How FedEx Corporation Makes Most of Its Money
How doesFedEx Corporation(NYSE: FDX)make most of its money? That's a question worth investigating since the company's chief moneymaking segment has changed hands a few times in the past decade. Moreover, a fuller understanding of how the company operates will help investors appreciate what's happening with the investment propositions at FedEx and its main rival,United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS). Let's take a closer look.
Express just barely takes the title
A breakout of FedEx's segment operating income shows that, for the first time since 2010, the express segment was the most profitable in 2016. However, ground revenue and profit continue to rise in seemingly inexorable fashion since the last recession. In a sense, you can think of this chart in two periods -- pre- and post-recession:
Data source: FedEx Corporation accounts. Chart by author. In millions of U.S. dollars.
In the pre-recession period, the express segment was clearly the key income generator, but since the 2008-2009 recession, three key underlying trends have changed trading significantly at FedEx.
Post-recession blues
First, post-recession, the market backdrop changed with global trade failing to outgrow GDP growth in the past as countries increasingly adopted mercantilist trade policies. Indeed, the World Trade Organization has warned of increasing protectionism in the global economy.
In addition, customers at UPS and FedEx started preferring cheaper and less time-sensitive deliveries. The result of this trend is slowing growth in the more expensive delivery options in express -- total composite package yield in express is currently around $20,compared with around $8 for ground.
The end result was a relative shift in profitability toward the ground segment and away from express.
E-commerce to the rescue
Second, strong e-commerce growth has led to a marked improvement in revenue and profit for the ground operations at FedEx and UPS:
U.S. change in e-commerce sales data by YCharts
However, e-commerce doesn't come free. UPS and FedEx have both had issues servicing e-commerce deliveries during peak season. Consequently, capital expenditure plans have been increased and ground margin has come under pressure, particularly at UPS.
These factors show up in operating margin movements. FedEx's ground segment margin has declined in recent years:
Data source: FedEx Corporation accounts. Chart by author
In addition, return on assets, measured here by segment operating income divided by segment assets, has declined in recent years for the ground segment as the ground network has been expanded.
Data source: FedEx Corporation accounts. Chart by author
All told, ground income grew strongly post-recession, but it's started to slow in recent years because of margin pressure.
Express profit improvement plan
Third, the express segment's productivity has improved since 2013, largely a consequence of the company's profit improvement plan. In late 2012, management announced a three-year plan to cut express costs by some $1.7 billion. The plan involved actions such as modernizing the air fleet, making network efficiencies, and undertaking organizational rationalizations.
These actions have resulted in a margin recovery and a more productive express network in recent years. The end result has helped express take back its position as the leading money spinner for FedEx.
The FedEx express fleet has been modernized. Image source: FedEx Corporation
Looking ahead
For the next few years, management's focus will be on integrating the TNT Express acquisition, but -- in common with UPS -- it also needs to stop the decline in ground margins so it can best take advantage of burgeoning e-commerce growth. Meanwhile, a recovery in overall growth will be good for FedEx freight, and a concomitant pickup in global trade will particularly benefit the express segment.
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Lee Samaha has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends FedEx. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.