Quarterlytics / Industrials / Integrated Freight & Logistics / FedEx

FedEx

fdx · NYSE Industrials
Claim this profile
Ticker fdx
Exchange NYSE
Sector Industrials
Industry Integrated Freight & Logistics
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2017 Annual Report · FedEx
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
F
E
D
E
X

C
O
R
P
O
R
A
T
I

O
N

A
N
N
U
A
L

R
E
P
O
R
T

2
0
1
7

FedEx Annual Report 2017

investment + integration + innovation

  ADDS UP TO ACCELERATED PERFORMANCE

INVESTING IN A BETTER WORLD

FedEx understands that how we connect the world matters. We invest in community programs that 
mirror our corporate priorities and improve lives around the world. Our EarthSmart® strategy helps us 
integrate innovative sustainable practices into the way we work and the services we offer customers. 
We hold ourselves accountable by setting ambitious global goals and monitoring our progress.*

GOAL  
30%

reduction in aircraft 
emissions intensity 
from a 2005  
baseline by 2020 

PROGRESS

 22%

reduction in 
aircraft emissions 
intensity from a 
2005 baseline

GOAL  
30%

of jet fuel obtained 
from alternative 
sources by 2030 

PROGRESS

 2019

is the anticipated  
first delivery of 
commercially  
viable and available 
alternative fuels

GOAL  
50%

increase in FedEx 
Express vehicle 
fuel efficiency from 
a 2005 baseline  
by 2025

PROGRESS

 35%

GOAL

Expand on-site  
energy generation 
and continue to 
procure renewable 
energy for facilities

PROGRESS

18

improvement from 
a 2005 baseline

on-site solar 
installations

GOAL  $200

million investment 
in 200 communities 
around the world 
by 2020

PROGRESS

 $46.21

million investment 
in 97 communities

*To learn more, read the 2017 Global Citizenship Report at csr.fedex.com

FEDEX CORPORATION

942 South Shady Grove Road
Memphis, TN 38120
fedex.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY17 WAS A YEAR OF PLUSES

$60 billion

in revenue  

14 B767F aircraft  

added, replacing less 
efficient airplanes 

64 countries

with integrated  
FedEx and TNT 
operations 

$5 billion 

record operating 
profit 

10 million

square feet of 
FedEx Ground facility 
space added for the 
FY17 peak season

5%increase

in FedEx Ground 
revenue per package 

CNG can be used  
in place of diesel,  
burns more cleanly, 
and helps diversify  
our fuel supply.

FEDEX FREIGHT LAUNCHES NEW CNG FLEET

From electric delivery vans to more 
fuel-efficient aircraft, FedEx continually 
pursues innovations to reduce our 
environmental impact. FedEx Freight 
is driving one of our latest initiatives 
to explore alternative fuel sources: 
compressed natural gas (CNG).

CNG is a simple concept. It’s made 

by compressing natural gas to less 
than 1 percent of its normal volume. 
We’re excited about adding 100 CNG 

tractors to our fleet because CNG  
can be used in place of diesel but is  
generally cleaner and helps diversify 
the fuel supply. 

It takes special equipment to 
refuel with CNG, so we also installed 
a fueling station at our Oklahoma City 
Service Center. This investment  
demonstrates our commitment to  
connecting the world responsibly  
and resourcefully.

Why CNG?
> It’s cleaner. CNG burns more cleanly
than diesel fuel, producing lower
CO2 emissions.

> It’s homegrown. Almost all natural
gas used in the U.S. is produced
domestically.

> It can be renewable. Some natural

gas is generated by landfills.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

To our shareowners,
FedEx Corporation performed exceptionally well in 
fiscal 2017, and we are very optimistic about our future. 

In FY17, we boosted long-term value for shareowners 
— delivered an outstanding peak season with highest 
ever volumes and service levels; invested heavily in 
several strategic areas; and managed yields and  
volumes extremely well.  

Three areas of focus not only contributed to a very 
profitable year but also promise to accelerate 
performance that will improve margins, cash  
flows, returns, and earnings per share going 
forward. They are:

Investments. We continue to take advantage of 
market growth and meet customers’ increasing 
demands for our services. 

Integration. We’re building on our record of  
success as we integrate acquisitions we’ve  
made in recent years. 

Innovation. We’re rapidly advancing information- 
technology solutions targeting efficiency and  
customer convenience.

Investments boost  
financial performance
Capacity and automation. Our strategic investments 
have one thing in common — expected high rates 
of long-term returns. To meet forecasts for strong 
e-commerce and commercial growth, FedEx 
Ground is expanding its network capacity and 
automation to make certain we have the capacity, 
efficiency, and flexibility customers demand.  

In the year leading up to the FY17 peak season, 
FedEx Ground added 10 million square feet of  
operating space through 185 facility projects  
including four new major distribution hubs and  
19 new fully automated stations. These state-of-
the-art facilities are much more efficient to operate 
and allow us to quickly adjust to fluctuations in 
package volume and location.

Frederick W. Smith 
Chairman and CEO

Reduced costs and emissions. FedEx Express  
continues to upgrade its aircraft fleet to improve 
margins and add flexibility to domestic and international
operations. We invested $1.8 billion in aircraft and  
related equipment in FY17. The payback is impressive:  
the B767F carries almost as much payload as the 
MD10 it replaces and is about 30 percent more  
fuel-efficient resulting in lower emissions as well. 
Unit operating costs are about 20 percent lower 
overall including reduced maintenance costs and 
higher reliability that also improves service levels. 

Systems and safety improvements. Focusing on 
efficiency at FedEx Freight should significantly 
improve margins by the end of FY20 and make 
FedEx the first choice for more customers in the 
less-than-truckload (LTL) market. Adding dimensioning 
technology will improve FedEx Freight yields and 
automating the customer experience will make  
LTL shipping simpler. Safety is a top priority.  
Today about 80 percent of our fleet is equipped 
with advanced safety technologies such as rollover  
stability control, lane-departure warning, and 
systems to help avoid collisions. Our goal is 100 
percent deployment by the end of FY18. This adds 
to FedEx Freight’s competitive advantage of the 
fastest published transit times in the LTL industry.

 1

 
  
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Integration unlocks new  
customer solutions
Implications of recent acquisitions — TNT  
Express, FedEx Supply Chain (formerly GENCO), 
and FedEx Cross Border — are profound. Together 
they fill strategic gaps in our global network  
and strengthen supply chain and e-commerce 
capabilities. Customers are delighted with the 
initial results which deliver significant opportunities 
for efficiencies and growth.

Amplifying our global scope. We are pleased with 
the progress of our multi-year TNT integration plan.
Sixty-four countries were fully integrated in FY17,  

and we’ve begun integration activities across 
additional countries including many of the largest  
operations in TNT’s global network. We’re capitalizing 
on the immense talent and expertise of former TNT 
executives who now comprise about 40 percent of 
FedEx Express internationally based officers and 
managing directors. 

The results are proving to be transformative to 
customers and our financial outlook. In the latter  
regard, we’re targeting an operating income  
improvement at the FedEx Express group of  
$1.2 billion to $1.5 billion in FY20 compared  
with FY17, assuming moderate economic  
growth and current accounting and tax rules. 

The biggest acquisition in FedEx history  
is transforming our global reach.

2
2 

  
Simplifying e-commerce for retailers. Integrating 
FedEx Supply Chain capabilities with the FedEx 
transportation networks has broadened our  
portfolio of solutions. FedEx® Fulfillment, created 
with extensive customer input, is a new way for 
us to support e-commerce companies of all sizes. 
The service provides retailers with warehousing, 
inventory management, fulfillment, packaging, and 
reverse logistics in one bundle powered by FedEx 
transportation networks. 

FedEx Fulfillment also works closely with FedEx 
Cross Border to make it easier for small-to-medium 
e-tailers to serve international customers. 

Reducing residential delivery costs. The integration 
of FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost® operations 
will enable us to use FedEx Ground contracted  
service providers to deliver a FedEx SmartPost  
package going to the same or nearby location on  
the same day which will reduce costs. 

Not only does the online platform make monitoring 
logistics activity as easy as using a smartphone, it 
also simplifies the returns process so retailers can 
better manage their products’ entire life cycle.  

TNT EXPRESS INTEGRATION  
IS IN FULL SWING

Key TNT Express integration milestones 
in FY17 include:
>  We implemented the first phase of 
cross-scan technology that enables 
us to handle TNT Express packages 
in the FedEx network and vice versa. 
Just as important, we’re able to  
manage and coordinate inquiries  
from FedEx and TNT customers. 

>  FedEx successfully integrated  

64 countries in FY17.  We’re in the 
process of integrating additional 
countries including many of our 
largest direct-serve businesses.  
Our focus for country integration  
in FY18 will turn to more complex, 
but higher value markets. 

>  In April, we took one of the first 

steps to connect the FedEx Express 
and TNT worldwide networks by  
successfully launching our new  

B777F flight from the TNT air hub in 
Liège, Belgium, to the FedEx World 
Hub in Memphis. This new around-
the-world flight goes on to Shanghai 
before returning to Liège.

         It gives 100,000 TNT customers 
access to the FedEx network in the 
U.S. and Canada, with consistent 
two-day transit times for express 
shipments compared with two  
to four days previously. The flight 
also speeds up transit times from  
Asia to Europe. 

3   MORE > fedex.com/AnnualReport2016

3

Up to 8,000 
Walgreens  
locations will 
make it easier 
to drop off  
and pick up 
packages.

4   

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Innovation reduces costs,  
improves service
While our residential e-commerce revenues  
are much smaller than our business-to-business 
revenues, it’s the fastest-growing market and 
requires constant innovation to make delivery  
to consumers more efficient.

That’s one reason we are expanding our FedEx 
OnSite network of convenient pickup and drop-off 
locations. FedEx OnSite locations reduce costs 
because we can deliver multiple packages to 
one location for customer collection instead of  
delivering single packages to individual residences. 
A major new alliance with Walgreens will add  
nearly 8,000 locations to the FedEx OnSite  
network prior to the FY18 peak season.

Consumers can take advantage of these secure  
delivery locations by using FedEx Delivery Manager®. 
All it takes is a mobile phone or tablet to track, 
schedule delivery, reroute packages, sign for 
packages remotely, and receive delivery confirmations. 

Deploying new technology is part of our ongoing  
strategy to reduce our carbon footprint. In FY17, 
FedEx Freight purchased more than 100 compressed 
natural gas (CNG) tractors and installed a CNG  
fueling station at our Oklahoma City Service Center. 

FedEx Express is also introducing new vehicle  
technologies and making more efficient use of  
conventional vehicles. We met our target of  
increasing vehicle fuel efficiency by 30 percent  
from a 2005 baseline five years ahead of schedule. 
We’ve therefore now set a new goal: by 2025 we  
will increase FedEx Express vehicle fuel efficiency  
by 50 percent from the 2005 baseline.  

SOLUTIONS MAKE E-COMMERCE EASIER, MORE PROFITABLE

E-commerce continues to reshape  
retail, with retailers moving rapidly 
to meet shifting consumer behavior 
and expectations. As the big picture 
evolves, our role is clear: facilitate 
profitable e-commerce growth. 

Over time, economics will require 

more innovative ways to deliver  
goods ordered online, instead of  
only delivering individual items to  
residences, which is expensive.

To make that happen, FedEx must 
continue combining our physical assets 
and digital capabilities to create more 
effective, efficient, and secure delivery 
alternatives. We must also ensure we are 
properly compensated for the outstanding 
services we provide.

>  Small and medium-sized online  
retailers are now fulfilling U.S. 
domestic and export orders through 
FedEx® Fulfillment — a new turnkey 
e-commerce solution that helps 
businesses fulfill orders from  
different sources, including  
e-commerce websites and  
online marketplaces. 

>  More than 6 million registered users 
— about 50 percent more than last 
year — are now taking advantage 
of FedEx Delivery Manager® to 
schedule package deliveries where 
and when it’s convenient for them. 
We also expanded the service to 36 
countries, with plans to add dozens 
more in FY18.

>  Cross-border shopping is growing 

>  Nearly 8,000 Walgreens locations 

and is expected to total 20 percent of 
e-commerce by 2022, with sales of 
$627 billion.* New FedEx Cross Border 
services provide both shoppers  
and merchants with a much faster, 
easier way to conduct international 
e-commerce.  

will add punch to the FedEx OnSite 
network offering consumers more 
convenient and secure drop-off and 
pickup options. 

* Practical Ecommerce, 2017. “The  

Explosive Growth of Cross-border  
Ecommerce.”

5

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

We will ensure FedEx remains indispensable to 
global commerce and a responsible corporate  
citizen. Integrity is key to our culture, our brand, 
and our reputation. In the public policy arena, 
we continue to vigorously support corporate tax 
reform and open trade. These policies are essential 
to sparking investment and innovation; boosting 
U.S. and global economies; and improving  
standards of living everywhere.   

FedEx has never been stronger; our team has never 
been more committed; and our confidence has 
never been greater that we will deliver outstanding 
value and opportunities for shareowners, customers, 
and team members in coming years. 

If you have a moment, go to fedex.com/dream 
and you’ll see why we are so confident about our 
future prospects.

Frederick W. Smith
Chairman and CEO

Precise execution drives value
FedEx has never been better positioned for  
significant long-term growth that delivers  
increased value to shareowners and a more  
promising future for our team members. To those 
ends, we must continue to execute with precision. 
In addition, we must remain decisive and agile,  
especially when it comes to creating and  
delivering technology solutions that make us  
more productive and customers’ lives easier.

Our team members’ outstanding dedication and  
performance were once again recognized by  
FORTUNE magazine which named FedEx one of  
the world’s most admired companies. No member 
of the FedEx team did more to make FedEx what 
we are today than Mike Glenn who retired during 
FY17 as Executive Vice President, Market Development 
and Corporate Communications, after more than 
35 years of service. Mike leaves with our  
gratitude, affection, and best wishes. 

To manage our growth and ensure a faster and 
more responsive FedEx, we promoted Dave 
Bronczek, formerly President and CEO of FedEx 
Express, to President and Chief Operating Officer. 
The CEOs of our core operating companies and 
our EVPs of Marketing and Sales now report  
to Dave. The new organization structure will  
facilitate future growth for our broad portfolio  
of customer solutions.

“FedEx has never  
been stronger; our  
team has never been 
more committed; and 
our confidence has  
never been greater.”

6

FROM PACKAGE HANDLER TO PRESIDENT AND COO

After graduating from Ohio’s Kent State 
University in 1976, David J. Bronczek 
began his career as so many FedEx 
leaders have — on the frontline. Back 
then FedEx was a fledgling company 
that had been operating for three 
years with service to 75 U.S. cities 
and annual revenues of $96 million. 
Fast forward to FY17, the year 
Bronczek was named President  
and Chief Operating Officer of  
FedEx Corp. — a $60 billion global 
transportation powerhouse that is 
continuing to transform an industry, 
and is one of the most admired  
companies in the world. 

What happened between then  
and now? “Like so many FedEx team 
members, I have lived the FedEx 
dream,” Bronczek says. He served  
in many operational roles and as a 
sales representative before moving 
steadily through the ranks of FedEx 
management. In 1993 he was named 
Senior Vice President of the Europe, 
Middle East and Africa region. In 2000, 
at the age of 45, he became President  
and CEO of FedEx Express. There he 
oversaw the growth of our international 
business, the achievement of the  
$1.6 billion profit improvement plan, 
and the acquisition of  TNT Express. 

“The opportunities for team 
members are even better today than 
they were when I joined the company 
over 40 years ago,” Bronczek says. 
“FedEx was founded on the People-
Service-Profit operating philosophy 
that taking care of our team members 
results in outstanding service, 
allowing us to earn a fair profit that 
we then reinvest in our future and 
team members. This philosophy is 
more relevant than ever and has opened 
outstanding career opportunities for 
so many of our team members, 
including myself.”

7

NEW AIRCRAFT IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY  
AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Investing in new aircraft not only  
reduces maintenance costs, it  
increases reliability, which translates 
into a better customer experience.  
Every flight can carry tens of thousands 
of important packages. The more our 
aircraft stay on schedule, the better 
FedEx Express is able to deliver 
shipments on time, backed by our 
money-back guarantee.

Reliability for the newer B777F  
and B767F aircraft is above 99 percent, 
meaning they depart as scheduled 
over 99 percent of the time. These 
aircraft also have a long maintenance 

honeymoon period, are more fuel- 
efficient — helping save money — and 
emit lower levels of carbon emissions.
In addition to modernizing the 
fleet, FedEx has improved reliability in 
all aircraft through strategic maintenance 
programs. Consistent progress over 
the past five years led overall fleet  
reliability to its highest level. The  
0.7 percent improvement in reliability 
achieved over the last five years is 
equivalent to almost 1,300 additional 
on-time aircraft departures in FY17, 
affecting the delivery of millions of 
packages. 

8

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(in millions, except earnings per share)
Operating Results
  Revenues
  Operating income
  Operating margin
  Net income
  Diluted earnings per common share
   Average common and common equivalent shares
  Cash provided by operating activities
  Capital expenditures

Financial Position
  Cash and cash equivalents
  Total assets 
  Long-term debt, including current portion
  Common stockholders’ investment

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*

$225

$200

$175

$150

$125

$100

5/12

5/13

5/14

5/15

5/16

5/17

FedEx Corporation

S&P 500

Dow Jones Transportation Average

* $100 invested on 5/31/12 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year 
ended May 31.

2017(1)(2)

2016(2)(3)

Percent 
Change

$ 60,319 
 5,037 

$ 50,365 
 3,077 

8.4%

6.1%

 2,997 
 11.07 
 270 
 4,930 
 5,116 

$ 3,969 
48,552
 14,931 
 16,073 

 1,820 
 6.51 
 279 
 5,708 
 4,818 

$

3,534 
45,959
 13,762 
 13,784 

20 
64 
230bp
65 
70 
(3)
(14 )
6 

12
6 
8 
17

(1)  Results for 2017 include TNT Express integration expenses and restructuring 
charges of $327 million ($245 million, net of tax, or $0.91 per diluted share) 
and increased intangible asset amortization of $74 million ($57 million, net 
of tax, or $0.21 per diluted share) as a result of the TNT Express acquisition. 
Results for 2017 also include $39 million ($24 million, net of tax, or $0.09 per 
diluted share) of charges for legal reserves related to certain pending U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection matters involving FedEx Trade Networks and 
$22 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share) of charges in 
connection with the settlement of and certain expected losses relating to 
independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground.

(2)  Results include a mark-to-market gain of $24 million ($6 million, net of tax, 
or $0.02 per diluted share) in 2017 and a loss of $1.5 billion ($946 million, 
net of tax, or $3.39 per diluted share) in 2016. 

(3)  Results for 2016 include provisions related to independent contractor  
litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $256 million, net of recognized 
immaterial insurance recovery ($158 million, net of tax, or $0.57 per diluted 
share), and expenses related to the settlement of a U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection notice of action in the amount of $69 million, net of recognized 
immaterial insurance recovery ($43 million, net of tax, or $0.15 per diluted 
share). Total transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses related 
to our TNT Express acquisition, as well as TNT Express’s immaterial financial 
results from the time of acquisition, were $132 million ($125 million, net of 
tax, or $0.45 per diluted share) during 2016. In addition, 2016 results include 
a $76 million ($0.27 per diluted share) favorable tax impact from an internal 
corporate legal entity restructuring to facilitate the integration of FedEx 
Express and TNT Express.  

 9

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

OVERVIEW OF FINANCIAL SECTION

The financial section of the FedEx Corporation (“FedEx” or the 
“Company”) Annual Report (“Annual Report”) consists of the 
following: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results  
of Operations and Financial Condition (“MD&A”), the Consolidated 
Financial Statements and the notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements, and Other Financial Information, all of which include 
information about our significant accounting policies and practices 
and the transactions that underlie our financial results. The following 
MD&A describes the principal factors affecting the results of 
operations, liquidity, capital resources, contractual cash obligations 
and critical accounting estimates of FedEx. The discussion in the 
financial section should be read in conjunction with the other sections 
of this Annual Report, particularly our detailed discussion of risk 
factors included in this MD&A.

The following MD&A was included in FedEx’s fiscal 2017  
Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commision on July 17, 2017. For any material 
updates to the information included in this MD&A, please refer 
to the Company’s press releases and filings with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission.

Organization of Information
Our MD&A is composed of three major sections: Results of Operations, 
Financial Condition and Critical Accounting Estimates. These sections 
include the following information: 

>  Results of operations includes an overview of our consolidated 2017 
results compared to 2016 results, and 2016 results compared to 2015 
results. This section also includes a discussion of key actions and 
events that impacted our results, as well as our outlook for 2018. 

>  The overview is followed by a financial summary and analysis 
(including a discussion of both historical operating results and our 
outlook for 2018) for each of our transportation segments. 

>  Our financial condition is reviewed through an analysis of key 
elements of our liquidity, capital resources and contractual cash 
obligations, including a discussion of our cash flows and our financial 
commitments. 

>  Critical accounting estimates discusses those financial statement 
elements that we believe are most important to understanding the 
material judgments and assumptions incorporated in our financial 
results. 

>  We conclude with a discussion of risks and uncertainties that may 
impact our financial condition and operating results. 

Description of Business
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and 
business services through companies competing collectively, operating 
independently and managed collaboratively, under the respected  
FedEx brand. Our primary operating companies are Federal Express 
Corporation (“FedEx Express”), the world’s largest express  
transportation company; TNT Express B.V. (“TNT Express”), an  
international express, small-package ground delivery and freight 
transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx 

Ground”), a leading North American provider of small-package ground 
delivery services; and FedEx Freight, Inc. (“FedEx Freight”), a leading 
U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight services. These 
companies represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx 
Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”), form the core of our 
reportable segments. 

Our FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information 
technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing 
and collection services, and certain back-office functions that support 
our transportation segments. In addition, the FedEx Services segment 
provides customers with retail access to FedEx Express and FedEx 
Ground shipping services through FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. 
(“FedEx Office”). See “Reportable Segments” for further discussion. 

The key indicators necessary to understand our operating results 
include: 

>  the overall customer demand for our various services based on  
macroeconomic factors and the global economy;  

>  the volumes of transportation services provided through our networks, 
primarily measured by our average daily volume and shipment weight 
and size; 

>  the mix of services purchased by our customers; 

>  the prices we obtain for our services, primarily measured by yield  
(revenue per package or pound or revenue per shipment or hundred-
weight for LTL freight shipments); 

>  our ability to manage our cost structure (capital expenditures and 
operating expenses) to match shifting volume levels; and 

>  the timing and amount of fluctuations in fuel prices and our ability to 
recover incremental fuel costs through our fuel surcharges. 

Many of our operating expenses are directly impacted by revenue and 
volume levels. Accordingly, we expect these operating expenses to 
fluctuate on a year-over-year basis consistent with changes in 
revenues and volumes. Therefore, the discussion of operating expense 
captions focuses on the key drivers and trends impacting expenses 
other than changes in revenues and volumes. The line item “Other 
operating expenses” predominantly includes costs associated with 
outside service contracts (such as security, facility services and cargo 
handling), insurance, professional fees and uniforms. 

Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal 
year ended May 31, 2017 or ended May 31 of the year referenced and 
comparisons are to the prior year. References to our transportation 
segments include, collectively, our FedEx Express group, which 
includes the FedEx Express and TNT Express segments, the FedEx 
Ground segment and the FedEx Freight segment. In 2017, TNT 
Express’s results are disclosed as a reportable segment and are also 
combined with the FedEx Express segment to reflect a management 
reporting structure referred to as the FedEx Express group. Because 
TNT Express was acquired near the end of 2016, its financial results 
were immaterial and were included in “Eliminations, corporate and 
other” in that period.

10

 11

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND OUTLOOK

Consolidated Results
The following table compares summary operating results (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) for the years ended May 31.  

Consolidated revenues
Operating income:
  FedEx Express segment(3)
  TNT Express segment
  FedEx Ground segment
  FedEx Freight segment
  Eliminations, corporate and other(4)(5)
Consolidated operating income(5)
Operating margin:
  FedEx Express segment(3)
  TNT Express segment
  FedEx Ground segment
  FedEx Freight segment
Consolidated operating margin(4)(5)
Consolidated net income(5)
Diluted earnings per share

2017(1)
$ 60,319 

2016(2)
$ 50,365  

2015
$ 47,453  

2017/2016
20 

2016/2015
6 

 Percent Change

2,678
84
2,292
397
(414)
5,037

9.8%
1.1%
12.7%
6.2%
8.4%

2,519    
–
 2,276  
426
(2,144)
3,077  

9.5%
–
13.7%
6.9%
6.1%

1,584  
–
 2,172
484
(2,373)
1,867

5.8%
–
16.7%
7.8%
3.9%

$   2,997
$   11.07

$   1,820   
$     6.51   

$   1,050 
$     3.65 

6
NM
1
(7)
81
64

30 bp

NM
(100)bp
(70)bp
230 bp
65
70

59
NM
5
(12)
10
65

370  bp
NM
(300)bp
(90)bp
220 bp
73 
78 

The following table shows changes in revenues and operating income by reportable segment for 2017 compared to 2016 and 2016 compared to 
2015 (in millions). 

Year-over-Year Changes

Revenues

Operating Income

FedEx Express segment(3)
TNT Express segment
FedEx Ground segment
FedEx Freight segment
FedEx Services segment
Eliminations, corporate and other(4)(5) 

2016/2015(2)
 $     935 
–
 104  
 (58 )
 –  
229
$  1,210 
(1)  Operating income in 2017 includes TNT Express integration expenses and restructuring charges of $327 million ($121 million in “Eliminations, corporate and other,” $117 million at FedEx Express 
and $89 million at TNT Express) and increased intangible asset amortization of $74 million as a result of the TNT Express acquisition. Operating income for 2017 also includes $39 million of 
charges for legal reserves related to certain pending U.S. Customs and Border Protection matters involving FedEx Trade Networks and $22 million of charges in connection with the settlement of 
and certain expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground. See Note 18 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information.
(2)  Includes transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses related to our TNT Express acquisition, as well as the immaterial financial results of TNT Express from the date of acquisition, 

2017/2016(1)(2)
$     159
84
16
(29)
–
1,730
$  1,960

2017/2016
$     907
7,401
1,501
243
28
(126)
$  9,954

2016/2015
 $    (788 )
–
3,590
9
 48
53
$ 2,912 

aggregating $132 million during 2016. These expenses are predominantly included in “Eliminations, corporate and other.” 

