UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
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☒ | | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED February 29, 2024
OR
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☐ | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO__________
Commission File Number: 1-15829
FedEx Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware | 62-1721435 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee | 38120 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (ZIP Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (901) 818-7500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | | Trading Symbol | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share | | FDX | | New York Stock Exchange |
0.450% Notes due 2025 | | FDX 25A | | New York Stock Exchange |
1.625% Notes due 2027 | | FDX 27 | | New York Stock Exchange |
0.450% Notes due 2029 | | FDX 29A | | New York Stock Exchange |
1.300% Notes due 2031 | | FDX 31 | | New York Stock Exchange |
0.950% Notes due 2033 | | FDX 33 | | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☑ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☐ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
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Common Stock | | Outstanding Shares at March 19, 2024 |
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share | | 246,080,750 |
FEDEX CORPORATION
INDEX
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | | |
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ITEM 1. Financial Statements | | |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023 | | 3 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Three and Nine Months Ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 | | 5 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three and Nine Months Ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 | | 6 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 | | 7 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes In Common Stockholders’ Investment Three and Nine Months Ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 | | 8 |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | | 9 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | 21 |
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition | | 22 |
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | | 44 |
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures | | 44 |
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | | |
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ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings | | 45 |
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors | | 45 |
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | | 45 |
ITEM 5. Other Information | | 45 |
ITEM 6. Exhibits | | 48 |
Signature | | 49 |
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FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS)
| | | | | | | | |
| | February 29, 2024 (Unaudited) | | | May 31, 2023 | |
ASSETS | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 5,644 | | | $ | 6,856 | |
Receivables, less allowances of $775 and $800 | | | 9,904 | | | | 10,188 | |
Spare parts, supplies, and fuel, less allowances of $291 and $276 | | | 640 | | | | 604 | |
Prepaid expenses and other | | | 1,236 | | | | 962 | |
Total current assets | | | 17,424 | | | | 18,610 | |
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST | | | 84,145 | | | | 80,624 | |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | | | 42,616 | | | | 39,926 | |
Net property and equipment | | | 41,529 | | | | 40,698 | |
OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS | | | | | | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | | | 16,935 | | | | 17,347 | |
Goodwill | | | 6,425 | | | | 6,435 | |
Other assets | | | 3,801 | | | | 4,053 | |
Total other long-term assets | | | 27,161 | | | | 27,835 | |
| | $ | 86,114 | | | $ | 87,143 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
| | | | | | | | |
| | February 29, 2024 (Unaudited) | | | May 31, 2023 | |
LIABILITIES AND COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT | | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES | | | | | | |
Current portion of long-term debt | | $ | 67 | | | $ | 126 | |
Accrued salaries and employee benefits | | | 2,541 | | | | 2,475 | |
Accounts payable | | | 3,780 | | | | 3,848 | |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 2,447 | | | | 2,390 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 4,473 | | | | 4,747 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 13,308 | | | | 13,586 | |
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION | | | 20,122 | | | | 20,453 | |
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | | | | | | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 4,378 | | | | 4,489 | |
Pension, postretirement healthcare, and other benefit obligations | | | 2,527 | | | | 3,130 | |
Self-insurance accruals | | | 3,836 | | | | 3,339 | |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 14,878 | | | | 15,363 | |
Other liabilities | | | 690 | | | | 695 | |
Total other long-term liabilities | | | 26,309 | | | | 27,016 | |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | | | | | | |
COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT | | | | | | |
Common stock, $0.10 par value; 800 million shares authorized; 318 million shares issued as of February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023 | | | 32 | | | | 32 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 3,898 | | | | 3,769 | |
Retained earnings | | | 37,174 | | | | 35,259 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (1,335 | ) | | | (1,327 | ) |
Treasury stock, at cost | | | (13,394 | ) | | | (11,645 | ) |
Total common stockholders’ investment | | | 26,375 | | | | 26,088 | |
| | $ | 86,114 | | | $ | 87,143 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | | | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | |
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REVENUE | | $ | 21,738 | | | $ | 22,169 | | | $ | 65,584 | | | $ | 68,225 | |
OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 7,693 | | | | 7,817 | | | | 23,311 | | | | 23,468 | |
Purchased transportation | | | 5,345 | | | | 5,402 | | | | 15,776 | | | | 16,834 | |
Rentals and landing fees | | | 1,145 | | | | 1,205 | | | | 3,434 | | | | 3,559 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,072 | | | | 1,031 | | | | 3,183 | | | | 3,101 | |
Fuel | | | 1,140 | | | | 1,350 | | | | 3,569 | | | | 4,765 | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 804 | | | | 789 | | | | 2,482 | | | | 2,575 | |
Business optimization and realignment costs | | | 114 | | | | 123 | | | | 364 | | | | 197 | |
Other | | | 3,182 | | | | 3,410 | | | | 9,461 | | | | 10,317 | |
| | | 20,495 | | | | 21,127 | | | | 61,580 | | | | 64,816 | |
OPERATING INCOME | | | 1,243 | | | | 1,042 | | | | 4,004 | | | | 3,409 | |
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest, net | | | (91 | ) | | | (122 | ) | | | (279 | ) | | | (391 | ) |
Other retirement plans, net | | | 40 | | | | 102 | | | | 120 | | | | 304 | |
Other, net | | | (9 | ) | | | — | | | | (37 | ) | | | (87 | ) |
| | | (60 | ) | | | (20 | ) | | | (196 | ) | | | (174 | ) |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | | 1,183 | | | | 1,022 | | | | 3,808 | | | | 3,235 | |
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | | | 304 | | | | 251 | | | | 951 | | | | 801 | |
NET INCOME | | $ | 879 | | | $ | 771 | | | $ | 2,857 | | | $ | 2,434 | |
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 3.55 | | | $ | 3.07 | | | $ | 11.43 | | | $ | 9.52 | |
Diluted | | $ | 3.51 | | | $ | 3.05 | | | $ | 11.31 | | | $ | 9.46 | |
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE | | $ | 1.26 | | | $ | 1.15 | | | $ | 3.78 | | | $ | 4.60 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS)
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| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | | | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | |
NET INCOME | | $ | 879 | | | $ | 771 | | | $ | 2,857 | | | $ | 2,434 | |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax benefit (expense) of $2 and $3 in 2024 and $(5) and $22 in 2023 | | | (39 | ) | | | 80 | | | | (39 | ) | | | (199 | ) |
Prior service credit arising during period, net of tax (expense) of $0 and ($11) in 2024 and $0 and $0 in 2023 | | | — | | | | — | | | | 36 | | | | — | |
Amortization of prior service credit, net of tax benefit of $0 and $0 in 2024 and $0 and $1 in 2023 | | | (2 | ) | | | (3 | ) | | | (5 | ) | | | (6 | ) |
| | | (41 | ) | | | 77 | | | | (8 | ) | | | (205 | ) |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | | $ | 838 | | | $ | 848 | | | $ | 2,849 | | | $ | 2,229 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS)
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| | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | |
Operating Activities: | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 2,857 | | | $ | 2,434 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 3,183 | | | | 3,101 | |
Provision for uncollectible accounts | | | 323 | | | | 536 | |
Stock-based compensation | | | 130 | | | | 142 | |
Other noncash items including leases and deferred income taxes | | | 2,141 | | | | 2,425 | |
Business optimization and realignment costs, net of payments | | | (50 | ) | | | 20 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | |
Receivables | | | (110 | ) | | | 373 | |
Other assets | | | (119 | ) | | | (110 | ) |
Accounts payable and other liabilities | | | (2,711 | ) | | | (3,534 | ) |
Other, net | | | (30 | ) | | | 14 | |
Cash provided by operating activities | | | 5,614 | | | | 5,401 | |
Investing Activities: | | | | | | |
Capital expenditures | | | (3,974 | ) | | | (4,420 | ) |
Purchase of investments | | | (110 | ) | | | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of investments | | | 24 | | | | — | |
Proceeds from asset dispositions and other | | | 94 | | | | 72 | |
Cash used in investing activities | | | (3,966 | ) | | | (4,430 | ) |
Financing Activities: | | | | | | |
Principal payments on debt | | | (143 | ) | | | (123 | ) |
Proceeds from stock issuances | | | 265 | | | | 114 | |
Dividends paid | | | (949 | ) | | | (888 | ) |
Purchase of treasury stock | | | (2,000 | ) | | | (1,500 | ) |
Other, net | | | (7 | ) | | | 1 | |
Cash used in financing activities | | | (2,834 | ) | | | (2,396 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | | | (26 | ) | | | (99 | ) |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (1,212 | ) | | | (1,524 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 6,856 | | | | 6,897 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 5,644 | | | $ | 5,373 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | | | February 29, 2024 | | | February 28, 2023 | |
Common Stock | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning Balance | | $ | 32 | | | $ | 32 | | | $ | 32 | | | $ | 32 | |
Ending Balance | | | 32 | | | | 32 | | | | 32 | | | | 32 | |
Additional Paid-in Capital | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning Balance | | | 3,849 | | | | 3,487 | | | | 3,769 | | | | 3,712 | |
Purchase of treasury stock | | | 4 | | | | 218 | | | | (30 | ) | | | (82 | ) |
Employee incentive plans and other | | | 45 | | | | 30 | | | | 159 | | | | 105 | |
Ending Balance | | | 3,898 | | | | 3,735 | | | | 3,898 | | | | 3,735 | |
Retained Earnings | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning Balance | | | 36,605 | | | | 33,557 | | | | 35,259 | | | | 32,782 | |
Net Income | | | 879 | | | | 771 | | | | 2,857 | | | | 2,434 | |
Cash dividends declared ($1.26, $1.15, $3.78, and $4.60 per share) | | | (310 | ) | | | (288 | ) | | | (942 | ) | | | (1,176 | ) |
Ending Balance | | | 37,174 | | | | 34,040 | | | | 37,174 | | | | 34,040 | |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning Balance | | | (1,294 | ) | | | (1,385 | ) | | | (1,327 | ) | | | (1,103 | ) |
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax benefit (expense) of $2, ($5), ($8), and $23 | | | (41 | ) | | | 77 | | | | (8 | ) | | | (205 | ) |
Ending Balance | | | (1,335 | ) | | | (1,308 | ) | | | (1,335 | ) | | | (1,308 | ) |
Treasury Stock | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning Balance | | | (12,426 | ) | | | (11,576 | ) | | | (11,645 | ) | | | (10,484 | ) |
Purchase of treasury stock (4.1, 1.3, 8.0, and 9.2 million shares) | | | (1,011 | ) | | | (218 | ) | | | (1,985 | ) | | | (1,418 | ) |
Employee incentive plans and other (0.3, 0.2, 1.8, and 1.0 million shares) | | | 43 | | | | 28 | | | | 236 | | | | 136 | |
Ending Balance | | | (13,394 | ) | | | (11,766 | ) | | | (13,394 | ) | | | (11,766 | ) |
Total Common Stockholders’ Investment Balance | | $ | 26,375 | | | $ | 24,733 | | | $ | 26,375 | | | $ | 24,733 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(1) General
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES. These interim financial statements of FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions for interim financial information, and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2023 (“Annual Report”). Significant accounting policies and other disclosures normally provided have been omitted since such items are disclosed in our Annual Report.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position as of February 29, 2024, and the results of our operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, cash flows for the nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, and changes in common stockholders’ investment for the three- and nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023. Operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending May 31, 2024.
Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ending May 31, 2024 or ended May 31 of the year referenced and comparisons are to the corresponding period of the prior year.
REVENUE RECOGNITION.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
Contract assets include billed and unbilled amounts resulting from in-transit shipments, as we have an unconditional right to payment only once all performance obligations have been completed (e.g., packages have been delivered). Contract assets are generally classified as current, and the full balance is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions. Our contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue. The full balance of deferred revenue is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions.
Gross contract assets related to in-transit shipments totaled $663 million and $686 million at February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023, respectively. Contract assets net of deferred unearned revenue were $455 million and $484 million at February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023, respectively. Contract assets are included within current assets in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Contract liabilities related to advance payments from customers were $23 million and $19 million at February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023, respectively. Contract liabilities are included within current liabilities in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table provides revenue by service type (in millions) for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023. This presentation is consistent with how we organize our segments internally for making operating decisions and measuring performance.
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| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
REVENUE BY SERVICE TYPE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Package: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. overnight box | | $ | 2,145 | | | $ | 2,165 | | | $ | 6,491 | | | $ | 6,718 | |
U.S. overnight envelope | | | 450 | | | | 478 | | | | 1,382 | | | | 1,477 | |
U.S. deferred | | | 1,317 | | | | 1,346 | | | | 3,712 | | | | 3,886 | |
Total U.S. domestic package revenue | | | 3,912 | | | | 3,989 | | | | 11,585 | | | | 12,081 | |
International priority | | | 2,318 | | | | 2,566 | | | | 7,035 | | | | 8,286 | |
International economy | | | 1,014 | | | | 698 | | | | 3,123 | | | | 2,116 | |
Total international export package revenue | | | 3,332 | | | | 3,264 | | | | 10,158 | | | | 10,402 | |
International domestic(1) | | | 1,016 | | | | 1,003 | | | | 3,126 | | | | 3,013 | |
Total package revenue | | | 8,260 | | | | 8,256 | | | | 24,869 | | | | 25,496 | |
Freight: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. | | | 648 | | | | 719 | | | | 1,814 | | | | 2,299 | |
International priority | | | 520 | | | | 687 | | | | 1,642 | | | | 2,387 | |
International economy | | | 389 | | | | 358 | | | | 1,236 | | | | 1,123 | |
International airfreight | | | 31 | | | | 47 | | | | 92 | | | | 126 | |
Total freight revenue | | | 1,588 | | | | 1,811 | | | | 4,784 | | | | 5,935 | |
Other | | | 253 | | | | 278 | | | | 787 | | | | 905 | |
Total FedEx Express segment | | | 10,101 | | | | 10,345 | | | | 30,440 | | | | 32,336 | |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 8,703 | | | | 8,658 | | | | 25,762 | | | | 25,211 | |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 2,125 | | | | 2,186 | | | | 6,776 | | | | 7,363 | |
FedEx Services segment | | | 64 | | | | 87 | | | | 201 | | | | 225 | |
Other and eliminations(2) | | | 745 | | | | 893 | | | | 2,405 | | | | 3,090 | |
| | $ | 21,738 | | | $ | 22,169 | | | $ | 65,584 | | | $ | 68,225 | |
(1)International domestic revenue relates to our international intra-country operations.
(2)Includes the FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”), FedEx Logistics, Inc. (“FedEx Logistics”), and FedEx Dataworks, Inc. (“FedEx Dataworks”) operating segments.
EMPLOYEES UNDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARRANGEMENTS. The pilots of Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), who are a small number of its total employees, are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (“ALPA”) and are employed under a collective bargaining agreement that took effect on November 2, 2015. The agreement became amendable in November 2021. Bargaining for a successor agreement began in May 2021, and in November 2022 the National Mediation Board (“NMB”), which is the U.S. governmental agency that oversees labor agreements for entities covered by the Railway Labor Act of 1926, as amended, began actively mediating the negotiations. In July 2023, FedEx Express’s pilots failed to ratify the tentative successor agreement that was approved by ALPA’s FedEx Express Master Executive Council the prior month. Bargaining for a successor agreement continues. In March 2024, ALPA requested that the NMB release it from mediation. The conduct of mediated negotiations has no effect on our operations. A small number of our other employees are members of unions.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION. We have three types of equity-based compensation: stock options, restricted stock, and, for outside directors, restricted stock units. The key terms of the stock option and restricted stock awards granted under our outstanding incentive stock plans and financial disclosures about these programs are set forth in our Annual Report. The key terms of the restricted stock units granted to our outside directors are set forth in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 21, 2023 and filed with the SEC on September 22, 2023.
