FedEx Corp. $58 – New York symbol FDX

FEDEX CORP. $58 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 311.2 million; Market cap: $18.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides door-to-door delivery of packages and documents in the United States and to over 220 other countries. The slowing economy has hurt demand for FedEx’s domestic delivery services. As well, customers are switching from overnight delivery to FedEx’s slower and less expensive ground service. However, international volumes continue to grow. In its first fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2008, FedEx’s revenue rose 8.4%, to $10.0 billion from $9.2 billion a year earlier. Most of the higher revenues come from surcharges imposed by FedEx to offset rising fuel costs. However, these surcharges lag FedEx’s current fuel expenses by around two months. Consequently, earnings per share fell 22.2%, to $1.23 from $1.58. FedEx now trades at 11.1 times the $5.21 a share it should earn in fiscal 2009. The $0.44 dividend yields 0.8%. FedEx is a buy.

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