(3)  FedEx Express segment 2015 expenses include impairment and related charges of $276 million resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain 

aircraft and related engines. 

(4)  Operating income includes a gain of $24 million in 2017 and losses of $1.5 billion in 2016 and $2.2 billion in 2015 associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting further discussed in  

Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

(5)  Operating income in 2016 includes provisions related to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $256 million and expenses related to the settlement of a U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection notice of action in the amount of $69 million, in each case net of recognized immaterial insurance recovery. Operating income for 2015 includes a $197 million charge in the 
fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement, which is further discussed in Note 18 of the accom-
panying consolidated financial statements. 

10

 11

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
Overview

Our segment results improved in 2017 as a result of yield and volume 
growth and continued cost management at our FedEx Express 
segment, as well as the inclusion of TNT Express. In addition, tax 
benefits from the implementation of new foreign currency tax 
regulations and the adoption of a new accounting standard for 
share-based payments, further discussed in the “Income Taxes” 
section below, benefited results. These factors were partially offset by 
TNT Express integration expenses, including restructuring charges 
(described below), network expansion costs at FedEx Ground, one 
fewer operating day at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground and higher 
operating expenses at FedEx Freight.

We incurred an aggregate of $327 million ($245 million, net of tax, or 
$0.91 per diluted share) in 2017 of TNT Express integration expenses, 
including restructuring charges. The integration expenses are pre-
dominantly incremental costs directly associated with the integration 
of TNT Express, including professional and legal fees, salaries and 
wages, advertising expenses and travel. Internal salaries and wages 
are included only to the extent the individuals are assigned full time to 
integration activities. These costs were incurred at FedEx Corporation, 
FedEx Express and TNT Express. The identification of these costs as 
integration-related expenditures is subject to our disclosure controls 
and procedures. In addition, we incurred $74 million ($57 million, net 
of tax, or $0.21 per diluted share) in 2017 of increased intangible asset 
amortization as a result of the TNT Express acquisition.

Operating income in 2017 includes a $24 million gain ($6 million, net 
of tax, or $0.02 per diluted share) associated with our fourth quarter 
mark-to-market (“MTM”) retirement plans adjustment. Our 2017 
results also include $39 million ($24 million, net of tax, or $0.09 per 
diluted share) of charges for legal reserves related to certain pending 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) matters involving FedEx 
Trade Networks and $22 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per 
diluted share) of charges related to the settlement of and certain 
expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation matters 
involving FedEx Ground. These items are included in “Eliminations, 
corporate and other.”

Our results for 2016 include a $1.5 billion loss ($946 million, net of tax, 
or $3.39 per diluted share) associated with our fourth quarter MTM 
retirement plans adjustment, provisions for the settlement of and 
expected losses related to independent contractor litigation matters 
involving FedEx Ground of $256 million ($158 million, net of tax, or $0.57 
per diluted share), and expenses related to the settlement of a CBP 
notice of action in the amount of $69 million ($43 million, net of tax, 
or $0.15 per diluted share). These items are included in “Eliminations, 
corporate and other.” Also during 2016, we incurred transaction, 
financing and integration-planning expenses related to our TNT Express 
acquisition of $132 million ($125 million, net of tax, or $0.45 per diluted 
share), which includes the impact of certain costs not deductible for tax 
purposes as a result of the acquisition. These expenses also include 
TNT Express’s financial results from the time of acquisition, which are 
immaterial, and are predominantly included in “Eliminations, corporate 
and other.” While these items had a significant impact to our consoli-
dated results, our 2016 segment performance benefited from higher 
operating income at FedEx Express as our profit improvement program 
that commenced in 2013 continued to constrain expense growth while 
improving revenue quality, and the positive net impact of fuel. Two 
additional operating days also benefited all our transportation segments 
in 2016. These factors were partially offset by lower than anticipated 
revenue at FedEx Freight and network expansion costs, higher self-
insurance expenses and increased purchased transportation rates at 
FedEx Ground. In addition, higher incentive compensation accruals, 
which were not impacted by the charges and credits described above, 
negatively impacted our overall results.  

During 2016, a favorable tax impact from an internal corporate legal 
entity restructuring to facilitate the integration of FedEx Express and 
TNT Express was recorded in the amount of $76 million (or $0.27 per 
diluted share). 

Our results for 2015 include a $2.2 billion loss ($1.4 billion, net of tax, 
or $4.81 per diluted share) associated with our MTM retirement plans 
adjustment.

12

 13

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS3,000

2,900
3,000
2,800
2,900
2,700
2,800
2,600
2,700
2,500
2,600
2,400
2,500

2,400

9,000

8,500

9,000
8,000

8,500
7,500

8,000
7,000

7,500
6,500

7,000
6,000

6,500
5,500

6,000

5,500

14,000

13,500

14,000
13,000

13,500
12,500

13,000
12,000

12,500
11,500

12,000
11,000

11,500
10,500

11,000
10,000

10,500

10,000

$19.00

$19.00
$18.00

$18.00
$17.00

$17.00
$16.00

$16.00

$10.00

12

9,000
8,000

8,500
7,500

8,000
6,774
7,000

7,500
6,500
6,774
7,000
6,000

6,500
5,500
2014
6,000

5,500
2014

14,000
13,000

13,500
12,500

13,000
12,000

12,500
11,500

10,744
12,000
11,000

11,500
10,500

$19.00
$18.00

$17.42

$18.00
$17.00
$17.42

$17.00
$16.00
2014

The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight show selected volume trends (in thousands) for the years ended May 31 
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 
Average Daily Package Volume
(TNT Express volume trends are not presented, as it was acquired on May 25, 2016): 

FedEx Express International(1) 
Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 
3,000
Average Daily Package Volume
2,900
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 
2,800
Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 
Average Daily Package Volume
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 
3,000
Average Daily Package Volume
2,900
3,000
2,800
2,900
2,700
2,800
2,600
2,571
2,700
2,500
2,600
2,571
2,400
2014
2,500

2,683

2,683

2,713

2,683

2,571

2,571

2,726

2,713

2,713

2,726

2,683

2,713

2016

2015

2014

2015

2016

2017

2,700

2,600

2,726

2,571

2,400
2014

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

2,683

2,713

2,726

2,500

2,400

2017

2014

2015

2016

2,726

2017

1,200

1,000
1,200

800
1,000

600
800

400
600

200
400

200

819
600
800
580
400
600

580
200
400
2014

200
2014

FedEx Express International(1) 
1,200
Average Daily Package Volume
1,000
FedEx Express International(1) 
Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express International(1) 
Average Daily Package Volume
FedEx Express International(1) 
1,200
Average Daily Package Volume
1,000
1,200
819
800
1,000

819

934

888

853

853

934

888

800

888

888

853

819

853

819

934

600

400

934

580

853

586

888

934

575

591

580

586

586

575

591

575

591

200

580
2014

586
2015

586
2015

575
2016

575
2016

591
2017

591
2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

International export

International domestic

International export

International export

International domestic

International domestic

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

International export

International export

International domestic

International domestic

FedEx Ground 
FedEx Ground 
Average Daily Package Volume
Average Daily Package Volume
FedEx Ground 
FedEx Ground 
9,000
Average Daily Package Volume
Average Daily Package Volume
8,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

7,500

FedEx Ground 
Average Daily Package Volume

80.0

7,896

7,526

7,526

7,896

7,526

6,911

6,774

6,911

7,526

7,896

7,526

6,911

6,774

6,911

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

7,896

6,774

6,911

7,896

2014

2015

2016

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

70.6

62.9

66.9

66.9

FedEx Freight
FedEx Freight
80.0
Average Daily LTL Shipments
Average Daily LTL Shipments
70.0
FedEx Freight
FedEx Freight
80.0
60.0
Average Daily LTL Shipments
Average Daily LTL Shipments
67.7
67.7
70.0
62.9
80.0
60.0
70.0
62.9
50.0
60.0
40.0
50.0
27.7
30.0
40.0
20.0
27.7
2014
30.0

31.1
2016

31.1
2016

31.0
2017

28.6
2015

28.6
2015

27.7
2014

70.6

31.1

31.1

67.7

67.7

20.0

50.0

28.6

31.0

30.0

40.0

28.6

27.7

62.9

66.9

66.9

FedEx Freight
Average Daily LTL Shipments

66.9

67.7

70.6

62.9

27.7

28.6

31.1

31.0

2014

2015

2016

2017

Priority

Economy

70.6

70.6

31.0

31.0
2017

Priority

Priority

Economy

Economy

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

20.0
2014

Priority

Priority

Economy

Economy

70.0
80.0
60.0
70.0
50.0
60.0
40.0
50.0
30.0
40.0
20.0
30.0

20.0

2017

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground
Total Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground
14,000
Total Average Daily Package Volume
13,500
FedEx Express and FedEx Ground
13,000
Total Average Daily Package Volume
12,500

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground
Total Average Daily Package Volume
FedEx Express and FedEx Ground
Total Average Daily Package Volume

14,000

13,500

12,000

12,147

11,500

12,147

11,033

11,702

11,702

11,000

10,744

12,147

11,702

11,033

11,033

12,147

10,500

12,147

10,744

11,702

11,702

10,000

11,033

11,033

2014

2015

2016

2017

2015

10,744
2014

10,744
11,000
10,000
2014
10,500
(1)    International domestic average daily package volume represents our international intra-country operations.  
10,000
2014

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield

2017

2016

2015

2016

2017

2017

2016

2015

2017

2016

2015

2014

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
$19.00
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
$18.00
Revenue per Package – Yield

$19.00

$17.42

$17.13

$17.13

$17.00

$17.42

$17.13

$17.13

$17.00

$17.00

$17.42

$17.13

$17.00

$17.60

$17.00

$17.60

$17.00

$17.60

$17.60

$16.00

2014

2015

2016

$70.00

$60.00

$70.00
$50.00

$60.00
$40.00

$50.00
$30.00

$40.00
$20.00

$30.00
$10.00

$20.00
$–

$17.60

$70.00
$50.00
$58.92
$60.00
$40.00

$50.00
$30.00

$40.00
$20.00

2017

$30.00
$6.95
$10.00

$20.00
$–
2014
$6.95
$10.00

$–
2014

FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield

FedEx Express International(1)
$70.00
Revenue per Package – Yield
$60.00
FedEx Express International(1)
$50.00
Revenue per Package – Yield
$54.16

$54.16

$57.50

$57.50

$58.92

$54.68

$70.00
$58.92
$60.00

$54.68

$40.00

$58.92

$57.50

$57.50

$54.16

$54.68

$30.00

$54.16

$54.68

$20.00

$10.00

$–

$6.95

$6.49

$6.49

$5.65

$5.65

$5.45

$5.45

FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield

$58.92

$57.50

$54.16

$54.68

$6.95

$6.49

2014

2015

$5.65

2016

$5.45

2017

International export composite

International domestic

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

2015

2015

$16.00
2014
2014
2016
FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground
Revenue per Package – Yield
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground

$10.00

2016

2017

$10.00

$9.00

2017

FedEx Ground
Revenue per Package – Yield
$–

$10.00

2014
$6.95

2015
$6.49

2015
$6.49

2016
2017
$5.65
$5.45
International domestic

2016
2017
$5.65
$5.45
International domestic

International export composite

International export composite

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

 13

International export composite

International export composite

International domestic

International domestic

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

LTL Revenue per Shipment

FedEx Freight 

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

Revenue per Package – Yield

Revenue per Package – Yield

$10.00

$9.00

$10.00

$9.00

$8.00

$8.18

$7.80

$8.18

$8.18

$7.16

2014

2015

2016

2017

$9.00

$8.00

$9.00

$8.00

$7.80

$7.80

$7.00

$6.75

$8.00

$7.00

$8.00

$7.00

$6.75

$6.75

$7.80

$7.80

$6.00

$7.16

$7.16

$8.18

$8.18

$7.16

$7.16

$6.75

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

$7.00

$6.00

$6.00

$6.75

$7.00

$6.00

2014

$6.00

2014

FedEx Freight 

FedEx Freight 

$280.00

LTL Revenue per Shipment

LTL Revenue per Shipment

$280.00

$280.00

FedEx Freight 

FedEx Freight 

LTL Revenue per Shipment

LTL Revenue per Shipment

$264.34

$264.34

$265.77

$261.27

$261.27

$258.05

$260.00

$265.77

$280.00

$260.00

$258.05

$280.00

$260.00

$258.05

$264.34

$264.34

$229.57

$229.57

$258.05

$223.61

$229.57

$229.57

$261.27

$261.27

$223.61

$240.00

$265.77

$265.77

$220.00

$218.50

$218.50

$221.67

$221.67

$200.00

$223.61

$223.61

$218.50

$218.50

$221.67

$221.67

Priority

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

Priority

Priority

Economy

Economy

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

Priority

Priority

Economy

Economy

$260.00

$240.00

$240.00

$220.00

$220.00

$200.00

$200.00

$258.05

$260.00

$240.00

$223.61

$240.00

$220.00

$220.00

$200.00

2014

$200.00

2014

$264.34

$261.27

$265.77

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

$3.76

$229.57

$3.13

$3.13

$218.50

$3.00

$4.00

$221.67

$3.00

$3.76

$4.00

$3.13

$3.76

$3.13

$2.41

$2.24

$2.41

$3.76

$3.13

$3.13

$2.47

$5.00

$4.00

$3.00

$2.00

$1.00

$3.13

$2.47

$3.13

$2.24

$3.13

$2.47

$2.24

$1.52

$2.41

$1.61

$2.24

$1.52

$–

$2.41

$1.61

2014

2015

Vehicle

2014

2015

2016

2017

$2.47

$2.47

$2.41

$1.61

2017

$2.24

$1.52

2016

Jet

$5.00

$5.00

$4.00

$5.00

$3.76

$4.00

$5.00

$2.00

$3.00

$1.00

$2.00

Economy

$–

$1.00

$–

$2.00

$3.00

$3.13

$1.00

$2.00

$–

$1.00

2014

$–

2014

2014

2015

2015

$1.52

2016

$1.52

2016

$1.61

2017

$1.61

2017

Vehicle

Vehicle

Jet

Jet

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

Vehicle

Vehicle

Jet

Jet

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS2014

2015

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

International export

International domestic

International export

International export

2015

2014

International domestic

International domestic

2017

2016

International export

International domestic

27.7

28.6

31.1

31.0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

Priority

Economy

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 

Average Daily Package Volume

2,683

2,713

2,726

2,571

1,200

1,200

1,000

819

800

800

600

580

600

400

6,774

2014

400

200

200

80.0

80.0

70.0

62.9

60.0

60.0

50.0

50.0

40.0

27.7

40.0

30.0

30.0

20.0

2014

20.0

10,744

934

934

591

591

70.6

70.6

31.0

31.0

FedEx Express International(1) 

FedEx Express International(1) 

Average Daily Package Volume

Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express International(1) 

Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Ground 

853

Average Daily Package Volume

1,000

888

888

934

888

853

853

819

819

580

586

580

6,911

2014

2015

575

7,526

586

586

591

7,896

575

575

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

FedEx Freight

FedEx Freight

Average Daily LTL Shipments

Average Daily LTL Shipments

FedEx Freight

Average Daily LTL Shipments

66.9

66.9

67.7

70.6

67.7

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground

70.0

67.7

66.9

Total Average Daily Package Volume

62.9

62.9

28.6

27.7

27.7

28.6

28.6

31.1

31.1

31.0

31.1

12,147

2014

2015

2015

11,702

2016

2016

2017

2017

Priority

2014

Priority

11,033

2015

Economy

2016

Economy

2017

Priority

Economy

2014

2015

2016

2017

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic

Revenue per Package – Yield

$17.42

$17.13

$17.00

$17.60

3,000

2,900

2,800

2,700

2,600

2,500

2,400

1,200

1,000

800

9,000

600

8,500

8,000

400

7,500

200

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

80.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

14,000

40.0

13,500

13,000

30.0

12,500

20.0

12,000

11,500

11,000

10,500

10,000

$19.00

$18.00

$17.00

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 

Average Daily Package Volume

Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 

Average Daily Package Volume

2,713

2,683

2,683

2,713

2,726

2,713

2,726

2,726

2,683

2,571

2,571

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

2017

FedEx Ground 

FedEx Ground 

Average Daily Package Volume

Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Ground 

Average Daily Package Volume

7,526

7,896

7,526

7,526

7,896

7,896

6,911

6,774

6,774

6,911

6,911

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

2017

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground

Total Average Daily Package Volume

Total Average Daily Package Volume

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground

Total Average Daily Package Volume

3,000

2,900

2,800

2,700

2,600

2,500

2,400

9,000

8,500

8,000

7,500

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

3,000

3,000

2,900

2,900

2,800

2,800

2,700

2,700

2,600

2,571

2,600

2,500

2,500

2,400

2014

2,400

9,000

8,500

9,000

8,000

8,500

7,500

8,000

6,774

7,000

7,500

6,500

7,000

6,000

6,500

5,500

6,000

2014

5,500

14,000

13,500

13,000

12,500

12,000

11,500

11,000

10,500

14,000

13,500

14,000

13,000
13,500

12,500
13,000

12,000
12,500

11,500
12,000
10,744
11,000
11,500

10,500
11,000

12,147

12,147

11,702

11,702

12,147

11,033

11,033

11,702

10,744

10,744

11,033

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

80.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

$70.00

$60.00

$50.00

$40.00

$30.00

$20.00

$10.00

$–

FedEx Express International(1) 

Average Daily Package Volume

819

853

888

934

580

586

575

591

FedEx Freight

Average Daily LTL Shipments

66.9

67.7

70.6

62.9

FedEx Express International(1)

Revenue per Package – Yield

$58.92

$57.50

$54.16

$54.68

$6.95

$6.49

2014

2015

$5.65

2016

$5.45

2017

International export composite

International domestic

10,000
The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight show selected yield trends for the years ended May 31 (TNT Express 
yield trends are not presented, as it was acquired on May 25, 2016): 

10,000
10,500
2014
10,000

$16.00

2017

2015

2017

2016

2015

2014

2017

2016

2015

2017

2016

2015

2014

2016

2014

$19.00

$19.00

$18.00

$19.00

$18.00

$17.42
$18.00

$17.00

$17.00

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic
Revenue per Package – Yield

$17.60

$17.60

$17.42

$17.13

$17.42

$17.13

$17.00

$17.13

$17.00

$17.00

$17.00

$16.00
2014
$16.00

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground
Revenue per Package – Yield
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Ground
Revenue per Package – Yield

$10.00

$10.00

$9.00

$9.00

$8.00

$8.00

$6.75
$7.00

$7.00

$6.00
2014
$6.00

$8.18

$7.80

$7.80

$7.80

$7.16

$7.16

$7.16

$6.75

$6.75

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

$17.60

2017

2017

$8.18

$8.18

2017

2017

$16.00

$10.00

$9.00

$8.00

$7.00

$6.00

$280.00

$70.00

$10.00
$60.00

$50.00
$9.00
$40.00

$30.00
$8.00

$20.00

$7.00
$10.00

$–

$6.00

$280.00

$260.00

$240.00

$220.00

$200.00

FedEx Express International(1)
FedEx Ground
Revenue per Package – Yield
Revenue per Package – Yield

FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield
FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield

$70.00
$58.92
$60.00
$70.00

$50.00
$60.00

$40.00
$50.00

$30.00
$40.00

$20.00
$30.00

$6.95
$6.75
$10.00
$20.00

$58.92

$57.50

$58.92

$57.50

$54.16

$57.50

$7.16

$6.95

$6.49

$7.80

$6.49

$5.65

$54.16

$54.68

$54.16

$54.68

$54.68

$8.18

$5.65

$5.45

$5.65
2016

2017

$5.45

$5.45
2017

$6.95
2014

$–
$10.00
2014
$–
2014
International export composite
International export composite
2014

2016

2015

2015

2015

$6.49
2015

2016
2017
International domestic

International domestic
2016
2017

International export composite

International domestic

FedEx Freight 
LTL Revenue per Shipment

$258.05

$223.61

$264.34

$261.27

$265.77

$229.57

$218.50

$221.67

2014

2015

2016

2017

Priority

Economy

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

$5.00

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

$5.00

$4.00

$3.00

$2.00

$1.00

$–

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

$3.76

$3.13

$3.13

$2.47

2014

2015

Vehicle

$2.41

$1.61

2017

$2.24

$1.52

2016

Jet

FedEx Freight 
LTL Revenue per Shipment

FedEx Freight 
LTL Revenue per Shipment
FedEx Freight 
LTL Revenue per Shipment
$264.34

$265.77

$264.34

$265.77

(1)   International domestic revenue per package represents our international intra-country operations.   
$280.00

$5.00

$229.57

$264.34

$229.57

$229.57

$223.61

$260.00

$258.05

$223.61

$240.00

$258.05

$220.00

$261.27

$221.67

$265.77

$261.27

$261.27

$240.00
$223.61

$280.00
$258.05
Revenue
$260.00
$260.00
Revenues increased 20% in 2017 due to the inclusion of TNT Express 
$240.00
and improvements at our other transportation segments. At FedEx 
Ground, revenues increased 9% in 2017 due to improved yield and 
$218.50
$220.00
volume growth. Revenues at FedEx Express increased 3% in 2017 due 
to yield and package volume growth partially offset by unfavorable 
$200.00
exchange rates. Revenues in 2017 were negatively impacted by  
2016
one fewer operating day at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. FedEx 
Freight revenues increased 4% due to higher average daily LTL 
shipments and higher LTL revenue per shipment. Higher fuel  
surcharges benefited revenues at all our transportation segments  
in 2017, but had a minimal net impact on operating income.

$200.00
2014
$200.00

Economy

Economy

Economy

$218.50

$221.67

$221.67

$218.50

$220.00

Priority

Priority

Priority

2017

2016

2015

2014

2017

2016

2015

2014

2017

2015

Revenues increased 6% in 2016 driven by the FedEx Ground segment 
due to volume growth in our residential services coupled with rate 
increases, and the inclusion of FedEx Supply Chain Distribution 
System, Inc. (“FedEx Supply Chain”) revenue for a full year. In addition, 
revenues increased approximately $1.2 billion in 2016 as a result of 
recording FedEx SmartPost service revenues on a gross basis, versus 
our previous net treatment due to operational changes that occurred 

$–

$1.00
$–
2014
$–

$4.00

$5.00
$3.76
$4.00

$3.76

$3.76

$3.00

$3.13

$3.13

in 2016, which resulted in us being the principal in all cases for the 
FedEx SmartPost service. Lower fuel surcharges had a significant 
negative impact on revenues at all of our transportation segments in 
2016. Unfavorable exchange rates also negatively impacted revenues 
at FedEx Express in 2016. Two additional operating days benefited 
$1.61
revenues at all our transportation segments in 2016.  

$4.00
$3.00
$3.13
$3.00
$2.00

$2.00
$1.00

$2.24

$2.47

$1.52

$2.24

$2.47

$1.52

$1.00

$2.00

$3.13

$3.13

$2.24

$2.47

$2.41

$3.13

$2.41

$1.61

$2.41

$1.61

$1.52

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

Jet

2014

2015

2017

Jet
2016

Vehicle

Vehicle
Jet

Retirement Plans MTM Adjustments
Vehicle
We incurred a non-cash pre-tax MTM gain of $24 million in 2017  
($6 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per diluted share) and losses of  
$1.5 billion in 2016 ($946 million, net of tax, or $3.39 per diluted share) 
and $2.2 billion in 2015 ($1.4 billion, net of tax, or $4.81 per diluted 
share) from actuarial adjustments to pension and postretirement 
healthcare plans related to the measurement of plan assets and 
liabilities. The gain in 2017 reflects higher-than-expected pension 
asset returns, particularly in the equity markets. The losses in 2016 
and 2015 are attributable to declining discount rates and demographic 
assumption experience changes. For more information, see the “Critical 
Accounting Estimates” section of this MD&A and Note 1 and Note 13 of 
the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  

14

 15

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOperating Expenses
The following tables compare operating expenses expressed as dollar 
amounts (in millions) and as a percent of revenue for the years ended 
May 31: 

Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other charges(3) 
  Retirement plans mark-to-market
    adjustment
  Other(4)
    Total operating expenses
Total operating income

2017(1)

2016(2)

2015

$ 21,542
13,630
3,240
2,995
2,773
2,374
–

$ 18,581  $ 17,110 
8,483 
2,682 
2,611 
3,720 
2,099 
 276 

9,966 
2,854 
2,631 
2,399 
2,108 
 – 

(24)
8,752
$ 55,282
$ 5,037

 1,498 
7,251 

 2,190 
6,415 
$ 47,288  $ 45,586 
$ 1,867
$ 3,077

 Percent of Revenue
2016(2)

2017(1)

2015

36.9 %
19.8 
5.7 
5.2 
4.7 
4.2 
–

35.7%
22.6
5.3
5.0
4.6
3.9
–

Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other charges(3)
  Retirement plans mark-to-market  
    adjustment
  Other(4)
    Total operating expenses
Operating margin
(1)  Includes TNT Express integration expenses and restructuring charges of $327 million 

–
14.5
91.6
8.4%

 3.0 
14.4 
93.9 
6.1 %

36.1 %
17.9 
5.7 
5.5 
7.8 
4.4 
 0.6 

 4.6 
13.5 
96.1 
3.9 %

and increased intangible asset amortization of $74 million as a result of the TNT Express 
acquisition.

(2)  Includes transaction and integration-planning expenses related to our TNT Express acquisition 

of $113 million.

(3)  Includes charges resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement 

schedule of certain aircraft and related engines at FedEx Express. 