Our stock-based compensation expense was $34 million for the three-month period ended February 29, 2024 and $130 million for the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024. Our stock-based compensation expense was $34 million for the three-month period ended February 28, 2023 and $142 million for the nine-month period ended February 28, 2023. Due to its immateriality, additional disclosures related to stock-based compensation have been excluded from this quarterly report.
BUSINESS OPTIMIZATION AND REALIGNMENT COSTS. In the second quarter of 2023, FedEx announced DRIVE, a comprehensive program to improve the company’s long-term profitability. This program includes a business optimization plan to drive efficiency among our transportation segments, lower our overhead and support costs, and transform our digital capabilities. We plan to consolidate our sortation facilities and equipment, reduce pickup-and-delivery routes, and optimize our enterprise linehaul network by moving beyond discrete collaboration to an end-to-end optimized network through Network 2.0, the multi-year effort to improve the efficiency with which FedEx picks up, transports, and delivers packages in the U.S. and Canada.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we announced one FedEx, a consolidation plan to bring FedEx Express, FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), and FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”) into Federal Express Corporation, becoming a single company operating a unified, fully integrated air-ground express network under the respected FedEx brand. FedEx Freight, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of FedEx Freight Corporation (“FedEx Freight”), will continue to provide less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight transportation services as a stand-alone and separate company under Federal Express Corporation. The organizational redesign will be implemented in phases with the new legal structure complete by June 2024. One FedEx will help facilitate our DRIVE transformation program to improve long-term profitability, including Network 2.0.
FedEx is making progress with Network 2.0, as the company has implemented Network 2.0 optimization in more than 50 locations in the U.S. In some markets, contracted service providers will handle the pickup and delivery of FedEx Ground and FedEx Express packages. In others, pickup and delivery will be handled exclusively by employee couriers.
We incurred costs associated with our business optimization activities of $114 million ($87 million, net of tax, or $0.35 per diluted share) in the three-month period ended February 29, 2024 and $364 million ($278 million, net of tax, or $1.10 per diluted share) in the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024. These costs were primarily related to professional services and severance. We recognized $120 million ($92 million, net of tax, or $0.36 per diluted share) of costs under this program in the three-month period ended February 28, 2023 and $180 million ($138 million, net of tax, or $0.53 per diluted share) in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2023. These costs were primarily related to consulting services, severance and related costs associated with organizational changes announced in the third quarter of 2023, and idling our operations in Russia. Business optimization costs are included in Corporate, other, and eliminations, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Express.
In 2021, FedEx Express announced a workforce reduction plan in Europe related to the network integration of TNT Express. The plan affected approximately 5,000 employees in Europe across operational teams and back-office functions and was completed in 2023.
We incurred costs associated with our business realignment activities of $3 million ($2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) in the three-month period ended February 28, 2023 and $17 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share) in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2023. These costs were related to certain employee severance arrangements. The pre-tax cost of our business realignment activities through 2023 was approximately $430 million.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. Our risk management strategy includes the select use of derivative instruments to reduce the effects of volatility in foreign currency exchange exposure on operating results and cash flows. In accordance with our risk management policies, we do not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. All derivative instruments are recognized in the financial statements at fair value, regardless of the purpose or intent for holding them.
When we become a party to a derivative instrument and intend to apply hedge accounting, we formally document the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge, which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge.
If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recorded in other comprehensive income. For net investment hedges, the entire change in the fair value is recorded in other comprehensive income. Any portion of a change in the fair value of a derivative that is considered to be ineffective, along with the change in fair value of any derivatives not designated in a hedging relationship, is immediately recognized in the income statement. We do not have any derivatives designated as a cash flow hedge for any period presented. As of February 29, 2024, we had €153 million of debt designated as a net investment hedge to reduce the volatility of the U.S. dollar value of a portion of our net investment in a euro-denominated consolidated subsidiary. As of February 29, 2024, the hedge remains effective.
SUPPLIER FINANCE PROGRAM. We offer a voluntary Supply Chain Finance (“SCF”) program through one of our financial institutions to certain of our suppliers. We agree to commercial terms with our suppliers, including prices, quantities, and payment terms, and they issue invoices to us based on the agreed-upon contractual terms. If our suppliers choose to participate in the SCF program, they determine which invoices, if any, to sell to the financial institution to receive an early discounted payment, while we settle the net payment amount with our financial institution on the payment due dates. We guarantee these payments with the financial institution.
Amounts due to our suppliers that participate in the SCF program are included in accounts payable in our consolidated balance sheets. We have been informed by the participating financial institutions that as of February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023, suppliers have been approved to sell to them $64 million and $76 million, respectively, of our outstanding payment obligations.
RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE. New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly affect our reported results and the comparability of our financial statements. We believe the following new accounting guidance is relevant to the readers of our financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In September 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-04, Liabilities-Supplier Finance Programs (Topic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations, which requires a buyer in a supplier finance program (e.g., reverse factoring) to disclose sufficient information about the program to allow a user of financial statements to understand the program’s nature, activity during the period, changes from period to period, and potential magnitude. The amendments do not affect the recognition, measurement, or financial statement presentation of obligations covered by supplier finance programs. We adopted this standard effective June 1, 2023. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), and in December 2022 subsequently issued ASU 2022-06, to temporarily ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The standards provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying accounting principles generally accepted in the United States to existing contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. The standards apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The standards were effective upon issuance and can generally be applied through December 31, 2024. While there has been no material effect to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows from reference rate reform as of February 29, 2024, we continue to monitor our contracts and transactions for potential application of these ASUs.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. The update will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 (fiscal 2025). We are assessing the effect of this update on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The update will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 (fiscal 2026). We are assessing the effect of this update on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2024, the SEC adopted final rules requiring public entities to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. As part of the disclosures, entities will be required to quantify certain effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions in a note to their audited financial statements. The rules will be effective for annual periods beginning in calendar 2025 (fiscal 2026). We are assessing the effect of the new rules on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
EQUITY AND OTHER INVESTMENTS. Equity investments in private companies for which we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for at cost, with adjustments for observable changes in prices or impairments, and are classified as “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets with adjustments recognized in “Other (expense) income, net” on our consolidated statements of income. Each reporting period, we perform a qualitative assessment to evaluate whether the investment is impaired. Our assessment includes a review of available recent operating results and trends, recent sales/acquisitions of the investee securities, and other publicly available data. If the investment is impaired, we write it down to its estimated fair value.
Equity investments that have readily determinable fair values, including investments for which we have elected the fair value option, are included in “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets and measured at fair value with changes recognized in “Other (expense) income, net” on our consolidated statements of income.
During the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024, we purchased $100 million of debt securities with effective maturities ranging from less than one year to approximately three years. We did not purchase any debt securities during the three-month period ended February 29, 2024. These investments have been recognized in “Cash and cash equivalents” and “Prepaid expenses and other” on our consolidated balance sheets.
As of February 29, 2024, these investments are not material to our financial position or results of operations.
TREASURY SHARES. In December 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $5 billion of FedEx common stock. As part of the 2021 program, we completed an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with a bank during the third quarter of 2024 to repurchase an aggregate of $1 billion of our common stock.
During the three-month period ended February 29, 2024, 4.1 million shares were repurchased under the ASR agreement at an average price of $245.80 per share for a total of $1 billion. The final number of shares delivered upon settlement of the ASR agreement was determined based on a discount to the volume-weighted average price of our stock during the term of the transaction. The repurchased shares were accounted for as a reduction to common stockholders’ investment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and resulted in a reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per share.
During the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024, we repurchased 8.0 million shares of FedEx common stock under ASR agreements under the 2021 program at an average price of $250.95 per share for a total of $2.0 billion. During the nine-month period ended February 28, 2023, we repurchased 9.2 million shares of FedEx common stock under ASR agreements under the 2021 program at an average price of $163.39 per share for a total of $1.5 billion. As of February 29, 2024, $564 million remained available to use for repurchases under the 2021 stock repurchase authorization. In March 2024, our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program for additional repurchases of up to $5 billion.
Shares under the 2021 and 2024 repurchase programs may be repurchased from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and volume of repurchases are at the discretion of management, based on the capital needs of the business, the market price of FedEx common stock, and general market conditions. No time limits were set for the completion of the programs, and the programs may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE. On February 16, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $1.26 per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on April 1, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 11, 2024. Each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment amount on an annual basis. There are no material restrictions on our ability to declare dividends, nor are there any material restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans, or advances.
(2) Credit Losses
We are exposed to credit losses primarily through our trade receivables. We assess ability to pay for certain customers by conducting a credit review, which considers the customer’s established credit rating and our assessment of creditworthiness. We determine the allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable using a combination of specific reserves for accounts that are deemed to exhibit credit loss indicators and general reserves that are determined using loss rates based on historical write-offs by geography and recent forecast information, including underlying economic expectations. We update our estimate of credit loss reserves quarterly, considering recent write-offs, collections information, and underlying economic expectations.
Credit losses were $106 million for the three-month period ended February 29, 2024 and $323 million for the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024. Credit losses were $111 million for the three-month period ended February 28, 2023 and $536 million for the nine-month period ended February 28, 2023. Our allowance for credit losses was $441 million at February 29, 2024 and $472 million at May 31, 2023.
(3) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table provides changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of tax, reported in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 (in millions; amounts in parentheses indicate debits to AOCI):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Foreign currency translation loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of period | | $ | (1,362 | ) | | $ | (1,427 | ) | | $ | (1,362 | ) | | $ | (1,148 | ) |
Translation adjustments | | | (39 | ) | | | 80 | | | | (39 | ) | | | (199 | ) |
Balance at end of period | | | (1,401 | ) | | | (1,347 | ) | | | (1,401 | ) | | | (1,347 | ) |
Retirement plans adjustments: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of period | | | 68 | | | | 42 | | | | 35 | | | | 45 | |
Prior service credit arising during period | | | — | | | | — | | | | 36 | | | | — | |
Reclassifications from AOCI | | | (2 | ) | | | (3 | ) | | | (5 | ) | | | (6 | ) |
Balance at end of period | | | 66 | | | | 39 | | | | 66 | | | | 39 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) at end of period | | $ | (1,335 | ) | | $ | (1,308 | ) | | $ | (1,335 | ) | | $ | (1,308 | ) |
The following table presents details of the reclassifications from AOCI for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 (in millions; amounts in parentheses indicate debits to earnings):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount Reclassified from AOCI | | | Affected Line Item in the Income Statement |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | |
Amortization of retirement plans prior service credits, before tax | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 7 | | | Other retirement plans, net |
Income tax benefit | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (1 | ) | | Provision for income taxes |
AOCI reclassifications, net of tax | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 6 | | | Net income |
(4) Financing Arrangements
We have a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC that allows us to sell, in one or more future offerings, any combination of our unsecured debt securities and common stock and allows pass-through trusts formed by FedEx Express to sell, in one or more future offerings, pass-through certificates.
FedEx Express has issued $970 million of Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2020-1AA (the “Certificates”) with a fixed interest rate of 1.875% due in February 2034 utilizing pass-through trusts. The Certificates are secured by 19 Boeing aircraft with a net book value of $1.7 billion at February 29, 2024. The payment obligations of FedEx Express in respect of the Certificates are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by FedEx.
During the third quarter of 2024, we had in place a $2.0 billion five-year credit agreement (the “Old Five-Year Credit Agreement”) and a $1.5 billion three-year credit agreement (the “Old Three-Year Credit Agreement” and together with the Old Five-Year Credit Agreement, the “Old Credit Agreements”). The Old Five-Year Credit Agreement included a $250 million letter of credit sublimit. As of February 29, 2024, no amounts were outstanding under the Old Credit Agreements, no commercial paper was outstanding, and $250 million of the letter of credit sublimit was unused under the Old Five-Year Credit Agreement.
The Old Credit Agreements contained a financial covenant requiring us to maintain a ratio of debt to consolidated earnings (excluding noncash retirement plans mark-to-market adjustments, noncash pension service costs, and noncash asset impairment charges) before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, calculated as of the last day of each fiscal quarter on a rolling four-quarters basis. The ratio of our debt to adjusted EBITDA was 1.9 to 1.0 at February 29, 2024. We were in compliance with all other covenants in the Old Credit Agreements during the third quarter of fiscal 2024.
On March 15, 2024, we replaced the Old Credit Agreements with a $1.75 billion three-year credit agreement (the “New Three-Year Credit Agreement”) and a $1.75 billion five-year credit agreement (the “New Five-Year Credit Agreement” and together with the New Three-Year Credit Agreement, the “New Credit Agreements”). The New Three-Year Credit Agreement and the New Five-Year Credit Agreement expire in March 2027 and March 2029, respectively. Each of the New Credit Agreements has a $125 million letter of credit sublimit. The New Credit Agreements are available to finance our operations and other cash flow needs.
The New Credit Agreements amended the financial covenant included in the Old Credit Agreements to (i) net unrestricted cash and cash equivalents up to $500 million from the definition of debt and (ii) add back business optimization and restructuring expenses and pro forma cost savings and synergies associated with an acquisition to adjusted EBITDA. The aggregate amount of adjustments for business optimization and restructuring expenses and pro forma cost savings and synergies associated with an acquisition may not exceed 10% of adjusted EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any such addback and such cap and all other permitted addbacks and adjustments) in any period. Additionally, following the consummation of an acquisition for which the aggregate cash consideration is at least $250 million, FedEx may elect to increase the ratio to 4.0 to 1.0 with respect to the last day of the fiscal quarter during which such acquisition is consummated and the last day of each of the immediately following three consecutive fiscal quarters, provided that there must be at least two consecutive fiscal quarters between such elections during which the ratio is 3.5 to 1.0.
The financial covenant discussed above is the only significant restrictive covenant in the New Credit Agreements. The New Credit Agreements contain other customary covenants that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially restrict the conduct of our business. We do not expect the covenants contained in the New Credit Agreements to affect our operations, including our liquidity or expected funding needs. If we failed to comply with the financial covenant or any other covenants in the New Credit Agreements, our access to financing could become limited. Our commercial paper program is backed by unused commitments under the New Credit Agreements, and borrowings under the program reduce the amount available under the New Credit Agreements.
Long-term debt, including current maturities and exclusive of finance leases, had carrying values of $19.8 billion at February 29, 2024 and $19.8 billion at May 31, 2023, compared with estimated fair values of $17.7 billion at February 29, 2024 and $17.5 billion at May 31, 2023. The annualized weighted-average interest rate on long-term debt was 3.5% at February 29, 2024. The estimated fair values were determined based on quoted market prices and the current rates offered for debt with similar terms and maturities. The fair value of our long-term debt is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. This classification is defined as a fair value determined using market-based inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the liability, either directly or indirectly.
