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Xpo, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 38%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.01 against $0.73, up 38.4%. Diluted EPS was $0.85 against $0.58, on 119 million diluted shares against 120 million a year earlier. Source
  • North American LTL profit rose 20%: North American LTL adjusted operating income was $198 million against $165 million, up 20.0%. Adjusted operating ratio was 83.9%, a 200 basis point improvement from 85.9%. Source
  • European segment posted operating loss: European Transportation revenue rose 11.0% to $868 million. The segment posted an operating loss of $6 million, against operating income of $1 million, while adjusted EBITDA was $33 million against $32 million. Source
  • Yield excluding fuel rose 4.0%: Yield excluding fuel rose 4.0%, shipments per day rose 3.0% and tonnage per day rose 0.1%. Revenue per shipment excluding fuel surcharges rose 1.2% to $329.77. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $183 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $183 million, against $142 million. Cash and cash equivalents ended the quarter at $237 million, down from $310 million at December 31. Source
  • Damage claims ratio below 0.2%: Management said the damage claims ratio was reduced to less than 0.2% in the North American LTL network, with damages at a record low. Source

“These results mark an acceleration in our performance and the momentum we’re building across the business.”

Mario Harik, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: The non-GAAP list in this release no longer includes adjusted EBITDA or adjusted diluted EPS excluding gains on real estate transactions, which the prior release reported.

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 38%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.01 against $0.73, up 38.4%. Diluted EPS was $0.85 against $0.58, on 119 million diluted shares against 120 million a year earlier. Source
  • Revenue and operating income rose: Revenue rose 7.3% to $2.10 billion and operating income rose 15.2% to $174 million. Net income was $101 million, up 46.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $319 million against $278 million, and the adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.2% against 14.2%. Adjusted net income was $121 million against $87 million. Source

Segment results

  • North American LTL profit rose 20%: North American LTL adjusted operating income was $198 million against $165 million, up 20.0%. Adjusted operating ratio was 83.9%, a 200 basis point improvement from 85.9%. Source
  • LTL revenue grew 4.9%: North American LTL revenue was $1.23 billion against $1.17 billion. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges rose 3.4% to $1.03 billion, and fuel surcharge revenue rose 12.9% to $201 million. Source
  • European segment posted operating loss: European Transportation revenue rose 11.0% to $868 million. The segment posted an operating loss of $6 million, against operating income of $1 million, while adjusted EBITDA was $33 million against $32 million. Source
  • Corporate operating loss unchanged: Corporate operating loss was $9 million, the same as the prior year, and the adjusted EBITDA loss was $4 million, also unchanged. Source

“We have a clear path to compounding earnings growth and accelerating free cash flow generation, with returns amplified as freight demand recovers.”

Mario Harik, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO

Pricing and volume trends

  • Yield excluding fuel rose 4.0%: Yield excluding fuel rose 4.0%, shipments per day rose 3.0% and tonnage per day rose 0.1%. Revenue per shipment excluding fuel surcharges rose 1.2% to $329.77. Source
  • Shipments rose as weight fell: Shipments per day reached 49,834 from 48,400, while average weight per shipment fell to 1,315 pounds from 1,352. Average length of haul was 852.6 miles against 845.6. Source
  • Revenue per shipment rose 2.6%: Revenue per shipment including fuel surcharges was $394.14, up 2.6%. Gross revenue per hundredweight including fuel surcharges was $30.61, up 5.3%. Source

Costs and margins

  • LTL salaries and purchased transport moved: LTL salaries, wages and employee benefits rose 4.4% to $642 million, while purchased transportation fell 18.9% to $30 million. Fuel, operating expenses and supplies rose 1.7% to $236 million. Source
  • LTL adjusted EBITDA margin widened: LTL adjusted EBITDA margin was 23.6%, against 21.3% a year earlier, on adjusted EBITDA of $290 million against $250 million. Source
  • European costs rose with revenue: European Transportation purchased transportation rose 8.5% to $394 million, and salaries rose 10.8% to $235 million, against revenue growth of 11.0%. Source

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $183 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $183 million, against $142 million. Cash and cash equivalents ended the quarter at $237 million, down from $310 million at December 31. Source
  • Capital spending and buybacks in quarter: Net capital expenditures were $104 million, with purchases of property and equipment at $111 million against $199 million a year earlier. Common stock repurchases were $30 million, and term loan repayments were $30 million. Source
  • Short-term debt rose, long-term fell: Long-term debt was $3,172 million against $3,253 million at year-end, while short-term borrowings and current maturities rose to $104 million from $60 million. Total equity was $1,851 million. Source
  • Tax withholdings on restricted shares rose: Payments for tax withholdings on restricted shares were $88 million, against $47 million a year earlier. Net cash used in financing activities was $147 million. Source

Service and fleet

  • Damage claims ratio below 0.2%: Management said the damage claims ratio was reduced to less than 0.2% in the North American LTL network, with damages at a record low. Source
  • Pricing gains credited to service: Management attributes profitable share gains and above-market pricing growth to continuous service improvements, which it cites as supporting the operating ratio improvement. Source
  • Tractor fleet slightly younger: Average age of the tractor fleet was 3.9 years against 4.0. Number of working days was 62.5 against 63.0. Source

Strategy and freight recovery view

  • Margin gains expected to continue: Management said it continues to deliver incremental margins and operating ratio improvement, with the largest part still to come. Source
  • AI-led network productivity targets surpassed: Management credits AI with more efficient network operation and says productivity targets were surpassed in the quarter. Source
  • Earnings path tied to freight recovery: Management ties the path to compounding earnings growth and faster free cash flow to returns amplified as freight demand recovers. Source

Corporate and below-the-line items

  • Prior-year legal gain absent: The legal matters line was nil in the first quarter 2026, against an $11 million gain in the first quarter 2025 from European claim settlements. Source
  • Restructuring costs fell: Restructuring costs were $9 million against $12 million, and transaction and integration costs were $2 million against $3 million. Source
  • Pre-tax income rose 36%: Income before income tax provision was $124 million, up 36.3%, and the income tax provision was $23 million against $22 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Pounds per day (thousands) Source65,510, up 0.1%
Shipments per day Source49,834, up 3.0%
Yield excluding fuel (revenue per hundredweight) Source$25.71, up 4.0%
Revenue per shipment including fuel surcharges Source$394.14, up 2.6%
Operating ratio, North American LTL Source84.6% (prior year 86.5%)
Adjusted operating ratio, North American LTL Source83.9% (prior year 85.9%)
Fuel surcharge revenue, North American LTL Source$201 million, up 12.9%
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies, North American LTL Source$236 million, up 1.7%
Average age of tractor fleet Source3.9 years (prior year 4.0)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management ties its expected returns to freight demand recovering, while pounds per day rose 0.1% year over year. Source
  • Operational: Management names wage inflation and higher fuel costs as partial offsets to the growth in LTL adjusted EBITDA. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management says it surpassed its productivity targets by using AI to run the network more efficiently. 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.