(4)  Other expenses in 2017 include $39 million of charges for legal reserves related to certain  

pending CBP matters involving FedEx Trade Networks and $22 million of charges in connection 
with the settlement of and certain expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation 
matters at FedEx Ground. Included in 2016 are provisions for the settlement of and expected 
losses related to independent contractor litigation matters involving FedEx Ground for  
$256 million and $69 million in expenses related to the settlement of a CBP notice of action,  
in each case net of recognized immaterial insurance recovery. Included in 2015 is a $197 million 
charge in the fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a 
legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the settlement.

Our operating income and margin benefited from the slight positive 
impact of our MTM adjustment in 2017, compared to large MTM 
losses in the prior two years, the year-over-year decreases associated 
with the independent contractor litigation matters and CBP matters, 
and the continued growth and cost management initiatives at the 
FedEx Express segment. However, operating margin was negatively 
impacted in 2017 by the inclusion of TNT Express, TNT Express 
integration expenses and network expansion costs at FedEx Ground.

Our operating expenses include an increase in purchased transportation 
costs of 37% in 2017 due to the inclusion of TNT Express and higher 
volume and increased purchased transportation rates at FedEx 
Ground. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased 16% in 
2017 due to the inclusion of TNT Express, volume growth and staffing 
to support network expansion at FedEx Ground, merit increases at 
FedEx Express, and higher staffing levels to support volume growth 
and merit increases at FedEx Freight. Other expenses increased 21% 
in 2017 primarily due to outside service contracts at TNT Express and 
the reserves for the legal matters involving FedEx Trade Networks and 
FedEx Ground, which were offset by the inclusion of independent 
contractor litigation expenses and the CBP matter in the prior year. 

Our operating expenses for 2016 include a $1.5 billion loss  
($946 million, net of tax, or $3.39 per diluted share) associated with our 
annual MTM retirement plans adjustment described above. In addition, 
we recorded corporate level provisions for the settlement of and 
expected losses related to independent contractor litigation matters 
involving FedEx Ground and the settlement of the CBP matter, and 
expenses related to our acquisition of TNT Express as described above. 
Operating expenses also increased due to higher salaries and employee 
benefits at FedEx Freight, and higher purchased transportation expenses 
due to the recording of FedEx SmartPost revenues on a gross basis, 
network expansion costs, higher self-insurance expenses and increased 
purchased transportation rates at FedEx Ground. In addition, higher 
incentive compensation accruals impacted our overall operating 
expenses. 

Our 2016 operating margin benefited from the reduced year-over-
year loss from our MTM retirement plans adjustment, the strong 
performance of our FedEx Express segment due to the continued 
execution of our profit improvement program and the positive net 
impact of fuel. However, operating margin was negatively impacted 
in 2016 by higher salaries and employee benefits at FedEx Freight, 
and network expansion costs, higher self-insurance expenses and 
the recording of FedEx SmartPost revenues on a gross basis at  
FedEx Ground, transaction and integration-planning expenses 
related to our TNT Express acquisition, and higher incentive 
compensation accruals. 

14

 15

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
FedEx Express U.S. Domestic 

Average Daily Package Volume

2,683

2,713

2,726

2,571

FedEx Ground 

Average Daily Package Volume

7,526

7,896

6,774

6,911

FedEx Express and FedEx Ground

Total Average Daily Package Volume

12,147

11,702

11,033

10,744

2014

2015

2016

2017

FedEx Express U.S. Domestic

Revenue per Package – Yield

$17.42

$17.13

$17.00

$17.60

2014

2015

2016

2017

FedEx Ground

Revenue per Package – Yield

$8.18

$7.80

$7.00

$6.75

$7.16

2014

2015

2016

2017

FedEx Freight 

LTL Revenue per Shipment

$264.34

$261.27

$265.77

$258.05

$223.61

$229.57

$218.50

$221.67

3,000

2,900

2,800

2,700

2,600

2,500

2,400

9,000

8,500

8,000

7,500

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

14,000

13,500

13,000

12,500

12,000

11,500

11,000

10,500

10,000

$19.00

$18.00

$17.00

$16.00

$10.00

$9.00

$8.00

$6.00

$280.00

$260.00

$240.00

$220.00

$200.00

2014

2015

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

International export

International domestic

2014

2015

2016

2017

2014

2015

2016

2017

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

80.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

FedEx Express International(1) 

Average Daily Package Volume

819

853

888

934

580

586

575

591

FedEx Freight

Average Daily LTL Shipments

66.9

67.7

70.6

62.9

27.7

28.6

31.1

31.0

Priority

Economy

FedEx Express International(1)
Revenue per Package – Yield

$70.00

$60.00

$58.92

$57.50

$54.16

$54.68

$–

2015

2014

$5.45

$5.65

$6.95

$6.49

$10.00

$30.00

$40.00

$50.00

$20.00

Our operating expenses include an increase in purchased transportation 
costs of 17% in 2016 due to the recording of FedEx SmartPost service 
revenues on a gross basis (including postal fees in revenues and 
expenses) due to operational changes that occurred in 2016, which 
resulted in us being the principal in all cases for the FedEx SmartPost 
service and higher volumes and increased rates at FedEx Ground. 
Salaries and employee benefits expense increased 9% in 2016 due  
to the inclusion of FedEx Supply Chain results for a full year, pay 
initiatives coupled with increased staffing at FedEx Freight, higher 
healthcare costs and higher incentive compensation accruals. Other 
expenses were 13% higher in 2016 due to the inclusion of FedEx 
Supply Chain results for a full year, higher self-insurance costs at 
FedEx Ground and the CBP matter described above. Rentals and 
landing fees increased 6% in 2016 due to network expansion and  
the inclusion of FedEx Supply Chain results for a full year at FedEx 
Ground. Retirement plans MTM adjustment expenses decreased  
32% in 2016, as favorable demographic assumption experience partially 
offset the actuarial loss on pension plan asset returns in 2016.  

International export composite

International domestic

2017

2016

Fuel
The following graph for our transportation segments shows our 
average cost of jet and vehicle fuel per gallon for the years ended 
May 31: 

Average Fuel Cost per Gallon

$3.76

$3.13

$3.13

$2.47

$5.00

$4.00

$3.00

$2.00

$1.00

$–

2014

2015

2016

2017

Priority

Economy

2014

2015

Vehicle

$2.41

$1.61

2017

$2.24

$1.52

2016

Jet

Fuel expense increased 16% during 2017 due to the inclusion of TNT 
Express and higher fuel prices. However, fuel prices represent only 
one component of the two factors we consider meaningful in 
understanding the impact of fuel on our business. Consideration must 
also be given to the fuel surcharge revenue we collect. Accordingly, 
we believe discussion of the net impact of fuel on our results, which 
is a comparison of the year-over-year change in these two factors, is 
important to understand the impact of fuel on our business. In order 
to provide information about the impact of fuel surcharges on the 
trend in revenue and yield growth, we have included the comparative 
weighted-average fuel surcharge percentages in effect for 2017, 
2016 and 2015 in the accompanying discussions of each of our 
transportation segments. 

Effective February 6, 2017, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground fuel 
surcharges are adjusted on a weekly basis. The fuel surcharge is 
based on a weekly fuel price from two weeks prior to the week in 
which it is assessed. The index used to determine the fuel surcharge 
percentage for our FedEx Freight business continues to adjust 
weekly. TNT Express’s fuel surcharges incorporate a timing lag of 
approximately six to eight weeks.

16

Prior to February 6, 2017, our fuel surcharges for the FedEx Express and 
FedEx Ground businesses incorporated a timing lag of approximately six 
to eight weeks before they were adjusted for changes in fuel prices. For 
example, the fuel surcharge index in effect at FedEx Express in January 
2017 was set based on November 2016 fuel prices. In addition, on 
November 2, 2015 we updated the tables used to determine our fuel 
surcharges at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground.

Beyond these factors, the manner in which we purchase fuel also 
influences the net impact of fuel on our results. For example, our 
contracts for jet fuel purchases at FedEx Express are tied to various 
indices, including the U.S. Gulf Coast index. While many of these 
indices are aligned, each index may fluctuate at a different pace, 
driving variability in the prices paid for jet fuel. Furthermore, under 
these contractual arrangements, approximately 75% of our jet fuel is 
purchased based on the index price for the preceding week, with the 
remainder of our purchases tied to the index price for the preceding 
month, rather than based on daily spot rates. These contractual 
provisions mitigate the impact of rapidly changing daily spot rates  
on our jet fuel purchases. 

Because of the factors described above, our operating results may  
be affected should the market price of fuel suddenly change by a 
significant amount or change by amounts that do not result in an 
adjustment in our fuel surcharges, which can significantly affect  
our earnings either positively or negatively in the short-term. 

The net impact of fuel had minimal impact to operating income in 
2017 as higher fuel surcharges were more than offset by increased 
fuel prices. 

The net impact of fuel on our operating results does not consider  
the effects that fuel surcharge levels may have on our business, 
including changes in demand and shifts in the mix of services 
purchased by our customers. While fluctuations in fuel surcharge 
percentages can be significant from period to period, fuel surcharges 
represent one of the many individual components of our pricing 
structure that impact our overall revenue and yield. Additional 
components include the mix of services sold, the base price and  
extra service charges we obtain for these services and the level  
of pricing discounts offered. 

Fuel expense decreased 36% during 2016 primarily due to lower 
aircraft fuel prices. The net impact of fuel had a modest benefit to 
operating income in 2016. This was driven by decreased fuel prices 
during 2016 versus the prior year, which was partially offset by the 
year-over-year decrease in fuel surcharge revenue during these 
periods. 

Other Income and Expense 
Interest expense increased $176 million in 2017 primarily due to our 
U.S. and Euro debt issuances in fiscal 2016, which was partially offset 
by a gain of $35 million from the sale of an investment during 2017 in 
other expense. The weighted average interest rate on our long-term 
debt was 3.6% in 2017, reflecting the favorable interest rates obtained 
in the recent debt offerings. Interest expense increased $101 million in 
2016 primarily due to increased interest expense from our 2016 and 
2015 debt offerings used to fund our share repurchase programs and 
business acquisitions. 

 17

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISIncome Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 34.6% in 2017, 33.6% in 2016 and 35.5% 
in 2015. Due to its effect on income before income taxes, the 
adjustment for MTM pension accounting increased our 2017 effective 
tax rate by 20 basis points and reduced our 2016 and 2015 effective 
tax rates by 120 and 80 basis points, respectively. 

Our 2017 tax rate was favorably impacted by $62 million as a result of 
the implementation of new U.S. foreign currency tax regulations and 
$55 million from the adoption of the Accounting Standards Update on 
share-based payments. Our 2016 tax rate was favorably impacted by 
$76 million from an internal corporate legal entity restructuring done 
in anticipation of the integration of the foreign operations of FedEx 
Express and TNT Express. A lower state tax rate primarily due to the 
resolution of a state tax matter also provided a benefit to our 2016  
tax rate. 

Cumulative permanently reinvested foreign earnings were $2.1 billion 
at the end of 2017 and $1.6 billion at the end of 2016. 

Additional information on income taxes, including our effective tax 
rate reconciliation, liabilities for uncertain tax positions and our global 
tax profile can be found in Note 12 of the accompanying consolidated 
financial statements. 

Business Acquisitions
On May 25, 2016, we acquired TNT Express for €4.4 billion  
(approximately $4.9 billion). Cash acquired in the acquisition was 
approximately €250 million ($280 million). All shares associated 
with the transaction were tendered or transferred as of the third 
quarter of 2017. We funded the acquisition with proceeds from an 
April 2016 debt issuance and existing cash balances. The financial 
results of this business for 2017 are included in the FedEx Express 
group and the TNT Express segment.  Financial results for 2016 were 
immaterial from the time of acquisition and are included in 
“Eliminations, corporate and other.”

TNT Express collects, transports and delivers documents, parcels and 
freight to over 200 countries. This strategic acquisition broadens our 
portfolio of international transportation solutions with the combined 
strength of TNT Express’s strong European road platform and FedEx 
Express’s strength in other regions globally. 

For more information, see Note 3 of the accompanying consolidated 
financial statements. 

During 2015, we acquired two businesses, expanding our portfolio in 
e-commerce and supply chain solutions. On January 30, 2015, we 
acquired GENCO Distribution System, Inc., now FedEx Supply Chain,  
a leading North American third-party logistics provider, for $1.4 billion, 
which was funded using a portion of the proceeds from our January 
2015 debt issuance. The financial results of this business are included 
in the FedEx Ground segment from the date of acquisition. 

In addition, on December 16, 2014, we acquired Bongo International, 
LLC, now FedEx Cross Border, a leader in cross-border enablement 
technologies and solutions, for $42 million in cash from operations. 
The financial results of this business are included in the FedEx Express 
segment from the date of acquisition. 

TNT Express Cyber-Attack
On June 28, 2017, we announced that the worldwide operations  
of TNT Express were significantly affected by the cyber-attack 
known as Petya, which involved the spread of an information 
technology virus through a Ukrainian tax software product. The 
systems and data of all other FedEx companies are currently 
unaffected by the attack. TNT Express operates in Ukraine and  
uses the software that was compromised, which allowed the virus 
to infiltrate TNT Express systems and encrypt its data. While TNT 
Express operations and communications were significantly affected, 
no data breach or data loss to third parties is known to have 
occurred as of the date of this filing.

Immediately following the attack, contingency plans were  
implemented to recover TNT Express operations and communications 
systems. As of the date of this filing, all TNT Express depots, hubs  
and facilities are operational and most TNT services are available. 
Nevertheless, customers are still experiencing widespread service 
delays, including invoicing, and manual processes are being used to 
facilitate a significant portion of TNT Express operations and customer 
service functions. We cannot estimate when TNT Express services 
will be fully restored. Contingency plans that make use of both FedEx 
Express and TNT Express networks remain in place to minimize the 
impacts to customers, including transporting TNT Express packages 
within the FedEx Express network and offering the full range of FedEx 
Express services as alternatives to TNT Express customers. 

Our information technology teams have been focused on the 
recovery of critical systems and continue to make progress in 
resuming full services and restoring critical systems. Currently, we 
are focused on restoring remaining operational systems as well as 
finance, back-office and secondary business systems. At this time, 
we cannot estimate how long it will take to restore the systems that 
were impacted and it is reasonably possible that TNT Express will 
be unable to fully restore all of the affected systems and recover all 
of the critical business data that was encrypted by the virus. 

Given the recent timing and magnitude of the attack, in addition to our 
initial focus on restoring TNT Express operations and customer service 
functions, we are still evaluating the financial impact of the attack, 
but it is likely that it will be material. We do not have cyber or other 
insurance in place that covers this attack. Although we cannot 
currently quantify the amounts, we have experienced loss of revenue 
due to decreased volumes at TNT Express and incremental costs 
associated with the implementation of contingency plans and the 
remediation of affected systems. Additional consequences and risks 
associated with the cyber-attack that could negatively impact our 
results of operations and financial condition are described in the 
corresponding risk factor included in this MD&A. In addition to 
financial consequences, the cyber-attack may materially impact our 
disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial 
reporting in future periods. 

16

 17

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOutlook
During 2018, we expect yield and volume growth at all our  
transportation segments to support revenue and earnings growth, 
prior to any MTM retirement plans adjustment. Our 2018 results  
will be negatively affected by our TNT Express integration and 
restructuring activities, as well as the impact of the TNT Express 
cyber-attack. Our expectations for earnings growth in 2018 are 
dependent on key external factors, including fuel prices and 
moderate economic growth. We expect segment level pension 
expense to decline by approximately $86 million in 2018 due to 
improved funded status in our tax-qualified U.S. domestic pension 
plans (“U.S. Pension Plans”). 

During 2018, we will continue to execute our TNT Express integration 
plans. The integration process is complex as it spans over 200 
countries and involves combining our pickup and delivery operations 
at a local level, our global and regional air and ground networks,  
and our extensive operations, customs clearance, sales and  
customer-facing and back-office information technology systems.  
The integration is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.  
We expect the aggregate integration program expense, including 
restructuring charges at TNT Express, over the four years to be 
approximately $800 million and expect to incur approximately  
$275 million of these costs during 2018. We continue to refine  
our integration plans, however, particularly in light of the recent 
cyber-attack at TNT Express. As a result, the timing and amount  
of integration expenses and capital investments in any future period 
may change as we implement our plans.

The integration process has proceeded in a manner such that in the 
first quarter of 2018 we will report one combined FedEx Express 
segment (currently reported as the FedEx Express group). This one 
segment is the result of combining the financial information of the 
FedEx Express and TNT Express segments (see discussion in the 
Reportable Segments section below). We are targeting operating 
income improvement at the FedEx Express group of $1.2 billion to  
$1.5 billion in 2020 from 2017, assuming moderate economic growth 
and current accounting and tax rules.

Our capital expenditures for 2018 are expected to be approximately 
$5.9 billion, largely for our fleet modernization program at FedEx 
Express and investments in facilities and sort equipment to support 
volume growth at FedEx Ground, including certain projects deferred 
from 2017. In addition, our capital expenditure forecast includes  
$160 million for the TNT Express integration. These capital expenditure 
forecasts are subject to change as we refine and implement our  
TNT Express integration plans. We will continue to evaluate our 
investments in critical long-term strategic projects to ensure our 
capital expenditures generate high returns on investment and  
are balanced with our outlook for global economic conditions.  
For additional details on key 2018 capital projects, refer to the 
“Capital Resources” and “Liquidity Outlook” sections of this MD&A.  

We expect our effective tax rate for 2018 to be between 32% and 
35%. Our 2018 effective tax rate will likely be higher in the first 
quarter and vary from quarter to quarter as tax benefits and costs 
related to the TNT Express integration are recognized.

Substantial activities and legal entity restructuring are ongoing with 
respect to the integration of the foreign operations of FedEx Express 
and TNT Express. As we continue to integrate these businesses over 
the next few years, there could be material favorable and unfavorable 
impacts to our effective tax rate. However, once the businesses are 
integrated, the expected increase in international earnings should 
contribute to a reduction in our effective tax rate.

Our outlook is dependent upon a stable pricing environment for fuel, 
as volatility in fuel prices impacts our fuel surcharge levels, fuel 
expense and demand for our services. Due to the change in fuel 
surcharge methodology discussed above, the volatility in fuel costs 
will have less of an impact on earnings as the timing lag of 
adjustments to our fuel surcharges has been reduced by several 
weeks at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. 

Other Outlook Matters
We are involved in a number of lawsuits and other proceedings that 
challenge the status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators as independent 
contractors. For a description of these proceedings, see Note 18 of  
the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional 
information.

FedEx Ground previously announced plans to implement the 
Independent Service Provider (“ISP”) model throughout its entire U.S. 
pickup and delivery network, including the 29 states that had not yet 
begun transitioning to the ISP model. The transition to the ISP model 
in these 29 states is being accomplished on a district-by-district basis 
and is expected to be completed in the second half of calendar 2020. 
As of May 31, 2017, more than 45% of FedEx Ground volume was 
being delivered by small businesses operating under the ISP model. 
The costs associated with these transitions will be recognized in  
the periods incurred and are not expected to be material to any  
future quarter.

See “Risk Factors” and “Forward Looking Statements” for a 
discussion of these and other potential risks and uncertainties  
that could materially affect our future performance. 

Seasonality of Business
Our businesses are cyclical in nature, as seasonal fluctuations  
affect volumes, revenues and earnings. Historically, the U.S.  
express package business experiences an increase in volumes in  
late November and December. International business, particularly in 
the Asia-to-U.S. market, peaks in October and November in advance 
of the U.S. holiday sales season. Our first and third fiscal quarters, 
because they are summer vacation and post winter-holiday seasons, 
have historically experienced lower volumes relative to other periods. 
Normally, the fall is the busiest shipping period for FedEx Ground, 
while late December, June and July are the slowest periods. For 
FedEx Freight, the spring and fall are the busiest periods and the  
latter part of December through February is the slowest period.  
Shipment levels, operating costs and earnings for each of our 
companies can also be adversely affected by inclement weather, 
particularly the impact of severe winter weather in our third  
fiscal quarter. 

18

 19

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISRecent Accounting Guidance
New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly 
impact our reported results and the comparability of our financial 
statements. We believe the following new accounting guidance is 
relevant to the readers of our financial statements.

During the first quarter of 2017, we retrospectively adopted the 
authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards 
Board (“FASB”) to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. 
This new guidance requires entities to present debt issuance costs 
related to a recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the 
carrying amount of that debt liability, rather than as an asset. This 
new guidance had a minimal impact on our accounting and financial 
reporting.

During the second quarter of 2017, we adopted the Accounting 
Standards Update issued by the FASB in March 2016 to simplify the 
accounting for share-based payment transactions. The new guidance 
requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of awards that 
vest or are settled as income tax expense or benefit in the income 
statement as opposed to additional paid-in capital. The guidance also 
provides clarification of the presentation of certain components of 
share-based awards in the statement of cash flows.  Additionally, the 
guidance allows companies to make a policy election to account for 
forfeitures either upon occurrence or by estimating forfeitures. We 
have elected to continue estimating forfeitures expected to occur in 
order to determine the amount of compensation cost to be recognized 
each period and to apply the cash flow classification guidance 
prospectively. Excess tax benefits are now classified as an operating 
activity rather than a financing activity. The adoption of the new 
standard resulted in a benefit to net income of $55 million ($0.17 per 
diluted share) for the year ended May 31, 2017. The first quarter of 
2017 was not recast due to immateriality.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards 
Board issued a new accounting standard that will supersede virtually 
all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted 
accounting principles in the United States. This standard will be 
effective for us beginning in fiscal 2019. The fundamental principles  
of the new guidance are that companies should recognize revenue  
in a manner that reflects the timing of the transfer of services to 
customers and the amount of revenue recognized reflects the 
consideration that a company expects to receive for the goods and 
services provided. The new guidance establishes a five-step approach 
for the recognition of revenue. We are continuing to assess the impact 
of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements and 
related disclosures, including ongoing contract reviews. We do not 
anticipate that the new guidance will have a material impact on  
our revenue recognition policies, practices or systems.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued a new lease accounting 
standard which requires lessees to put most leases on their balance 
sheets but recognize the expenses on their income statements in a 
manner similar to current practice. The new standard states that a 
lessee will recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease 
payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying 
asset for the lease term. Expenses related to leases determined to be 
operating leases will be recognized on a straight-line basis, while 
those determined to be financing leases will be recognized following 
a front-loaded expense profile in which interest and amortization are 
presented separately in the income statement. Based on our lease 
portfolio, we currently anticipate recognizing a lease liability and 
related right-of-use asset on the balance sheet in excess of $13 billion 
with an immaterial impact on our income statement compared to the 
current lease accounting model. However, the ultimate impact of the 
standard will depend on the company’s lease portfolio as of the 
adoption date. We are currently in the process of evaluating our 
existing lease portfolios, including accumulating all of the necessary 
information required to properly account for the leases under the new 
standard. Additionally, we are implementing an enterprise-wide lease 
management system to assist in the accounting and are evaluating 
additional changes to our processes and internal controls to ensure 
we meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements. These 
changes will be effective for our fiscal year beginning June 1, 2019 
(fiscal 2020), with a modified retrospective adoption method to the 
beginning of 2018.

In March 2017, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update that 
changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other 
postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in 
the income statement. This new guidance requires entities to report 
the service cost component in the same line item or items as other 
compensation costs. The other components of net benefit cost are 
required to be presented in the income statement separately from  
the service cost component outside of income from operations. This 
standard will impact our operating income but will have no impact on 
our net income or earnings per share. For example, adoption of this 
guidance would have reduced 2017 operating income by $471 million 
but would not have impacted our net income. This new guidance will 
be effective for our fiscal year beginning June 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019) 
and will be applied retrospectively.

18

 19

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISReportable Segments
FedEx Express, TNT Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight  
represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services,  
form the core of our reportable segments. Our reportable segments 
include the following businesses:

FedEx Express Group:

   FedEx Express Segment

    TNT Express Segment

FedEx Ground Segment

FedEx Freight Segment

FedEx Services Segment

>  FedEx Express  
(express transportation) 
>  FedEx Trade Networks  
(air and ocean freight forwarding, 
customs brokerage and cross-border 
enablement technology and solutions) 
> FedEx SupplyChain Systems  
  (logistics services)
>  TNT Express   
(international express transportation, 
small-package ground delivery and 
freight transportation)
> FedEx Ground  
  (small-package ground delivery)  
>  FedEx Supply Chain  
(third-party logistics) (formerly GENCO)

> FedEx Freight  
  (LTL freight transportation)  
> FedEx Custom Critical  
  (time-critical transportation)
>  FedEx Services  
(sales, marketing, information  
technology, communications, 
customer service, technical support, 
billing and collection services and 
back-office functions)
>  FedEx Office  
(document and business services  
and package acceptance)

During 2017, we announced that products and solutions offered by 
FedEx SupplyChain Systems would be combined with similar offerings 
within FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Express and FedEx Supply Chain 
(formerly GENCO) effective June 1, 2017. In addition, during 2017,  
we rebranded GENCO to FedEx Supply Chain.

In 2017, TNT Express’s results are disclosed as a reportable segment 
and are also combined with the FedEx Express reportable segment  
to reflect a management reporting structure referred to as the FedEx 
Express group. As integration began in 2017, these segments 
continued to have discrete financial information that was regularly 
reviewed when evaluating performance and making resource 
allocation decisions. However, they were combined into the FedEx 
Express group for financial reporting purposes into a collective 
business as a result of their management reporting structure.  

In the first quarter of 2018, we will report one FedEx Express segment 
(currently reported as the FedEx Express group). This new segment is 
the result of combining the financial information of the FedEx Express 

20

and TNT Express segments as part of the operational integration of 
these two businesses. As integration activities have progressed, the 
FedEx Express and TNT Express businesses have begun to lose their 
historical discrete financial profiles, as some TNT Express businesses 
are merging into FedEx Express businesses, and some FedEx Express 
businesses are merging into TNT Express businesses. Therefore, 
discrete financial information for FedEx Express and TNT Express  
will no longer be used to evaluate performance and make resource 
allocation decisions. In addition, this new reporting structure aligns 
with our management reporting structure and our internal financial 
reporting and compensation plans for the new segment.    