(5) Computation of Earnings Per Share
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 was as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Basic earnings per common share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings allocable to common shares(1) | | $ | 878 | | | $ | 770 | | | $ | 2,853 | | | $ | 2,430 | |
Weighted-average common shares | | | 247 | | | | 251 | | | | 249 | | | | 255 | |
Basic earnings per common share | | $ | 3.55 | | | $ | 3.07 | | | $ | 11.43 | | | $ | 9.52 | |
Diluted earnings per common share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings allocable to common shares(1) | | $ | 878 | | | $ | 770 | | | $ | 2,853 | | | $ | 2,430 | |
Weighted-average common shares | | | 247 | | | | 251 | | | | 249 | | | | 255 | |
Dilutive effect of share-based awards | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | |
Weighted-average diluted shares | | | 250 | | | | 253 | | | | 252 | | | | 257 | |
Diluted earnings per common share | | $ | 3.51 | | | $ | 3.05 | | | $ | 11.31 | | | $ | 9.46 | |
Anti-dilutive options excluded from diluted earnings per common share | | | 6.3 | | | | 7.8 | | | | 6.3 | | | | 7.7 | |
(1) Net earnings available to participating securities were immaterial in all periods presented.
(6) Retirement Plans
We sponsor programs that provide retirement benefits to most of our employees. These programs include defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, and postretirement healthcare plans. Key terms of our retirement plans are provided in our Annual Report.
Our retirement plans costs for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 were as follows (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Defined benefit pension plans, net | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 59 | | | $ | 274 | | | $ | 176 | |
Defined contribution plans | | | 240 | | | | 242 | | | | 722 | | | | 714 | |
Postretirement healthcare plans | | | 20 | | | | 24 | | | | 64 | | | | 70 | |
| | $ | 352 | | | $ | 325 | | | $ | 1,060 | | | $ | 960 | |
Net periodic benefit cost of the pension and postretirement healthcare plans for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 included the following components (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | |
| | U.S. Pension Plans | | | International Pension Plans | | | Postretirement Healthcare Plans | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Service cost | | $ | 136 | | | $ | 162 | | | $ | 9 | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 10 | |
Other retirement plans expense (income): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest cost | | | 341 | | | | 304 | | | | 10 | | | | 8 | | | | 15 | | | | 14 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (400 | ) | | | (422 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | (3 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Amortization of prior service credit and other | | | (2 | ) | | | (1 | ) | | | — | | | | (2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | — | |
| | | (61 | ) | | | (119 | ) | | | 8 | | | | 3 | | | | 13 | | | | 14 | |
| | $ | 75 | | | $ | 43 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 20 | | | $ | 24 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended | |
| | U.S. Pension Plans | | | International Pension Plans | | | Postretirement Healthcare Plans | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Service cost | | $ | 408 | | | $ | 488 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | 34 | | | $ | 21 | | | $ | 28 | |
Other retirement plans expense (income): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest cost | | | 1,022 | | | | 913 | | | | 32 | | | | 25 | | | | 45 | | | | 42 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (1,199 | ) | | | (1,266 | ) | | | (13 | ) | | | (11 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Amortization of prior service credit and other | | | (5 | ) | | | (5 | ) | | | — | | | | (2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | — | |
| | | (182 | ) | | | (358 | ) | | | 19 | | | | 12 | | | | 43 | | | | 42 | |
| | $ | 226 | | | $ | 130 | | | $ | 48 | | | $ | 46 | | | $ | 64 | | | $ | 70 | |
For 2024, no pension contributions are required for our tax-qualified U.S. domestic pension plan (“U.S. Pension Plan”) as it is fully funded under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. We made voluntary contributions of $800 million to our U.S. Pension Plan during the nine-month period ended February 29, 2024.
(7) Business Segment Information
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services through companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively, and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Our primary operating companies are FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, a leading North American provider of small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight, a leading North American provider of LTL freight transportation services. These companies represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services, constitute our reportable segments.
Our reportable segments include the following businesses:
| |
FedEx Express Segment | FedEx Express (express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation) |
| FedEx Custom Critical, Inc. (time-critical transportation) |
FedEx Ground Segment | FedEx Ground (small-package ground delivery) |
| |
FedEx Freight Segment | FedEx Freight (LTL freight transportation) |
| |
FedEx Services Segment | FedEx Services (sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection services, and back-office functions) |
In the fourth quarter of 2023, FedEx announced one FedEx, a consolidation plan to bring FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Services into Federal Express Corporation, becoming a single company operating a unified, fully integrated air-ground express network under the respected FedEx brand. The organizational redesign will be implemented in phases with the new legal structure complete by June 2024. During the implementation process in 2024, each of our current reportable segments will continue to have discrete financial information that will be regularly reviewed when evaluating performance and making resource allocation decisions, and aligns with our management reporting structure and our internal financial reporting. In the first quarter of 2025 when the consolidation plan has been completed, we expect to begin reporting a new segment structure that will align with an updated management reporting structure and how management will evaluate performance and make resource allocation decisions under one FedEx.
References to our transportation segments include, collectively, the FedEx Express segment, the FedEx Ground segment, and the FedEx Freight segment.
FedEx Services Segment
The FedEx Services segment operates combined sales, marketing, administrative, and information-technology functions in shared services operations for U.S. customers of our major business units and certain back-office support to our operating segments which allows us to obtain synergies from the combination of these functions. For the international regions of FedEx Express, some of these functions are performed on a regional basis and reported by FedEx Express in their natural expense line items.
The FedEx Services segment provides direct and indirect support to our operating segments, and we allocate all of the net operating costs of the FedEx Services segment to reflect the full cost of operating our businesses in the results of those segments. We review and evaluate the performance of our transportation segments based on operating income (inclusive of FedEx Services segment allocations). For the FedEx Services segment, performance is evaluated based on the effect of its total allocated net operating costs on our operating segments.
Operating expenses for each of our transportation segments include the allocations from the FedEx Services segment to the respective transportation segments. These allocations also include charges and credits for administrative services provided between operating companies. The allocations of net operating costs are based on metrics such as relative revenue or estimated services provided. We believe these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions. Our allocation methodologies are refined periodically, as necessary, to reflect changes in our businesses.
Corporate, Other, and Eliminations
Corporate and other includes corporate headquarters costs for executive officers and certain legal and finance functions, certain other costs and credits not attributed to our core business, and certain costs associated with developing our “innovate digitally” strategic pillar through our FedEx Dataworks operating segment. FedEx Dataworks is focused on creating solutions to transform the digital and physical experiences of our customers and team members.
Also included in Corporate and other is the FedEx Office operating segment, which provides an array of document and business services and retail access to our customers for our package transportation businesses, and the FedEx Logistics operating segment, which provides integrated supply chain management solutions, specialty transportation, customs brokerage, and global ocean and air freight forwarding.
The results of Corporate, other, and eliminations are not allocated to the other business segments.
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment in order to optimize our resources. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenue of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenue and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated results and are not separately identified in the following segment information because the amounts are not material.
The following table provides a reconciliation of reportable segment revenue and operating income (loss) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statement totals for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment | | $ | 10,101 | | | $ | 10,345 | | | $ | 30,440 | | | $ | 32,336 | |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 8,703 | | | | 8,658 | | | | 25,762 | | | | 25,211 | |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 2,125 | | | | 2,186 | | | | 6,776 | | | | 7,363 | |
FedEx Services segment | | | 64 | | | | 87 | | | | 201 | | | | 225 | |
Other and eliminations | | | 745 | | | | 893 | | | | 2,405 | | | | 3,090 | |
| | $ | 21,738 | | | $ | 22,169 | | | $ | 65,584 | | | $ | 68,225 | |
Operating income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment | | $ | 233 | | | $ | 119 | | | $ | 575 | | | $ | 634 | |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 942 | | | | 844 | | | | 2,945 | | | | 2,136 | |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 340 | | | | 386 | | | | 1,308 | | | | 1,477 | |
Corporate, other, and eliminations | | | (272 | ) | | | (307 | ) | | | (824 | ) | | | (838 | ) |
| | $ | 1,243 | | | $ | 1,042 | | | $ | 4,004 | | | $ | 3,409 | |
(8) Commitments
As of February 29, 2024, our purchase commitments under various contracts for the remainder of 2024 and annually thereafter were as follows (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Aircraft and Aircraft Related | | | Other(1) | | | Total | |
2024 (remainder) | | $ | 92 | | | $ | 158 | | | $ | 250 | |
2025 | | | 1,596 | | | | 654 | | | | 2,250 | |
2026 | | | 540 | | | | 464 | | | | 1,004 | |
2027 | | | 269 | | | | 234 | | | | 503 | |
2028 | | | 341 | | | | 147 | | | | 488 | |
Thereafter | | | 1,654 | | | | 92 | | | | 1,746 | |
Total | | $ | 4,492 | | | $ | 1,749 | | | $ | 6,241 | |
(1)Primarily information technology and advertising.
The amounts reflected in the table above for purchase commitments represent noncancelable agreements to purchase goods or services. Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes and are not included in the table above.
As of February 29, 2024, we had $648 million in deposits and progress payments on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related transactions. These deposits are classified in the “Other assets” caption of our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Aircraft and related contracts are subject to price escalations. The following table is a summary of the key aircraft we are committed to purchase as of February 29, 2024 with the year of expected delivery:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cessna SkyCourier 408 | | | ATR 72-600F | | | B767F | | | B777F | | | Total | |
2024 (remainder) | | | 5 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | — | | | | 10 | |
2025 | | | 13 | | | | 8 | | | | 10 | | | | 2 | | | | 33 | |
2026 | | | 14 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | — | | | | 17 | |
2027 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
2028 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Thereafter | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | 32 | | | | 11 | | | | 15 | | | | 2 | | | | 60 | |
A summary of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating and finance leases with an initial or remaining term in excess of one year as of February 29, 2024 is as follows (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Aircraft and Related Equipment | | | Facilities and Other | | | Total Operating Leases | | | Finance Leases | | | Total Leases | |
2024 (remainder) | | $ | 30 | | | $ | 579 | | | $ | 609 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 614 | |
2025 | | | 121 | | | | 2,995 | | | | 3,116 | | | | 34 | | | | 3,150 | |
2026 | | | 117 | | | | 2,666 | | | | 2,783 | | | | 30 | | | | 2,813 | |
2027 | | | 117 | | | | 2,363 | | | | 2,480 | | | | 22 | | | | 2,502 | |
2028 | | | 117 | | | | 2,036 | | | | 2,153 | | | | 21 | | | | 2,174 | |
Thereafter | | | 246 | | | | 9,031 | | | | 9,277 | | | | 648 | | | | 9,925 | |
Total lease payments | | | 748 | | | | 19,670 | | | | 20,418 | | | | 760 | | | | 21,178 | |
Less imputed interest | | | (92 | ) | | | (3,001 | ) | | | (3,093 | ) | | | (328 | ) | | | (3,421 | ) |
Present value of lease liability | | $ | 656 | | | $ | 16,669 | | | $ | 17,325 | | | $ | 432 | | | $ | 17,757 | |
While certain of our lease agreements contain covenants governing the use of the leased assets or require us to maintain certain levels of insurance, none of our lease agreements include material financial covenants or limitations.
As of February 29, 2024, FedEx has entered into additional leases which have not yet commenced and are therefore not part of the right-of-use asset and liability. These leases are generally for build-to-suit facilities and have undiscounted future payments of approximately $1.8 billion that will commence when FedEx gains beneficial access to the leased asset. Commencement dates are expected to be from 2024 to 2027.
(9) Contingencies
Service Provider Lawsuits. FedEx Ground is defending lawsuits in which it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as a joint employer of drivers employed by service providers engaged by FedEx Ground. These cases are in varying stages of litigation, and we are not currently able to estimate an amount or range of potential loss in all of these matters. However, we do not expect to incur, individually or in the aggregate, a material loss in these matters. Nevertheless, adverse determinations in these matters could, among other things, entitle service providers’ drivers to certain payments, including wages and penalties, from the service providers and FedEx Ground and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground. We continue to believe that FedEx Ground is not an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent businesses.
FedEx Services Employment Lawsuit. In May 2021, FedEx Services was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas related to the termination of a former FedEx Services employee. The complaint alleged race discrimination and retaliation for complaints of discrimination under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After trial, in October 2022, the jury found in favor of FedEx Services on the race discrimination claims but awarded the plaintiff compensatory damages of approximately $1.0 million for emotional distress and punitive damages of $365 million for the retaliation claims. The court entered final judgment in the amount of approximately $366 million. FedEx Services appealed the verdict to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. FedEx Services argued on appeal that FedEx Services is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the retaliation claims, plaintiff’s claims were not timely filed, punitive damages are not available as a matter of law and, if allowed, must be reduced to no greater than a single-digit multiple of the award for compensatory damages based on the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in State Farm v. Campbell, and the compensatory damages award must be reduced to conform with the evidence and the Fifth Circuit’s maximum recovery rule. FedEx Services argued in the alternative that a new trial should be granted.
In February 2024, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reduced the $366 million judgment to approximately $250,000. In March 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously denied plaintiff’s petition for rehearing. An immaterial loss accrual has been recorded in FedEx’s consolidated financial statements.
FedEx Ground Negligence Lawsuit. In December 2022, FedEx Ground was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in Texas state court related to the alleged kidnapping and first-degree murder of a minor by a driver employed by a service provider engaged by FedEx Ground. The complaint alleges compensatory and punitive damages against FedEx Ground for negligent and gross negligent hiring and retention, as well as negligent entrustment. The service provider and driver are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. An immaterial loss accrual has been recorded in FedEx’s consolidated financial statements. It is reasonably possible that an additional material loss could be incurred. Given the early stage of the litigation, we cannot estimate the amount or range of such additional loss, if any.
Other Matters. FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, including certain lawsuits containing various class-action allegations of wage-and-hour violations in which plaintiffs claim, among other things, that they were forced to work “off the clock,” were not paid overtime, or were not provided work breaks or other benefits, as well as other lawsuits containing allegations that FedEx and its subsidiaries are responsible for third-party losses related to vehicle accidents that could exceed our insurance coverage for such losses. In the opinion of management, the aggregate liability, if any, with respect to these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Environmental Matters. SEC regulations require us to disclose certain information about proceedings arising under federal, state, or local environmental provisions if we reasonably believe that such proceedings may result in monetary sanctions above a stated threshold. Pursuant to the SEC regulations, FedEx uses a threshold of $1 million or more for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required. Applying this threshold, there are no environmental matters required to be disclosed for this period.
(10) Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash paid for interest expense and income taxes for the nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 was as follows (in millions):
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Cash payments for: | | | | | | |
Interest (net of capitalized interest) | | $ | 538 | | | $ | 497 | |
Income taxes | | $ | 1,265 | | | $ | 823 | |
Income tax refunds received | | | (97 | ) | | | (50 | ) |
Cash tax (refunds)/payments, net | | $ | 1,168 | | | $ | 773 | |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
FedEx Corporation
Results of Review of Interim Financial Statements
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of FedEx Corporation (the Company) as of February 29, 2024, the related condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, and changes in common stockholders’ investment for the three- and nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “condensed consolidated interim financial statements”). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of May 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in common stockholders’ investment for the year then ended, and the related notes (not presented herein); and in our report dated July 17, 2023, we expressed an unqualified audit opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 2023, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the PCAOB. We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial statements consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Memphis, Tennessee
March 21, 2024
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
GENERAL
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition (“MD&A”) describes the principal factors affecting the results of operations, liquidity, capital resources, and critical accounting estimates of FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying quarterly unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2023 (“Annual Report”). Our Annual Report includes additional information about our significant accounting policies, practices, and the transactions that underlie our financial results, as well as a detailed discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with our financial condition and operating results.
