FedEx Corporation’s shares jumped 4.4% in Thursday’s extended trading session as the American multinational delivery services company’s fiscal third-quarter (ended Feb. 28) results surpassed analysts’ expectations. Strong top-line growth, aided by volume growth in US domestic residential package and FedEx International priority services, was the primary driver.
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FedEx’s (FDX) 3Q adjusted earnings more than doubled to $3.47 per share on a year-over-year basis and easily beat Street estimates of $3.24 per share. Revenue increased 23% to $21.5 billion and came in well ahead of analysts’ expectations of $19.96 billion.
The company’s operating margin was 4.9% in the quarter, up from 2.8% in the prior-year quarter. (See FedEx stock analysis on TipRanks)
FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith commented, “We expect demand for our unmatched e-commerce and international express solutions to remain very high for the foreseeable future.”
For fiscal 2021, the company expects EPS to be in the range of $17.60 to $18.20.
On March 12, Credit Suisse analyst Allison Landry decreased the stock’s price target to $350 (32.8% upside potential) from $368 and maintained a Buy rating.
“While margins are typically a focal point of earnings,” Landry thinks “investors will be willing to forgive higher cost/piece inflation so long as improved revenue/piece is sufficient to suggest that core price is going up/surcharges are sticking.”
The rest of the Street is cautiously optimistic about the stock with a Moderate Buy consensus rating. That’s based on 13 Buys, 4 Holds, and 1 Sell. The average analyst price target of $323.40 implies 22.7% upside potential to current levels. Shares have increased 10.4% over the past six months.
FedEx scores an 8 of 10 from TipRanks’ Smart Score rating system, indicating that the stock has strong potential to outperform market expectations.
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