FedEx Services Segment 
The operating expenses line item “Intercompany charges” on the 
accompanying consolidated financial statements of our transportation 
segments reflects the allocations from the FedEx Services segment to 
the respective transportation segments. The allocations of net 
operating costs are based on metrics such as relative revenues or 
estimated services provided. 

The FedEx Services segment provides direct and indirect support to 
our transportation businesses, and we allocate all of the net operating 
costs of the FedEx Services segment (including the net operating 
results of FedEx Office) to reflect the full cost of operating our 
transportation businesses in the results of those segments. Within  
the FedEx Services segment allocation, the net operating results of 
FedEx Office, which are an immaterial component of our allocations, 
are allocated to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. We review and 
evaluate the performance of our transportation segments based on 
operating income (inclusive of FedEx Services segment allocations). 
For the FedEx Services segment, performance is evaluated based  
on the impact of its total allocated net operating costs on our  
transportation segments. We believe these allocations approximate 
the net cost of providing these functions. Our allocation methodologies 
are refined periodically, as necessary, to reflect changes in our 
businesses. 

Eliminations, Corporate and Other
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related 
services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment. 
Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we 
believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenues of the 
billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based  
on market conditions. Such intersegment revenues and expenses  
are eliminated in our consolidated results and are not separately 
identified in the following segment information, because the amounts 
are not material. 

Corporate and other includes corporate headquarters costs for 
executive officers and certain legal and financial functions, as well  
as certain other costs and credits not attributed to our core business. 
These costs are not allocated to the business segments. In 2017,  
the year-over-year decrease in these costs was driven by the change 
in the MTM retirement plans adjustment and the year-over-year 
decrease in charges for legal reserves, which were partially offset  
by the TNT Express integration expenses discussed above. In 2016, 
the year-over-year decrease in these costs was driven by a lower 
MTM retirement plans adjustment.

 21

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISFedEx Express Group Outlook 
The integration process is proceeding in a manner such that 
commencing in the first quarter of 2018 we will report one FedEx 
Express segment (currently reported as the FedEx Express group) 
when the financial information for the FedEx Express and TNT 
Express segments will begin to merge and only the results of the 
FedEx Express group will be regularly reviewed when evaluating 
performance and making resource allocation decisions.

Revenues and earnings are expected to increase at the FedEx Express 
group during 2018. We expect revenues to increase primarily due to 
higher international volumes and U.S. domestic yields, as we continue 
to focus on revenue quality while managing costs. These benefits will 
be partially offset in 2018 by TNT Express integration expenses and 
intangible asset amortization expense. 

During 2018, we will continue to execute our TNT Express integration 
plans. The integration process is complex as it spans over 200 
countries and involves our pickup and delivery operations at a local 
level, our global and regional air and ground networks, and our 
extensive operations, customs clearance, sales and back office 
information technology systems. The integration is expected to be 
completed by the end of 2020. 

We are targeting operating income improvement at the FedEx Express 
group of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion in 2020 from 2017, assuming 
moderate economic growth and current accounting and tax rules.  
This target includes expected synergies from the integration of TNT 
Express and base business and other operational improvements 
across the global FedEx Express network.

Capital expenditures at the FedEx Express group are expected to 
increase in 2018, driven by our aircraft fleet modernization programs, 
as we add new aircraft that are more reliable, fuel-efficient and 
technologically advanced and retire older, less-efficient aircraft. 
Capital expenditures for 2018 will also include integration-related 
investments. FedEx Express group capital expenditures for 2018 are 
subject to change as we refine and implement our TNT Express 
integration plans, particularly in light of the TNT Express cyber-attack.

FedEx Express Group
The FedEx Express group consists of the combined results of the FedEx 
Express and TNT Express segments. As discussed above, we have 
combined these segments for financial reporting discussion purposes 
into a collective business as a result of their management reporting 
structure. Furthermore, over time their operations will be integrated, 
therefore presenting a group view provides a basis for future year-over-
year comparisons. We acquired TNT Express in the fourth quarter of 
2016, which has impacted the year-over-year comparability of revenue 
and operating income. Because TNT Express was acquired near the end 
of 2016, its financial results were immaterial and were included in 
“Eliminations, corporate and other” in that period. The following table 
compares revenues, operating income (dollars in millions) and operating 
margin for the years ended May 31:

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016

/ 
/  2016 
2015

2017

2016

2015

27,239

7,401
34,759

—
26,451

Revenues:
  FedEx Express segment $27,358 $26,451 $27,239
  TNT Express segment
    FedEx Express group
Operating income:
  FedEx Express segment
  TNT Express segment
    FedEx Express group $ 2,762 $ 2,519 $ 1,584
Operating margin:
  FedEx Express segment
  TNT Express segment
    FedEx Express group

9.8%
1.1%
7.9%

9.5%
–
9.5%

2,519
–

2,678
84

1,584

(3)
3
– NM NM
(3)
31

59
6
– NM NM
59
10

5.8% 30bp 370bp
– NMbp NMbp
5.8% (160)bp 370bp

FedEx Express Group Results
FedEx Express group revenues increased 31% in 2017 due to the 
inclusion of the TNT Express segment, as well as improved base 
yield and package volume at our FedEx Express segment.

Operating income increased 10% in 2017 driven by our FedEx 
Express segment and the inclusion of the TNT Express segment. The 
TNT Express segment reported an operating profit in 2017, which 
was negatively impacted by integration and restructuring expenses 
and intangible asset amortization. Operating margin decreased in 
2017 due to the inclusion of the TNT Express segment.

FedEx Express group results include $206 million of TNT Express 
integration expenses in 2017. In addition, 2017 expenses include 
increased TNT Express intangible asset amortization of $74 million 
as a result of the TNT Express acquisition.   

20

 21

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISFedEx Express Segment
FedEx Express offers a wide range of U.S. domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight including priority 
services, which provide time-definite delivery within one, two or three business days worldwide, and deferred or economy services, which 
provide time-definite delivery within five business days worldwide. The following tables compare revenues, operating expenses, operating 
expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income (dollars in millions) and operating margin for the years ended May 31:  

 Percent of Revenue
2016 

2017 

2015 

Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other charges(3)
  Intercompany charges
  Other
    Total operating expenses
Operating margin
(1)  International domestic revenues represent our international intra-country operations.
(2)  Includes FedEx Trade Networks and FedEx SupplyChain Systems.
(3)  2015 includes $276 million of impairment and related charges resulting from the decision 
to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related 
engines. 

 38.7 %
 8.7 
 6.4 
 5.2 
 7.7 
 4.9 
 –  
 7.0 
 11.9 
 90.5 
 9.5 %

38.5%
8.5
5.9
5.2
7.9
5.2
–
6.9
12.1
90.2
9.8%

 37.1 %
 9.3 
 6.2 
 5.4 
 11.7 
 5.0 
 1.0 
 6.8 
 11.7 
 94.2 
 5.8 %

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016

/ 
/  2016 
2015

2017

2016

2015

$ 6,958 $  6,763  $  6,704 
 1,629 
 1,662 
 3,342 
 3,379 

3
5
4

4
2
6

3
1
3

2
9
(6)
4
3
3

3
2
(4)

3
6
9

 1 
 2 
 1 

 1 
 (9)
 (1 )

 (7)
 (9)
 (3 )

 8
 (13 )
 (30)
 (2)
 (9 )
 (3 )

 1 
 (10 )
–

 (5)
 (37)
 (5 )

11,804 
 5,697 
 2,282 

11,675 
 6,251 
 2,301 

 7,979 
 1,285 
 21,068 

 8,552 
 1,406 
21,633 

 2,300 
 1,588 
 180 
 4,068 
 1,538 
27,239

10,104 
 2,544 
 1,693 

 1,460 
 3,199 
 1,357 

 2,481 
 1,384 
 126 
 3,991 
 1,392 
 26,451 

10,240 
 2,301 
 1,688 

 1,385 
 2,023 
 1,294 

 –   
 1,846 
 3,155 

 276  NM NM
–
2
(1)
5

 1,842 
 3,180 

24,680
25,655 
23,932 
$ 2,678 $  2,519  $  1,584 

9.8%

9.5%

3
6
5.8% 30bp 370bp

 (7 )
 59 

1,750
3,528

12,236
5,827
2,412

Revenues:
  Package:
    U.S. overnight box
    U.S. overnight envelope
    U.S. deferred
      Total U.S. domestic 
        package revenue
    International priority
    International economy
      Total international  
        export package  
8,239
        revenue
    International domestic(1)
1,299
      Total package revenue 21,774
  Freight:
    U.S.
    International priority
    International airfreight
      Total freight revenue
  Other(2)
      Total revenues
Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee  
    benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and    
    amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other  
    charges(3)
  Intercompany charges
  Other
      Total operating 
        expenses
Operating income
Operating margin

2,528
1,502
118
4,148
1,436
27,358

10,536
2,337
1,618

–
1,881
3,310

1,431
2,153
1,414

22

 23

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table compares selected statistics (in thousands, except 
yield amounts) for the years ended May 31: 

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016

/ 
/  2016 
2015

2017 

2016 

2015 

Package Statistics(1)
  Average daily package  
    volume (ADV): 
    U.S. overnight box 
    U.S. overnight envelope 
    U.S. deferred 
      Total U.S. domestic ADV
    International priority 
    International economy
      Total international export  
        ADV
    International domestic(2)
      Total ADV
  Revenue per package (yield):
    U.S. overnight box 
    U.S. overnight envelope 
    U.S. deferred 
      U.S. domestic composite
    International priority 
    International economy
      International export  
        composite
    International domestic(2)
      Composite package yield
Freight Statistics(1)
  Average daily freight pounds:
    U.S. 
    International priority 
    International airfreight 

1,265
561
900
2,726
405
186

591
934
4,251

1,271 
541 
901 
2,713 
394 
181 

575 
888 
4,176 

1,240 
527 
916 
2,683 
410 
176 

586 
853 
4,122 

$  21.57 $  20.79  $  21.29 
 12.15 
 11.99 
 14.36 
 14.66 
 17.13 
 17.00 
 60.05 
 56.47 
 51.54 
 49.15 

12.24
15.37
17.60
56.44
50.83

–
4
–
–
3
3

3
5
2

4
2
5
4
–
3

 3 
 3 
 (2)
 1 
 (4)
 3 

 (2)
 4 
 1 

 (2)
 (1)
 2 
 (1)
 (6)
 (5)

54.68
5.45
20.09

 54.16 
 5.65 
 19.71 

 57.50 
 6.49 
 20.66 

1
(4)
2

 (6)
 (13)
 (5)

8,190
2,670
641

 8,178 
 2,510 
 623 

 7,833 
 2,887 
 684 

–
6
3

2

11,501  11,311   11,404 

      Total average daily  
        freight pounds
  Revenue per pound (yield):
    U.S. 
$    1.21 $    1.19  $    1.16 
    International priority 
 2.17 
 2.15 
    International airfreight 
 1.04 
 0.79 
      Composite freight yield
 1.40 
 1.38 
(1)  Package and freight statistics include only the operations of FedEx Express.
(2)  International domestic statistics represent our international intra-country operations.

2.21
0.72
1.41

2
3
(9)
2

 4 
 (13)
 (9)

 (1)

 3 
 (1)
 (24)
 (1)

FedEx Express Segment Revenues
FedEx Express segment revenues increased 3% in 2017 primarily due to 
improved base yields and package volume growth and higher fuel 
surcharges, which were partially offset by unfavorable exchange rates 
and one fewer operating day.

U.S. domestic package yields increased 4% in 2017 due to higher rates, 
package weights and fuel surcharges. U.S. domestic average daily 
volume slightly increased in 2017 driven by our overnight envelope 
service offering. International export package yields increased 1% in 
2017 due to favorable service mix and higher fuel surcharges, partially 
offset by unfavorable exchange rates. International export average daily 
volumes increased 3% in 2017 due to increased international priority 
box shipments and growth in international export from Asia and Europe. 
Freight yields increased 2% in 2017 primarily due to higher base rates. 
Freight average daily pounds increased 2% in 2017 primarily due to 
international priority freight volume.

FedEx Express segment revenues decreased 3% in 2016 primarily due to 
lower fuel surcharges and unfavorable exchange rates, which were 
partially offset by improved U.S. domestic and international export yield 
management and U.S. domestic volume and pounds growth. Two 
additional operating days also benefited revenues in 2016. 

During 2016, lower fuel surcharges resulted in decreased package and 
freight yields. Unfavorable exchange rates also contributed to the 
decrease in international package and freight yields. Higher base rates 
partially offset the yield decrease for our U.S. domestic package, 
international export and freight services. U.S. domestic volumes 
increased 1% in 2016 driven by our overnight service offerings. 
International domestic revenues declined 9% in 2016 due to the 
negative impact of unfavorable exchange rates, which were partially 
offset by increased volumes. 

Our U.S. domestic and outbound fuel surcharge and the international 
fuel surcharges ranged as follows for the years ended May 31: 

U.S. Domestic and Outbound Fuel Surcharge:
  Low
  High
  Weighted-average
International Fuel Surcharges:
  Low
  High
  Weighted-average

2017

2016

2015

1.00%
3.38
2.51

– %  1.50 %

4.00 
1.84 

 9.50 
 6.34 

1.00
10.50
6.92

– 
12.00 
6.09 

 0.50 
 18.00 
 12.80 

22

 23

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective February 6, 2017, FedEx Express fuel surcharges are adjusted 
on a weekly basis compared to the previous monthly adjustment.  
On January 2, 2017, FedEx Express implemented a 3.9% average list 
price increase for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services 
and a change to the U.S. domestic dimensional weight divisor. On 
January 4, 2016 and January 5, 2015, FedEx Express implemented  
a 4.9% average list price increase for FedEx Express U.S. domestic, 
U.S. export and U.S. import services. In addition, effective  
November 2, 2015 and February 2, 2015, FedEx Express updated 
certain tables used to determine fuel surcharges. 

FedEx Express Segment Operating Income
FedEx Express continued to increase operating income and operating 
margin in 2017 due to yield and volume growth and the ongoing benefit 
of cost management initiatives, which were partially offset by one 
fewer operating day. Results in 2017 include $117 million of TNT 
Express integration expenses. FedEx Express continues to focus on 
managing network capacity to match customer demand, reducing 
structural costs, modernizing its fleet and driving productivity increases 
throughout its operations.

Salaries and employee benefits increased 3% in 2017 primarily due to 
merit increases. Other expenses increased 5% in 2017 primarily due  
to TNT Express integration expenses, self-insurance costs and outside 
service contracts. Maintenance and repairs increased 9% in 2017 
primarily due to the timing of aircraft maintenance events. Rentals 
decreased 4% in 2017 due to a reduction in aircraft leases.

Fuel expense increased 6% in 2017 due to higher fuel prices. The net 
impact of fuel had a slightly positive impact on operating income in 
2017. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description and 
additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.

In 2016, FedEx Express operating income and operating margin 
increased despite lower revenues. This increase was primarily driven  
by profit improvement program initiatives, which continued to constrain 
expense growth while improving revenue quality, the positive net 
impact of fuel and lower international expenses due to currency 
exchange rates. Also, operating income benefited from two additional 
operating days in 2016. Results for 2015 were negatively impacted  
by $276 million ($175 million, net of tax) of impairment and related 
charges, of which $246 million was non-cash, resulting from the 
decision to permanently retire and adjust the retirement schedule  
of certain aircraft and related engines.

Salaries and employee benefits increased 1% in 2016 due to merit 
increases and higher incentive compensation accruals, which were 
partially offset by a favorable exchange rate impact. Purchased 
transportation decreased 10% in 2016 driven primarily by a favorable 
exchange rate impact. Accelerated aircraft retirements during 2015 
caused depreciation and amortization expense to decrease 5% in 2016. 
Maintenance and repairs expense decreased 5% in 2016 primarily due 
to the timing of aircraft maintenance events. 

Fuel expense decreased 37% in 2016 due to lower aircraft fuel prices. 
The net impact of fuel had a significant benefit to operating income in 
2016. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description and 
additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.

TNT Express Segment
TNT Express collects, transports and delivers documents, parcels and 
freight on a day-definite or time-definite basis. Services are primarily 
classified by the speed, distance, weight and size of shipments. While 
the majority of shipments are between businesses, TNT Express also 
offers business-to-consumer services to select key customers. 
Because TNT Express was acquired near the end of 2016, its financial 
results were immaterial and were included in “Eliminations, corporate 
and other” in that period. The following tables present revenues, 
operating expenses, operating expenses as a percent of revenue, 
operating income (dollars in millions), operating margin and selected 
package statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the years 
ended May 31:

Percent of 
Revenue 
2017 
100.0%

28.1
41.2
4.8
3.2
3.1
1.9
0.2
16.4
98.9%

Revenues
Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Intercompany charges
  Other
    Total operating expenses
Operating income
Operating margin
Package:
  Average daily packages
  Revenue per package (yield)
Freight:
  Average daily pounds
  Revenue per pound (yield)

2017 
$  7,401

2,077
3,049
353
239
225
143
17
1,214
7,317
$       84

1.1%

1,022
$  24.77

3,608
$    0.56

24

 25

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
TNT Express fuel surcharges are indexed to the spot price for jet fuel. 
Using this index, the international fuel surcharge percentages ranged 
as follows for the periods ended May 31:

International Fuel Surcharges:
  Low
  High
  Weighted-average

2017

5.25%
19.00
12.85

TNT Express Segment Results
The TNT Express segment was formed in the fourth quarter of 2016, 
following the acquisition of TNT Express on May 25, 2016. Since the  
date of acquisition, TNT Express has focused on maintaining its customer 
base while executing integration activities with FedEx Express.

TNT Express results include revenues of $7.4 billion and operating 
income of $84 million in 2017. These results include integration costs 
of $89 million. Costs associated with the integration, including 
restructuring charges, are expected to continue through fiscal year 
2020. In addition, operating expenses include intangible asset 
amortization of $74 million in 2017.  

FedEx Ground Segment
FedEx Ground service offerings include day-certain delivery to 
businesses in the U.S. and Canada and to 100% of U.S. residences. 
The following tables compare revenues, operating expenses, 
operating expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income (dollars 
in millions) and operating margin and selected package statistics (in 
thousands, except yield amounts) for the years ended May 31: 

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016

/ 
/  2016 
2015

10
4
9

14
9
20

13
–
12
7
10

10
1

20
NM
28

32
36
32

15
(17)
18
10
50

32
5

2017 

2016 

2015 

$ 16,497 $15,050 $ 12,568
416
1,524
12,984
16,574

1,578
18,075

2,834
6,817
639

608
10
288
1,230
1,872

2,146
5,021
485

530
12
244
1,123
1,251

Revenues: 
  FedEx Ground
  FedEx Supply Chain
    Total revenues
Operating expenses: 
  Salaries and employee  
    benefits
3,228
  Purchased transportation  7,406
  Rentals 
764
  Depreciation and    
    amortization 
  Fuel 
  Maintenance and repairs 
  Intercompany charges
  Other
    Total operating  
      expenses 
Operating income 
Operating margin
Average daily package  
  volume: 
  FedEx Ground 
Revenue per package  
  (yield): 
  FedEx Ground 

684
10
322
1,317
2,052

7,896

$

15,783

10,812
14,298
$ 2,292 $ 2,276 $ 2,172

12.7% 13.7% 16.7% (100)bp (300)bp

7,526

6,911

8.18 $ 7.80 $

7.16

5

5

9

9

24

Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits 
  Purchased transportation 
  Rentals 
  Depreciation and amortization 
  Fuel 
  Maintenance and repairs 
  Intercompany charges 
  Other
    Total operating expenses
Operating margin

17.8%
41.0
4.2
3.8
0.1
1.8
7.3
11.3
87.3
12.7%

17.1  %
41.1  
3.9  
3.7  
0.1  
1.7  
7.4  
11.3  
86.3  
13.7 %

16.5 %
38.7 
3.7 
4.1 
0.1 
1.9 
8.7 
9.6 
83.3 
16.7 %

 25

Percent of Revenue 
2016 

2017 

2015 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FedEx Ground Segment Revenues

FedEx Ground segment revenues increased 9% in 2017 due to yield 
and volume growth, partially offset by one fewer operating day. FedEx 
Ground yield increased 5% in 2017 due to higher base yields for our 
commercial business and residential services. Average daily volume at 
FedEx Ground increased 5% in 2017 primarily due to continued growth 
in our commercial business and residential services. 

FedEx Ground segment revenues increased 28% in 2016 due to 
volume and yield growth at FedEx Ground and the inclusion of FedEx 
Supply Chain revenue for a full year, which were partially offset by 
lower fuel surcharges. Revenues increased approximately $1.2 billion 
in 2016 as a result of recording FedEx SmartPost revenues on a gross 
basis, versus our previous net treatment. In addition, revenues 
benefited from two additional operating days in 2016. 

Average daily volume at FedEx Ground increased 9% in 2016 primarily 
due to continued growth in our residential services driven by 
e-commerce. FedEx Ground yield increased 9% in 2016 primarily due 
to the recording of FedEx SmartPost revenues on a gross basis, versus 
our previous net treatment, and increased base rates, which include 
additional dimensional weight charges. These factors were partially 
offset by lower fuel surcharges. 

The FedEx Ground fuel surcharge is based on a rounded average of 
the national U.S. on-highway average price for a gallon of diesel fuel, 
as published by the Department of Energy. Our fuel surcharge ranged 
as follows for the years ended May 31:

Low
High
Weighted-average

2016

2015

2017
3.25% 2.75% 4.50%
4.50
4.50
3.82
4.03

7.00
5.90

Effective February 6, 2017, FedEx Ground fuel surcharges are 
adjusted on a weekly basis compared to the previously monthly 
adjustment. On January 2, 2017, FedEx Ground implemented  
a 4.9% average list price increase and a change to the U.S.  
domestic dimensional weight divisor. On January 4, 2016 and 
January 5, 2015, FedEx Ground implemented a 4.9% increase in 
average list price. In addition, on November 2, 2015, FedEx Ground 
increased surcharges for shipments that exceed the published 
maximum weight or dimensional limits and updated certain tables 
used to determine fuel surcharges. On February 2, 2015, FedEx 
Ground updated the tables used to determine fuel surcharges.  
On January 5, 2015, FedEx Ground began applying dimensional 
weight pricing to all shipments. 

FedEx Ground Segment Operating Income
FedEx Ground segment operating income increased 1% in 2017 due to 
yield and volume growth partially offset by network expansion and 
staffing costs. Operating margin declined in 2017 primarily due to 
network expansion. In addition, FedEx Supply Chain results continue to 
negatively impact segment margins. 

Purchased transportation increased 9% due to higher volumes and 
increased service provider and U.S. Postal Service rates. Salaries and 
employee benefits expense increased 14% in 2017 primarily due to 
volume growth and additional staffing to support network expansion. 
Rent and depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2017 due 
to network expansion. Other expenses increased 10% in 2017 due to 
increased property taxes as a result of network expansion and higher 
self-insurance costs.

FedEx Ground segment operating income increased 5% in 2016 due  
to higher volumes and increased yield, as well as the benefit from  
two additional operating days. These factors were partially offset by 
network expansion costs, higher self-insurance expenses and increased 
purchased transportation rates. 

Operating margin decreased in 2016 primarily due to the recording  
of FedEx SmartPost revenues on a gross basis (including postal fees in 
revenues and expenses), the inclusion of FedEx Supply Chain results for 
a full year, and higher self-insurance expenses. The change in FedEx 
SmartPost revenue recognition and the inclusion of FedEx Supply Chain 
collectively decreased operating margin by 190 basis points in 2016. 

FedEx Ground Segment Outlook 
We expect FedEx Ground segment revenues and operating income to 
increase in 2018, driven by continued yield and volume growth in our 
commercial business and residential services. We are focused on 
balancing capacity and volume growth with yield management. In 
addition, we anticipate results in 2018 will continue to be impacted  
by network expansion, as well as additional staffing costs. Beginning 
in 2018, FedEx Ground will include safety technology requirements  
in all linehaul contracts.

Capital expenditures at FedEx Ground are expected to increase in 
2018 due to certain network expansion projects that were deferred 
from 2017 to 2018. We will continue to make investments to grow  
our highly profitable FedEx Ground network. 

26

 27

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISFedEx Freight Segment
FedEx Freight service offerings include priority LTL services when speed is critical and economy services when time can be traded for savings. 
The following table compares revenues, operating expenses, operating expenses as a percent of revenue, operating income (dollars in  
millions), operating margin and selected statistics for the years ended May 31: 

2017 

2015 
$ 6,443 $ 6,200 $ 6,191

2016 

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016 
4

/ 
/  2016 
2015
–

3,058
988
136

 2,925 
 962 
 142 

 2,698 
 1,045 
 129 

269
384
215
497
499

 248 
 363 
 206 
 456 
 472 

 230 
 508 
 201 
 444 
 452 

5
3
(4)

8
6
4
9
6

 8 
 (8)
 10 

 8 
 (29)
 2 
 3 
 4 

6,046

$

397 $
6.2%

5,774 
 426 $
 6.9 %

5
5,707 
484
(7)
7.8 % (70)bp (90)bp

 1 
(12)

70.6

31.0

 67.7 

 31.1 

66.9 

28.6 

101.6

 98.8 

95.5 

1,176
1,129

 1,191 
 1,145 

1,272 
1,003 

1,161

 1,177 

1,191 

$ 221.67 $  218.50  $ 229.57 
264.34 
 261.27 

265.77

$ 235.20 $

232.11  $ 240.09 

$ 18.85 $  18.35  $  18.05 
 26.34 
 22.81 

23.55

$ 20.25 $  19.73  $  20.15 

4

–

3

(1)
(1)

(1)

1
2

1

3
3

3

 1 

 9 

 3 

 (6)
 14 

 (1)

 (5)
 (1)

 (3)

 2 
 (13)

 (2)

Revenues
Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee  
    benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals
  Depreciation and    
    amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Intercompany charges
  Other
    Total operating  
      expenses
Operating income
Operating margin
Average daily LTL  
  shipments (in thousands):
  Priority

  Economy
    Total average daily LTL  
      shipments
Weight per LTL shipment: 
  Priority
  Economy
    Composite weight per  
      LTL shipment
LTL revenue per shipment:
  Priority
  Economy
    Composite LTL  
      revenue per  
      shipment
LTL revenue per  
  hundredweight:
  Priority
  Economy
    Composite LTL  
      revenue per 
      hundredweight

 Percent of Revenue
2016 

2017 

2015 

Operating expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits 
  Purchased transportation 
  Rentals 
  Depreciation and amortization 
  Fuel 
  Maintenance and repairs 
  Intercompany charges
  Other
    Total operating expenses 
Operating margin

47.5%
15.3
2.1
4.2
6.0
3.3
7.7
7.7
93.8
6.2%

47.2 %
15.5 
2.3 
4.0 
5.8 
3.3 
 7.4 
 7.6 
93.1 
6.9%

43.6 %
16.9 
2.1 
3.7 
8.2 
3.2 
 7.2 
 7.3 
92.2 
7.8%

FedEx Freight Segment Revenues
FedEx Freight segment revenues increased 4% in 2017 primarily due  
to higher average daily LTL shipments and higher LTL revenue per 
shipment. Average daily LTL shipments increased 3% in 2017 due to 
higher demand for our LTL service offerings. LTL revenue per shipment 
increased 1% due to higher base rates and fuel surcharges, partially 
offset by lower weight per shipment. Base rate increases were the 
result of our ongoing yield management initiatives. 

