On June 20, FedEx (NYSE:FDX) released fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year earnings for the period ended May 31.

  • In the fourth quarter, total combined average daily package volume rose roughly 4%, helping to drive an 8% rise in revenues.
  • The FedEx Ground and Freight segments showed strong top-line growth in the quarter, rising 12% and 28%, respectively.
  • FedEx Express began offering next-business-day domestic express service in China in May.
  • FedEx pulls a respectable four-star rating in the investor intelligence database that is Motley Fool CAPS. Competitor and Motley Fool Income Investor recommendation UPS (NYSE:UPS) pulls a lesser three stars.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data.)

Income Statement Highlights

Q4 2007

Q4 2006

Change

Sales

$9,151.0

$8,494.0

7.7%

Net Profit

$610.0

$568.0

7.4%

EPS

$1.96

$1.82

7.7%

Diluted Shares

311.0

312.0

(0.3%)

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q4 2007

Q4 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

29.6%

29.6%

0.1

Operating Margin

11.1%

10.9%

0.2

Net Margin

6.7%

6.7%

(0.0)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q4 2007

Q4 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,569.0

$1,937.0

(19.0%)

Liabilities

Q4 2007

Q4 2006

Change

Long-Term Debt

$2,007.0

$1,592.0

26.1%

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

FY 2007

FY 2006

Change

Cash From Ops.

$3,563.0

$3,676.0

(3.1%)

Capital Expenditures

$2,882.0

$2,518.0

14.5%

Free Cash Flow

$681.0

$1,158.0

(41.2%)

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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