captain_drew

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Shipping company FedEx Corp. on Wednesday said second-quarter profit jumped 33 percent to easily beat its own and Wall Street's expectations, as demand for its services grew and the company pushed back advertising costs. The company's stock rose to a new 52-week high after the news.

Net income increased to $471 million, or $1.53 per share, from $354 million, or $1.15 per share, in the same quarter last year. Revenue grew 10 percent to $8.09 billion from $7.33 billion in the year-ago period.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of $1.40 per share on sales of $8.07 billion. The company had forecast quarterly profit between $1.30 and $1.45 per share.

"Customer demand for our broad portfolio of transportation services, a disciplined pricing approach by FedEx and strong productivity gains led to a sharp improvement in our operating margins," said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive.

Smith added that the company is also benefiting from solid economic growth in the U.S. and Asian economies — a trend he sees continuing into 2006.

Total average daily package volume at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground businesses rose 3 percent year-over-year, driven by international express package growth. Ground volumes got off to a slow start but strengthened toward the quarter's end in November.

Looking ahead, Memphis-based FedEx forecast third-quarter profit between $1.15 and $1.30 per share, within range of analysts' consensus estimate of $1.23 per share. The company also raised its full-year earnings outlook to a range of $5.45 to $5.70 per share from an earlier estimate of $5.25 to $5.50 per share, which includes a lease accounting charge of 15 cents per share. Analysts are looking for per-share profit of $5.55 for the fiscal year ended in May.

After the news, shares of FedEx rose $3.11, or 3 percent, to $101.60 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock rose as high as $102 in early trading, above the high end of its previous 52-week trading range of $76.81 to $101.87.

Shipping company FedEx Corp. said its second-quarter profit jumped 33 percent to easily beat its own and Wall Street's expectations, as demand for its services grew and the company reduced advertising costs.

LAfrequentflyer

Captain D,

I looked up FEDEX stock and in the past decade it has gone from the mid-teens to 100+...Absolutely amazing - I wish I had invested in them instead of CISCO (not to say CISCO hasn't done well for me over the past decade...)

I'm glad the cargo guys are doing well. Many too a big risk by going to a start-up and helping to build it...I hope FedEX management doesn't screw you guys over...

-LA

captain_drew

YAHOO!! It is a GOOD day in the stock world!

Guys have been giving me crap because I sent my kids to private universities <g> As if that means airline pilots are over paid. NOT! It is not HOW much you make, it is what you do with it. No big toys or high living -just lucky (would like to say shrewd<g>) investing.

Making $225K/yr is only a small part of the equation. I was buying SAN beach duplexes for $32K in the early 70’s (before FredEx) -and when the IPO went out in ‘78, took out a 2nd mortgage for $33K (was making $18K/yr as a DA-20 F/O) to buy the max 1500 shares they allowed employees to buy @ $22/share.

Over the years, those initial 1500 shares have split 4 times, meaning the 24,000 shares actually ‘cost’ $1.30/ share and give a 1,082.63% return at today’s market. Own CISCO too and that is down overall 12.63% today. And THEN there is AAPL, which I bought out of loyalty, being a Mac guy. Split several times and up again today, giving an 1,800.20% return.

It’s NOT what you make .. it’s what you do with it. Biggest mistake was investing with a fellow pilot, who turned out to be a crook. $38,000 loss !!
Even if he wasn’t a crook, most pilots can’t find their ass with both hands in the investment world. My most sage advice would be NEVER co-mingle your money with another pilot in an investment!

LAfrequentflyer

You're absolutely right about what you do with the money...

Currently, I do the following: mutual funds (vanguard SP 500), roth IRA w/ vanguard (lifecycle fund targeted for 2035), Thrift Savings Plan (401K for miliraty, no matching, but it lowers my taxes and is a good way to put money aside. I can take it with me when i retire to the next job and put it into their 401K plan...), and own a home in Virginia - last year it appreciated 40K.

I have no bills (except living expenses and house payment), drive a honda accord, wife drives a civic. We live very comfortably and well within our means...Don't get me wrong - my family and I go out and enjoy life, we just do it on a budget...

Anything I can do better or differently?

V/r,
LA

captain_drew

Sounds like you got most of the bases covered, well. You should try to max it out (IRA’s and pension contributions) as much as possible. It was franks and beans for many years for us <g>. My parents and grandparents lived through the Depression and I guess their harping about being thrifty made an impression.

Most of the well-off people I know have their original issue spouse. Trading her in is one of the biggest financial hits a person can take. Airline pilots are infamous for following their Richard around -from trouble to MORE trouble. Some guys I know have multiple divorces to their credit -and are very POOR.

Suck it up . . or stick it out. . OR don’t get married.

My grandpa told me when I was about 5 that I should set an amount out of every paycheck, put it away, where you can’t touch it -and pay yourself, first. I watched, in disbelief, guys both junior and senior to me go out and ‘blow it’ every time they got an upgrade. New Lexus for the wife, boat down in Destin, toys. . toys. . toys .. that all depreciate in value over time.

Got a couple of buds who did the career Navy thing -no airlines. They NEVER sold a house. Bought a new one when they arrived at the new duty station and kept it as a rental when the next PCS orders came. They passed through some of the same places a couple of times, but always bought another -instead of moving back into the place they already owned there. You know about leverage and what kind of appreciation real estate can show over 20-25 years.

Talk about security in your later years! These properties they now own free and clear constitute large, separate annuities, which pay out (rental collections) consistent monthly income -and can be easily liquidated for cash, should the need arise.

As you begin to acquire assets you MUST take steps to protect yourself. A Revokable Family Trust is a good start. Setting up LLC’s (Limited Liability Corporations) for your family is a good way to Teflon coat yourself and assets against legal liability and significantly reduce your tax burden.

LAfrequentflyer

Thanks...I do max out my roth and TSP contributions every month...


-LA

Pilotpip

As a new guy, I appreciated reading this fourm guys. I think the best word of advice you guys have suggested is the living within your means part. It's amazing how far your money can go when you're not ****ing it away on material goods.

EIGHTMENOUT1

Management will step in and break a strike if it happens at UPS.....you can bet your sweet little **s on that one!!!

LAfrequentflyer

Pip,

There is nothing wrong with spending on thing you don't need but want...Just make sure you have paid youself (invested in your future) before you do...

-LA

dckozak

What the F** are you??

Do you just spread UPS MGT BS on any thread you think might be read??
Pick a fight on the right page, moron