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services, offering integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively, and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Our primary operating companies are Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), a leading North American provider of small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight Corporation (“FedEx Freight”), a leading North American provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight transportation services. These companies represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”), constitute our reportable segments.
Our FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection services, and certain back-office functions that support our operating segments. For the international regions of FedEx Express, some of these functions are performed on a regional basis and reported by FedEx Express in their natural expense line items. See “Reportable Segments” for further discussion. Additional information on our businesses can be found in our Annual Report.
Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ending May 31, 2024 or ended May 31 of the year referenced, and comparisons are to the corresponding period of the prior year. References to our transportation segments include, collectively, the FedEx Express segment, the FedEx Ground segment, and the FedEx Freight segment.
The key indicators necessary to understand our operating results include:
•the overall customer demand for our various services based on macroeconomic factors and the global economy;
•the volumes of transportation services provided through our networks, primarily measured by our average daily volume and shipment weight and size;
•the mix of services purchased by our customers;
•the prices we obtain for our services, primarily measured by yield (revenue per package or pound or revenue per shipment or hundredweight for LTL freight shipments);
•our ability to manage our cost structure (capital expenditures and operating expenses) to match shifting volume levels; and
•the timing and amount of fluctuations in fuel prices and our ability to recover incremental fuel costs through our fuel surcharges.
Trends Affecting Our Business
The following trends significantly affect the indicators discussed above, as well as our business and operating results. See the risk factors identified under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for more information. Additionally, see “Results of Operations – Consolidated Results – Business Optimization and Realignment Costs and – Outlook” and “Financial Condition – Liquidity Outlook” below for additional information on efforts we are taking to mitigate adverse trends.
Macroeconomic Conditions
While macroeconomic risks apply to most companies, we are particularly vulnerable. The transportation industry is highly cyclical and especially susceptible to trends in economic activity. Our primary business is to transport goods, so our business levels are directly tied to the purchase and production of goods and the rate of global trade growth. The decline in U.S. imports of consumer goods that started in late 2022, along with slowed global industrial production, has contributed to weakened economic conditions for the transportation industry. Consequently, this environment has led to lower package and freight volumes at FedEx Express and FedEx Freight, negatively affecting our results in the third quarter and nine months of 2024.
Inflation and Interest Rates
During the third quarter and nine months of 2024, global inflation decelerated year over year but continues to be above historical levels. Additionally, global interest rates remained elevated in an effort to curb inflation. We are experiencing a decline in demand for our transportation services as elevated inflation and interest rates are negatively affecting consumer and business spending. We expect inflation and high interest rates to continue to negatively affect our results of operations for the remainder of 2024.
Fuel
We must purchase large quantities of fuel to operate our aircraft and vehicles, and the price and availability of fuel is beyond our control and can be highly volatile. The timing and amount of fluctuations in fuel prices and our ability to recover incremental fuel costs through our fuel surcharges can significantly affect our operating results either positively or negatively in the short term. Lower fuel prices negatively affected yields through lower fuel surcharges and drove a decrease in fuel expense during the third quarter and nine months of 2024 at all of our transportation segments.
Geopolitical Conflicts
Given the nature of our global operations, geopolitical conflicts may adversely affect our business and results of operations. While we do not expect ongoing geopolitical conflicts to have a direct material effect on our business or results of operations, the broader consequences are adversely affecting the global economy and may also have the effect of heightening other risks disclosed in our Annual Report.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Many of our operating expenses are directly affected by revenue and volume levels, and we expect these operating expenses to fluctuate on a year-over-year basis consistent with changes in revenue and volumes. Therefore, the discussion of operating expense captions focuses on the key drivers and trends affecting expenses other than those factors strictly related to changes in revenue and volumes. The line item “Other operating expense” includes costs associated with outside service contracts (such as information technology services, temporary labor, facilities services, and security), insurance, professional fees, and operational supplies.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
The following tables compare summary operating results and changes in revenue and operating results (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | |
Revenue | | $ | 21,738 | | | $ | 22,169 | | | | (2 | ) | | | $ | 65,584 | | | $ | 68,225 | | | | (4 | ) | |
Operating income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment | | | 233 | | | | 119 | | | | 96 | | | | | 575 | | | | 634 | | | | (9 | ) | |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 942 | | | | 844 | | | | 12 | | | | | 2,945 | | | | 2,136 | | | | 38 | | |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 340 | | | | 386 | | | | (12 | ) | | | | 1,308 | | | | 1,477 | | | | (11 | ) | |
Corporate, other, and eliminations | | | (272 | ) | | | (307 | ) | | | 11 | | | | | (824 | ) | | | (838 | ) | | | 2 | | |
Consolidated operating income | | | 1,243 | | | | 1,042 | | | | 19 | | | | | 4,004 | | | | 3,409 | | | | 17 | | |
Operating margin: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment | | | 2.3 | % | | | 1.2 | % | | | 110 | | bp | | | 1.9 | % | | | 2.0 | % | | | (10 | ) | bp |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 10.8 | % | | | 9.7 | % | | | 110 | | bp | | | 11.4 | % | | | 8.5 | % | | | 290 | | bp |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 16.0 | % | | | 17.7 | % | | | (170 | ) | bp | | | 19.3 | % | | | 20.1 | % | | | (80 | ) | bp |
Consolidated operating margin | | | 5.7 | % | | | 4.7 | % | | | 100 | | bp | | | 6.1 | % | | | 5.0 | % | | | 110 | | bp |
Consolidated net income | | $ | 879 | | | $ | 771 | | | | 14 | | | | $ | 2,857 | | | $ | 2,434 | | | | 17 | | |
Diluted earnings per share | | $ | 3.51 | | | $ | 3.05 | | | | 15 | | | | $ | 11.31 | | | $ | 9.46 | | | | 20 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year-over-Year Changes | |
| | Revenue | | | Operating Results | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
FedEx Express segment | | $ | (244 | ) | | $ | (1,896 | ) | | $ | 114 | | | $ | (59 | ) |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 45 | | | | 551 | | | | 98 | | | | 809 | |
FedEx Freight segment | | | (61 | ) | | | (587 | ) | | | (46 | ) | | | (169 | ) |
FedEx Services segment | | | (23 | ) | | | (24 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Corporate, other, and eliminations | | | (148 | ) | | | (685 | ) | | | 35 | | | | 14 | |
| | $ | (431 | ) | | $ | (2,641 | ) | | $ | 201 | | | $ | 595 | |
Overview
Operating income improved 19% in the third quarter and 17% in the nine months of 2024 due to the execution of our DRIVE program initiatives and our continued focus on revenue quality, partially offset by reduced demand and lower fuel surcharges, driven by challenging macroeconomic conditions. Our DRIVE initiatives in the third quarter of 2024 included continued benefits from increasing linehaul efficiencies and improving dock productivity at FedEx Ground, as well as network rationalization at FedEx Express, including structural flight takedowns and route optimization, and improvements in hub sort efficiency. Operating income was also positively impacted by one additional operating day at FedEx Express and FedEx Freight in the third quarter of 2024.
Operating income includes expenses of $114 million ($87 million, net of tax, or $0.35 per diluted share) in the third quarter and $364 million ($278 million, net of tax, or $1.10 per diluted share) in the nine months of 2024 associated with our business optimization strategy announced in 2023. We recognized $120 million ($92 million, net of tax, or $0.36 per diluted share) of expenses in the third quarter and $180 million ($138 million, net of tax, or $0.53 per diluted share) of expenses in the nine months of 2023 under this program. Operating income includes business realignment costs of $3 million ($2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) in the third quarter and $17 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share) in the nine months of 2023 associated with our workforce reduction plan in Europe previously announced in 2021. See the “Business Optimization and Realignment Costs” section of this MD&A for more information.
In December 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $5 billion of FedEx common stock. As part of the repurchase program, we completed an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with a bank during the third quarter of 2024 to repurchase an aggregate of $1 billion of our common stock. During the nine months ended February 29, 2024, we repurchased 8.0 million shares of FedEx common stock under ASR agreements at an average price of $250.95 per share for a total of $2.0 billion. Share repurchases had a benefit of $0.09 per diluted share for the third quarter and $0.16 per diluted share for the nine months of 2024. As of February 29, 2024, $564 million remained available for repurchases under the 2021 stock repurchase authorization. In March 2024, our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program for additional repurchases of up to $5 billion. See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, “Financial Condition – Liquidity and – Liquidity Outlook” below, and Part II, Item 2. “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” of this Form 10-Q for additional information.
The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight show selected volume trends (in thousands) over the five most recent quarters:
(1)International domestic average daily package volume relates to our international intra-country operations. International export average daily package volume relates to our international priority and economy services.
(2)Ground commercial average daily package volume is calculated on a 5-day-per-week basis, while home delivery and economy average daily package volumes are calculated on a 7-day-per-week basis.
(3)International average daily freight pounds relate to our international priority, economy, and airfreight services.
The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight show selected yield trends over the five most recent quarters:
(1)International export revenue per package relates to our international priority and economy services. International domestic revenue per package relates to our international intra-country operations.
(2)International freight revenue per pound relates to our international priority, economy, and airfreight services.
Revenue
Revenue decreased 2% in the third quarter and 4% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower fuel surcharges at all of our transportation segments and decreased volumes at FedEx Express and FedEx Freight, partially offset by base yield improvement at FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight. In addition, one additional operating day at FedEx Express and FedEx Freight positively impacted revenue in the third quarter of 2024.
FedEx Express revenue decreased 2% in the third quarter and 6% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to volume declines, lower fuel surcharges, reduced demand surcharges, and unfavorable international service mix, partially offset by improved U.S. domestic base yields. Revenue at Corporate, other, and eliminations decreased during the third quarter and nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower yields and reduced volume at FedEx Logistics, Inc. (“FedEx Logistics”). FedEx Freight revenue decreased 3% in the third quarter and 8% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower shipments, fuel surcharges, and weight per shipment, partially offset by base yield improvement. FedEx Ground revenue increased 1% during the third quarter and 2% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to yield improvement. The nine-month increase in FedEx Ground revenue was also due to higher volumes.
Operating Expenses
The following table compares operating expenses expressed as dollar amounts (in millions) and as a percent of revenue for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 7,693 | | | $ | 7,817 | | | | (2 | ) | | $ | 23,311 | | | $ | 23,468 | | | | (1 | ) |
Purchased transportation | | | 5,345 | | | | 5,402 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 15,776 | | | | 16,834 | | | | (6 | ) |
Rentals and landing fees | | | 1,145 | | | | 1,205 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 3,434 | | | | 3,559 | | | | (4 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,072 | | | | 1,031 | | | | 4 | | | | 3,183 | | | | 3,101 | | | | 3 | |
Fuel | | | 1,140 | | | | 1,350 | | | | (16 | ) | | | 3,569 | | | | 4,765 | | | | (25 | ) |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 804 | | | | 789 | | | | 2 | | | | 2,482 | | | | 2,575 | | | | (4 | ) |
Business optimization and realignment costs | | | 114 | | | | 123 | | | | (7 | ) | | | 364 | | | | 197 | | | | 85 | |
Other | | | 3,182 | | | | 3,410 | | | | (7 | ) | | | 9,461 | | | | 10,317 | | | | (8 | ) |
Total operating expenses | | | 20,495 | | | | 21,127 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 61,580 | | | | 64,816 | | | | (5 | ) |
Operating income | | $ | 1,243 | | | $ | 1,042 | | | | 19 | | | $ | 4,004 | | | $ | 3,409 | | | | 17 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Percent of Revenue | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 35.4 | % | | | 35.3 | % | | | 35.5 | % | | | 34.4 | % |
Purchased transportation | | | 24.6 | | | | 24.4 | | | | 24.1 | | | | 24.7 | |
Rentals and landing fees | | | 5.3 | | | | 5.4 | | | | 5.2 | | | | 5.2 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 4.9 | | | | 4.6 | | | | 4.9 | | | | 4.5 | |
Fuel | | | 5.3 | | | | 6.1 | | | | 5.4 | | | | 7.0 | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 3.7 | | | | 3.6 | | | | 3.8 | | | | 3.8 | |
Business optimization and realignment costs | | | 0.5 | | | | 0.5 | | | | 0.6 | | | | 0.3 | |
Other | | | 14.6 | | | | 15.4 | | | | 14.4 | | | | 15.1 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 94.3 | | | | 95.3 | | | | 93.9 | | | | 95.0 | |
Operating margin | | | 5.7 | % | | | 4.7 | % | | | 6.1 | % | | | 5.0 | % |
Our DRIVE program initiatives, as well as base yield improvements at FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight, more than offset volume declines at FedEx Freight and FedEx Express, which led to an increase in operating income of 19% in the third quarter and 17% in the nine months of 2024. Operating income was also positively impacted by one additional operating day at FedEx Express and FedEx Freight in the third quarter of 2024.
Fuel expense decreased 16% in the third quarter and 25% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower fuel prices and usage. Purchased transportation decreased 1% in the third quarter and 6% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower volumes and fuel prices and a shift from third-party over-the-road transportation to rail usage, partially offset by unfavorable currency exchange rates. Other operating expenses decreased 7% in the third quarter and 8% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower professional fees and self-insurance accruals. Additionally, other operating expenses for the nine months of 2024 were positively impacted by lower bad debt expense.
Business Optimization and Realignment Costs
In the second quarter of 2023, FedEx announced DRIVE, a comprehensive program to improve the company’s long-term profitability. This program includes a business optimization plan to drive efficiency among our transportation segments, lower our overhead and support costs, and transform our digital capabilities. We plan to consolidate our sortation facilities and equipment, reduce pickup-and-delivery routes, and optimize our enterprise linehaul network by moving beyond discrete collaboration to an end-to-end optimized network through Network 2.0, the multi-year effort to improve the efficiency with which FedEx picks up, transports, and delivers packages in the U.S. and Canada.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we announced one FedEx, a consolidation plan to bring FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Services into Federal Express Corporation, becoming a single company operating a unified, fully integrated air-ground express network under the respected FedEx brand. FedEx Freight, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of FedEx Freight Corporation, will continue to provide LTL freight transportation services as a stand-alone and separate company under Federal Express Corporation. The organizational redesign will be implemented in phases with the new legal structure complete by June 2024. One FedEx will help facilitate our DRIVE transformation program to improve long-term profitability, including Network 2.0.
FedEx is making progress with Network 2.0, as the company has implemented Network 2.0 optimization in more than 50 locations in the U.S. In some markets, contracted service providers will handle the pickup and delivery of FedEx Ground and FedEx Express packages. In others, pickup and delivery will be handled exclusively by employee couriers.