FedEx Freight segment revenues were flat in 2016 as higher average 
daily shipments were offset by lower revenue per shipment. Average 
daily LTL shipments increased 3% in 2016 due to increased volume 
primarily related to small and mid-sized customers. LTL revenue per 
shipment decreased 3% in 2016 due to lower fuel surcharges and lower 
weight per shipment. 

The weekly indexed LTL fuel surcharge is based on the average of the 
U.S. on-highway prices for a gallon of diesel fuel, as published by the 
Department of Energy. The indexed LTL fuel surcharge ranged as follows 
for the years ended May 31:

Low

High

Weighted-average

2017

2016

2015

20.20%  18.50 %  20.90 %

21.60

21.00

23.10 

20.60 

26.20 

24.30 

On January 2, 2017, FedEx Freight implemented a 4.9% average 
increase in certain U.S. and other shipping rates. On January 4, 2016, 
FedEx Freight implemented zone-based pricing on U.S. and other LTL 
shipping rates. Also, on January 4, 2016 and January 5, 2015, FedEx 
Freight implemented a 4.9% average increase in certain U.S. and other 
shipping rates. On February 2, 2015, FedEx Freight updated the tables 
used to determine fuel surcharges. 

26

 27

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $4.0 billion at May 31, 2017, 
compared to $3.5 billion at May 31, 2016. The following table 
provides a summary of our cash flows for the years ended May 31  
(in millions). 

Operating activities:
  Net income
  Retirement plans mark-to-market  
    adjustment
  Gain from sale of investment
  Impairment and other charges
  Other noncash charges and credits
  Changes in assets and liabilities
    Cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities:
  Capital expenditures
  Business acquisitions, net of 
    cash acquired
  Proceeds from asset dispositions  
    and other
    Cash used in investing activities
Financing activities:
  Purchase of treasury stock
  Principal payments on debt
  Proceeds from debt issuances
  Dividends paid
  Other
    Cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and  
  cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at end  
  of period

2017 

2016 

2015 

$ 2,997 $  1,820  $  1,050 

(24)
(35)
–
4,194
(2,202)
4,930

 1,498 
–
–
 2,927 
 (537)
 5,708 

 2,190 
–
246
 2,317 
 (437)
 5,366 

(5,116)

 (4,818)

(4,347)

–

 (4,618)

 (1,429)

135
(4,981)

 (10)
 (9,446)

 24 
(5,752)

(509)
(82)
1,190
(426)
355
528
(42)

 (2,722)
 (41)
 6,519 
 (277)
 132 
 3,611 
(102)

 (1,254)
 (5)
 2,491 
 (227)
 344 
 1,349 
(108)

$

435 $

(229) $

855

$ 3,969 $ 3,534 $ 3,763

FedEx Freight Segment Operating Income
FedEx Freight segment operating income and operating margin 
decreased in 2017 primarily due to higher operating expenses that more 
than offset base rate increases and volume growth. Within operating 
expenses, salaries and employee benefits increased 5% in 2017 due 
to higher staffing levels to support volume growth and merit increases. 
Intercompany charges increased 9% in 2017 due to higher allocated 
information technology costs. Other expenses increased 6% in 2017 
due to higher self-insurance costs and increased real estate taxes. 
Purchased transportation increased 3% in 2017 due to higher volumes. 
Depreciation and amortization increased 8% in 2017 due to increased 
vehicle purchases. Rentals decreased 4% in 2017 primarily due to a 
charge related to a facility closure in the prior year and a credit related 
to the favorable sublease of the facility in the current year.

Fuel expense increased 6% in 2017 due to higher fuel prices and volume 
growth. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description and 
additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating results.

FedEx Freight segment operating income and operating margin 
decreased in 2016 primarily due to salaries and employee benefits 
expense outpacing revenue growth, which was driven by weaker than 
anticipated industrial production. Within operating expenses, salaries 
and employee benefits increased 8% in 2016 due to pay initiatives 
and increased staffing levels for higher shipment volumes. Other 
expenses increased 4% in 2016 primarily due to higher insurance 
claims, a legal reserve, and higher operating supplies. Depreciation 
and amortization increased 8% in 2016 due to investments in  
transportation equipment. Rentals increased 10% in 2016 driven 
primarily by a charge related to a facility closure. Purchased  
transportation expense decreased 8% in 2016 due to lower rates  
and increased use of lower-cost rail transportation. Fuel expense 
decreased 29% in 2016 due to lower average price per gallon of 
diesel fuel. See the “Fuel” section of this MD&A for a description  
and additional discussion of the net impact of fuel on our operating 
results. 

FedEx Freight Segment Outlook 
During 2018 we expect revenue, operating income and operating 
margin improvement driven by effective yield management, as well  
as modest volume growth from small and mid-sized customers.  
FedEx Freight earnings are also expected to be positively impacted  
by improvement in productivity and the benefits of technology 
investments. 

Capital expenditures at FedEx Freight are expected to increase in 2018 
primarily due to investments in vehicles, facilities and technology. Our 
capital expenditures include investments in the latest safety technology 
such as collision mitigation, lane departure detection and rollover 
stability systems.  

28

 29

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES. Cash flows from 
operating activities decreased $778 million in 2017 primarily due  
to higher pension contributions partially offset by lower income  
tax payments. 

Cash flows from operating activities increased $342 million in 2016 
primarily due to higher segment operating income at FedEx Express 
and lower tax payments due to bonus depreciation on aircraft 
purchases and other qualifying assets. During the fourth quarter of 
2016, we defeased the underlying debt of certain leveraged operating 
leases, which was accounted for as a prepayment of the lease 
obligations that reduced our operating cash flows by $501 million.  
We made contributions of $2.0 billion in 2017 and $660 million in 
2016 and 2015 to our U.S. Pension Plans. Most of these contributions 
were voluntary. Some of the 2017 contributions were used by our  
U.S. Pension Plans to fund $1.3 billion of incremental benefit 
payments made during the fourth quarter of 2017 to former employees 
who elected to receive their benefit payments early in a lump sum 
under a voluntary program offered to qualifying participants.

CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES. Capital expenditures were  
6% higher in 2017 largely due to the inclusion of TNT Express and 

increased spending at FedEx Express for aircraft and related equipment 
as part of our fleet modernization program, and were 11% higher in 
2016 than in 2015 due to increased spending for sort facility expansion 
at FedEx Ground. See “Capital Resources” for a more detailed 
discussion of capital expenditures during 2017 and 2016. 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES. We had various senior unsecured debt 
issuances in 2017 and 2016. See Note 6 of the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements for more information on these 
issuances. Interest on our U.S. dollar fixed-rate notes is paid semi-
annually. Interest on our Euro fixed-rate notes is paid annually. Our 
floating-rate Euro senior notes bear interest at three-month EURIBOR 
plus a spread of 55 basis points and resets quarterly. We utilized the 
net proceeds of our 2017 debt issuances for a voluntary incremental 
contribution in January 2017 to our U.S. Pension Plans and for working 
capital and general corporate purposes. We utilized the net proceeds 
of our 2016 debt issuances for working capital and general corporate 
purposes, our acquisition of TNT Express, share repurchases and the 
redemption and the prepayment and defeasance of the underlying debt 
of certain leveraged operating leases. See Note 3 of the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements for further discussion of business 
acquisitions. 

The following table provides a summary of repurchases of our common stock for the periods ended May 31 (dollars in millions, except per  
share amounts): 

Total Number 
of Shares 
Purchased
2,955,000  

2017

Average  
Price Paid  
per Share
$ 172.13 

Total  
Purchase  
Price
$ 509 

Total Number 
of Shares 
Purchased
18,225,000 

2016

Average  
Price Paid  
per Share

$ 149.35   

Total  
Purchase  
Price
$ 2,722 

Common stock repurchases

28

 29

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
On January 26, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a share 
repurchase program of up to 25 million shares. Shares under this 
repurchase program may be repurchased from time to time in the open 
market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and volume 
of repurchases are at the discretion of management, based on the 
capital needs of the business, the market price of FedEx common 
stock and general market conditions. No time limit was set for the 
completion of the program, and the program may be suspended or 
discontinued at any time. See additional information on the share 
repurchase program in Note 1 of the accompanying consolidated 
financial statements. As of May 31, 2017, 16 million shares remained 
under the current share repurchase authorization. 

Capital Resources
Our operations are capital intensive, characterized by significant 
investments in aircraft, vehicles, technology, facilities, and package-
handling and sort equipment. The amount and timing of capital 
additions depend on various factors, including pre-existing contractual 
commitments, anticipated volume growth, domestic and international 
economic conditions, new or enhanced services, geographical expan-
sion of services, availability of satisfactory financing and actions of 
regulatory authorities. 

The following table compares capital expenditures by asset category 
and reportable segment for the years ended May 31 (in millions): 

Percent 
Change

2017 
2016
7

/ 
/  2016 
2015
(9)

2015 
Aircraft and related equipment $ 1,808 $ 1,697 $ 1,866
Package handling and ground  
  support equipment

2017 

2016 

Vehicles

Information technology 

Facilities and other

  Total capital expenditures

FedEx Express segment

TNT Express segment

FedEx Ground segment

FedEx Freight segment

FedEx Services segment

Other

  Total capital expenditures

1,196
723
471
731

1,093
895
594
726

752
604
377
748
$ 5,116 $ 4,818 $ 4,347
$ 2,525 $  2,356  $ 2,380 

205
1,539
431
416
–

–
 1,597 
 433 
 432 
 – 

 1,248 
 337 
 381 

$ 5,116 $  4,818  $ 4,347 

59
(9) 
20
24 
25
26
(2)
(1) 
11
6 
 (1)
7
– NM NM
 28 
(4)
 28 
– 
 13 
(4)
 1  NM  NM
 11 
6 

Capital expenditures during 2017 were higher than the prior-year period 
primarily due to the inclusion of TNT Express and increased spending at 
FedEx Express for aircraft and related equipment, partially offset by the 
deferral of certain FedEx Ground network expansion projects to 2018. 
Aircraft and related equipment purchases at FedEx Express during 2017 
included the delivery of 14 Boeing 767-300 Freighter (“B767F”) aircraft, 
as well as increased spending on existing orders for Boeing 777 

Freighter (“B777F”) aircraft, offset by decreased spending related to the 
modification of certain aircraft before being placed into service. Capital 
expenditures during 2016 were higher than the prior-year period 
primarily due to increased spending for sort facility expansion at FedEx 
Ground. Aircraft and related equipment purchases at FedEx Express 
during 2016 included the delivery of 11 B767F aircraft and two B777F 
aircraft, as well as the modification of certain aircraft before being 
placed into service.   

Liquidity Outlook
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, which totaled  
$4.0 billion at May 31, 2017, cash flow from operations and available 
financing sources will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs, including 
working capital, capital expenditure requirements, debt payment 
obligations, pension contributions and TNT Express integration 
expenses. Our cash and cash equivalents balance at May 31, 2017 
includes $1.2 billion of cash in offshore jurisdictions associated with our 
permanent reinvestment strategy. We do not believe that the indefinite 
reinvestment of these funds offshore impairs our ability to meet our U.S. 
domestic debt or working capital obligations.

Our capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $5.9 billion 
in 2018. We anticipate that our cash flow from operations will be 
sufficient to fund our increased capital expenditures in 2018, which will 
include spending for aircraft modernization at FedEx Express, spending 
on certain FedEx Ground network expansion projects that were deferred 
from 2017 to 2018 and spending for TNT Express integration-related 
investments. We expect approximately 40% of capital expenditures in 
2018 to be designated for growth initiatives. Our expected capital 
expenditures for 2018 include $2.2 billion in investments for delivery of 
aircraft and progress payments toward future aircraft deliveries at 
FedEx Express. Our capital expenditure forecast for 2018, however, 
could change as we continue to evaluate the impact of the recent TNT 
Express cyber-attack described above.   

We have several aircraft modernization programs underway that are 
supported by the purchase of B777F and B767F aircraft. These aircraft 
are significantly more fuel-efficient per unit than the aircraft types 
previously utilized, and these expenditures are necessary to achieve 
significant long-term operating savings and to replace older aircraft.  
Our ability to delay the timing of these aircraft-related expenditures is 
limited without incurring significant costs to modify existing purchase 
agreements. 

In July 2015, FedEx Express entered into a supplemental agreement  
to purchase 50 additional B767F aircraft from Boeing. Four of the  
50 additional B767F aircraft purchases are conditioned upon there being 
no event that causes FedEx Express or its employees not to be covered 
by the Railway Labor Act of 1926, as amended (“RLA”). The 50 
additional B767F aircraft are expected to be delivered from fiscal 2018 
through fiscal 2023 and will enable FedEx Express to continue to 
improve the efficiency and reliability of its aircraft fleet. In September 
2014, FedEx Express entered into an agreement to purchase four 
additional B767F aircraft, the delivery of which began in 2017 and will 
continue through 2019.  

30

 31

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISDuring 2017, FedEx Express entered into agreements to accelerate the 
delivery of two B767F to 2017 from 2018 and two B777F aircraft to 2018 
from 2023.

We have a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that allows us to sell, in one or more 
future offerings, any combination of our unsecured debt securities and 
common stock. 

We have a five-year $1.75 billion revolving credit facility that expires 
in November 2020. The facility, which includes a $500 million letter  
of credit sublimit, is available to finance our operations and other  
cash flow needs. The agreement contains a financial covenant,  
which requires us to maintain a ratio of debt to consolidated earnings 
(excluding non-cash pension MTM adjustments and non-cash asset 
impairment charges) before interest, taxes, depreciation and 
amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, 
calculated as of the end of the applicable quarter on a rolling 
four-quarters basis. The ratio of our debt to adjusted EBITDA was  
1.9 to 1.0 at May 31, 2017. We believe this covenant is the only 
significant restrictive covenant in our revolving credit agreement.  
Our revolving credit agreement contains other customary covenants 
that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially restrict the 
conduct of our business. We are in compliance with the financial 
covenant and all other covenants of our revolving credit agreement 
and do not expect the covenants to affect our operations, including 
our liquidity or expected funding needs. If we failed to comply with 
the financial covenant or any other covenants of our revolving credit 
agreement, our access to financing could become limited. We do  
not expect to be at risk of noncompliance with the financial covenant 
or any other covenants of our revolving credit agreement. As of  
May 31, 2017, no commercial paper was outstanding. However,  
we had a total of $317 million in letters of credit outstanding at  
May 31, 2017, with $183 million of the letter of credit sublimit  
unused under our revolving credit facility. 

For 2018, we anticipate making contributions totaling $1.0 billion 
(approximately $700 million of which are expected to be required) to our 
U.S. Pension Plans. As noted in our discussion of critical accounting 
estimates below, we have a credit balance related to our cumulative 
excess voluntary pension contributions over those required that exceeds 
$3 billion. The credit balance is subtracted from plan assets to 
determine the minimum funding requirements. Therefore, we could 

eliminate all required pension contributions to our principal U.S. Pension 
Plans for several years if we were to choose to waive part of that credit 
balance in any given year. Our U.S. Pension Plans have ample funds to 
meet expected benefit payments.  

On June 12, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend 
of $0.50 per share of common stock, an increase of $0.10 per common 
share from the prior quarter’s dividend. The dividend was paid on July 6, 
2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 22, 
2017. Each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval 
by our Board of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment 
amount on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year. 

Standard & Poor’s has assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit 
rating of BBB, a commercial paper rating of A-2 and a ratings outlook 
of “stable.” Moody’s Investors Service has assigned us a senior 
unsecured debt credit rating of Baa2, a commercial paper rating of  
P-2 and a ratings outlook of “stable.” If our credit ratings drop, our 
interest expense may increase. If our commercial paper ratings drop 
below current levels, we may have difficulty utilizing the commercial 
paper market. If our senior unsecured debt credit ratings drop below 
investment grade, our access to financing may become limited.  

Contractual Cash Obligations and  
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The following table sets forth a summary of our contractual cash 
obligations as of May 31, 2017. Certain of these contractual obligations 
are reflected in our balance sheet, while others are disclosed as future 
obligations under accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States. Except for the current portion of interest on long-term debt, this 
table does not include amounts already recorded in our balance sheet 
as current liabilities at May 31, 2017. We have certain contingent 
liabilities that are not accrued in our balance sheet in accordance with 
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These 
contingent liabilities are not included in the table below. We have other 
long-term liabilities reflected in our balance sheet, including deferred 
income taxes, qualified and nonqualified pension and postretirement 
healthcare plan liabilities and other self-insurance accruals. Unless 
statutorily required, the payment obligations associated with these 
liabilities are not reflected in the table below due to the absence of 
scheduled maturities. Accordingly, this table is not meant to represent a 
forecast of our total cash expenditures for any of the periods presented. 

30

(in millions)
Operating activities: 
  Operating leases 
  Non-capital purchase obligations and other 
  Interest on long-term debt 
  Contributions to our U.S. Pension Plans
Investing activities: 
  Aircraft and aircraft-related capital commitments 
  Other capital purchase obligations 
Financing activities: 
  Debt 
    Total 

 2018

$ 2,445
703
548
700

Payments Due by Fiscal Year (Undiscounted)
2021

2022

2020

Thereafter

2019

$ 2,230
507
544
–

$ 1,931
399
482
–

$ 1,709
308
470
–

$ 1,540
197
470
–

$   8,019
492
8,710
–

Total

$ 17,874
2,606
11,224
700

1,777
42

1,729
1

1,933
1

1,341
1

1,276
1

2,895
7

10,951
53

5
$ 6,220

1,312
$ 6,323

961
$ 5,707

–
$ 3,829

–
$ 3,484

12,778
$ 32,901

15,056
$ 58,464

 31

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered 
unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes 
and are not included in the table above. Such purchase orders often 
represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements. 
See Note 17 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements 
for more information on such purchase orders. 

Operating Activities
In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the 
United States, future contractual payments under our operating leases 
(totaling $17.9 billion on an undiscounted basis) are not recorded in 
our balance sheet. Credit rating agencies routinely use information 
concerning minimum lease payments required for our operating leases 
to calculate our debt capacity. The amounts reflected in the table 
above for operating leases represent undiscounted future minimum 
lease payments under noncancelable operating leases (principally 
aircraft and facilities) with an initial or remaining term in excess of 
one year at May 31, 2017. Under the new lease accounting rules, the 
majority of these leases will be required to be recognized at the net 
present value on the balance sheet as a liability with an offsetting 
right-to-use asset.

The amounts reflected for purchase obligations represent noncancelable 
agreements to purchase goods or services that are not capital- 
related. Such contracts include those for printing and advertising and 
promotions contracts. 

Included in the table above within the caption entitled “Non-capital 
purchase obligations and other” is our estimate of the current portion 
of the liability ($5 million) for uncertain tax positions. We cannot 
reasonably estimate the timing of the long-term payments or the 

amount by which the liability will increase or decrease over time; 
therefore, the long-term portion of the liability ($62 million) is 
excluded from the table. See Note 12 of the accompanying  
consolidated financial statements for further information. 

We had $729 million in deposits and progress payments as of  
May 31, 2017 on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related 
transactions. 

Investing Activities
The amounts reflected in the table above for capital purchase 
obligations represent noncancelable agreements to purchase 
capital-related equipment. Such contracts include those for certain 
purchases of aircraft, aircraft modifications, vehicles, facilities, 
computers and other equipment. 

On June 10, 2016, FedEx Express exercised options to acquire six 
additional B767F aircraft for delivery in 2019 and 2020. 

Financing Activities 
We have certain financial instruments representing potential 
commitments, not reflected in the table above, that were incurred  
in the normal course of business to support our operations, including 
standby letters of credit and surety bonds. These instruments are 
required under certain U.S. self-insurance programs and are also  
used in the normal course of international operations. The underlying 
liabilities insured by these instruments are reflected in our balance 
sheets, where applicable. Therefore, no additional liability is reflected 
for the letters of credit and surety bonds themselves. 

The amounts reflected in the table above for long-term debt represent 
future scheduled payments on our long-term debt. 

32

 33

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISCRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting 
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management 
to make significant judgments and estimates to develop amounts 
reflected and disclosed in the financial statements. In many cases, there 
are alternative policies or estimation techniques that could be used. We 
maintain a thorough process to review the application of our accounting 
policies and to evaluate the appropriateness of the many estimates that 
are required to prepare the financial statements of a complex, global 
corporation. However, even under optimal circumstances, estimates 
routinely require adjustment based on changing circumstances and new 
or better information. 

The estimates discussed below include the financial statement 
elements that are either the most judgmental or involve the selection or 
application of alternative accounting policies and are material to our 
financial statements. Management has discussed the development and 
selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit 
Committee of our Board of Directors and with our independent 
registered public accounting firm. 

Retirement Plans
OVERVIEW. We sponsor programs that provide retirement benefits to 
most of our employees. These programs include defined benefit 
pension plans, defined contribution plans and postretirement 
healthcare plans and are described in Note 13 of the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements. The rules for pension accounting 
are complex and can produce tremendous volatility in our earnings, 
financial condition and liquidity.

We are required to record annual year-end adjustments to our 
financial statements for the net funded status of our pension and 
postretirement healthcare plans. The funded status of our plans also 
impacts our liquidity; however, the cash funding rules operate under a 
completely different set of assumptions and standards than those 
used for financial reporting purposes. As a result, our actual cash 
funding requirements can differ materially from our reported funded 
status. 

The “Salaries and employee benefits” caption of our consolidated 
income statements includes expense associated with service, prior 
service and interest costs, the expected return on assets (“EROA”) and 
settlements and curtailments. Our fourth quarter MTM adjustment is 

included in the “Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment” caption 
in our consolidated income statements. A summary of our retirement 
plans costs over the past three years is as follows (in millions):  

Defined benefit pension plans:  
  Segment level
  Eliminations, corporate and other
Total defined benefit pension plans
Defined contribution plans 
Postretirement healthcare plans 
Retirement plans mark-to-market  
  adjustment

2017 

2016 

2015 

$ 229
5
$ 234
480
76

$    209
5
$    214 
416 
82 

$    222
(263)
$     (41 )
385 
81 

(24)
$ 766

1,498 
$ 2,210 

2,190 
$ 2,615 

The components of the pre-tax MTM adjustments are as follows  
(in millions):  

Actual versus expected return  
  on assets
Discount rate changes
Demographic assumption experience
Total mark-to-market (gain) loss

2017 

2016 

2015 

$ (740)
266
450
$   (24)

$ 1,285 
1,129 
 (916 )
 $ 1,498 

$     (35 )
791 
1,434 
$ 2,190 

2017
The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plans assets of  
9.6% was higher than our expected return of 6.50% primarily due  
to a rise in the value of global equity markets and favorable credit 
market conditions. The weighted average discount rate for all of  
our pension and postretirement healthcare plans decreased from 
4.04% at May 31, 2016 to 3.98% at May 31, 2017. The demographic 
assumption experience in 2017 reflects an update in mortality tables 
for U.S. pension and other postemployment benefit plans.

2016
The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets of  
1.2% was lower than our expected return of 6.50% primarily due  
to a challenging environment for global equities and other risk-
seeking asset classes. The weighted average discount rate for all  
of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans declined from 
4.38% at May 31, 2015 to 4.04% at May 31, 2016. The demographic 
assumption experience in 2016 reflects a change in disability rates 
and an increase in the average retirement age for U.S. pension and 
other postemployment benefit plans. 

2015
The implementation of new U.S. mortality tables in 2015 resulted in 
an increased participant life expectancy assumption, which increased 
the overall projected benefit obligation by $1.2 billion. The weighted 
average discount rate for all of our pension and postretirement 
healthcare plans declined from 4.57% at May 31, 2014 to 4.38% at 
May 31, 2015. 

32

 33

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISDISCOUNT RATE. This is the interest rate used to discount the 
estimated future benefit payments that have been accrued to date 
(the projected benefit obligation or “PBO”) to their net present value 
and to determine the succeeding year’s ongoing pension expense 
(prior to any year-end MTM adjustment). The discount rate is 
determined each year at the plan measurement date. The discount 
rate for our U.S. Pension Plans at each measurement date was as 
follows: 

Measurement Date

Discount Rate

5/31/2017 
5/31/2016 
5/31/2015 
5/31/2014 

4.08%
4.13
4.42
4.60

We determine the discount rate with the assistance of actuaries, who 
calculate the yield on a theoretical portfolio of high-grade corporate 
bonds (rated Aa or better). In developing this theoretical portfolio, we 
select bonds that match cash flows to benefit payments, limit our 
concentration by industry and issuer, and apply screening criteria to 
ensure bonds with a call feature have a low probability of being called. 
To the extent scheduled bond proceeds exceed the estimated benefit 
payments in a given period, the calculation assumes those excess 
proceeds are reinvested at one-year forward rates. 

