FedEx prepares for its next growth phase

Article Excerpt

FEDEX CORP. $77 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 313.2 million; Market cap: $24.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7: Dividend yield: 0.6%; WSSF Rating: Average) delivers packages and documents in the U.S. and over 220 other countries. Its fleet of 80,000 trucks and 664 aircraft delivers over 8 million packages a day. FedEx’s revenue rose 17.5%, from $32.3 billion in 2006 (its fiscal year ends May 31) to $38.0 billion in 2008. Many businesses use FedEx to restock their inventories and ship their products; as a result, the recession cut its 2009 revenue by 6.5%, to $35.5 billion. Shipping volumes improved in 2010, but Fed-Ex had to cut its rates to stay competitive. That’s why its 2010 revenue fell 2.1%, to $34.7 billion. Recession cut earnings by 44% Earnings rose 11.5%, from $5.98 a share (or a total of $1.9 billion) in 2006 to a record $6.67 a share (or $2.1 billion) in 2007. However, earnings dropped to $3.76…