We incurred costs associated with our business optimization activities of $114 million ($87 million, net of tax, or $0.35 per diluted share) in the third quarter and $364 million ($278 million, net of tax, or $1.10 per diluted share) in the nine months of 2024. These costs were primarily related to professional services and severance. We recognized $120 million ($92 million, net of tax, or $0.36 per diluted share) of expenses in the third quarter and $180 million ($138 million, net of tax, or $0.53 per diluted share) of expenses in the nine months of 2023 under this program. These costs were primarily related to consulting services, severance and related costs associated with organizational changes announced in the third quarter of 2023, and idling our operations in Russia. Business optimization costs are included in Corporate, other, and eliminations, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Express. The identification of these costs as business optimization-related expenditures is subject to our disclosure controls and procedures. We expect the pre-tax cost of our business optimization activities to be approximately $530 million in 2024 and approximately $2.0 billion through 2025. The timing and amount of our business optimization expenses may change as we revise and implement our plans.
In 2021, FedEx Express announced a workforce reduction plan in Europe related to the network integration of TNT Express. The plan affected approximately 5,000 employees in Europe across operational teams and back-office functions and was completed during 2023. We incurred costs associated with our business realignment activities of $3 million ($2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) in the third quarter and $17 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share) in the nine months of 2023. These costs were related to certain employee severance arrangements. The pre-tax cost of our business realignment activities through 2023 was approximately $430 million.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 25.7% for the third quarter and 25.0% for the nine months of 2024, compared to 24.6% for the third quarter and 24.8% for the nine months of 2023. The 2024 tax rates were unfavorably affected by revisions of prior-year tax estimates for actual tax return results.
We are subject to taxation in the U.S. and various U.S. state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. We are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2016 through 2019 tax years. It is reasonably possible that certain income tax return proceedings will be completed during the next 12 months and could result in a change in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits. However, we believe we have recorded adequate amounts of tax, including interest and penalties, for any adjustments expected to occur.
During 2021, we filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee challenging the validity of a tax regulation related to the one-time transition tax on foreign earnings not repatriated, which was enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Our lawsuit seeks to have the court declare this regulation invalid and order the refund of overpayments of U.S. federal income taxes for 2018 and 2019 attributable to the denial of foreign tax credits under the regulation. We have recorded a cumulative benefit of $226 million through the third quarter of 2024 attributable to our interpretation of the TCJA and the Internal Revenue Code. In March 2023, the District Court ruled that the regulation is invalid and contradicts the plain terms of the tax code. We continue to work towards obtaining a final judgment for the applicable refund amounts due to the regulation being invalid. Once the District Court enters a final judgment, the U.S. government could file an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. If we are ultimately unsuccessful in defending our position, we may be required to reverse the benefit previously recorded.
Outlook
In the remainder of 2024, we expect revenue will continue to be pressured by volatile macroeconomic conditions negatively affecting customer demand for our services and constraining yield growth. At FedEx Express, we expect a continued shift in service mix and lower international demand surcharges to negatively affect revenue and operating income in 2024.
We will continue to execute on our DRIVE program initiatives focused on aligning our cost base with demand, reducing our permanent cost structure, and increasing the flexibility of our network. We will also continue to execute on our revenue quality strategy to mitigate yield pressures through surcharge management and optimizing our customer and service mix. We expect the benefits from DRIVE and revenue quality initiatives to be partially offset by the effect of macroeconomic pressures on revenue, as well as expense headwinds related to higher global inflation.
See the “Business Optimization and Realignment Costs” section of this MD&A for additional information.
Our capital expenditures for 2024 are expected to be approximately $5.4 billion, a decrease of $0.7 billion from 2023, as we continue to reduce our capital intensity relative to revenue. We expect lower aircraft spend and reduced investments in capacity projects to be partially offset by investments to optimize our networks and modernize our facilities.
We will continue to evaluate our investments in critical long-term strategic projects to ensure our capital expenditures are expected to generate high returns on investment and are balanced with our outlook for global economic conditions. For additional details on key 2024 capital projects, refer to the “Financial Condition – Capital Resources” and “Financial Condition – Liquidity Outlook” sections of this MD&A.
The current contract for FedEx Express to provide the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) transportation services within the United States expires on September 29, 2024. The parties are in negotiations for a new multi-year agreement for FedEx Express to provide airport-to-airport transportation services for the USPS within the United States. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for more information.
The uncertainty of a slowdown in the global economy, global inflation, geopolitical challenges, and the effects these factors will have on the rate of growth of global trade, supply chains, fuel prices, and our business in particular, make any expectations for the remainder of 2024 inherently less certain. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for more information.
See the “Trends Affecting Our Business,” “Critical Accounting Estimates,” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of this MD&A for additional information.
RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting guidance.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services, constitute our reportable segments. Our reportable segments include the following businesses:
| |
FedEx Express Segment | FedEx Express (express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation) |
| FedEx Custom Critical, Inc. (time-critical transportation) |
| |
FedEx Ground Segment | FedEx Ground (small-package ground delivery) |
| |
FedEx Freight Segment | FedEx Freight (LTL freight transportation) |
| |
FedEx Services Segment | FedEx Services (sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection services, and back-office functions) |
In the fourth quarter of 2023, FedEx announced one FedEx, a consolidation plan to bring FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Services into Federal Express Corporation, becoming a single company operating a unified, fully integrated air-ground express network under the respected FedEx brand. The organizational redesign will be implemented in phases with the new legal structure complete by June 2024. During the implementation process in 2024, each of our current reportable segments will continue to have discrete financial information that will be regularly reviewed when evaluating performance and making resource allocation decisions, and aligns with our management reporting structure and our internal financial reporting. In the first quarter of 2025, when the consolidation plan has been completed, we expect to begin reporting a new segment structure that will align with an updated management reporting structure and how management will evaluate performance and make resource allocation decisions under one FedEx.
FEDEX SERVICES SEGMENT
The FedEx Services segment provides direct and indirect support to our operating segments, and we allocate all of the net operating costs of the FedEx Services segment to reflect the full cost of operating our businesses in the results of those segments. We review and evaluate the performance of our transportation segments based on operating income (inclusive of FedEx Services segment allocations). For the FedEx Services segment, performance is evaluated based on the effect of its total allocated net operating costs on our operating segments.
Operating expenses for each of our transportation segments include the allocations from the FedEx Services segment to the respective transportation segments. These allocations include charges and credits for administrative services provided between operating companies. The allocations of net operating costs are based on metrics such as relative revenue or estimated services provided. We believe these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions. Our allocation methodologies are refined periodically, as necessary, to reflect changes in our businesses.
CORPORATE, OTHER, AND ELIMINATIONS
Corporate and other includes corporate headquarters costs for executive officers and certain legal and finance functions, certain other costs and credits not attributed to our core business, and certain costs associated with developing our “innovate digitally” strategic pillar through our FedEx Dataworks, Inc. (“FedEx Dataworks”) operating segment. FedEx Dataworks is focused on creating solutions to transform the digital and physical experiences of our customers and team members.
Also included in Corporate and other are the FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”) operating segment, which provides an array of document and business services and retail access to our customers for our package transportation businesses, and the FedEx Logistics operating segment, which provides integrated supply chain management solutions, specialty transportation, customs brokerage, and global ocean and air freight forwarding.
The results of Corporate, other, and eliminations are not allocated to the other business segments.
Operating results in Corporate, other, and eliminations improved in the third quarter and nine months of 2024. The improvement in operating results in the third quarter of 2024 was primarily due to decreased business optimization expenses at FedEx Corporate. The improvement in operating results in the nine months of 2024 was primarily due to improved operating results at FedEx Office and FedEx Logistics, partially offset by an increase in salaries and employee benefits expense at FedEx Corporate. The improved operating results at FedEx Office and FedEx Logistics were primarily due to lower volume-related operating expenses, partially offset by decreased revenue.
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment in order to optimize our resources. For example, during the third quarter and nine months of 2024 FedEx Ground provided delivery support for certain FedEx Express packages as part of our last-mile optimization efforts, and FedEx Freight provided road and intermodal support for both FedEx Ground and FedEx Express. In addition, FedEx Express works with FedEx Logistics to secure air charters and other cargo space for U.S. customers. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenue of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenue and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated results and are not separately identified in the following segment information because the amounts are not material.
FEDEX EXPRESS SEGMENT
FedEx Express offers a wide range of U.S. domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight including priority, deferred, and economy services, which provide delivery on a time-definite or day-definite basis. The following table compares revenue, operating expenses, operating income (dollars in millions), operating margin, and operating expenses as a percent of revenue for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Package: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. overnight box | | $ | 2,145 | | | $ | 2,165 | | | | (1 | ) | | $ | 6,491 | | | $ | 6,718 | | | | (3 | ) | |
U.S. overnight envelope | | | 450 | | | | 478 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 1,382 | | | | 1,477 | | | | (6 | ) | |
U.S. deferred | | | 1,317 | | | | 1,346 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 3,712 | | | | 3,886 | | | | (4 | ) | |
Total U.S. domestic package revenue | | | 3,912 | | | | 3,989 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 11,585 | | | | 12,081 | | | | (4 | ) | |
International priority | | | 2,318 | | | | 2,566 | | | | (10 | ) | | | 7,035 | | | | 8,286 | | | | (15 | ) | |
International economy | | | 1,014 | | | | 698 | | | | 45 | | | | 3,123 | | | | 2,116 | | | | 48 | | |
Total international export package revenue | | | 3,332 | | | | 3,264 | | | | 2 | | | | 10,158 | | | | 10,402 | | | | (2 | ) | |
International domestic(1) | | | 1,016 | | | | 1,003 | | | | 1 | | | | 3,126 | | | | 3,013 | | | | 4 | | |
Total package revenue | | | 8,260 | | | | 8,256 | | | | — | | | | 24,869 | | | | 25,496 | | | | (2 | ) | |
Freight: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. | | | 648 | | | | 719 | | | | (10 | ) | | | 1,814 | | | | 2,299 | | | | (21 | ) | |
International priority | | | 520 | | | | 687 | | | | (24 | ) | | | 1,642 | | | | 2,387 | | | | (31 | ) | |
International economy | | | 389 | | | | 358 | | | | 9 | | | | 1,236 | | | | 1,123 | | | | 10 | | |
International airfreight | | | 31 | | | | 47 | | | | (34 | ) | | | 92 | | | | 126 | | | | (27 | ) | |
Total freight revenue | | | 1,588 | | | | 1,811 | | | | (12 | ) | | | 4,784 | | | | 5,935 | | | | (19 | ) | |
Other | | | 253 | | | | 278 | | | | (9 | ) | | | 787 | | | | 905 | | | | (13 | ) | |
Total revenue | | | 10,101 | | | | 10,345 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 30,440 | | | | 32,336 | | | | (6 | ) | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 3,911 | | | | 4,015 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 11,858 | | | | 12,003 | | | | (1 | ) | |
Purchased transportation | | | 1,459 | | | | 1,373 | | | | 6 | | | | 4,291 | | | | 4,283 | | | | — | | |
Rentals and landing fees | | | 511 | | | | 588 | | | | (13 | ) | | | 1,562 | | | | 1,751 | | | | (11 | ) | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 537 | | | | 533 | | | | 1 | | | | 1,617 | | | | 1,566 | | | | 3 | | |
Fuel | | | 996 | | | | 1,177 | | | | (15 | ) | | | 3,105 | | | | 4,133 | | | | (25 | ) | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 459 | | | | 456 | | | | 1 | | | | 1,449 | | | | 1,552 | | | | (7 | ) | |
Business optimization and realignment costs | | | 23 | | | | 3 | | | | 667 | | | | 74 | | | | 28 | | | | 164 | | |
Intercompany charges | | | 464 | | | | 459 | | | | 1 | | | | 1,425 | | | | 1,420 | | | | 0 | | |
Other | | | 1,508 | | | | 1,622 | | | | (7 | ) | | | 4,484 | | | | 4,966 | | | | (10 | ) | |
Total operating expenses | | | 9,868 | | | | 10,226 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 29,865 | | | | 31,702 | | | | (6 | ) | |
Operating income | | $ | 233 | | | $ | 119 | | | | 96 | | | $ | 575 | | | $ | 634 | | | | (9 | ) | |
Operating margin | | | 2.3 | % | | | 1.2 | % | | | 110 | | bp | | 1.9 | % | | | 2.0 | % | | | (10 | ) | bp |
(1)International domestic revenue relates to our international intra-country operations.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Percent of Revenue | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 38.7 | % | | | 38.8 | % | | | 39.0 | % | | | 37.1 | % |
Purchased transportation | | | 14.5 | | | | 13.3 | | | | 14.1 | | | | 13.2 | |
Rentals and landing fees | | | 5.1 | | | | 5.7 | | | | 5.1 | | | | 5.4 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 5.3 | | | | 5.1 | | | | 5.3 | | | | 4.8 | |
Fuel | | | 9.9 | | | | 11.4 | | | | 10.2 | | | | 12.8 | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 4.5 | | | | 4.4 | | | | 4.8 | | | | 4.8 | |
Business optimization and realignment costs | | | 0.2 | | | | — | | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.1 | |
Intercompany charges | | | 4.6 | | | | 4.4 | | | | 4.7 | | | | 4.4 | |
Other | | | 14.9 | | | | 15.7 | | | | 14.7 | | | | 15.4 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 97.7 | | | | 98.8 | | | | 98.1 | | | | 98.0 | |
Operating margin | | | 2.3 | % | | | 1.2 | % | | | 1.9 | % | | | 2.0 | % |
The following table compares selected statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | |
Package Statistics | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average daily package volume (ADV): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. overnight box | | | 1,219 | | | | 1,255 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 1,230 | | | | 1,275 | | | | (4 | ) |
U.S. overnight envelope | | | 415 | | | | 454 | | | | (9 | ) | | | 433 | | | | 466 | | | | (7 | ) |
U.S. deferred | | | 1,104 | | | | 1,141 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 1,027 | | | | 1,084 | | | | (5 | ) |
Total U.S. domestic ADV | | | 2,738 | | | | 2,850 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 2,690 | | | | 2,825 | | | | (5 | ) |
International priority | | | 663 | | | | 701 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 665 | | | | 712 | | | | (7 | ) |
International economy | | | 362 | | | | 280 | | | | 29 | | | | 356 | | | | 275 | | | | 29 | |
Total international export ADV | | | 1,025 | | | | 981 | | | | 4 | | | | 1,021 | | | | 987 | | | | 3 | |
International domestic(1) | | | 1,710 | | | | 1,805 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 1,786 | | | | 1,819 | | | | (2 | ) |
Total ADV | | | 5,473 | | | | 5,636 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 5,497 | | | | 5,631 | | | | (2 | ) |
Revenue per package (yield): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. overnight box | | $ | 27.92 | | | $ | 27.81 | | | | — | | | $ | 27.62 | | | $ | 27.74 | | | | — | |
U.S. overnight envelope | | | 17.22 | | | | 17.01 | | | | 1 | | | | 16.72 | | | | 16.69 | | | | — | |
U.S. deferred | | | 18.93 | | | | 19.02 | | | | — | | | | 18.92 | | | | 18.86 | | | | — | |
U.S. domestic composite | | | 22.68 | | | | 22.57 | | | | — | | | | 22.54 | | | | 22.51 | | | | — | |
International priority | | | 55.43 | | | | 59.05 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 55.39 | | | | 61.24 | | | | (10 | ) |
International economy | | | 44.51 | | | | 40.20 | | | | 11 | | | | 45.96 | | | | 40.51 | | | | 13 | |
International export composite | | | 51.58 | | | | 53.67 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 52.10 | | | | 55.47 | | | | (6 | ) |
International domestic(1) | | | 9.44 | | | | 8.96 | | | | 5 | | | | 9.17 | | | | 8.72 | | | | 5 | |
Composite package yield | | $ | 23.96 | | | $ | 23.63 | | | | 1 | | | $ | 23.69 | | | $ | 23.83 | | | | (1 | ) |
Freight Statistics | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average daily freight pounds: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. | | | 6,092 | | | | 6,681 | | | | (9 | ) | | | 5,693 | | | | 7,170 | | | | (21 | ) |
International priority | | | 4,352 | | | | 5,290 | | | | (18 | ) | | | 4,405 | | | | 5,702 | | | | (23 | ) |
International economy | | | 9,598 | | | | 10,345 | | | | (7 | ) | | | 9,868 | | | | 10,738 | | | | (8 | ) |
International airfreight | | | 804 | | | | 1,142 | | | | (30 | ) | | | 735 | | | | 1,014 | | | | (28 | ) |
Total average daily freight pounds | | | 20,846 | | | | 23,458 | | | | (11 | ) | | | 20,701 | | | | 24,624 | | | | (16 | ) |
Revenue per pound (yield): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. | | $ | 1.69 | | | $ | 1.74 | | | | (3 | ) | | $ | 1.67 | | | $ | 1.69 | | | | (1 | ) |
International priority | | | 1.89 | | | | 2.10 | | | | (10 | ) | | | 1.95 | | | | 2.20 | | | | (11 | ) |
International economy | | | 0.64 | | | | 0.56 | | | | 14 | | | | 0.66 | | | | 0.55 | | | | 20 | |
International airfreight | | | 0.62 | | | | 0.66 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 0.66 | | | | 0.66 | | | | — | |
Composite freight yield | | $ | 1.21 | | | $ | 1.25 | | | | (3 | ) | | $ | 1.21 | | | $ | 1.27 | | | | (5 | ) |
(1)International domestic statistics relate to our international intra-country operations.