The measurement of our PBO and the related impact on our annual 
MTM adjustment is highly sensitive to the discount rate assumption.  
For our largest pension plan, a 50-basis-point increase in the discount 
rate would have decreased our 2017 PBO by approximately $1.7 billion 
and a 50-basis-point decrease in the discount rate would have 
increased our 2017 PBO by approximately $1.9 billion. However, our 
annual segment-level pension expense is less sensitive to changes  
in the discount rate. For example, a one-basis-point increase in the 
discount rate for our largest pension plan would have a $34 million 
effect on the fourth quarter MTM adjustment but only a net $200,000 
impact on segment-level pension expense.   

PLAN ASSETS. The expected average rate of return on plan assets is a 
long-term, forward-looking assumption that effects our segment level 
pension expense. It is required to be the expected future long-term 
rate of earnings on plan assets. Our pension plan assets are invested 
primarily in publicly tradable securities, and our pension plans hold 
only a minimal investment in FedEx common stock that is entirely at 
the discretion of third-party pension fund investment managers. As 
part of our strategy to manage pension costs and funded status 
volatility, we follow a liability-driven investment strategy to better 
align plan assets with liabilities.  

Establishing the expected future rate of investment return on our 
pension assets is a judgmental matter, which we review on an annual 
basis and revise as appropriate. Management considers the following 
factors in determining this assumption: 

>   the duration of our pension plan liabilities, which drives the 

investment strategy we can employ with our pension plan assets; 

>   the types of investment classes in which we invest our pension plan 

assets and the expected compound geometric return we can 
reasonably expect those investment classes to earn over time; and 

>   the investment returns we can reasonably expect our investment 

management program to achieve in excess of the returns we could 
expect if investments were made strictly in indexed funds.

For consolidated pension expense, we assumed a 6.50% expected 
long-term rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets in 2017 and 
2016 and 7.75% in 2015. We lowered our EROA assumption in 2016 as 
we continued to implement our asset and liability management strategy. 
In lowering this assumption, we considered our historical returns, our 
current capital markets outlook and our investment strategy for our plan 
assets, including the impact of the duration of our liabilities. Our actual 
returns in 2017 and 2015 exceeded our long-term assumption. Our 
actual return in 2016, however, was less than the expected return.  

At the segment level, we set our EROA at 6.50% for all periods 
presented when we adopted MTM accounting in 2015. We record 
service cost, interest cost and EROA at the segment level, but our 
annual MTM adjustment and any difference between our consolidated 
EROA and our segment EROA are reflected only at the corporate 
level. This allows our segment operating results to follow internal 
management reporting, which is used for making operating 
decisions and assessing segment performance. 

For our U.S. Pension Plans, a one basis-point change in our EROA would 
impact our 2018 segment pension expense by $2.5 million. The actual 
historical annual return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets, calculated on a 
compound geometric basis, was 7.8%, net of investment manager fees, 
for the 15-year period ended May 31, 2017.  

FUNDED STATUS. The following is information concerning the funded 
status of our pension plans as of May 31 (in millions):  

Funded Status of Plans: 
Projected benefit obligation (PBO) 
Fair value of plan assets 
Funded status of the plans
Cash Amounts:
Cash contributions during the year
Benefit payments during the year

2017 

2016 

$ 29,913
26,312
$ (3,601)

$ 29,602 
 24,271 
$ (5,331 )

$ 2,115
$ 2,310

$
$

726 
912 

34

 35

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FUNDING. The funding requirements for our U.S. Pension Plans are 
governed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which has aggressive 
funding requirements in order to avoid benefit payment restrictions 
that become effective if the funded status determined under Internal 
Revenue Service rules falls below 80% at the beginning of a plan 
year. All of our U.S. Pension Plans have funded status levels in excess 
of 80% and our plans remain adequately funded to provide benefits 
to our employees as they come due. Benefit payments for our U.S. 
Pension Plans for 2017 were approximately $2.3 billion, or 9.0%  
of plan assets. Benefit payments were higher in 2017 because  
our U.S. Pension Plans were amended to permit former employees  
with a vested traditional pension benefit to make a one-time,  
irrevocable election to receive their benefits in a lump-sum  
distribution. Approximately 18,300 former employees elected to 
receive this lump-sum distribution, and a total of approximately  
$1.3 billion was paid in May 2017. 

Over the past several years, we have made voluntary contributions  
to our U.S. Pension Plans in excess of the minimum required 
contributions. Amounts contributed in excess of the minimum 
required can result in a credit balance for funding purposes that  
can be used to reduce minimum contribution requirements in future 
years. Our credit balance exceeded $3.1 billion at May 31, 2017.  
For 2018, we anticipate making contributions to our U.S. Pension 
Plans totaling $1.0 billion (approximately $700 million of which  
are expected to be required). The funding rules used to establish 
minimum required pension contributions in the U.S. require any 
credit balance to be deducted from plan assets to calculate the 
funded status of the plan. Plan sponsors may irrevocably waive 
some or all of their credit balance to reduce the required funding. 
We have chosen to preserve our credit balance since the required 
level of contributions are within our planning parameters for 
contributions. 

See Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements 
for further information about our retirement plans. 

Self-Insurance Accruals
We are self-insured up to certain limits for costs associated with 
workers’ compensation claims, vehicle accidents and general business 
liabilities, and benefits paid under employee healthcare and disability 
programs. Our reserves are established for estimates of loss on reported 
claims, including incurred-but-not-reported claims. Self-insurance 
accruals reflected in our balance sheet were $2.3 billion at May 31, 
2017 and $2.2 billion at May 31, 2016. Approximately 41% of these 
accruals were classified as current liabilities. 

Our self-insurance accruals are primarily based on the actuarially 
estimated cost of claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. These 
estimates include consideration of factors such as severity of claims, 
frequency and volume of claims, healthcare inflation, seasonality and 
plan designs. Cost trends on material accruals are updated each 
quarter. We self-insure up to certain limits that vary by type of risk. 
Periodically, we evaluate the level of insurance coverage and adjust 
insurance levels based on risk tolerance and premium expense. Where 
estimable, losses covered by insurance are recognized on a gross 
basis with a corresponding insurance receivable.

We believe the use of actuarial methods to account for these liabilities 
provides a consistent and effective way to measure these highly 
judgmental accruals. However, the use of any estimation technique in 
this area is inherently sensitive given the magnitude of claims involved 
and the length of time until the ultimate cost is known. We believe our 
recorded obligations for these expenses are consistently measured on a 
conservative basis. Nevertheless, changes in healthcare costs, accident 
frequency and severity, insurance retention levels and other factors can 
materially affect the estimates for these liabilities. 

Long-Lived Assets
USEFUL LIVES AND SALVAGE VALUES. Our business is capital 
intensive, with approximately 54% of our total assets invested in our 
transportation and information systems infrastructures. 

The depreciation or amortization of our capital assets over their 
estimated useful lives, and the determination of any salvage values, 
requires management to make judgments about future events. 
Because we utilize many of our capital assets over relatively long 
periods (the majority of aircraft costs are depreciated over 15 to  
30 years), we periodically evaluate whether adjustments to our 
estimated service lives or salvage values are necessary to ensure 
these estimates properly match the economic use of the asset. This 
evaluation may result in changes in the estimated lives and residual 
values used to depreciate our aircraft and other equipment. For our 
aircraft, we typically assign no residual value due to the utilization of 
these assets in cargo configuration, which results in little to no value 
at the end of their useful life. These estimates affect the amount of 
depreciation expense recognized in a period and, ultimately, the gain 
or loss on the disposal of the asset. Changes in the estimated lives of 
assets will result in an increase or decrease in the amount of 
depreciation recognized in future periods and could have a material 
impact on our results of operations (as described below). Historically, 
gains and losses on disposals of operating equipment have not been 
material. However, such amounts may differ materially in the future 
due to changes in business levels, technological obsolescence, 
accident frequency, regulatory changes and other factors beyond  
our control. 

34

 35

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISIMPAIRMENT. As of May 31, 2017, the FedEx Express global air and 
ground network includes a fleet of 657 aircraft (including approximately 
300 supplemental aircraft) that provide delivery of packages and freight 
to more than 220 countries and territories through a wide range of U.S. 
and international shipping services. While certain aircraft are utilized  
in primary geographic areas (U.S. versus international), we operate an 
integrated global network, and utilize our aircraft and other modes of 
transportation to achieve the lowest cost of delivery while maintaining 
our service commitments to our customers. Because of the integrated 
nature of our global network, our aircraft are interchangeable across 
routes and geographies, giving us flexibility with our fleet planning to 
meet changing global economic conditions and maintain and modify 
aircraft as needed. 

Because of the lengthy lead times for aircraft manufacture and 
modifications, we must anticipate volume levels and plan our fleet 
requirements years in advance, and make commitments for aircraft 
based on those projections. Furthermore, the timing and availability  
of certain used aircraft types (particularly those with better fuel 
efficiency) may create limited opportunities to acquire these aircraft  
at favorable prices in advance of our capacity needs. These activities 
create risks that asset capacity may exceed demand. There were no 
aircraft purchases that have not been placed in service at May 31, 
2017. All aircraft passenger-to-freighter modification programs are 
complete as of May 31, 2017. 

The accounting test for whether an asset held for use is impaired 
involves first comparing the carrying value of the asset with its 
estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If the cash flows do not 
exceed the carrying value, the asset must be adjusted to its current 
fair value. We operate integrated transportation networks, and 
accordingly, cash flows for most of our operating assets are assessed 
at a network level, not at an individual asset level for our analysis  
of impairment. Further, decisions about capital investments are 
evaluated based on the impact to the overall network rather than the 
return on an individual asset. We make decisions to remove certain 
long-lived assets from service based on projections of reduced 
capacity needs or lower operating costs of newer aircraft types, and 
those decisions may result in an impairment charge. Assets held for 
disposal must be adjusted to their estimated fair values less costs  
to sell when the decision is made to dispose of the asset and certain 
other criteria are met. The fair value determinations for such aircraft 
may require management estimates, as there may not be active 
markets for some of these aircraft. Such estimates are subject to 
revision from period to period. 

In the normal management of our aircraft fleet, we routinely idle 
aircraft and engines temporarily due to maintenance cycles and 
adjustments of our network capacity to match seasonality and overall 
customer demand levels. Temporarily idled assets are classified as 
available-for-use, and we continue to record depreciation expense 
associated with these assets. These temporarily idled assets are 

assessed for impairment on a quarterly basis. The criteria for 
determining whether an asset has been permanently removed from 
service (and, as a result, is potentially impaired) include, but are not 
limited to, our global economic outlook and the impact of our outlook 
on our current and projected volume levels, including capacity needs 
during our peak shipping seasons; the introduction of new fleet types 
or decisions to permanently retire an aircraft fleet from operations; 
and changes to planned service expansion activities. At May 31, 2017, 
we had seven aircraft temporarily idled. These aircraft have been 
idled for an average of 12 months and are expected to return to 
revenue service. 

In the fourth quarter of 2015, we retired from service seven Boeing 
MD11 aircraft and 12 related engines, four Airbus A310-300 aircraft 
and three related engines, three Airbus A300-600 aircraft and three 
related engines and one Boeing MD10-10 aircraft and three related 
engines, and related parts. We also adjusted the retirement schedule 
of an additional 23 aircraft and 57 engines. As a consequence, 
impairment and related charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of 
tax, or $0.61 per diluted share), of which $246 million was non-cash, 
were recorded in the fourth quarter. The decision to permanently  
retire these aircraft and engines aligns with FedEx Express’s plans to 
rationalize capacity and modernize its aircraft fleet to more effectively 
serve its customers.  

LEASES. We utilize operating leases to finance certain of our aircraft, 
facilities and equipment. Such arrangements typically shift the risk of 
loss on the residual value of the assets at the end of the lease period  
to the lessor. As disclosed in “Contractual Cash Obligations and 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” and Note 7 of the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements, at May 31, 2017 we had 
approximately $17.9 billion (on an undiscounted basis) of future 
commitments for payments under operating leases. The weighted-
average remaining lease term of all operating leases outstanding at 
May 31, 2017 was approximately six years. The future commitments 
for operating leases are not yet reflected as a liability in our balance 
sheet until the new rules on lease accounting issued in 2016 
become effective in our fiscal 2020 as described below.  

The determination of whether a lease is accounted for as a capital 
lease or an operating lease requires management to make estimates 
primarily about the fair value of the asset and its estimated economic 
useful life. In addition, our evaluation includes ensuring we properly 
account for build-to-suit lease arrangements and making judgments 
about whether various forms of lessee involvement during the 
construction period make the lessee an agent for the owner-lessor or, 
in substance, the owner of the asset during the construction period. 
We believe we have well-defined and controlled processes for making 
these evaluations, including obtaining third-party appraisals for 
material transactions to assist us in making these evaluations. 

36

 37

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOn February 25, 2016, the FASB issued a new lease accounting 
standard which requires lessees to put most leases on their balance 
sheets but recognize the expenses on their income statements in a 
manner similar to current practice. The new standard states that a 
lessee will recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease 
payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying 
asset for the lease term. Expenses related to leases determined to be 
operating leases will be recognized on a straight-line basis, while 
those determined to be financing leases will be recognized following 
a front-loaded expense profile in which interest and amortization are 
presented separately in the income statement. Based on our lease 
portfolio, we currently anticipate recognizing a lease liability and 
related right-of-use asset on the balance sheet in excess of $13 billion 
with an immaterial impact on our income statement compared to the 
current lease accounting model. However, the ultimate impact of the 
standard will depend on the company’s lease portfolio as of the 
adoption date. We are currently in the process of evaluating our 
existing lease portfolios, including accumulating all of the necessary 
information required to properly account for the leases under the new 
standard. Additionally, we are implementing an enterprise-wide lease 
management system to assist in the accounting and are evaluating 
additional changes to our processes and internal controls to ensure 
we meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements. These 
changes will be effective for our fiscal year beginning June 1, 2019 
(fiscal 2020), with a modified retrospective adoption method to the 
beginning of 2018.

GOODWILL. As of May 31, 2017, we had $7.2 billion of recorded 
goodwill from our business acquisitions, representing the excess  
of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets we have 
acquired. During 2017, we recorded $407 million in additional 
goodwill associated with the completion of the purchase price 
allocation related to the TNT Express acquisition. During 2016, we 
recorded $3.0 billion in goodwill associated with our TNT Express 
acquisition. During 2015, we recorded $1.1 billion in goodwill 
associated with our FedEx Supply Chain and FedEx Cross Border 
acquisitions. Several factors give rise to goodwill in our acquisitions, 
such as the expected benefit from synergies of the combination and 
the existing workforce of the acquired business.  

Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment. In our evaluation 
of goodwill impairment, we perform a qualitative assessment that 
requires management judgment and the use of estimates to determine 
if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less 
than its carrying amount. If the qualitative assessment is not conclusive, 
we proceed to a two-step process to test goodwill for impairment, 
including comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying 
value (including attributable goodwill). Fair value is estimated using 
standard valuation methodologies (principally the income or market 
approach) incorporating market participant considerations and 
management’s assumptions on revenue growth rates, operating 
margins, discount rates and expected capital expenditures. Estimates 
used by management can significantly affect the outcome of the 
impairment test. Changes in forecasted operating results and other 
assumptions could materially affect these estimates. We perform our 
annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter unless circumstances 
indicate the need to accelerate the timing of the tests. 

Our reporting units with significant recorded goodwill include  
FedEx Express, TNT Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx 
Office (reported in the FedEx Services segment) and FedEx Supply 
Chain (reported in the FedEx Ground segment). We evaluated these 
reporting units during the fourth quarters of 2017 and 2016. The 
estimated fair value of each of these reporting units exceeded their 
carrying values in 2017 and 2016; therefore, we do not believe that 
any of these reporting units were impaired as of the balance sheet 
dates. In our first quarter of 2018, we will have one FedEx Express 
reportable segment (currently reported as the FedEx Express group). 
As a result of this change, the goodwill attributable to the TNT 
Express segment will be included in the FedEx Express segment.

Contingencies
We are subject to various loss contingencies, including tax proceedings 
and litigation, in connection with our operations. Contingent liabilities 
are difficult to measure, as their measurement is subject to multiple 
factors that are not easily predicted or projected. Further, additional 
complexity in measuring these liabilities arises due to the various 
jurisdictions in which these matters occur, which makes our ability to 
predict their outcome highly uncertain. Moreover, different accounting 
rules must be employed to account for these items based on the 
nature of the contingency. Accordingly, significant management 
judgment is required to assess these matters and to make 
determinations about the measurement of a liability, if any. Our 
material pending loss contingencies are described in Note 18 of the 
accompanying consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of 
management, the aggregate liability, if any, of individual matters or 
groups of matters not specifically described in Note 18 is not expected 
to be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash 
flows. The following describes our methods and associated processes 
for evaluating these matters. 

TAX CONTINGENCIES. We are subject to income and operating tax 
rules of the U.S., its states and municipalities, and of the foreign 
jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in 
determining income tax provisions, as well as deferred tax asset and 
liability balances and related deferred tax valuation allowances, if 
necessary, due to the complexity of these rules and their interaction 
with one another. Our provision for income taxes is based on domestic 
and international statutory income tax rates in the jurisdictions in 
which we operate, applied to taxable income, reduced by applicable 
tax credits.  

Tax contingencies arise from uncertainty in the application of tax  
rules throughout the many jurisdictions in which we operate and are 
impacted by several factors, including tax audits, appeals, litigation, 
changes in tax laws and other rules and their interpretations, and 
changes in our business. We regularly assess the potential impact  
of these factors for the current and prior years to determine the 
adequacy of our tax provisions. We continually evaluate the likelihood 
and amount of potential adjustments and adjust our tax positions, 
including the current and deferred tax liabilities, in the period in  
which the facts that give rise to a revision become known. In  
addition, management considers the advice of third parties in  
making conclusions regarding tax consequences. 

36

 37

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISWe recognize liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on  
a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for 
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates 
that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on 
audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes,  
if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax 
benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized 
upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to 
estimate such amounts, as we must determine the probability of various 
possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on  
a quarterly basis or when new information becomes available to 
management. These reevaluations are based on factors including, but 
not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, 
successfully settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Such a 
change in recognition or measurement could result in the recognition  
of a tax benefit or an increase to the related provision. 

We classify interest related to income tax liabilities as interest 
expense, and if applicable, penalties are recognized as a component 
of income tax expense. The income tax liabilities and accrued interest 
and penalties that are due within one year of the balance sheet date 
are presented as current liabilities. The remaining portion of our 
income tax liabilities and accrued interest and penalties are presented 
as noncurrent liabilities because payment of cash is not anticipated 
within one year of the balance sheet date. These noncurrent income 
tax liabilities are recorded in the caption “Other liabilities” in the 
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

We account for operating taxes based on multi-state, local and 
foreign taxing jurisdiction rules in those areas in which we operate. 
Provisions for operating taxes are estimated based upon these rules, 
asset acquisitions and disposals, historical spend and other variables. 
These provisions are consistently evaluated for reasonableness 
against compliance and risk factors. 

We measure and record operating tax contingency accruals in 
accordance with accounting guidance for contingencies. As discussed 
below, this guidance requires an accrual of estimated loss from a 
contingency, such as a tax or other legal proceeding or claim, when  
it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of the loss 
can be reasonably estimated. 

LEGAL AND OTHER CONTINGENCIES. Because of the complex 
environment in which we operate, we are subject to other legal 
proceedings and claims, including those relating to general commercial 
matters, governmental enforcement actions, employment-related claims 
and FedEx Ground’s owner-operators. Accounting guidance for 
contingencies requires an accrual of estimated loss from a contingency, 
such as a tax or other legal proceeding or claim, when it is probable 
(i.e., the future event or events are likely to occur) that a loss has been 
incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. This 
guidance also requires disclosure of a loss contingency matter when,  
in management’s judgment, a material loss is reasonably possible  
or probable. 

During the preparation of our financial statements, we evaluate our 
contingencies to determine whether it is probable, reasonably 
possible or remote that a liability has been incurred. A loss is 
recognized for all contingencies deemed probable and estimable, 
regardless of amount. For unresolved contingencies with potentially 

material exposure that are deemed reasonably possible, we evaluate 
whether a potential loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.

Our evaluation of these matters is the result of a comprehensive 
process designed to ensure that accounting recognition of a loss or 
disclosure of these contingencies is made in a timely manner and 
involves our legal and accounting personnel, as well as external counsel 
where applicable. The process includes regular communications during 
each quarter and scheduled meetings shortly before the completion of 
our financial statements to evaluate any new legal proceedings and the 
status of existing matters.

In determining whether a loss should be accrued or a loss contingency 
disclosed, we evaluate, among other factors: 

>   the current status of each matter within the scope and context of 
the entire lawsuit or proceeding (e.g., the lengthy and complex 
nature of class-action matters);

>   the procedural status of each matter; 

>   any opportunities to dispose of a lawsuit on its merits before trial 

(i.e., motion to dismiss or for summary judgment); 

>   the amount of time remaining before a trial date; 

>   the status of discovery; 

>   the status of settlement, arbitration or mediation proceedings; and 

>   our judgment regarding the likelihood of success prior to or at trial. 

In reaching our conclusions with respect to accrual of a loss or  
loss contingency disclosure, we take a holistic view of each matter 
based on these factors and the information available prior to the 
issuance of our financial statements. Uncertainty with respect to  
an individual factor or combination of these factors may impact  
our decisions related to accrual or disclosure of a loss contingency, 
including a conclusion that we are unable to establish an estimate 
of possible loss or a meaningful range of possible loss. We update 
our disclosures to reflect our most current understanding of the 
contingencies at the time we issue our financial statements. 
However, events may arise that were not anticipated and the 
outcome of a contingency may result in a loss to us that differs 
materially from our previously estimated liability or range of 
possible loss. 

Despite the inherent complexity in the accounting and disclosure of 
contingencies, we believe that our processes are robust and thorough 
and provide a consistent framework for management in evaluating the 
potential outcome of contingencies for proper accounting recognition 
and disclosure. 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE 
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

INTEREST RATES. While we currently have market risk sensitive 
instruments related to interest rates, we have no significant exposure 
to changing interest rates on our fixed-rate long-term debt or our 
floating-rate debt. As disclosed in Note 6 to the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements, we had outstanding fixed- and 
floating-rate long-term debt (exclusive of capital leases) with an 

38

 39

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISestimated fair value of $15.5 billion at May 31, 2017 and $14.3 billion 
at May 31, 2016. Market risk for fixed- and floating-rate long-term 
debt is estimated as the potential decrease in fair value resulting  
from a hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates and amounts to 
$370 million as of May 31, 2017 and $312 million as of May 31, 2016. 
The underlying fair values of our long-term debt were estimated based 
on quoted market prices or on the current rates offered for debt with 
similar terms and maturities. 

We have interest rate risk with respect to our pension and  
postretirement benefit obligations. Changes in interest rates impact 
our liabilities associated with these retirement plans, as well as the 
amount of pension and postretirement benefit expense recognized. 
Declines in the value of plan assets could diminish the funded 
status of our pension plans and potentially increase our requirement 
to make contributions to the plans. Substantial investment losses on 
plan assets would also increase pension expense. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY. While we are a global provider of transportation, 
e-commerce and business services, the majority of our transactions 
during the periods presented in this Annual Report are denominated in 
U.S. dollars. The principal foreign currency exchange rate risks to which 
we are exposed are in the euro, Chinese yuan, British pound, Canadian 
dollar, Brazilian real and Mexican peso. Historically, our exposure to 
foreign currency fluctuations is more significant with respect to our 
revenues than our expenses, as a significant portion of our expenses are 
denominated in U.S. dollars, such as aircraft and fuel expenses. Foreign 
currency fluctuations had a moderately negative impact on operating 
income in 2017 and moderately positive impact on operating income in 
2016. However, favorable foreign currency fluctuations also may have 
had an offsetting impact on the price we obtained or the demand for our 
services, which is not quantifiable. At May 31, 2017, the result of a 
uniform 10% strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the 
currencies in which our transactions are denominated would result in a 
decrease in operating income of $87 million for 2018. This theoretical 
calculation required under SEC guidelines assumes that each exchange 
rate would change in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar, 
which is not consistent with our actual experience in foreign currency 
transactions. In addition to the direct effects of changes in exchange 
rates, fluctuations in exchange rates also affect the volume of sales or 
the foreign currency sales price as competitors’ services become more 
or less attractive. The sensitivity analysis of the effects of changes in 
foreign currency exchange rates does not factor in a potential change in 
sales levels or local currency prices. 

Our TNT Express segment impacts our exposure to foreign currency 
exchange risk. TNT Express maintains derivative financial instruments to 
manage foreign currency fluctuations related to probable future 
transactions and cash flows denominated in currencies other than the 
currency of the transacting entity. These derivatives are not designated 
as hedges and are accounted for at fair value with any profit or loss 
recorded in income during the period since acquisition, which was 
immaterial for 2017 and 2016. 

COMMODITY. While we have market risk for changes in the price of 
jet and vehicle fuel, this risk is largely mitigated by our indexed fuel 
surcharges. For additional discussion of our indexed fuel surcharges, 
see the “Fuel” section of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.”  

RISK FACTORS

Our financial and operating results are subject to many risks and 
uncertainties, as described below.

We are directly affected by the state of the economy. While 
macroeconomic risks apply to most companies, we are particularly 
vulnerable. The transportation industry is highly cyclical and 
especially susceptible to trends in economic activity. Our primary 
business is to transport goods, so our business levels are directly 
tied to the purchase and production of goods — key macroeconomic 
measurements. When individuals and companies purchase and 
produce fewer goods, we transport fewer goods, and as companies 
expand the number of distribution centers and move manufacturing 
closer to consumer markets, we transport goods shorter distances. 
In addition, we have a relatively high fixed-cost structure, which is 
difficult to quickly adjust to match shifting volume levels. Moreover, as 
we continue to grow our international business, we are increasingly 
affected by the health of the global economy, the rate of growth of 
global trade and the typically more volatile economies of emerging 
markets. For instance, the United Kingdom’s (“UK”) vote to leave the 
European Union (“EU”) and anti-trade and protectionist measures 
adopted by the U.S. or other countries in which we do business 
could result in economic uncertainty and instability, resulting in 
fewer goods being transported globally. 

