FedEx Plans to Return MD-11 Cargo Jets to Service by May 31
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 28 2026
0mins
FedEx (FDX) plans to return its grounded MD-11 cargo jets to service by May 31 after working with Boeing (BA) and regulators, despite the model being linked to a fatal UPS (UPS) crash last November, Reuters' Lisa Baertlein reports. UPS has permanently retired its MD-11 fleet and is replacing the aircraft with Boeing 767s, as investigations revealed a long-flagged cracked part contributed to the crash. "We continue to work with Boeing and the FAA to address any required inspection and maintenance that may be needed to return our MD-11 aircraft safely to service," FedEx said.
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Analyst Views on FDX
Wall Street analysts forecast FDX stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FDX is 315.05 USD with a low forecast of 210.00 USD and a high forecast of 365.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
20 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 363.960
Low
210.00
Averages
315.05
High
365.00
Current: 363.960
Low
210.00
Averages
315.05
High
365.00
About FDX
FedEx Corporation provides customers and businesses with a portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. The Company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible and efficient global network. Its segments include Federal Express, FedEx Freight, and Corporate, other, and eliminations. Federal Express segment includes express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation, and it also operates combined sales, marketing, administrative, and information-technology functions in shared service operations for United States customers. FedEx Freight segment includes FedEx Freight (LTL freight transportation) and FedEx Custom Critical (time-critical transportation). Corporate, other, and elimination segments include FedEx Dataworks, Inc. (FedEx Dataworks), FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (FedEx Office), and FedEx Logistics, Inc. (FedEx Logistics). FedEx Logistics offers customs brokerage, specialty transportation, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Shift to Industrials: This week, investors shifted from high-flying tech stocks to industrial names, benefiting FedEx's performance and indicating a renewed focus on traditional transportation and logistics sectors, which could present more investment opportunities for the company.
See More
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- Strategic Adjustments: FedEx is spinning off its freight segment to focus on ground and air shipments, with CEO Raj Subramaniam stating successful execution of its growth strategy, whereas UPS is shrinking to enhance profit margins, resulting in lost market share.
- Layoff Impact: UPS plans to lay off 30,000 workers in response to reduced Amazon shipment volumes, which may boost average revenue per delivery but will significantly hinder revenue growth in the short term.
- Profit Margin Changes: FedEx's net income grew by 29% year-over-year in the most recent quarter, while UPS only saw a 4.1% increase, indicating FedEx's leading position in margin expansion despite UPS's higher valuation.
See More
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- Strong Market Performance: Currently trading at $353.43, FedEx's stock has risen 13.1% over the past week, 20.6% over the past month, and 44.2% over the past year, indicating robust market demand and investor confidence.
- Strategic Implications: The launch of these new tools signifies FedEx's commitment to data-driven services, aiming to deepen relationships with e-commerce customers, particularly in the high-friction post-checkout phase, thus enhancing its competitive edge in the e-commerce logistics market.
- Financial Considerations: While the investment in new technology may yield long-term benefits, FedEx's high debt levels raise concerns among investors regarding its financial health, especially in balancing technology spending with balance sheet commitments.
See More
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- Tech Sector Retreat: Data service and software stocks plummeted following the release of an automation tool by AI firm Anthropic, with Thomson Reuters and EPAM Systems down over 15% and 13% respectively, reflecting a loss of confidence in tech stocks.
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