FedEx Express Segment Revenue
FedEx Express segment revenue decreased 2% in the third quarter and 6% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to volume declines, lower fuel surcharges, reduced demand surcharges, and a decline in international priority base yields, partially offset by improved U.S. domestic and international economy base yields and favorable currency exchange rates. Revenue also benefited from one additional operating day in the third quarter of 2024.
Global average daily freight pounds decreased 11% in the third quarter and 16% in the nine months of 2024 primarily as a result of weak global economic conditions as well as lower volume from the USPS. U.S. domestic average daily package volumes declined 4% in the third quarter and 5% in the nine months of 2024 as global economic factors led to reduced demand for our services. These declines were partially offset by an increase in international export package volume of 4% in the third quarter and 3% in the nine months of 2024.
Lower fuel surcharges had a significant negative effect on yield across all package and freight services during the third quarter and nine months of 2024. In addition, international export composite package yield decreased 4% in the third quarter and 6% in the nine months of 2024 driven by reduced demand surcharges, a larger mix of e-commerce volume, and an increase in lower-yielding deferred volume related to the full reopening of the international economy service. Composite freight yield decreased 3% in the third quarter and 5% in the nine months of 2024 due to reduced demand surcharges and an increased mix of deferred freight, also driven by the reopening of international economy service. Favorable currency exchange rates positively affected international package and freight yields during the nine months of 2024.
FedEx Express Segment Operating Income
FedEx Express segment operating income increased 96% in the third quarter of 2024 due to lower operating expenses, partially offset by reduced revenue. FedEx Express operating income decreased 9% in the nine months of 2024 due to reduced revenue, partially offset by lower operating expenses. The reduction in operating expenses during the third quarter and nine months of 2024 was a result of lower volumes, as well as continued benefits from DRIVE initiatives that drove a reduction in our permanent cost structure. These initiatives include network rationalization through structural flight takedowns and route optimization, along with improvements in hub sort efficiency. Operating income was also positively impacted by one additional operating day in the third quarter of 2024. Currency exchange rates had a positive effect on revenue and a negative effect on expenses and operating income in the third quarter and nine months of 2024.
Fuel expense decreased 15% in the third quarter and 25% in the nine months of 2024 due to decreases in fuel prices and usage. Other operating expense decreased 7% in the third quarter and 10% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower bad debt expense and lower outside service contracts expense resulting from a decrease in temporary labor usage. Fewer aircraft leases as a result of lower volumes drove a decrease in rentals and landing fees of 13% in the third quarter and 11% in the nine months of 2024. Salaries and employee benefits decreased 3% in the third quarter and 1% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to decreased staffing to align with lower volume, partially offset by higher wage rates. Additionally, salaries and employee benefits were negatively affected by increased variable incentive compensation in the nine months of 2024. Purchased transportation increased 6% in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to an increase in commercial linehaul driven by the reopening of the international economy service.
FedEx Express segment results include business optimization costs of $23 million in the third quarter and $74 million in the nine months of 2024 associated with our plan to drive efficiency and lower our overhead and support costs. No business optimization costs were incurred in the third quarter of 2023 at FedEx Express. FedEx Express segment results include business optimization costs of $11 million in the nine months of 2023, which includes costs associated with idling our business in Russia. FedEx Express segment results include costs associated with our business realignment activities of $3 million in the third quarter and $17 million in the nine months of 2023 associated with our workforce reduction plan in Europe.
In July 2023, FedEx Express’s pilots failed to ratify the tentative successor agreement that was approved by the Air Line Pilots Association, International’s FedEx Express Master Executive Council in June 2023. Ongoing mediated negotiations for a successor agreement continue and have no effect on our operations. See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
FEDEX GROUND SEGMENT
FedEx Ground service offerings include day-certain delivery to businesses in the U.S. and Canada and to 100% of U.S. residences. The following table compares revenue, operating expenses, operating income (dollars in millions), operating margin, selected package statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts), and operating expenses as a percent of revenue for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | |
Revenue | | $ | 8,703 | | | $ | 8,658 | | | | 1 | | | $ | 25,762 | | | $ | 25,211 | | | | 2 | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 1,755 | | | | 1,759 | | | | — | | | | 5,161 | | | | 5,123 | | | | 1 | | |
Purchased transportation | | | 3,666 | | | | 3,722 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 10,775 | | | | 11,263 | | | | (4 | ) | |
Rentals | | | 442 | | | | 426 | | | | 4 | | | | 1,298 | | | | 1,230 | | | | 6 | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 284 | | | | 258 | | | | 10 | | | | 836 | | | | 753 | | | | 11 | | |
Fuel | | | 9 | | | | 9 | | | | — | | | | 25 | | | | 28 | | | | (11 | ) | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 180 | | | | 155 | | | | 16 | | | | 512 | | | | 472 | | | | 8 | | |
Business optimization costs | | | 22 | | | | — | | | NM | | | | 75 | | | | — | | | NM | | |
Intercompany charges | | | 486 | | | | 483 | | | | 1 | | | | 1,483 | | | | 1,466 | | | | 1 | | |
Other | | | 917 | | | | 1,002 | | | | (8 | ) | | | 2,652 | | | | 2,740 | | | | (3 | ) | |
Total operating expenses | | | 7,761 | | | | 7,814 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 22,817 | | | | 23,075 | | | | (1 | ) | |
Operating income | | $ | 942 | | | $ | 844 | | | | 12 | | | $ | 2,945 | | | $ | 2,136 | | | | 38 | | |
Operating margin | | | 10.8 | % | | | 9.7 | % | | | 110 | | bp | | 11.4 | % | | | 8.5 | % | | | 290 | | bp |
Average daily package volume (ADV)(1): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ground commercial | | | 4,398 | | | | 4,226 | | | | 4 | | | | 4,495 | | | | 4,372 | | | | 3 | | |
Home delivery | | | 4,150 | | | | 4,359 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 4,023 | | | | 4,115 | | | | (2 | ) | |
Economy | | | 872 | | | | 843 | | | | 3 | | | | 827 | | | | 800 | | | | 3 | | |
Total ADV | | | 9,420 | | | | 9,428 | | | | — | | | | 9,345 | | | | 9,287 | | | | 1 | | |
Revenue per package (yield) | | $ | 11.87 | | | $ | 11.80 | | | | 1 | | | $ | 11.78 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | | 1 | | |
(1)Ground commercial ADV is calculated on a 5-day-per-week basis, while home delivery and economy ADV are calculated on a 7-day-per-week basis.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Percent of Revenue | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 20.2 | % | | | 20.3 | % | | | 20.0 | % | | | 20.3 | % |
Purchased transportation | | | 42.1 | | | | 43.0 | | | | 41.8 | | | | 44.7 | |
Rentals | | | 5.1 | | | | 4.9 | | | | 5.0 | | | | 4.9 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 3.3 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 3.3 | | | | 3.0 | |
Fuel | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.1 | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 2.1 | | | | 1.8 | | | | 2.0 | | | | 1.9 | |
Business optimization costs | | | 0.2 | | | | — | | | | 0.3 | | | | — | |
Intercompany charges | | | 5.6 | | | | 5.6 | | | | 5.8 | | | | 5.8 | |
Other | | | 10.5 | | | | 11.6 | | | | 10.3 | | | | 10.8 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 89.2 | | | | 90.3 | | | | 88.6 | | | | 91.5 | |
Operating margin | | | 10.8 | % | | | 9.7 | % | | | 11.4 | % | | | 8.5 | % |
FedEx Ground Segment Revenue
FedEx Ground segment revenue increased 1% in the third quarter and 2% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to yield improvement. The nine-month increase was also due to higher volumes. FedEx Ground yield increased 1% in the third quarter and nine months of 2024 primarily due to base yield improvement, partially offset by lower fuel surcharges. Total average daily volume increased 1% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to increased demand for our commercial services related to changing market conditions.
FedEx Ground Segment Operating Income
FedEx Ground segment operating income increased 12% in the third quarter and 38% in the nine months of 2024. The third quarter increase was primarily due to lower self-insurance accruals and yield improvement. The nine-month increase was primarily due to yield improvement, lower purchased transportation expense, higher volume, and lower self-insurance accruals. FedEx Ground lowered costs in the third quarter and nine months of 2024 through continued benefits from DRIVE initiatives focused on increasing linehaul efficiencies and improving dock productivity. In addition, FedEx Ground also continued to realize benefits from consolidated sort operations and reduced Sunday deliveries during the nine months of 2024.
Purchased transportation expense decreased 2% in the third quarter and 4% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower fuel prices and a shift to increased third-party rail usage, partially offset by higher base rates. Other operating expense decreased 8% in the third quarter and 3% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower self-insurance accruals, partially offset by higher bad debt expense. Depreciation and rentals expense increased 10% and 4%, respectively, in the third quarter and 11% and 6%, respectively, in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to the completion of previously committed multi-year expansion projects. Maintenance and repairs expense increased 16% in the third quarter and 8% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to higher costs associated with vehicle parts, outside vendor labor, and facility maintenance.
FedEx Ground segment results include business optimization costs of $22 million in the third quarter and $75 million in the nine months of 2024 associated with its plan to drive efficiency and lower our overhead and support costs.
FEDEX FREIGHT SEGMENT
FedEx Freight LTL service offerings include priority services when speed is critical and economy services when time can be traded for savings. The following table compares revenue, operating expenses, operating income (dollars in millions), operating margin, selected statistics, and operating expenses as a percent of revenue for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Percent | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Percent | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Change | | |
Revenue | | $ | 2,125 | | | $ | 2,186 | | | | (3 | ) | | $ | 6,776 | | | $ | 7,363 | | | | (8 | ) | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 949 | | | | 946 | | | | — | | | | 2,929 | | | | 3,044 | | | | (4 | ) | |
Purchased transportation | | | 158 | | | | 172 | | | | (8 | ) | | | 470 | | | | 580 | | | | (19 | ) | |
Rentals | | | 69 | | | | 67 | | | | 3 | | | | 205 | | | | 198 | | | | 4 | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 107 | | | | 74 | | | | 45 | | | | 295 | | | | 283 | | | | 4 | | |
Fuel | | | 133 | | | | 162 | | | | (18 | ) | | | 436 | | | | 601 | | | | (27 | ) | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 78 | | | | 76 | | | | 3 | | | | 246 | | | | 244 | | | | 1 | | |
Intercompany charges | | | 129 | | | | 131 | | | | (2 | ) | | | 394 | | | | 393 | | | | — | | |
Other | | | 162 | | | | 172 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 493 | | | | 543 | | | | (9 | ) | |
Total operating expenses | | | 1,785 | | | | 1,800 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 5,468 | | | | 5,886 | | | | (7 | ) | |
Operating income | | $ | 340 | | | $ | 386 | | | | (12 | ) | | $ | 1,308 | | | $ | 1,477 | | | | (11 | ) | |
Operating margin | | | 16.0 | % | | | 17.7 | % | | | (170 | ) | bp | | 19.3 | % | | | 20.1 | % | | | (80 | ) | bp |
Average daily shipments (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Priority | | | 61.5 | | | | 65.4 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 65.4 | | | | 71.7 | | | | (9 | ) | |
Economy | | | 27.7 | | | | 27.7 | | | | — | | | | 28.9 | | | | 30.3 | | | | (5 | ) | |
Total average daily shipments | | | 89.2 | | | | 93.1 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 94.3 | | | | 102.0 | | | | (8 | ) | |
Weight per shipment (lbs): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Priority | | | 974 | | | | 1,014 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 979 | | | | 1,034 | | | | (5 | ) | |
Economy | | | 885 | | | | 890 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 880 | | | | 924 | | | | (5 | ) | |
Composite weight per shipment | | | 946 | | | | 977 | | | | (3 | ) | | | 949 | | | | 1,001 | | | | (5 | ) | |
Revenue per shipment: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Priority | | $ | 363.21 | | | $ | 366.17 | | | | (1 | ) | | $ | 360.47 | | | $ | 365.88 | | | | (1 | ) | |
Economy | | | 414.79 | | | | 418.65 | | | | (1 | ) | | | 412.84 | | | | 419.35 | | | | (2 | ) | |
Composite revenue per shipment | | $ | 379.26 | | | $ | 381.77 | | | | (1 | ) | | $ | 376.53 | | | $ | 381.75 | | | | (1 | ) | |
Revenue per hundredweight: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Priority | | $ | 37.31 | | | $ | 36.12 | | | | 3 | | | $ | 36.80 | | | $ | 35.40 | | | | 4 | | |
Economy | | | 46.89 | | | | 47.06 | | | | — | | | | 46.92 | | | | 45.37 | | | | 3 | | |
Composite revenue per hundredweight | | $ | 40.10 | | | $ | 39.08 | | | | 3 | | | $ | 39.68 | | | $ | 38.13 | | | | 4 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Percent of Revenue | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | | 44.7 | % | | | 43.3 | % | | | 43.2 | % | | | 41.3 | % |
Purchased transportation | | | 7.4 | | | | 7.8 | | | | 7.0 | | | | 7.9 | |
Rentals | | | 3.2 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 2.7 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 5.0 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 4.4 | | | | 3.8 | |
Fuel | | | 6.3 | | | | 7.4 | | | | 6.4 | | | | 8.2 | |
Maintenance and repairs | | | 3.7 | | | | 3.5 | | | | 3.6 | | | | 3.3 | |
Intercompany charges | | | 6.1 | | | | 6.0 | | | | 5.8 | | | | 5.3 | |
Other | | | 7.6 | | | | 7.9 | | | | 7.3 | | | | 7.4 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 84.0 | | | | 82.3 | | | | 80.7 | | | | 79.9 | |
Operating margin | | | 16.0 | % | | | 17.7 | % | | | 19.3 | % | | | 20.1 | % |
FedEx Freight Segment Revenue
FedEx Freight segment revenue decreased 3% in the third quarter and 8% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower shipments, fuel surcharges, and weight per shipment, partially offset by base yield improvement. Revenue also benefited from one additional operating day in the third quarter of 2024.