A significant data breach or other disruption to our technology 
infrastructure could disrupt our operations and result in the loss 
of critical confidential information, adversely impacting our 
reputation, business or results of operations. Our ability to attract 
and retain customers, to efficiently operate our businesses, and to 
compete effectively depends in part upon the sophistication and 
reliability of our technology network, including our ability to provide 
features of service that are important to our customers, to protect our 
confidential business information and the information provided by our 
customers, and to maintain customer confidence in our ability to 
protect our systems and to provide services consistent with their 
expectations. We are subject to risks imposed by data breaches and 
operational disruptions, particularly through cyber-attack or cyber-
intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and 
cyber terrorists. Data breaches of companies and governments have 
increased in recent years as the number, intensity and sophistication 
of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have 
increased. Additionally, risks such as code anomalies, “Acts of God,” 
transitional challenges in migrating operating company functionality 
to our FedEx enterprise automation platform, data leakage and human 
error pose a direct threat to our products, services and data. 

We also use technology and systems from third-party service 
providers, including cloud service providers, for a variety of reasons 
and such providers may have access to information we maintain 
about our company, customers, employees and vendors or operate 
systems that are critical to our business operations and services. 
Like us, our third-party service providers are subject to risks imposed 
by data breaches and cyber-attacks. We have security processes, 
protocols and standards in place, including contractual provisions 
requiring such security measures, that are applicable to our service 
providers and are designed to protect information that is held by them, 

38

 39

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISor to which they have access, as a result of their engagements with 
us. Nevertheless, a cyber-attack could defeat one or more of our 
third-party service providers’ security measures, allowing an 
attacker to obtain information about our company, customers, 
employees and vendors or disrupt our operations. 

Any disruption to our complex, global technology infrastructure, 
including those impacting our computer systems and websites, 
could result in the loss of confidential business or customer 
information, adversely impact our operations, customer service, 
volumes and revenues, or could lead to litigation or investigations, 
resulting in significant costs. These types of adverse impacts could 
also occur in the event the confidentiality, integrity or availability of 
company and customer information was compromised due to a data 
loss by FedEx or a trusted third party. Recently, there has also been 
heightened regulatory and enforcement focus on data protection in 
the U.S. and abroad, and failure to comply with applicable U.S. or 
foreign data protection regulations or other data protection 
standards may expose us to litigation, fines, sanctions or other 
penalties, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact  
our business, results of operations and financial condition. 

We have invested and continue to invest in technology security 
initiatives, information technology risk management and disaster 
recovery plans. The development and maintenance of these measures  
is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies 
change and efforts to overcome security measures become increasingly 
more sophisticated. Despite our efforts, we are not fully insulated from 
data breaches, technology disruptions or data loss, which could 
adversely impact our competitiveness and results of operations. For 
instance, in May 2017 FedEx was one of many companies attacked  
by the rapidly spreading ransomware described as WannaCry that 
exploited vulnerability in Microsoft Windows and infected computers 
using that program, encrypting files and holding them for ransom. The 
WannaCry attack did not cause a material disruption to our systems  
or result in any material costs to FedEx. In addition, in June 2017  
TNT Express worldwide operations were significantly affected due to 
the infiltration of an information technology virus known as Petya, as 
further described in the following risk factor. 

While we have significant security processes and initiatives in place, 
we may be unable to detect or prevent a material breach or disruption 
in the future. 

TNT Express experienced a significant cyber-attack in the first 
quarter of fiscal 2018 and we are not yet able to determine the 
full extent of its impact, including the impact on our results of 
operations and financial condition, and it is likely that the 
financial impact will be material. On June 28, 2017, we announced 
that the worldwide operations of TNT Express were significantly 
affected by the cyber-attack known as Petya, which involved the 

spread of an information technology virus that infiltrated TNT Express 
systems and encrypted its data. While TNT Express operations have 
been restored and most TNT services are currently available, as of the 
date of this filing, we cannot estimate when TNT Express services will 
be fully restored. In addition, we cannot estimate how long it will take 
to restore the systems that were impacted and it is reasonably 
possible that TNT Express will be unable to fully restore all of the 
affected systems and recover all of the critical business data that was 
encrypted.

Given the recent timing and magnitude of the attack, in addition to our 
initial focus on restoring TNT Express operations and customer service 
functions, we are still evaluating the financial impact of the attack, 
but it is likely that it will be material. The following consequences or 
potential consequences of the cyber-attack could have a material 
adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition:   

>   loss of revenue resulting from the operational disruption  

immediately following the cyber-attack;

>   loss of revenue or increased bad debt expense due to the inability 

to invoice properly; 

>   loss of revenue due to permanent customer loss;

>   remediation costs to restore systems;

>   increased operational costs due to contingency plans that remain in 

place;

>   investments in enhanced systems in order to prevent future attacks;

>   cost of incentives offered to customers to restore confidence and 

maintain business relationships;

>   reputational damage resulting in the failure to retain or attract 

customers;

>   costs associated with potential litigation or governmental 

investigations;

>   costs associated with any data breach or data loss to third parties 

that is discovered;

>   costs associated with the potential loss of critical business data;

>   longer and more costly integration (due to increased expenses and 
capital spending requirements) of TNT Express and FedEx Express; 
and

>   other consequences of which we are not currently aware but will 

discover through the remediation process. 

In addition to financial consequences, the cyber-attack may materially 
impact our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over 
financial reporting in future periods. 

40

 41

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISThe failure to integrate successfully the businesses and 
operations of FedEx Express and TNT Express in the expected 
time frame may adversely affect our future results. Prior to 
FedEx’s acquisition of TNT Express in May 2016, FedEx Express and 
TNT Express operated as independent companies. There can be no 
assurances that these businesses can be integrated successfully.  
It is possible that the integration process could result in higher than 
expected integration costs, the loss of customers, the disruption of 
ongoing businesses, unexpected integration issues, or the loss of key 
historical FedEx Express or TNT Express employees. It is also possible 
that the overall integration process will take longer than currently 
anticipated.

Specifically, the following issues, among others, must be addressed 
as we begin to integrate the operations of FedEx Express and TNT 
Express in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction:

>   combining the companies’ operations and corporate functions; 

>   combining the businesses of FedEx Express and TNT Express and 
meeting the capital requirements of the combination in a manner 
that permits us to achieve the operating and financial results we 
anticipated from the acquisition, the failure of which could result  
in the material anticipated benefits of the transaction not being 
realized in the time frame currently anticipated, or at all; 

>   integrating and restructuring the corporate entities and achieving 

desired tax benefits;

>   integrating and consolidating the companies’ administrative and 
information technology infrastructure and computer systems; 

>   integrating workforces while continuing to provide consistent,  

high-quality service to customers; 

>   integrating and unifying the offerings and services available to 

historical FedEx Express and TNT Express customers; 

>   harmonizing the companies’ operating practices, employee  
development and compensation programs, integrity and  
compliance programs, internal controls and other policies,  
procedures and processes; 

>   integrating the companies’ financial reporting and internal control 

systems; 

>   maintaining existing agreements with customers and service 

providers and avoiding delays in entering into new agreements with 
prospective customers and service providers; 

>   addressing possible differences in business backgrounds, corporate 

cultures and management philosophies; 

>   addressing employee social issues so as to maintain efficient and 

effective labor and employee relations; 

>   coordinating rebranding and marketing efforts; 

>   managing the movement of certain positions to different locations; 

>   managing potential unknown and unidentified liabilities, including 
liabilities that are significantly larger than currently anticipated, 
and unforeseen increased expenses or delays associated with the 
integration process; and 

>   managing the expanded operations of a significantly larger, more 

complex company. 

All of these factors could dilute FedEx’s earnings per share, decrease  
or delay the expected accretive effect of the acquisition and negatively 
impact the price of FedEx’s common stock. In addition, at times the 
attention of certain members of our management may be focused on 
the integration of the businesses of FedEx Express and TNT Express  
and diverted from day-to-day business operations, which may disrupt 
our business.   

Our businesses depend on our strong reputation and the value of 
the FedEx brand. The FedEx brand name symbolizes high-quality 
service, reliability and speed. FedEx is one of the most widely 
recognized, trusted and respected brands in the world, and the FedEx 
brand is one of our most important and valuable assets. In addition, 
we have a strong reputation among customers and the general public 
for high standards of social and environmental responsibility and 
corporate governance and ethics. The FedEx brand name and our 
corporate reputation are powerful sales and marketing tools, and we 
devote significant resources to promoting and protecting them. 
Adverse publicity (whether or not justified) relating to activities by our 
employees, contractors or agents, such as customer service mishaps 
or noncompliance with laws, could tarnish our reputation and reduce 
the value of our brand. With the increase in the use of social media 
outlets such as YouTube and Twitter, adverse publicity can be 
disseminated quickly and broadly, making it increasingly difficult for 
us to effectively respond. Damage to our reputation and loss of brand 
equity could reduce demand for our services and thus have an adverse 
effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, as 
well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation and 
restore the value of our brand. 

Our transportation businesses are impacted by the price and 
availability of fuel. We must purchase large quantities of fuel to 
operate our aircraft and vehicles, and the price and availability of fuel 
can be unpredictable and beyond our control. To date, we have been 
mostly successful in mitigating over time the expense impact of higher 
fuel costs through our indexed fuel surcharges, as the amount of the 
surcharges is closely linked to the market prices for fuel. If we are 
unable to maintain or increase our fuel surcharges because of 
competitive pricing pressures or some other reason, fuel costs could 
adversely impact our operating results. Even if we are able to offset 
the cost of fuel with our surcharges, high fuel surcharges could move 
our customers away from our higher-yielding express services to our 
lower-yielding deferred or ground services or even reduce customer 

40

 41

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISdemand for our services altogether. In addition, disruptions in the 
supply of fuel could have a negative impact on our ability to operate 
our transportation networks. 

Our businesses are capital intensive, and we must make capital 
decisions based upon projected volume levels. We make 
significant investments in aircraft, package handling facilities, 
vehicles, technology, sort equipment, copy equipment and other 
assets to support our transportation and business networks. We also 
make significant investments to rebrand, integrate and grow the 
companies that we acquire. The amount and timing of capital 
investments depend on various factors, including our anticipated 
volume growth. We must make commitments to purchase or modify 
aircraft years before the aircraft are actually needed. We must predict 
volume levels and fleet requirements and make commitments for 
aircraft based on those projections. Missing our projections could 
result in too much or too little capacity relative to our shipping 
volumes. Overcapacity could lead to asset dispositions or write-
downs, as well as negatively impact operating margins, and 
undercapacity could negatively impact service levels.  

We face intense competition. The transportation and business 
services markets are both highly competitive and sensitive to price  
and service, especially in periods of little or no macroeconomic growth. 
Some of our competitors have more financial resources than we do,  
or they are controlled or subsidized by foreign governments, which 
enables them to raise capital more easily. We also compete with 
regional transportation providers that operate smaller and less 
capital-intensive transportation networks and startups that combine 
technology with crowdsourcing to focus on local market needs. In 
addition, some high volume package shippers, such as Amazon.com, 
are developing in-house delivery capabilities, which could in turn 
reduce our revenues and market share. We believe we compete 
effectively with these companies — for example, by providing more 
reliable service at compensatory prices. However, an irrational pricing 
environment can limit our ability not only to maintain or increase our 
prices (including our fuel surcharges in response to rising fuel costs), 
but also to maintain or grow our market share. While we believe we 
compete effectively through our current and planned service offerings, 
if our current competitors or potential future competitors offer a 
broader range of services or more effectively bundle their services,  
it could impede our ability to maintain or grow our market share. 
Moreover, if our current customers, such as Amazon.com, become 
competitors and bundle transportation with other services, it will 
reduce our revenue and could negatively impact our financial condition 
and results of operations.  

Government regulation is evolving and unfavorable changes 
could harm our business. We are subject to regulation under a wide 
variety of U.S. federal and state and non-U.S. regulations, laws, and 
policies. There can be no assurance that such regulations, laws and 
policies will not be changed in ways that will decrease the demand  
for our services, subject us to escalating costs or require us to modify 
our business models and objectives, harming our financial results. In 
particular, legislative, regulatory or other actions that U.S. and non-U.S. 
governments have undertaken or are considering in areas such as data 
privacy and sovereignty, foreign exchange intervention in response to 
currency volatility, currency controls that could restrict the movement 
of liquidity from particular jurisdictions, trade controls or tariffs on 
imports and exports in the U.S. or other countries, complex economic 
sanctions, additional security requirements, additional requirements  
on employees and benefits, and tax reform may have an effect on  
our operations, liquidity, capital requirements, effective tax rate and 
performance. For example, anti-trade or protectionist measures passed 
in the U.S. or other countries in which we do business could depress 
global trade, decrease the demand for our services and negatively 
impact our financial results.  

If we do not successfully execute or effectively operate, 
integrate, leverage and grow acquired businesses, our financial 
results and reputation may suffer. Our strategy for long-term growth, 
productivity and profitability depends in part on our ability to make 
prudent strategic acquisitions and to realize the benefits we expect 
when we make those acquisitions. In furtherance of this strategy, in 
addition to TNT Express, we have acquired businesses in Europe,  
Latin America, Africa and the U.S. over the past several years. While 
we expect our past and future acquisitions to enhance our value 
proposition to customers and improve our long-term profitability, there 
can be no assurance that we will realize our expectations within the 
time frame we have established, if at all, or that we can continue to 
support the value we allocate to these acquired businesses, including 
their goodwill or other intangible assets.  

We may not be able to achieve our profit improvement goal by 
the end of 2020. In March 2017, we announced that the FedEx 
Express group is targeting operating income improvement of  
$1.2 billion to $1.5 billion in 2020 from 2017. Our ability to achieve 
this objective is dependent on a number of factors, including the TNT 
integration progressing as planned, the health of the global economy 
and future customer demand. In light of these factors, we may not be 
able to achieve our goal.

42

 43

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISLabor organizations attempt to organize groups of our employees 
from time to time, and potential changes in labor laws could 
make it easier for them to do so. If we are unable to continue to 
maintain good relationships with our employees and prevent labor 
organizations from organizing groups of our employees, our operating 
costs could significantly increase and our operational flexibility could 
be significantly reduced. Despite continual organizing attempts by 
labor unions, other than the pilots of FedEx Express and drivers at 
three FedEx Freight facilities, our U.S. employees have thus far chosen 
not to unionize (we acquired FedEx Supply Chain (formerly GENCO) in 
January 2015, which already had a small number of employees that 
are members of unions).  

We believe that FedEx Ground’s owner-operators are properly 
classified as independent contractors and that FedEx Ground is not  
an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent 
contractors. However, adverse determinations in these matters could, 
among other things, entitle certain of our owner-operators and their 
drivers to the reimbursement of certain expenses and to the benefit  
of wage-and-hour laws and result in employment and withholding tax 
and benefit liability for FedEx Ground, and could result in changes to 
the independent contractor status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators. 
Changes to state laws governing the definition of independent 
contractors, or employees of independent contractors, could also 
impact the status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators.  

The U.S. Congress has, in the past, considered adopting changes in 
labor laws, however, that would make it easier for unions to organize 
units of our employees. For example, there is always a possibility  
that Congress could remove most FedEx Express employees from  
the purview of the RLA. Such legislation could expose our customers 
to the type of service disruptions that the RLA was designed to 
prevent — local work stoppages in key areas that interrupt the timely 
flow of shipments of time-sensitive, high-value goods throughout  
our global network. Such disruptions could threaten our ability to 
provide competitively priced shipping options and ready access to 
global markets. 

There is also the possibility that Congress could pass other labor 
legislation that could adversely affect our companies, such as FedEx 
Ground and FedEx Freight, whose employees are governed by the 
National Labor Relations Act of 1935, as amended (“NLRA”). In 
addition, federal and state governmental agencies, such as the 
National Labor Relations Board, have and may continue to take 
actions that could make it easier for our employees to organize under 
the RLA or NLRA. Finally, changes to federal or state laws governing 
employee classification could impact the status of FedEx Ground’s 
owner-operators as independent employers of drivers. If FedEx Ground 
is deemed to be a joint employer of independent contractors’ 
employees, labor organizations could more easily organize these 
individuals, our operating costs could increase materially and we 
could incur significant capital outlays. 

FedEx Ground relies on owner-operators to conduct its linehaul 
and pickup-and-delivery operations, and the status of these 
owner-operators as independent contractors and direct  
employers of drivers providing these services is being  
challenged. FedEx Ground’s use of independent contractors is well 
suited to the needs of the ground delivery business and its customers, 
as evidenced by the strong growth of this business segment. We are 
involved in lawsuits and state tax and other administrative proceedings 
that claim the company’s owner-operators under a contractor model no 
longer in use should have been treated as our employees rather than 
independent contractors, or that drivers employed by independent 
contractors should be treated as our employees. We incur certain  
costs, including legal fees, in defending the status of FedEx Ground’s 
owner-operators as independent contractors.  

The UK vote to leave the EU could adversely impact our business, 
results of operations and financial condition. There is substantial 
uncertainty surrounding the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU 
(“Brexit”). Any impact of the Brexit vote depends on the terms of the 
UK’s withdrawal from the EU, which was formally initiated in March 
2017 and could take several years to accomplish. The UK’s withdrawal 
from the EU could result in a global economic downturn, which could 
depress the demand for our services. The UK also could lose access to 
the single EU market and to the global trade deals negotiated by the 
EU on behalf of its members, depressing trade between the UK and 
other countries, which would negatively impact our international 
operations. Additionally, we may face new regulations regarding trade, 
aviation, security and employees, among others, in the UK. Compliance 
with such regulations could be costly, negatively impacting our 
business, results of operations and financial condition.   

Disruptions or modifications in service by the USPS or changes 
in its business or financial soundness could have an adverse 
effect on our operations and financial results. The USPS is a 
significant customer and vendor of FedEx. In particular, the USPS is  
the largest customer of FedEx Express, which provides domestic air 
transportation services for the USPS’s First Class Mail, Priority Mail 
Express and Priority Mail and transportation and delivery for the USPS’s 
international delivery service. Disruptions or modifications in service by 
the USPS as a result of financial difficulties or changes in its business, 
including any structural changes to its operations, network, service 
offerings or pricing, could adversely affect our operations, negatively 
impacting our revenue, results of operations and financial condition.   

The transportation infrastructure continues to be a target of 
terrorist activities. Because transportation assets continue to be  
a target of terrorist activities, governments around the world are 
adopting or are considering adopting stricter security requirements 
that will increase operating costs and potentially slow service for 
businesses, including those in the transportation industry. For 
example, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) 
requires FedEx Express to comply with a Full All-Cargo Aircraft 
Operator Standard Security Plan, which contains evolving and strict 
security requirements. Additionally, the International Civil Aviation 
Organization (“ICAO”) currently allows a member state to permit 
carriers and other entities to determine, without government 
oversight, which shippers and shipments are secure for purposes  
of putting those shipments on all-cargo aircraft. This allowance will 

42

 43

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISbe removed by calendar year 2021 and may require us to undergo 
additional screening and oversight by the TSA and similar government 
agencies internationally. Security requirements such as these are  
not static, but change periodically as the result of regulatory and 
legislative requirements, imposing additional security costs and creating 
a level of uncertainty for our operations. Thus, it is reasonably possible 
that these rules or other future security requirements could impose 
material costs on us or slow our service to our customers. Moreover, a 
terrorist attack directed at FedEx or other aspects of the transportation 
infrastructure could disrupt our operations and adversely impact demand 
for our services.  

The regulatory environment for global aviation or other  
transportation rights may impact our operations. Our extensive air 
network is critical to our success. Our right to serve foreign points is 
subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation and 
generally requires a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and foreign 
governments. In addition, we must obtain the permission of foreign 
governments to provide specific flights and services. Our operations 
outside of the U.S., such as FedEx Express’s growing international 
domestic operations, are also subject to current and potential 
regulations, including certain postal regulations and licensing 
requirements, that restrict, make difficult and sometimes prohibit, the 
ability of foreign-owned companies such as FedEx Express to compete 
effectively in parts of the international domestic transportation and 
logistics market. Regulatory or executive actions affecting global 
aviation or transportation rights or a failure to obtain or maintain 
aviation or other transportation rights in important international 
markets could impair our ability to operate our networks.   

We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, 
regulatory or market responses to such change. Concern over 
climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to 
significant U.S. and international legislative and regulatory efforts to 
limit greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, including our aircraft and 
diesel engine emissions. Increasingly, state and local governments are 
also considering GHG regulatory requirements.

For example, in 2009, the European Commission approved the 
extension of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”) for 
GHG emissions to the airline industry. Under this decision, all FedEx 
Express flights that are wholly within the European Union are now 
covered by the ETS requirements, and each year we are required to 
submit emission allowances in an amount equal to the carbon dioxide 
emissions from such flights. Also, in October 2016, the ICAO passed a 
resolution adopting the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for 
International Aviation (“CORSIA”), which is a global, market-based 
emissions offset program to encourage carbon-neutral growth beyond 
2020. CORSIA is scheduled to take effect by 2021. ICAO continues to 
develop details regarding implementation, but compliance with 
CORSIA will increase FedEx operating costs.  

Additionally, in July 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(“EPA”) issued a finding that aircraft engine GHG emissions cause or 
contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare. This finding is a regulatory 
prerequisite to the EPA’s adoption of a new certification standard for 
aircraft emissions. In the past, the U.S. Congress has also considered 
bills that would regulate GHG emissions, and some form of federal 
climate change legislation is possible in the future. However, the U.S. 
recently withdrew from the Paris climate accord, an agreement among 
196 countries to reduce GHG emissions, and that withdrawal’s effect 
on future U.S. policy regarding GHG emissions, on CORSIA and on 
other GHG regulation is uncertain.

Increased regulation regarding GHG emissions, especially aircraft  
or diesel engine emissions, could impose substantial costs on us, 
especially at FedEx Express. These costs include an increase in the 
cost of the fuel and other energy we purchase and capital costs 
associated with updating or replacing our aircraft or vehicles 
prematurely. Until the timing, scope and extent of such possible 
regulation becomes known, we cannot predict its effect on our cost 
structure or our operating results. It is reasonably possible, however, 
that it could impose material costs on us, if instituted. 

Moreover, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any 
adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the GHGs emitted by 
companies in the airline and transportation industries could harm our 
reputation and reduce customer demand for our services, especially 
our air express services. Finally, given the broad and global scope of 
our operations and our susceptibility to global macroeconomic trends, 
we are particularly vulnerable to the physical risks of climate change 
that could affect all of humankind, such as shifts in weather patterns 
and world ecosystems.

A localized disaster in a key geography could adversely impact 
our business. While we operate several integrated networks with 
assets distributed throughout the world, there are concentrations of 
key assets within our networks that are exposed to adverse weather 
conditions or localized risks from natural or manmade disasters such 
as tornados, floods, earthquakes, conflicts or unrest, or terrorist 
attacks. The loss of a key location such as our Memphis World Hub or 
one of our information technology centers could cause a significant 
disruption to our operations and cause us to incur significant costs to 
reestablish or relocate these functions. Moreover, resulting economic 
dislocations, including supply chain and fuel disruptions, could 
adversely impact demand for our services.   

44

 45

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISWe are also subject to other risks and uncertainties that affect 
many other businesses, including: 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this Annual Report, including (but not limited 
to) those contained in the “Letter from the Chairman,” “Income 
Taxes,” “TNT Express Cyber-Attack,” “Outlook” (including group and 
segment outlooks), “Recent Accounting Guidance,” “TNT Express 
Segment Results,” “Liquidity,” “Capital Resources,” “Liquidity 
Outlook,” “Contractual Cash Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet 
Arrangements,” “Critical Accounting Estimates” and “Risk Factors” 
and the “Recent Accounting Guidance,” “Retirement Plans,” 
“Business Segment Information” and “Contingencies” notes to the 
consolidated financial statements, are “forward-looking” statements 
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 
1995 with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, 
cash flows, plans, objectives, future performance and business. 
Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by 
or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “will,” 
“believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” 
“projects,” “intends” or similar expressions. These forward-looking 
statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ 
materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such 
forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, the risk 
factors identified above and the other risks and uncertainties you can 
find in our press releases and other SEC filings.

As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as  
to our future results and achievements. Accordingly, a forward-looking 
statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or 
circumstances and those future events or circumstances may not 
occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking 
statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We are 
under no obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to 
update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result  
of new information, future events or otherwise.

>   increasing costs, the volatility of costs and funding requirements and 
other legal mandates for employee benefits, especially pension and 
healthcare benefits; 

>   the increasing costs of compliance with federal, state and foreign 
governmental agency mandates (including the Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act) and defending against 
inappropriate or unjustified enforcement or other actions by such 
agencies; 

>   the impact of any international conflicts on the U.S. and global 

economies in general, the transportation industry or us in particular, 
and what effects these events will have on our costs or the demand 
for our services; 

>   any impacts on our businesses resulting from new domestic or 

international government laws and regulation; 

>   changes in foreign currency exchange rates, especially in the euro, 
Chinese yuan, British pound, Canadian dollar, Brazilian real, and 
the Mexican peso, which can affect our sales levels and foreign 
currency sales prices;  

>   market acceptance of our new service and growth initiatives; 

>   any liability resulting from and the costs of defending against 

class-action litigation, such as wage-and-hour, joint employment, 
and discrimination and retaliation claims, and any other legal or 
governmental proceedings; 

>   the outcome of future negotiations to reach new collective 

bargaining agreements — including with the union that represents 
the pilots of FedEx Express (the current pilot agreement is 
scheduled to become amendable in November 2021) and with  
the union that was elected in 2015 to represent drivers at three 
FedEx Freight facilities; 

>   the impact of technology developments on our operations and on 

demand for our services, and our ability to continue to identify and 
eliminate unnecessary information technology redundancy and 
complexity throughout the organization; 

>   governmental underinvestment in transportation infrastructure, 
which could increase our costs and adversely impact our service 
levels due to traffic congestion or sub-optimal routing of our vehicles 
and aircraft; 

>   widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable 

disease, or any other public health crisis; and 

>   availability of financing on terms acceptable to us and our ability  
to maintain our current credit ratings, especially given the capital 
intensity of our operations. 

