The Boeing Company (BA -0.98%) is bullish on air cargo demand, and that could be good news for package delivery companies United Parcel Service (UPS -0.45%) and FedEx Corporation (FDX -0.92%). Let's look at what Boeing's latest long-term forecast for air cargo traffic means, and why it's important for the investment case for all three stocks.
Boeing's air-cargo market forecast
Every two years, Boeing publishes its World Air Cargo Forecast, and this year's forecast had plenty of good news for the freight industry. The key highlights from the report:
- Following a period of sluggish growth in 2011-2016, air cargo traffic has recovered, and Boeing expects it to grow 4.2% per year over the next 20 years.
- E-commerce is a key driver of global cargo growth.
- Asia will lead the way in air cargo growth with domestic China traffic forecast to grow 6.3% annually in the period, and Intra-East Asia traffic up 5.8% each year. .
- Dedicated freighter aircraft are expected to carry half of world air cargo demand.
In a nutshell, the forecast is positive for Boeing as it implies strong demand for wide-body freighters -- supporting Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg's belief in a pickup in wide-body demand at the start of the next decade. And it suggests support for the narrow-body market, as Boeing estimates 1,170 standard-body aircraft will be converted to freighters in the period.
Image source: Getty Images
If Muilenburg is right about a boost in wide-body orders coming from replacement demand in commercial aviation -- with airlines seen as waiting for Boeing's new 777X to enter production -- and a pickup in freighter demand, then Boeing's traditional leadership in wide-body aircraft will come to the fore.
For reference, the forecast calls for the worldwide freighter fleet to expand by more than 70% from 1,870 planes to 3,260 in 20 years, a growth rate of 2.8% per annum. Throw in demand for wide-body passenger aircraft (Boeing estimates the global wide-body passenger fleet will increase by around 8,200 in the next two decades), and overall wide-body airplane growth of around 4.9% per annum looks possible -- good news for Boeing.
UPS and FedEx will also benefit
If Boeing's projection of 4.2% annual growth in cargo traffic over the next 20 years is correct, then it stands to reason that UPS and FedEx will also benefit significantly, particularly if e-commerce is a large reason behind the growth. Both companies have been significantly investing in building out infrastructure.
As you can see below, the 2011-2016 period saw sluggish growth, and it's only in the last two years that cargo growth has been above 4% for two consecutive years -- the first time in over a decade.
Data source: International Air Transport Association. Year-on-year growth.
A sustained expansion in global trade will obviously benefit both companies, not least because FedEx has invested to expand its European presence by acquiring TNT Express.
Meanwhile, UPS recently announced a series of so-called "transformational initiatives," which include continuing the expansion of its high-growth international markets. UPS has increased intercontinental air-express capacity by more than 10% as new, higher capacity cargo jets are added to its fleet.
The company has completed about two-thirds of its previously announced European network expansion and has recently opened new "super hubs" in Paris and London, according to the press release on the transformation initiatives.
While Asia is expected to lead the growth in demand, UPS and FedEx have relatively little exposure to places like China, the forecast calls for a step-change in growth in Europe-North America trade. Boeing's forecast predicts Europe-North America to grow at a rate of 2.5% from 2018-2037 compared to 0% from 2007-2017.
Both companies have positioned themselves for long-term e-commerce and cargo growth. And if Boeing is right, then the package delivery companies will see that growth.
The takeaway for investors
It's easy to criticize Boeing's report as a self-serving exercise in talking up demand for its wide-body aircraft. But it appears to be based on solid fundamentals and assumptions regarding trends (growth in cargo traffic and e-commerce) that are already in place. Indeed, UPS and FedEx are clearly preparing themselves.
Based on current trends, Boeing's optimism is justified. The real question is: Can these trends continue over the long term? The answer is likely to be that economic growth and cargo growth will fluctuate over time, but notwithstanding that, e-commerce growth looks assured. All told, provided there isn't an escalation in trade tariffs in the long run, then Boeing's forecast looks sound -- and UPS and FedEx will see the benefit, too.
