FedEx Exceeds Expectations

Elena
21 Jun, 2006
New York City

FedEx reported Q4 earnings of $1.82 per share on $8.49 billion in revenue, up from $1.46 per share on $7.72 billion in revenue a year ago. Analysts had expected the company to earn $1.77 per share on $8.42 billion in revenue. The company projected earnings of $1.45 to $1.60 per share in Q1 and $6.45 to $6.80 per share in the full year.

[R]9:45AM Stocks opened in the positive on strong earnings.[/R]
Stocks opened in the positive as stronger-than-expected earnings from FedEx Corp. ((FED)) and Morgan Stanley Inc. ((MS)) offset concerns about economic slowdown. Morgan Stanley rose 4% after reporting that Q2 profit more than doubled from a year earlier on record revenue, driven by stronger underwriting, merger and acquisition, and trading results. FedEx rose 3% after it posted a 27% jump in its Q4 earnings, citing solid economic growth in U.S. and international markets. The market has also benefited from early strength in the brokerage, housing, and networking sectors. Tellabs ((TLAB)) helped to lead the networking sector higher after Merrill Lynch said that the company would be a good acquisition target for Motorola ((MOT)). The gold sector was one of the market's best performances in early trading as the price of the precious metal moved well off its low for the session. The Amex Gold Bugs Index rose 2%. Significant strength was also visible in the airline sector, as reflected by the 1.8% gain shown by the Amex Airline Index. In the first hour of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 63.87, or 0.58%. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.12, or 0.49%, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 13.47, or 0.64%. Bonds rose, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note falling to 5.14% from 5.15% late Tuesday.


[R]9:00AM Stock futures pointed to a lower opening.[/R]
U.S. stock market futures traded lower, with market awaiting clues on interest-rate policy. In corporate news, shares of Morgan Stanley ((MS)) advanced 2.6% in pre-market trading after the broker reported Q2 earnings that rose sharply year-over-year, beating analyst estimates. The company reported net income for the quarter of $1.96 billion or $1.86 per share on 48% revenue growth to $8.94 billion. Also in the banking sector, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. ((JPM)) declined after Prudential Equity Group cut its rating on the company to neutral weight from overweight and lowered its price target to $45 from $51, citing recent capital market weakness. Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch upgraded mobile-phone and networks maker Motorola Inc ((MOT)) to buy from neutral, citing attractive valuation and expectations for margin recovery in the Q2. Dow Jones futures recently fell 11 points, S&P 500 futures eased 2 points, and Nasdaq futures were down 1.5 points.

Lindsay Manufacturing Co, ((LNN)), irrigation systems maker, reported that Q3 income advanced to 55 cents a share, from 32 cents in the year-ago period on revenue growth. The company attributed the good performance to demand for irrigation equipment which continued to rebound from last year in North America and most its international markets.

FedEx Corp., ((FDX)), package delivery company, reported that Q4 net income advanced 27% to $1.82 a share, from $1.46 a share in the year-ago period on 10% revenue growth, beating analysts’ forecasts for earnings of $1.77 a share. FedEx forecast earnings of $1.45 to $1.60 a share in its Q1 of 2007 and $6.45 to $6.80 a share for the year.

Morgan Stanley Inc., ((MS)), securities firm, reported that Q2 profit more than doubled to $1.86 per share, from 86 cents per share in the year-ago period as the company posted record revenue driven by stronger underwriting, merger and acquisition, and trading results. Earnings from continuing operations were $1.85 per share in Q2. Revenue after interest expense and provision for consumer loan losses advanced 48%. The company topped the projected earnings of $1.45 per share.

Darden Restaurants Inc., ((DRI)), restaurant-chain operator, reported that Q4 profit advanced 10% to 60 cents per share, up from 52 cents per share in the year-earlier period, driven by stronger sales at its Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants. Sales rose to $1.51 billion from $1.39 billion. The company matched analysts’ expectations for a profit of 60 cents per share.