Average daily shipments decreased 4% in the third quarter and 8% in the nine months of 2024 due to reduced demand for our services, primarily resulting from macroeconomic conditions. Revenue per shipment decreased 1% in the third quarter and nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower fuel surcharges, partially offset by base yield improvement resulting from our continued focus on revenue quality.
FedEx Freight Segment Operating Income
FedEx Freight segment operating income decreased 12% in the third quarter and 11% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower shipments and fuel surcharges, partially offset by base yield improvement. Operating income was also positively impacted by one additional operating day in the third quarter of 2024.
Fuel expense decreased 18% in the third quarter and 27% in the nine months of 2024 due to lower fuel prices and decreased shipments. Salaries and benefits decreased 4% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower staffing to align with decreased shipments and an increase in productivity, partially offset by higher wage rates. Purchased transportation expense decreased 8% in the third quarter and 19% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to decreased shipments and lower fuel prices. Other operating expense decreased 6% in the third quarter and 9% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to lower self-insurance accruals. Depreciation expense increased 45% in the third quarter primarily due to a gain on the sale of a facility in the third quarter of 2023. Depreciation expense increased 4% in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to investments in information technology and transportation equipment.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
LIQUIDITY
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $5.6 billion at February 29, 2024, compared to $6.9 billion at May 31, 2023. The following table provides a summary of our cash flows for the nine-month periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
Operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 2,857 | | | $ | 2,434 | |
Business optimization and realignment costs, net of payments | | | (50 | ) | | | 20 | |
Other noncash charges and credits | | | 5,777 | | | | 6,204 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities | | | (2,970 | ) | | | (3,257 | ) |
Cash provided by operating activities | | | 5,614 | | | | 5,401 | |
Investing activities: | | | | | | |
Capital expenditures | | | (3,974 | ) | | | (4,420 | ) |
Purchase of investments | | | (110 | ) | | | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of investments | | | 24 | | | | — | |
Proceeds from asset dispositions and other | | | 94 | | | | 72 | |
Cash used in investing activities | | | (3,966 | ) | | | (4,430 | ) |
Financing activities: | | | | | | |
Principal payments on debt | | | (143 | ) | | | (123 | ) |
Proceeds from stock issuances | | | 265 | | | | 114 | |
Dividends paid | | | (949 | ) | | | (888 | ) |
Purchase of treasury stock | | | (2,000 | ) | | | (1,500 | ) |
Other, net | | | (7 | ) | | | 1 | |
Cash used in financing activities | | | (2,834 | ) | | | (2,396 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | | | (26 | ) | | | (99 | ) |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | (1,212 | ) | | $ | (1,524 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period | | $ | 5,644 | | | $ | 5,373 | |
Cash flows from operating activities increased $213 million in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to working capital changes, driven by an increase in accrued incentive compensation, other liabilities, and accounts payable, partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable from the nine months of 2023. Capital expenditures decreased during the nine months of 2024 primarily due to decreased spending on package handling and ground support equipment and facilities and other at FedEx Ground and information technology at FedEx Services, partially offset by increased spending on facilities and other and aircraft and related equipment at FedEx Express. See “Capital Resources” for a discussion of capital expenditures during 2024 and 2023.
In December 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $5 billion of FedEx common stock. As part of the repurchase program, we completed an ASR transaction during the third quarter of 2024 with a bank to repurchase an aggregate of $1 billion of our common stock. During the nine months of 2024, we repurchased 8.0 million shares of FedEx common stock under ASR agreements at an average price of $250.95 per share for a total of $2.0 billion. See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, “Liquidity Outlook” below, and Part II, Item 2. “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” for additional information. As of February 29, 2024, $564 million remained available for repurchases under the 2021 repurchase program.
In March 2024, our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program for additional repurchases of up to $5 billion. Shares under the 2021 and 2024 repurchase programs may be repurchased from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and volume of repurchases are at the discretion of management based on the capital needs of the business, the market price of FedEx common stock, and general market conditions. No time limits were set for the completion of the programs, and the programs may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our operations are capital intensive, characterized by significant investments in aircraft, package handling and sort equipment, vehicles and trailers, technology, and facilities. The amount and timing of capital investments depend on various factors, including pre-existing contractual commitments, anticipated volume growth, domestic and international economic conditions, new or enhanced services, geographical expansion of services, availability of satisfactory financing, and actions of regulatory authorities.
The following table compares capital expenditures by asset category and reportable segment for the periods ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Percent Change | |
| | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | | | Three Months | | | Nine Months | |
| | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | | Ended | | | Ended | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aircraft and related equipment | | $ | 329 | | | $ | 389 | | | $ | 1,484 | | | $ | 1,263 | | | | (15 | ) | | | 17 | |
Package handling and ground support equipment | | | 217 | | | | 383 | | | | 644 | | | | 1,324 | | | | (43 | ) | | | (51 | ) |
Vehicles and trailers | | | 243 | | | | 154 | | | | 539 | | | | 503 | | | | 58 | | | | 7 | |
Information technology | | | 142 | | | | 111 | | | | 437 | | | | 560 | | | | 28 | | | | (22 | ) |
Facilities and other | | | 448 | | | | 241 | | | | 870 | | | | 770 | | | | 86 | | | | 13 | |
Total capital expenditures | | $ | 1,379 | | | $ | 1,278 | | | $ | 3,974 | | | $ | 4,420 | | | | 8 | | | | (10 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Express segment | | $ | 934 | | | $ | 653 | | | | 2,687 | | | $ | 2,177 | | | | 43 | | | | 23 | |
FedEx Ground segment | | | 224 | | | | 456 | | | | 702 | | | | 1,469 | | | | (51 | ) | | | (52 | ) |
FedEx Freight segment | | | 139 | | | | 104 | | | | 280 | | | | 344 | | | | 34 | | | | (19 | ) |
FedEx Services segment | | | 58 | | | | 37 | | | | 233 | | | | 334 | | | | 57 | | | | (30 | ) |
Other | | | 24 | | | | 28 | | | | 72 | | | | 96 | | | | (14 | ) | | | (25 | ) |
Total capital expenditures | | $ | 1,379 | | | $ | 1,278 | | | $ | 3,974 | | | $ | 4,420 | | | | 8 | | | | (10 | ) |
Capital expenditures increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to increased spending on facilities and other and vehicles and trailers at FedEx Express, partially offset by decreased spending on package handling and ground support equipment at FedEx Ground. Capital expenditures decreased in the nine months of 2024 primarily due to decreased spending on package handling and ground support equipment and facilities and other at FedEx Ground and information technology at FedEx Services, partially offset by increased spending on facilities and other and aircraft and related equipment at FedEx Express.
GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
We are providing the following information in compliance with Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X, “Financial Disclosures about Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities” with respect to our senior unsecured debt securities and Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2020-1AA (the “Certificates”).
The $19.2 billion principal amount of the senior unsecured notes were issued by FedEx under a shelf registration statement and are guaranteed by certain direct and indirect subsidiaries of FedEx (“Guarantor Subsidiaries”). FedEx owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of each Guarantor Subsidiary. The guarantees are (1) unsecured obligations of the respective Guarantor Subsidiary, (2) rank equally with all of their other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and (3) are full and unconditional and joint and several. If we sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all of the capital stock or all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor Subsidiary to any person that is not an affiliate of FedEx, the guarantee of that Guarantor Subsidiary will terminate, and holders of debt securities will no longer have a direct claim against such subsidiary under the guarantee.
Additionally, FedEx fully and unconditionally guarantees the payment obligation of FedEx Express in respect of the $788 million principal amount of the Certificates. See Note 4 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and Note 6 to the financial statements included in our Annual Report for additional information regarding the terms of the Certificates.
The following tables present summarized financial information for FedEx (as Parent) and the Guarantor Subsidiaries on a combined basis after transactions and balances within the combined entities have been eliminated.
Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries
The following table presents the summarized balance sheet information as of February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | May 31, 2023 | |
Current Assets | | $ | 9,216 | | | $ | 10,758 | |
Intercompany Receivable | | | 4,197 | | | | 3,566 | |
Total Assets | | | 82,752 | | | | 89,947 | |
Current Liabilities | | | 9,698 | | | | 9,933 | |
Intercompany Payable | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Liabilities | | | 53,076 | | | | 59,837 | |
The following table presents the summarized statement of income information for the nine months of 2024 (in millions):
| | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 49,350 | |
Intercompany Charges, net | | | (2,864 | ) |
Operating Income | | | 3,441 | |
Intercompany Charges, net | | | 155 | |
Income Before Income Taxes | | | 3,036 | |
Net Income | | $ | 2,282 | |
The following tables present summarized financial information for FedEx (as Parent Guarantor) and FedEx Express (as Subsidiary Issuer) on a combined basis after transactions and balances within the combined entities have been eliminated.
Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer
The following table presents the summarized balance sheet information as of February 29, 2024 and May 31, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | |
| | February 29, 2024 | | | May 31, 2023 | |
Current Assets | | $ | 2,980 | | | $ | 4,408 | |
Intercompany Receivable | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Assets | | | 72,140 | | | | 70,016 | |
Current Liabilities | | | 5,953 | | | | 5,100 | |
Intercompany Payable | | | 11,354 | | | | 11,011 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 50,151 | | | | 48,246 | |
The following table presents the summarized statement of income information for the nine months of 2024 (in millions):
| | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 16,761 | |
Intercompany Charges, net | | | (1,739 | ) |
Operating Income | | | (332 | ) |
Intercompany Charges, net | | | 11 | |
Income Before Income Taxes | | | 998 | |
Net Income | | $ | 1,078 | |
LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK
In response to current business and economic conditions as referenced above in the “Outlook” section of this MD&A, we are continuing to actively manage and optimize our capital allocation in response to the slowdown in the economy, inflationary pressures, changing fuel prices, and geopolitical conflicts. We had $5.6 billion in cash at February 29, 2024, and $3.5 billion in available liquidity under our credit agreements, and we believe that our cash and cash equivalents, cash from operations, and available financing sources will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs, which include operational requirements, expected capital expenditures, and dividend payments.
On March 15, 2024, we replaced our previously existing $1.5 billion three-year credit agreement and $2.0 billion five-year credit agreement with a $1.75 billion three-year credit agreement (the “New Three-Year Credit Agreement”) and a $1.75 billion five-year credit agreement (the “New Five-Year Credit Agreement” and together with the New Three-Year Credit Agreement, the “New Credit Agreements”). The New Three-Year Credit Agreement and the New Five-Year Credit Agreement expire in March 2027 and March 2029, respectively. Each of the New Credit Agreements has a $125 million letter of credit sublimit. The New Credit Agreements are available to finance our operations and other cash flow needs. See Note 4 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as Part II, Item 5. “Other Information,” for additional information on the New Credit Agreements.
We executed an ASR agreement in December 2023 to repurchase an aggregate of $1 billion of our common stock that was completed in February 2024, resulting in repurchases totaling $2.0 billion for the nine months of 2024. We expect to repurchase an additional $500 million of our common stock in 2024. In March 2024, our Board of Directors authorized $5 billion of additional repurchases. See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.
Our cash and cash equivalents balance at February 29, 2024 includes $3.2 billion of cash in foreign jurisdictions associated with our permanent reinvestment strategy. We are able to access the majority of this cash without a material tax cost and do not believe that the indefinite reinvestment of these funds impairs our ability to meet our U.S. domestic debt or working capital obligations.
Our capital expenditures for 2024 are expected to be approximately $5.4 billion, a decrease of $0.7 billion from 2023, as we continue to reduce our capital intensity relative to revenue. We expect lower aircraft spend and reduced capacity investment to be partially offset by investments to optimize our networks and modernize our facilities.
There have been no material changes to the contractual commitments described in Part II, Item 7 in our Annual Report. We do not have any guarantees or other off-balance sheet financing arrangements, including variable interest entities, which we believe could have a material effect on our financial condition or liquidity.
We have several aircraft modernization programs under way that are supported by the purchase of Boeing 777 Freighter and Boeing 767-300 Freighter aircraft. These aircraft are significantly more fuel-efficient per unit than the aircraft types previously utilized, and these expenditures are necessary to achieve significant long-term operating savings and to replace older aircraft. Our ability to delay the timing of these aircraft-related expenditures is limited without incurring significant costs to modify existing purchase agreements.
We have a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that allows us to sell, in one or more future offerings, any combination of our unsecured debt securities and common stock and allows pass-through trusts formed by FedEx Express to sell, in one or more future offerings, pass-through certificates.
During the nine months of 2024, we made voluntary contributions totaling $800 million to our tax-qualified U.S. domestic pension plan (“U.S. Pension Plan”). We do not anticipate making additional voluntary contributions during the remainder of 2024. There are currently no required minimum contributions to our U.S. Pension Plan, and we maintain a credit balance related to our cumulative excess voluntary pension contributions over those required that exceeds $3.0 billion. The credit balance is subtracted from plan assets to determine the minimum funding requirements. Therefore, we have the flexibility to eliminate all required contributions to our principal U.S. Pension Plan for several years. Our U.S. Pension Plan has ample funds to meet expected benefit payments.
Standard & Poor’s has assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit rating of BBB, a Certificates rating of AA-, a commercial paper rating of A-2, and a ratings outlook of “stable.” Moody’s Investors Service has assigned us an unsecured debt credit rating of Baa2, a Certificates rating of Aa3, a commercial paper rating of P-2, and a ratings outlook of “stable.” Our interest expense may increase in the event of a reduction in our credit rating. If our unsecured debt or commercial paper ratings are reduced to below investment grade, our access to the capital markets may become limited.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make significant judgments and estimates to develop amounts reflected and disclosed in the financial statements. In many cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques that could be used. We maintain a thorough process to review the application of our accounting policies and to evaluate the appropriateness of the many estimates that are required to prepare the financial statements of a complex, global corporation. However, even under optimal circumstances, estimates routinely require adjustment based on changing circumstances and new or better information.
GOODWILL. Goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit has fallen below its carrying value. We do not believe there has been any change of events or circumstances that would indicate that a reevaluation of the goodwill of our reporting units is required as of February 29, 2024, nor do we believe the goodwill of our reporting units is at risk of failing impairment testing. For additional details on goodwill impairment testing, refer to Note 1 to the financial statements included in our Annual Report.
