Analyst Ratings February 13, 2026

Bernstein Sticks With Outperform on FedEx, Cites Ambitious Margin and Cash Flow Targets

Analysts point to Network 2.0, higher-revenue mix and InPost deal as potential catalysts for further upside

By Derek Hwang FDX
Bernstein Sticks With Outperform on FedEx, Cites Ambitious Margin and Cash Flow Targets
FDX

Bernstein SocGen Group has reiterated an Outperform rating on FedEx and kept a $427.00 price target, highlighting management targets for $25 of EPS in calendar 2029 and $16 billion of free cash flow over the next three years. The firm and other analysts point to margin expansion initiatives, a strategic shift toward B2B and higher-revenue B2C shipments, and the InPost transaction as drivers of upside, even as the stock trades above InvestingPro's Fair Value estimate.

Key Points

  • Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated an Outperform rating on FedEx with a $427.00 price target; the firm has also raised its target from $306.00 to $427.00 in recent assessments.
  • FedEx management is targeting $25 of EPS by calendar 2029 and expects to generate $16 billion in free cash flow over the next three years, supported by a 4% top-line growth outlook and 200 basis points of margin expansion for the standalone parcel business.
  • Strategic shifts - including a focus on B2B and higher-revenue B2C shipments, Network 2.0, European restructuring and participation in the InPost acquisition - are cited as potential drivers of domestic and international margin improvement.

Bernstein SocGen Group has reaffirmed its Outperform rating for FedEx (NYSE:FDX) and maintained a $427.00 price target on the package delivery company. The assessment comes as FedEx shares have enjoyed strong momentum, returning roughly 62% over the last six months and trading near $366, even though InvestingPro data indicates the stock is currently trading above its Fair Value.

The research note underscores management's long-range financial objectives, including a $25 earnings-per-share target for calendar 2029 and a forecast of $16 billion in free cash flow across the next three years. Those targets sit alongside the company's recent trailing-12-month performance, which shows diluted EPS of $18.14 and free cash flow of $4.35 billion.

On the top line, FedEx projects 4% revenue growth for its standalone parcel business and anticipates 200 basis points of margin expansion for that unit. Management has said it will place greater emphasis on business-to-business shipments and higher-revenue business-to-consumer parcels, while deemphasizing lower-value, shorter-haul e-commerce traffic.

For fiscal year 2026, FedEx provided preliminary margin expectations for its newly reported segments - Domestic and International - with the company targeting an 8.9% margin domestically and 3.6% internationally. The firm plans to publish fully recast financials in August, which will incorporate the new segment reporting in greater detail.

FedEx reported $90.1 billion in revenue and a 27.6% gross profit margin, figures that analysts cite when assessing the company's ability to absorb and execute strategic shifts. InvestingPro also flags several corporate strengths, including a 24-year streak of maintaining dividend payments.

Looking ahead, FedEx believes its Network 2.0 program and improvements in revenue mix will help drive domestic margins toward a 10% target, while European restructuring and a focus on B2B freight are expected to lift international margins to roughly 8%. Capital spending is expected to moderate and average about 4% of sales over the forecast period.

Bernstein noted that capacity rationalization in both U.S. and EU markets should improve FedEx's pricing leverage, offering potential upside to targets beyond the current outlook. The research team explicitly stated that the InPost transaction is not included in its baseline projections.

In corporate actions, FedEx declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.45 per share, payable April 1, 2026, unchanged from prior payments. The company also confirmed it is participating in a consortium to acquire InPost, the Polish parcel locker and home delivery operator, committing $2.6 billion to a deal that values InPost at 27.8 billion.

Other brokerages have adjusted their views following FedEx's strategic disclosures. UBS raised its price target to $412.00 from $314.00 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing benefits from pricing and cost control. Stephens increased its target to $405.00 from $330.00 after taking in details presented at FedEx's Investor Day. Separately, Bernstein's coverage reflects a prior change in its valuation framework - the firm moved its price target from $306.00 to $427.00 in its most recent assessment, a revision the research team ties to expected margin improvement.

Together, these analyst moves and corporate initiatives contribute to a broadly constructive outlook on FedEx's prospects. The combination of margin programs, revenue mix improvements, and the InPost investment are central to the bullish case, while the company continues to provide updated financial detail with a full recast planned for August.

Risks

  • The InPost transaction is not included in Bernstein's current outlook, creating uncertainty about the deal's full impact on FedEx's financials and valuation - this affects European parcel delivery and logistics exposure.
  • Margin targets depend on execution of Network 2.0, revenue mix improvements and European restructuring; failure to realize these initiatives could limit the projected domestic and international margin expansion - this impacts the Air Freight & Logistics sector and FedEx's cost structure.
  • Capacity rationalization in the U.S. and EU is cited as a source of potential pricing leverage, but if capacity adjustments do not materialize as expected, pricing dynamics could be less favorable than forecast - this presents uncertainty for pricing power across parcel and freight markets.

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