Activist investor draws attention to FedEx

Article Excerpt

FEDEX CORP. $106 (New York symbol FDX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 316.6 million; Market cap: $33.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 0.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.fedex.com) delivers packages and documents in the U.S. and over 220 other countries and territories. The stock has moved up in the past few weeks, partly due to speculation that activist investment firm Pershing Square Capital Management (see page 71) will soon make a significant investment in FedEx. However, it seems unlikely that Pershing would be interested in FedEx, because it prefers underperforming firms that could spur their earnings by cutting costs. FedEx is already restructuring as more companies choose slower but cheaper delivery methods, like trucks and ships, over its more expensive overnight international air service. FedEx’s restructuring involves upgrading to more efficient planes and cutting jobs. Costs related to this plan lowered its earnings by 23.2%, to $1.6 billion, or $4.91 a share, in its 2013 fiscal year, which…