[R]8:00AM Japan lifted its ban on U.S. beef meat import.[/R]
Japan, which had imposed a ban on U.S. beef meat over concerns about mad cow disease, agreed Wednesday to lift its ban on U.S. beef imports. The decision came as a result of long-running trade dispute between the two countries, giving U.S. ranchers access to their most lucrative export market. Japan''s market was worth $1.4 billion annually when it banned American beef in response to the first U.S. case of mad cow disease in 2003. American officials had been impatient for trade to resume, with several U.S. senators saying Tuesday they are introducing a bill that would impose trade sanctions if Japan does not reopen its market to U.S. beef by Aug. 31.

Japan agreed to resume U.S. beef imports on the condition that no further problems during onsite inspections would occur. American beef shipments to Japan were halted in January after Japanese officials found a veal shipment that contained backbone, which according to the strict Japanese rules is considered risk for mad cow disease. Officials from Japan''s health and agriculture ministries will inspect 35 meatpacking plants certified to ship beef to Japan to see if they are complying with export requirements. Only facilities whose safeguards meet Japanese standards will be authorized to export to Japan.


[R]7:15AM Japanese stocks fall on business sentiment, HK moves slightly up.[/R]
Asian markets ended mixed. The Nikkei 225 closed virtually flat, advancing 0.03% to close the day at 14,644.26. Among leading exporters, Sony Corp. shed 1.45%, while Toyota Motor declined 0.35%. Japanese miners and steelmakers advanced early on China''s iron price concession, but later gave back their profits. Sumitomo Metal Industries ended down 0.91% while Nippon Steel finished flat. Hong Kong''s Hang Seng Index ended the day 0.32% higher to 15,659.36. The China Enterprises Index of shares in mainland companies edged up 1.25% on strength in commodities and telecoms. China Unicom advanced 2.24% on news that South Korea''s SK Telecom intended to buy up to $1 billion of its convertible bonds. Shares of telecom firm PCCW Ltd were suspended due to reports of a brewing bidding war for Hong Kong''s leading fixed-line operator between Australia''s Macquarie Bank and U.S. private-equity company Texas Pacific Group. South Korea''s Kospi advanced 0.11%. Taiwan''s Weighted lost 1.01% and closed at a six-month low as the country''s political opposition made an effort to recall the scandal-plagued president. Australia''s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.18%. Miners gained on news that Chinese steelmakers had accepted a 19% hike in iron ore prices after months of deadlocked negotiations.


[R]6:15AM European stocks decline in mid-morning trade.[/R]
European markets traded lower in mid-morning. The U.K. FTSE 100 index lost 0.3% at 5,642, the German DAX Xetra 30 index shed 0.5% at 5,467, while the French CAC-40 index lost 0.5% at 4,747. Early attention focused on Ahold, the Dutch retailor, reporting better than expected quarterly results. However, there were no details about the strategic future of the company or possible restructuring. Ahold’s stock lost 0.5%. Philips added 2.2% in Amsterdam following reports that is preparing to list its chips division during the second half of the year. Stocks in steelmakers Arcelor and Mittal Steel both advanced on Wednesday after Severstal announced late Tuesday that it was willing to cut his proposed stake buy of Arcelor to 25% from 32%, and won''t take his stake above 33% without a full tender offer. Swedish clothing chain Hennes & Mauritz advanced 3.5%, following reports that its second-quarter pretax profit advanced 8.2%.

Light sweet crude oil for August delivery dropped 18 cents to $69.16 a barrel In London, August Brent crude futures on the ICE Futures exchange shed 17 cents to $67.91 a barrel. The euro strengthened Wednesday against the U.S. dollar. European 12-nation currency purchase $1.2615 on Wednesday, up from $1.2584 in New York overnight. The British pound also advanced on the dollar, up to $1.8454 from US$1.8425 on Tuesday. The dollar fell against the yen, down to 114.73 from 114.85 in New York late Tuesday.