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WIKI ANALYSIS
FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a carrier service best known for offering express small package and document shipping. FedEx serves American business customers primarily but is moving rapidly into foreign markets. All but freight services are available to individuals through FedEx Office storefronts which also offer printing, photocopying, internet access, and other business-center services.
Business Overview
FedEx is the clear market leader in express shipping, nearly 50% market share by volume in the U.S. In ground shipping, it is only starting to establish itself in a market dominated by competitor UPS. In its freight businesses too, FedEx is gaining market share but its long-term success is uncertain. FedEx is placing big bets on the expanded international network it is now developing. Building out an international shipping network creates high upfront costs. FedEx's success will depend on how quickly it can attract customers to this expanded network.
Business Growth
- Revenue: Revenue increased from $34.7 billion in 2010 to $39.3 billion in 2011.
- Net Income: Net income increased from $1.18 billion in 2010 to $1.45 billion in 2011.[1]
FedEx and United Parcel Service, the largest package delivery company, are considered economic bellwethers. FedEx handles goods equal to 4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and 1.5 percent of global GDP. UPS ships goods equal to 6 percent of U.S. GDP and 2 percent of global GDP.[2]
FedEx Freight (around 12-15%% of total revenues)[3]
FedEx Freight provides less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services through its FedEx Freight businesses (regional LTL freight services) and its FedEx National LTL business (long-haul LTL freight services). Forged in 2001 after FedEx acquired LTL carrier American Freightways, FedEx Freight is the company's newest line of business.
Trends and Forces
Significant increase in pension and retiree medical expenses may constrain growth
Over the next few years, retirement plans cost is expected to increase significantly.[4] A significant increase in pension and retiree medical expenses may cause decreases in FedEx's profitability. FedEx uses a discount rate to value the pension and retirement reimbursements it provides to its pensioners. The company is highly sensitive to this discount rate: A one basis point decrease (0.01%) results in nearly $2 million in additional pension cost.[4] A small percentage change may result in the write-off of a large fraction of operating income.
FedEx is a barometer of the U.S Economy
FedEx's profits are highly cyclical; they depend on the strength of the U.S. and world economies because economic health is a key determinant of package volumes. Package volumes and economic strength are so tightly correlated that economists will study package volume data from companies like FedEx as an indicator of whether economic activity is slowing or heating up.
Competition
Deutsche Post AG: A privately held company, Deutsche Post AG competes with UPS through its DHL operations. Overall, DHL-branded businesses account for more than half of the parent company's sales. However, most of Deutsche Post's sales come from outside its home country. Deutsche Post still handles the mail in Germany, delivering an average of 70 million letters per working day. In addition to traditional postal operations, the company provides mail process outsourcing at home and abroad. [5]
United States Postal Service: USPS is also not traded publicly. It is an independent government agency that relies on postage and fees to fund operations. USPS handles all kinds of mail and ships domestically and internationally. They also offer prices subsidized by the U.S government. The USPS delivers more than 200 billion pieces of mail a year (at an average of more than 650 million per day) to some 150 million addresses in the US and its territories. Though it has a monopoly on delivering the mail, the USPS faces competition for services such as package or freight delivery.[6]
United Parcel Service (UPS) : FedEx and UPS are close competitors in almost every way. FedEx offers every service offered by UPS, including freight services. UPS is the world’s largest small-package carrier, by revenue and by volume. UPS offers ground, air, and ocean freight shipping and shipping-related services. Every day, UPS ships approximately 15 million packages for businesses and individuals around the world.[7]
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