change

  • Fiscal year change costs $8 million: Fiscal year change costs were $8 million of operating income impact in the quarter, primarily professional fees, under the planned change in fiscal year end. Source
  • No GAAP EPS forecast provided: Management said it cannot forecast the MTM retirement plans accounting adjustments, so no GAAP EPS or ETR forecast is provided for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Adjusted measures exclude listed costs: Adjusted results exclude spin-off, business optimization and fiscal year change costs, and fiscal 2025 international regulatory and legacy FedEx Ground legal matters. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 March 2026

  • FedEx Freight Investor Day: FedEx Freight will host an Investor Day in New York City on April 8, 2026. Source
  • InPost closing expected second half: The InPost transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total average daily package volume (000s) Source18,455, up 3%
Composite package yield Source$16.65, up 6%
Composite freight yield Source$1.26 per pound, up 8%
Fuel expense Source$856 million, down 4%
Federal Express operating margin Source7.4%, up 70 bp
Total average daily freight pounds (000s) Source18,408, up 4%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said MTM retirement plan accounting adjustments could be material to fiscal 2026 consolidated results and ETR. Source
  • External: Global trade policy changes had financial impacts that partly offset Federal Express operating gains. Source
  • Operational: Higher purchased transportation rates and MD-11 aircraft groundings affected Federal Express results. Source
  • Demand: Lower FedEx Freight shipments, spin-off costs and higher wage rates reduced its segment operating results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the planned spin-off is on track for June 1, 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The forecast for transformation-related savings is now more than $1 billion, against the earlier $1 billion figure. 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.