Information regarding our critical accounting estimates can be found in our Annual Report, including Note 1 to the financial statements therein. Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit and Finance Committee of our Board of Directors and with our independent registered public accounting firm.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this report, including (but not limited to) those contained in “Trends Affecting Our Business,” “Business Optimization and Realignment Costs,” “Income Taxes,” “Outlook,” “Liquidity Outlook,” “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Legal Proceedings,” and “Risk Factors” and the “General,” “Financing Arrangements,” “Retirement Plans,” “Commitments,” and “Contingencies” notes to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, plans, objectives, future performance, and business and the assumptions underlying such statements. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “intends,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such forward-looking statements because of, among other things, potential risks and uncertainties, such as:
•economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate;
•significant changes in the volumes of shipments transported through our networks, customer demand for our various services, or the prices we obtain for our services;
•geopolitical developments and additional changes in international trade policies and relations;
•the price and availability of jet and vehicle fuel;
•failure to successfully implement our business strategy and effectively respond to changes in market dynamics and customer preferences;
•our ability to execute our DRIVE transformation program, including Network 2.0, and one FedEx consolidation plan in the expected time frame and at the expected cost and achieve the expected operational efficiencies and network flexibility, alignment of our cost base with demand, cost savings and reductions to our permanent cost structure, and other benefits while managing the potential risks associated with DRIVE and the one FedEx consolidation plan;
•a significant data breach or other disruption to our technology infrastructure, and our ability to mitigate the technological, operational, legal and regulatory, and reputational risks related to emerging technologies such as autonomous technology and artificial intelligence;
•our relationship with the USPS or changes in its business or financial soundness, including strategic changes to its operations to reduce its reliance on the air network of FedEx Express;
•the future rate of e-commerce growth and our ability to successfully expand our e-commerce services portfolio;
•increased insurance and claims expenses related to vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation claims, property and cargo loss, general business liabilities, and benefits paid under employee disability programs;
•failure to receive or collect expected insurance coverage;
•the effect of any international conflicts or terrorist activities on the United States and global economies in general, the transportation industry, or FedEx in particular;
•widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease or any other public health crisis, including the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
•our ability to manage our network capacity and cost structure for capital expenditures and operating expenses, and match it to shifting and future customer volume levels;
•damage to our reputation or loss of brand equity;
•the effect of intense competition on our ability to maintain or increase our prices (including our fuel surcharges) or to maintain or grow our revenue and market share;
•our ability to execute and effectively operate, integrate, leverage, and grow acquired businesses, and to continue to support the value we allocate to these acquired businesses;
•noncash impairment charges related to our goodwill and certain deferred tax assets;
•failure to attract and retain employee talent and our ability to meet our labor and purchased transportation needs while controlling related costs and maintain our company culture;
•our ability to maintain good relationships with our employees and avoid attempts by labor organizations to organize groups of our employees, which could significantly increase our operating costs and reduce our operational flexibility, as well as the outcome of negotiations to reach new collective bargaining agreements (including with the pilots of FedEx Express);
•the effect of costs related to lawsuits in which it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as an employer of drivers employed by service providers engaged by FedEx Ground;
•increasing costs, the volatility of costs and funding requirements, and other legal mandates for employee benefits, especially pension and healthcare benefits;
•the effects of global climate change;
•our ability to achieve or demonstrate progress on our goal of carbon neutrality for our global operations by calendar 2040;
•our ability to quickly and effectively restore operations following adverse weather or a localized disaster or disturbance in a key geography;
•any effects on our businesses resulting from evolving or new U.S. domestic or international government regulations, laws, policies, and actions, which could be unfavorable to our business, including labor (such as joint employment standards or changes to the Railway Labor Act of 1926, as amended, affecting FedEx Express employees); regulatory or other actions affecting data protection; global aviation or other transportation rights; increased air cargo, pilot flight and duty time, and other security or safety requirements; import and export controls; the use of new technology and accounting; trade (such as protectionist measures or restrictions on free trade); foreign exchange intervention in response to currency volatility; environmental (such as global climate change legislation); or postal rules;
•adverse changes in tax laws, regulations, and interpretations or challenges to our tax positions;
•increasing costs related to changing and heightened regulations and enforcement related to data protection;
•the increasing costs of compliance with federal, state, and foreign governmental agency mandates (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act) and defending against inappropriate or unjustified enforcement or other actions by such agencies;
•changes in foreign currency exchange rates, especially in the euro, Chinese yuan, British pound, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, and Mexican peso, which can affect our sales levels and foreign currency sales prices;
•loss or delay in the collection of accounts receivable;
•any liability resulting from and the costs of defending against class-action, derivative, and other litigation, such as wage-and-hour, joint employment, securities, vehicle accident, and discrimination and retaliation claims, claims related to our reporting and disclosure of climate change and other environmental, social, and governance topics, and any other legal or governmental proceedings, including the matters discussed in Note 9 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements;
•adverse rulings on appeals and in other future judicial decisions, subsequent adverse jury findings, and changes in judicial precedent;
•the sufficiency of insurance coverage we purchase;
•contract disputes with third-party vendors;
•the effect of technology developments on our operations and on demand for our services, and our ability to continue to identify and eliminate unnecessary information-technology redundancy and complexity throughout the organization;
•disruptions in global supply chains, which can limit the access of FedEx and our service providers to vehicles and other key capital resources and increase our costs;
•difficulties experienced by the companies with which we contract to fly smaller regional “feeder” aircraft in attracting and retaining pilots, which could cause a reduction of service offered to certain locations, service disruptions, increased costs of operations, and other difficulties;
•governmental underinvestment in transportation infrastructure, which could increase our costs and adversely affect our service levels due to traffic congestion, prolonged closure of key thoroughfares, or sub-optimal routing of our vehicles and aircraft;
•successful completion of our planned stock repurchases;
•constraints, volatility, or disruption in the capital markets, our ability to maintain our current credit ratings, commercial paper ratings, and senior unsecured debt and pass-through certificate credit ratings, and our ability to meet credit agreement financial covenants; and
•other risks and uncertainties you can find in our press releases and SEC filings, including the risk factors identified under Part I, Item IA. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.
As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as to our future results and achievements. Accordingly, a forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We are under no obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As of February 29, 2024, there were no material changes in our market risk sensitive instruments and positions since our disclosures in our Annual Report.
The principal foreign currency exchange rate risks to which we are exposed relate to the euro, Chinese yuan, British pound, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, and Mexican peso. Historically, our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is more significant with respect to our revenue than our expenses, as a significant portion of our expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars, such as aircraft and fuel expenses. During the nine months of 2024, the U.S. dollar strengthened relative to the currencies of the foreign countries in which we operate, and this strengthening had a slightly negative effect on our results.
While we have market risk for changes in the price of vehicle and jet fuel, this risk is largely mitigated by our indexed fuel surcharges. For additional discussion of our indexed fuel surcharges, see the “Results of Operations and Outlook — Consolidated Results —Fuel” section of “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” included in our Annual Report.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The management of FedEx, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to FedEx management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of February 29, 2024 (the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
During our fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2024, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
For a description of all material pending legal proceedings, see Note 9 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Other than the risk factor set forth below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report in response to Part I, Item 1A of Form 10-K. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the price of our common stock.
The contract between FedEx Express and the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) for U.S. domestic services expires in September 2024 and we may not enter into a new agreement with the USPS, which could adversely affect our profitability. The contract for FedEx Express to provide the USPS transportation services within the United States expires on September 29, 2024. The parties are currently in negotiations for a new multi-year agreement for FedEx Express to provide airport-to-airport transportation services for the USPS within the United States. There is no assurance that the parties will execute a definitive agreement prior to September 29, 2024, or at all. Additionally, there is no assurance that FedEx Express will realize the expected benefits from such definitive agreement if executed. If a new agreement is not reached and we are unable to adjust the FedEx Express network to remove costs related to the services currently provided to the USPS following expiration of the existing contract, our profitability could be negatively affected. Further, a decision by the USPS to terminate the existing contract early could negatively affect our profitability.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table provides information on FedEx’s repurchases of our common stock during the third quarter of 2024:
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | | Average Price Paid per Share | | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program | | | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program ($ in millions) | |
Dec. 1-31, 2023 | | | 3,225,416 | | | $ | 245.80 | | | | 3,225,416 | | | | $ | 564 | |
Jan. 1-31, 2024 | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | 564 | |
Feb. 1-29, 2024 | | | 842,955 | | | | 245.80 | | | | 842,955 | | | | | 564 | |
Total | | | 4,068,371 | | | | | | | 4,068,371 | | | | | 564 | |
In December 2021, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $5 billion of FedEx common stock. Shares under the program may be repurchased from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
As part of the repurchase program, we entered into an ASR transaction with a bank in December 2023 to repurchase $1 billion of our common stock. During the third quarter of 2024, the ASR transaction was completed, and 4.1 million shares were delivered under the ASR agreement. The shares delivered under the ASR agreement were the only shares of FedEx common stock we repurchased during the third quarter of 2024. As of March 21, 2024, $564 million remains available to be used for repurchases under the program. The program does not have an expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
See Note 1 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the ASR transaction and “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition – Financial Condition – Liquidity Outlook” for information regarding our new $5 billion stock repurchase program authorized in March 2024.
Item 5. Other Information
During the quarter ended February 29, 2024, no director or officer of FedEx adopted, modified, or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, as such terms are defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement, and Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. On March 15, 2024, FedEx, as borrower, entered into a $1.75 billion three-year credit agreement (the “New Three-Year Credit Agreement”) and a $1.75 billion five-year credit
agreement (the “New Five-Year Credit Agreement” and together with the New Three-Year Credit Agreement, the “New Credit Agreements”). FedEx entered into each of the New Credit Agreements with a syndicate of banks and other financial institutions (the “Three-Year Lenders” and “Five-Year Lenders,” respectively), including JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent; Bank of America, N.A., individually and as syndication agent; and Citibank, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and Truist Bank, each individually and as a co-documentation agent. The syndicate of lenders for each of the New Credit Agreements was arranged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc., Citibank, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Truist Securities, Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
The New Three-Year Credit Agreement replaces the $1.5 billion 364-day credit agreement dated as of March 15, 2022, among FedEx, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, and certain lenders (the “Old Three-Year Credit Agreement”).The New Five-Year Credit Agreement replaces the $2.0 billion five-year credit agreement dated as of March 16, 2021 and amended as of March 15, 2022, among FedEx, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually and as administrative agent, and certain lenders (the “Old Five-Year Credit Agreement” and together with the Old Three-Year Credit Agreement, the “Old Credit Agreements”). The Old Credit Agreements were terminated effective March 15, 2024. The terms of the Old Credit Agreements are summarized in FedEx’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on March 17, 2022.
The New Three-Year Credit Agreement provides the terms under which the Three-Year Lenders will make available to FedEx an unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $1.75 billion, including a $125 million sub-limit for letters of credit. With lender approval, FedEx may elect to increase the aggregate amount available under the New Three-Year Credit Agreement to up to a total of $2.25 billion. The New Five-Year Credit Agreement provides the terms under which the Five-Year Lenders will make available to FedEx an unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $1.75 billion, including a $125 million sub-limit for letters of credit. With lender approval, FedEx may elect to increase the aggregate amount available under the New Five-Year Credit Agreement to up to a total of $2.25 billion.
Borrowings under the New Credit Agreements may be used for FedEx’s general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.
The Three-Year Lenders’ and the Five-Year Lenders’ commitments under the New Credit Agreements will terminate on March 15, 2027 and March 15, 2029, respectively, unless terminated earlier by FedEx or by the administrative agent upon an event of default. FedEx may request up to two one-year extensions of the Three-Year Lenders’ commitments under the New Three-Year Credit Agreement and the Five-Year Lenders’ commitments under the New Five-Year Credit Agreement, respectively. FedEx’s obligations under the New Credit Agreements are guaranteed by the same FedEx subsidiaries that guarantee FedEx’s outstanding public debt securities.
Loans under the New Credit Agreements denominated in U.S. dollars will bear interest at a rate per year generally equal to, at FedEx’s election, either:
•the highest of (a) the interest rate quoted by the Wall Street Journal as the prime rate in the United States; (b) 0.5% plus the greater of (i) the federal funds effective rate and (ii) the overnight bank funding rate, each as determined by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and (c) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) for a one-month interest period plus 1.0%, plus the applicable margin for such loans (“ABR Loans”);
•SOFR for the selected term, plus the applicable margin for such loans (“Term Benchmark Loans”); or
•daily SOFR, plus the applicable margin for such loans (“RFR Loans”).
Loans under the New Credit Agreements denominated in pounds sterling will be classified as RFR Loans and bear interest at a rate per year equal to the sterling overnight index average plus 0.0326% plus the applicable margin, while loans denominated in euros will be classified as Term Benchmark Loans and bear interest at a rate per year equal to the euro interbank offered rate for the relevant period determined by the European Money Markets Institute displayed on the page EURIBOR01 of the Reuters Service, subject to a statutory reserve adjustment, plus the applicable margin.
Letters of credit issued under the New Credit Agreements will be assessed a fee based upon the applicable margin charged for Term Benchmark Loans. In addition, FedEx will pay the issuing banks a fronting fee of 0.125% per year on the undrawn and unexpired amount of each issued letter of credit.
FedEx will also pay commitment fees on the average daily undrawn amount of the New Credit Agreements. The applicable margin for loans and the applicable commitment fees will vary depending upon FedEx’s senior unsecured non-credit-enhanced long-term debt ratings. For example, based upon FedEx’s current ratings of BBB (Standard & Poor’s) and Baa2 (Moody’s Investors Service), the applicable margin for ABR Loans would be 0.25%, the applicable margin for RFR or Term Benchmark Loans would be 1.25%, and the applicable commitment fee rate would be 0.11% per year on undrawn commitments under the New Credit Agreements.
The New Credit Agreements contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as customary events of default. The financial covenants in the New Credit Agreements require FedEx to maintain a ratio of debt (net of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents up to $500 million) to consolidated earnings (excluding noncash retirement plans mark-to-market adjustments, noncash pension service costs, noncash asset impairment charges, business optimization and restructuring expenses, and pro forma cost savings and synergies associated with an acquisition) before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, calculated as of the last day of each fiscal quarter on a rolling four-quarters basis (the “Consolidated Total Debt Ratio”). The aggregate amount of adjustments for business optimization and restructuring expenses and pro forma cost savings and synergies associated with an acquisition may not exceed 10% of adjusted EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to any such addback and such cap and all other permitted addbacks and adjustments) in any period.
Following the consummation of an acquisition for which the aggregate cash consideration is at least $250 million, FedEx may elect to increase the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio to 4.0 to 1.0 with respect to the last day of the fiscal quarter during which such acquisition is consummated and the last day of each of the immediately following three consecutive fiscal quarters, provided that there must be at least two consecutive fiscal quarters between such elections during which no increase to the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is in effect.
Certain of the Three-Year Lenders and Five-Year Lenders, as well as certain of the lenders under the Old Credit Agreements, and their affiliates engage in transactions with, and perform services for, FedEx and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and have engaged, and may in the future engage, in other commercial banking transactions and investment banking, financial advisory, and other financial services transactions with FedEx and its affiliates.
The New Credit Agreements will be filed as exhibits to FedEx’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024.
Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| FedEx Corporation |
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Date: March 21, 2024 |
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| /s/ Guy M. Erwin II |
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| Guy M. Erwin II |
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| Staff Vice President, Corporate Controller |
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| and Interim Principal Accounting Officer |