44

 45

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISMANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in  
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Our internal control over financial reporting  
includes, among other things, defined policies and procedures for conducting and governing our business, sophisticated information  
systems for processing transactions and a properly staffed, professional internal audit department. Mechanisms are in place to monitor  
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and actions are taken to correct all identified deficiencies. Our procedures  
for financial reporting include the active involvement of senior management, our Audit Committee and our staff of highly qualified financial 
and legal professionals. 

Management, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, assessed our internal control over financial reporting  
as of May 31, 2017, the end of our fiscal year. Management based its assessment on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated 
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). 

Based on this assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of May 31, 2017. 

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2017, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the independent 
registered public accounting firm who also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. Ernst & 
Young LLP’s report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included in this Annual Report. 

46

 47

FEDEX CORPORATIONREPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders 
FedEx Corporation

We have audited FedEx Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal 
Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the  
COSO criteria). FedEx Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal 
Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based  
on our audit. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards 
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was 
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk 
that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, 
and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis 
for our opinion. 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial 
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A 
company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance 
that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and 
directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use,  
or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any 
evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions,  
or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

In our opinion, FedEx Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2017, 
based on the COSO criteria. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated 
balance sheets of FedEx Corporation as of May 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, 
changes in stockholders’ investment, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2017 of FedEx Corporation and  
our report dated July 17, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Memphis, Tennessee 
July 17, 2017

46

 47

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions, except share data)
Assets
Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances of $252 and $178
  Spare parts, supplies and fuel, less allowances of $237 and $218
  Prepaid expenses and other
    Total current assets
Property and Equipment, at Cost
  Aircraft and related equipment
  Package handling and ground support equipment
  Information technology
  Vehicles
  Facilities and other

  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    Net property and equipment
Other Long-Term Assets
  Goodwill
  Other assets
    Total other long-term assets

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment
Current Liabilities
  Current portion of long-term debt
  Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  Accounts payable
  Accrued expenses
    Total current liabilities
Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion
Other Long-Term Liabilities
  Deferred income taxes
  Pension, postretirement healthcare and other benefit obligations
  Self-insurance accruals
  Deferred lease obligations
  Deferred gains, principally related to aircraft transactions
  Other liabilities
    Total other long-term liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies
Common Stockholders’ Investment
  Common stock, $0.10 par value; 800 million shares authorized; 318 million shares issued  
    as of May 31, 2017 and 2016
  Additional paid-in capital
  Retained earnings
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  Treasury stock, at cost
    Total common stockholders’ investment

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 May 31,

2017

2016

$ 3,969
7,599
514
546
12,628

18,833
8,989
5,396
6,961
10,447
50,626
  24,645
25,981

7,154
2,789
9,943
$ 48,552

$

22
1,914
2,752
3,230
7,918
14,909

2,485
4,487
1,494
531
137
518
9,652

32
3,005
20,833
(415)
(7,382)
16,073
$ 48,552

$ 3,534
7,252
496
707
11,989

17,499
7,961
5,149
6,422
9,987
47,018
22,734
24,284

6,747
2,939
9,686
$ 45,959

$

29
1,972
2,944
3,063
8,008
13,733

1,567
6,227
1,314
400
155
771
10,434

32
2,892
18,371
(169)
(7,342)
13,784
$ 45,959

48

 49

FEDEX CORPORATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 

(in millions, except per share amounts)
Revenues
Operating Expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other charges
  Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment
  Other

Operating Income
Other Income (Expense):
  Interest expense
  Interest income
  Other, net

Income Before Income Taxes
Provision For Income Taxes
Net Income
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2017
$ 60,319

 Years ended May 31,
2016
$ 50,365  

2015
$ 47,453 

21,542
13,630
3,240
2,995
2,773
2,374
–
(24)
8,752
55,282
5,037

(512)
33
21
(458)
4,579
1,582
$ 2,997
$ 11.24
$ 11.07

 18,581 
 9,966 
 2,854 
 2,631 
 2,399 
 2,108 
 –   
 1,498 
 7,251 
 47,288 
3,077  

 (336)
 21 
 (22)
 (337)
2,740
920
$  1,820 
6.59 
$
6.51 
$

 17,110 
 8,483 
 2,682 
 2,611 
 3,720 
 2,099 
 276 
 2,190 
 6,415 
 45,586 
1,867 

 (235)
 14 
 (19)
 (240)
1,627
577
$  1,050 
3.70 
$
3.65 
$

48

 49

FEDEX CORPORATION 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in millions)
Net Income
Other Comprehensive Loss:
  Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax expense of $52 in 2017,  
    tax benefit of $22 in 2016 and tax benefit of $45 in 2015
  Amortization of prior service credit and other, net of tax benefit of $43 in 2017,  
    tax benefit of $45 in 2016 and tax expense of $1 in 2015

Comprehensive Income 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2017
$ 2,997

 Years ended May 31,
2016
$  1,820 

(171

)

(261)

(75)
(246)
$ 2,751

 (80 )
 (341 )
$ 1,479

2015
$  1,050 

(334)

 – 
 (334 )
716

$

50

 51

FEDEX CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions)
Operating Activities
Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization
  Provision for uncollectible accounts
  Deferred income taxes and other noncash items
  Stock-based compensation
  Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment
  Gain from sale of investment
  Impairment and other charges
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Receivables
    Other current assets
    Pension and postretirement healthcare assets and liabilities, net
    Accounts payable and other liabilities
    Other, net
Cash provided by operating activities

Investing Activities
  Capital expenditures
  Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
  Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
Cash used in investing activities

Financing Activities
  Principal payments on debt
  Proceeds from debt issuances
  Proceeds from stock issuances
  Dividends paid
  Purchase of treasury stock
  Other, net
Cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Years ended May 31,
2016

2017

2015

$ 2,997

$ 1,820

$ 1,050

2,995
136
909
154
(24)
(35)
–

(556)
78
(1,688)
103
(139)
4,930

(5,116)
–
135
(4,981)

(82)
1,190
337
(426)
(509)
18
528
(42)
435
3,534
$ 3,969

 2,631 
 121 
 31 
 144 
 1,498 
–
 – 

 (199)
 (234)
 (346)
 467 
 (225)
 5,708 

 (4,818)
 (4,618)
 (10)
 (9,446)

 (41)
 6,519 
 183 
 (277)
 (2,722)
 (51)
3,611
(102 )
(229)
3,763
$ 3,534

 2,611 
 145 
 (572)
 133 
 2,190 
–
 246 

 (392)
 25 
 (692)
 659 
 (37)
 5,366 

 (4,347)
(1,429)
 24 
 (5,752)

 (5)
 2,491 
 320 
 (227)
(1,254)
 24
 1,349
(108 )
855
 2,908 
$ 3,763

50

 51

FEDEX CORPORATION 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT

Common 
Stock
 $ 32 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

(in millions, except share data)
Balance at May 31, 2014
Net income
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $44
Purchase of treasury stock (8.1 million shares)
Cash dividends declared ($0.80 per share)
Employee incentive plans and other 
  (3.7 million shares issued)
Balance at May 31, 2015
Net income
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $67
Purchase of treasury stock (18.2 million shares)
Cash dividends declared ($1.00 per share)
Employee incentive plans and other 
  (2.0 million shares issued)
Balance at May 31, 2016
Net income
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $9
Purchase of treasury stock (3.0 million shares)
Cash dividends declared ($1.60 per share)
Employee incentive plans and other
  (3.5 million shares issued)
Balance at May 31, 2017
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 –
32 
 – 
 – 
 – 
– 

– 
32 
 – 
 – 
 – 
– 

– 
$ 32

Additional 
Paid-in 
Capital
$ 2,643
–
–
–
–

143
2,786
–
–
–
–

106
2,892
–
–
–
–

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Income 
$  506
–
(334)
–
–

–
172
–
(341)
–
–

–
(169)
–
(246)
–
–

Retained  
Earnings
$ 16,229
1,050
–
–
(227)

(152)
16,900
1,820
–
–
(277)

(72)
18,371
2,997
–
–
(426)

Treasury 
Stock
$ (4,133)
–
–
(1,254)
–

490
(4,897)
–
–
(2,722)
–

277
(7,342)
–
–
(509)
–

Total
$ 15,277
1,050
(334)
(1,254)
(227)

481
14,993
1,820
(341)
(2,722)
(277)

311
13,784
2,997
(246)
(509)
(426)

113
$ 3,005

(109)
$ 20,833

–
$ (415)

469
$ (7,382)

473
$ 16,073

52
52

 53

 53

FEDEX CORPORATIONNOTE 1: DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS 
AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT 
ACCOUNTING POLICIES

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS. FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) provides a 
broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services 
through companies competing collectively, operating independently and 
managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Our primary 
operating companies are Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), 
the world’s largest express transportation company; TNT Express B.V. 
(“TNT Express”), an international express, small-package ground 
delivery and freight transportation company; FedEx Ground Package 
System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), a leading North American provider of 
small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight, Inc. (“FedEx 
Freight”), a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight 
services. These companies represent our major service lines and, along 
with FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. (“FedEx Services”), form the core of 
our reportable segments. Our FedEx Services segment provides sales, 
marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, 
technical support, billing and collection services, and certain back-office 
functions that support our transportation segments. In addition, the 
FedEx Services segment provides customers with retail access to FedEx 
Express and FedEx Ground shipping services through FedEx Office and 
Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”). 

FISCAL YEARS. Except as otherwise specified, references to years 
indicate our fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 or ended May 31 of the 
year referenced. 

RECLASSIFICATIONS. Reclassifications have been made to the  
May 31, 2016 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current 
year’s presentation of debt issuance costs. See Note 2 below for 
additional information regarding recent accounting guidance. 

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION. The consolidated financial statements 
include the accounts of FedEx and its subsidiaries, substantially all of 
which are wholly owned. All significant intercompany accounts and 
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We are not the 
primary beneficiary of, nor do we have a controlling financial interest  
in, any variable interest entity. Accordingly, we have not consolidated 
any variable interest entity. 

REVENUE RECOGNITION. We recognize revenue upon delivery of 
shipments for our transportation businesses and upon completion  
of services for our business services, logistics and trade services 
businesses. Transportation services are provided with the use of 
employees and independent contractors. FedEx is the principal to  
the transaction for most of these services and revenue from these 
transactions is recognized on a gross basis. Costs associated with 
independent contractor settlements are recognized as incurred and 
included in the caption “Purchased transportation” in the accompanying 
consolidated statements of income. For shipments in transit, revenue is 
recorded based on the percentage of service completed at the balance 
sheet date. Estimates for future billing adjustments to revenue and 
accounts receivable are recognized at the time of shipment for 
money-back service guarantees and billing corrections. Delivery  
costs are accrued as incurred. 

Our contract logistics, global trade services and certain transportation 
businesses engage in some transactions wherein they act as agents. 
Revenue from these transactions is recorded on a net basis. Net 
revenue includes billings to customers less third-party charges, 
including transportation or handling costs, fees, commissions and taxes 
and duties. 

Certain of our revenue-producing transactions are subject to taxes, such 
as sales tax, assessed by governmental authorities. We present these 
revenues net of tax. 

CREDIT RISK. We routinely grant credit to many of our customers for 
transportation and business services without collateral. The risk of 
credit loss in our trade receivables is substantially mitigated by our 
credit evaluation process, short collection terms and sales to a large 
number of customers, as well as the low revenue per transaction  
for most of our services. Allowances for potential credit losses  
are determined based on historical experience and the impact of  
current economic factors on the composition of accounts receivable. 
Historically, credit losses have been within management’s 
expectations. 

ADVERTISING. Advertising and promotion costs are expensed as 
incurred and are classified in other operating expenses. Advertising 
and promotion expenses were $458 million in 2017, $417 million in 
2016 and $403 million in 2015. 

CASH EQUIVALENTS. Cash in excess of current operating requirements 
is invested in short-term, interest-bearing instruments with maturities 
of three months or less at the date of purchase and is stated at cost, 
which approximates market value. 

SPARE PARTS, SUPPLIES AND FUEL. Spare parts (principally 
aircraft-related) are reported at weighted-average cost. Allowances 
for obsolescence are provided for spare parts currently identified as 
excess or obsolete as well as expected to be on hand at the date 
the aircraft are retired from service. These allowances are provided 
over the estimated useful life of the related aircraft and engines. 
The majority of our supplies and fuel are reported at weighted-
average cost. 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT. Expenditures for major additions, 
improvements and flight equipment modifications are capitalized when 
such costs are determined to extend the useful life of the asset or are 
part of the cost of acquiring the asset. Expenditures for equipment 
overhaul costs of engines or airframes prior to their operational use are 
capitalized as part of the cost of such assets as they are costs required 
to ready the asset for its intended use. Maintenance and repairs costs 
are charged to expense as incurred, except for certain aircraft engine 
maintenance costs incurred under third-party service agreements. These 
agreements result in costs being expensed based on cycles or hours 
flown and are subject to annual escalation. These service contracts 
transfer risk to third-party service providers and generally fix the amount 
we pay for maintenance to the service provider as a rate per cycle or 
flight hour, in exchange for maintenance and repairs under a predefined 
maintenance program. We capitalize certain direct internal and external 
costs associated with the development of internal-use software. Gains 
and losses on sales of property used in operations are classified within 
operating expenses and historically have been nominal.  

52

52

 53
 53

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor financial reporting purposes, we record depreciation and 
amortization of property and equipment on a straight-line basis over 
the asset’s service life or related lease term, if shorter. For income 
tax purposes, depreciation is computed using accelerated methods 
when applicable. 

The depreciable lives and net book value of our property and equipment 
are as follows (dollars in millions): 

Net Book Value at 
May 31,
2017

2016

Range

15 to 30 years

Wide-body aircraft and  
  related equipment
Narrow-body and feeder  
  aircraft and related equipment 5 to 18 years
Package handling and ground  
  support equipment
Information technology
Vehicles
Facilities and other

3 to 30 years
2 to 10 years
3 to 15 years
2 to 40 years

$ 9,103

 $ 8,356 

3,099

 3,180 

3,862
1,114
3,400
5,403

 3,249 
1,051
 3,084 
 5,364 

Substantially all property and equipment have no material residual 
values. The majority of aircraft costs are depreciated on a straight-line 
basis over 15 to 30 years. We periodically evaluate the estimated 
service lives and residual values used to depreciate our property  
and equipment. In May 2015, we adjusted the depreciable lives of  
23 aircraft and 57 engines.  

Depreciation and amortization expense, excluding gains and losses on 
sales of property and equipment used in operations, was $2.9 billion in 
2017 and $2.6 billion in 2016 and 2015. Depreciation and amortization 
expense includes amortization of assets under capital lease. 

CAPITALIZED INTEREST. Interest on funds used to finance the 
acquisition and modification of aircraft, including purchase deposits, 
construction of certain facilities, and development of certain software 
up to the date the asset is ready for its intended use is capitalized and 
included in the cost of the asset if the asset is actively under 
construction. Capitalized interest was $41 million in 2017, $42 million 
in 2016 and $37 million in 2015. 

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS. Long-lived assets are 
reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying 
value of an asset may not be recoverable. For assets that are to be 
held and used, an impairment is recognized when the estimated 
undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or group of assets 
is less than their carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is 
made to write the asset down to its fair value, and a loss is recorded 
as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. Fair 
values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted 
cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable. Assets 
to be disposed of are carried at the lower of carrying value or 
estimated net realizable value. 

We operate integrated transportation networks, and accordingly, cash 
flows for most of our operating assets to be held and used are 
assessed at a network level, not at an individual asset level, for our 
analysis of impairment. 

In the normal management of our aircraft fleet, we routinely idle 
aircraft and engines temporarily due to maintenance cycles and 
adjustments of our network capacity to match seasonality and overall 
customer demand levels. Temporarily idled assets are classified as 
available-for-use, and we continue to record depreciation expense 
associated with these assets. These temporarily idled assets are 
assessed for impairment on a quarterly basis. The criteria for 
determining whether an asset has been permanently removed from 
service (and, as a result, is potentially impaired) include, but are not 
limited to, our global economic outlook and the impact of our outlook 
on our current and projected volume levels, including capacity needs 
during our peak shipping seasons; the introduction of new fleet types 
or decisions to permanently retire an aircraft fleet from operations; 
and changes to planned service expansion activities. At May 31, 2017, 
we had seven aircraft temporarily idled. These aircraft have been 
idled for an average of 12 months and are expected to return to 
revenue service. 

In May 2015, we retired from service seven Boeing MD11 aircraft 
and 12 related engines, four Airbus A310-300 aircraft and three 
related engines, three Airbus A300-600 aircraft and three related 
engines and one Boeing MD10-10 aircraft and three related engines, 
and related parts. As a consequence, impairment and related 
charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of tax, or $0.61 per diluted 
share) were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. Of this amount, 
$246 million was non-cash. The decision to permanently retire these 
aircraft and engines aligns with FedEx Express’s plans to rationalize 
capacity and modernize its aircraft fleet to more effectively serve  
its customers.  

GOODWILL. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase 
price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net 
assets of businesses acquired. Several factors give rise to goodwill 
in our acquisitions, such as the expected benefit from synergies  
of the combination and the existing workforce of the acquired 
business. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment.  
In our evaluation of goodwill impairment, we perform a qualitative 
assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair 
value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the 
qualitative assessment is not conclusive, we proceed to a two-step 
process to test goodwill for impairment, including comparing the  
fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value (including 
attributable goodwill). Fair value for our reporting units is determined 
using an income or market approach incorporating market participant 
considerations and management’s assumptions on revenue growth 
rates, operating margins, discount rates and expected capital 
expenditures. Fair value determinations may include both internal  
and third-party valuations. Unless circumstances otherwise dictate, 
we perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. 

54

 55

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINTANGIBLE ASSETS. Intangible assets primarily include customer 
relationships, technology assets and trademarks acquired in business 
combinations. Intangible assets are amortized over periods ranging from 
3 to 15 years, either on a straight-line basis or on a basis consistent 
with the pattern in which the economic benefits are realized.  

PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT HEALTHCARE PLANS. Our defined 
benefit plans are measured using actuarial techniques that reflect 
management’s assumptions for discount rate, investment returns on 
plan assets, salary increases, expected retirement, mortality, 
employee turnover and future increases in healthcare costs. We 
determine the discount rate (which is required to be the rate at which 
the projected benefit obligation could be effectively settled as of the 
measurement date) with the assistance of actuaries, who calculate 
the yield on a theoretical portfolio of high-grade corporate bonds 
(rated Aa or better) with cash flows that are designed to match our 
expected benefit payments in future years. We use the fair value of 
plan assets to calculate the expected return on plan assets (“EROA”) 
for interim and segment reporting purposes. Our EROA is a judgmental 
matter which is reviewed on an annual basis and revised as 
appropriate. 

The accounting guidance related to employers’ accounting for defined 
benefit pension and other postretirement plans requires recognition in 
the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension and 
other postretirement benefit plans. We use “mark-to-market” or MTM 
accounting and immediately recognize changes in the fair value of 
plan assets and actuarial gains or losses in our operating results 
annually in the fourth quarter each year. The annual MTM adjustment 
is recognized at the corporate level and does not impact segment 
results. The remaining components of pension and postretirement 
healthcare expense, primarily service and interest costs and the 
EROA, are recorded on a quarterly basis. 

INCOME TAXES. Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effect 
of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities 
and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The liability 
method is used to account for income taxes, which requires deferred 
taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when 
the taxes are paid. 

We recognize liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on a 
two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for 
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates 
that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on 
audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if 
any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax 
benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized 
upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to 
estimate such amounts, as we must determine the probability of various 
possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a 
quarterly basis or when new information becomes available to 
management. These reevaluations are based on factors including, but 
not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, 
successfully settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Such a 
change in recognition or measurement could result in the recognition of 
a tax benefit or an increase to the related provision. 

We classify interest related to income tax liabilities as interest expense, 
and if applicable, penalties are recognized as a component of income 
tax expense. The income tax liabilities and accrued interest and 
penalties that are due within one year of the balance sheet date are 
presented as current liabilities. The noncurrent portion of our income tax 
liabilities and accrued interest and penalties are recorded in the caption 
“Other liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

SELF-INSURANCE ACCRUALS. We are self-insured for costs 
associated with workers’ compensation claims, vehicle accidents 
and general business liabilities, and benefits paid under employee 
healthcare and disability programs. Accruals are primarily based on 
the actuarially estimated cost of claims, which includes incurred-
but-not-reported claims. Current workers’ compensation claims, 
vehicle and general liability, employee healthcare claims and long-
term disability are included in accrued expenses. We self-insure  
up to certain limits that vary by operating company and type of risk. 
Periodically, we evaluate the level of insurance coverage and adjust 
insurance levels based on risk tolerance and premium expense. 

LEASES. We lease certain aircraft, facilities, equipment and vehicles 
under capital and operating leases. The commencement date of all 
leases is the earlier of the date we become legally obligated to make 
rent payments or the date we may exercise control over the use of  
the property. In addition to minimum rental payments, certain leases 
provide for contingent rentals based on equipment usage, principally 
related to aircraft leases at FedEx Express and copier usage at FedEx 
Office. Rent expense associated with contingent rentals is recorded  
as incurred. Certain of our leases contain fluctuating or escalating 
payments and rent holiday periods. The related rent expense is 
recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The cumulative 
excess of rent payments over rent expense is accounted for as  
a deferred lease asset and recorded in “Other assets” in the  
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cumulative excess of 
rent expense over rent payments is accounted for as a deferred lease 
obligation. Leasehold improvements associated with assets utilized 
under capital or operating leases are amortized over the shorter of  
the asset’s useful life or the lease term.  

DEFERRED GAINS. Gains on the sale and leaseback of aircraft and 
other property and equipment are deferred and amortized ratably over 
the life of the lease as a reduction of rent expense. Substantially all of 
these deferred gains are related to aircraft transactions. 

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. Our TNT Express segment 
maintains a risk management strategy that includes the use of 
derivative instruments to reduce the effects of volatility in foreign 
currency exchange exposure on operating results and cash flows. In 
accordance with our risk management policies, we do not hold or 
issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. We 
account for derivative instruments under the provisions of the 
accounting guidance related to derivatives and hedging, which 
requires all derivative instruments to be recognized in the financial 
statements and measured at fair value, regardless of the purpose or 
intent for holding them. 

54

 55

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSDerivatives are recognized in our consolidated balance sheets at their 
fair values. When we become a party to a derivative instrument and 
intend to apply hedge accounting, we formally document the hedge 
relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the 
hedge, which includes designating the instrument for financial 
reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net 
investment hedge. 

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION. We recognize compensation 
expense for stock-based awards under the provisions of the accounting 
guidance related to share-based payments. This guidance requires 
recognition of compensation expense for stock-based awards using a 
fair value method. We issue new shares or treasury shares from stock 
repurchases to cover employee stock option exercises and restricted 
stock grants. 

If a derivative is designated as a cash flow or net investment hedge, 
changes in its fair value are considered to be effective and are recorded 
in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is 
recorded in income. Any portion of a change in the fair value of a 
derivative that is considered to be ineffective, along with the change  
in fair value of any derivatives not designated in a hedging relationship, 
is immediately recorded in the income statement. We do not have 
derivatives designated as a cash flow or net investment hedge as of 
May 31, 2017 and 2016. Accordingly, additional disclosures have been 
excluded from this report. 

For derivative instruments designated as hedges, we assess, both  
at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives 
that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting 
changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. In addition, 
when we determine that a derivative is not highly effective as a 
hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When a hedging instrument 
expires or is sold, or when the hedge no longer meets the criteria for 
hedge accounting, any cumulative gains or losses existing in equity  
at that time, remain in equity until the forecasted transaction is 
ultimately recognized in the income statement. When a forecasted 
transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains or 
losses that were reported in equity are immediately transferred to  
the income statement. The financial statement impact of derivative 
transactions was immaterial for the years ended May 31, 2017 and 
2016. Accordingly, additional disclosures have been excluded from 
this report.   

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION. Translation gains and losses of 
foreign operations that use local currencies as the functional currency 
are accumulated and reported, net of applicable deferred income taxes, 
as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within 
common stockholders’ investment. Transaction gains and losses that 
arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in  
a currency other than the local currency are included in the caption 
“Other, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of income 
and were immaterial for each period presented. 

EMPLOYEES UNDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARRANGEMENTS. 
The pilots of FedEx Express, who represent a small number of its total 
employees, are employed under a collective bargaining agreement 
that took effect on November 2, 2015. This collective bargaining 
agreement is scheduled to become amendable in November 2021. 
In addition to our pilots at FedEx Express, FedEx Supply Chain 
Distribution System, Inc. (“FedEx Supply Chain”) has a small number 
of employees who are members of unions, and certain non-U.S. 
employees are unionized.  

TREASURY SHARES. In January 2016, our Board of Directors authorized 
a share repurchase program of up to 25 million shares.  During 2017,  
we repurchased 3.0 million shares of FedEx common stock at an 
average price of $172.13 per share for a total of $509 million. As of  
May 31, 2017, 16 million shares remained under the share repurchase 
authorization. Shares under the current repurchase program may  
be repurchased from time to time in the open market or in privately 
negotiated transactions. The timing and volume of repurchases are  
at the discretion of management, based on the capital needs of the 
business, the market price of FedEx common stock and general market 
conditions. No time limit was set for the completion of the program,  
and the program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

In 2016, we repurchased 18.2 million shares of FedEx common stock 
at an average price of $149.35 per share for a total of $2.7 billion. In 
2015, we repurchased 8.1 million shares of FedEx common stock at 
an average price of $154.03 per share for a total of $1.3 billion.

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE. On June 12, 2017, our 
Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share of 
common stock. The dividend was paid on July 6, 2017 to stockholders 
of record as of the close of business on June 22, 2017. Each quarterly 
dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board 
of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment amount on an 
annual basis at the end of each fiscal year. 

USE OF ESTIMATES. The preparation of our consolidated financial 
statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions that 
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported 
amounts of revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent 
liabilities. Management makes its best estimate of the ultimate 
outcome for these items based on historical trends and other 
information available when the financial statements are prepared. 
Changes in estimates are recognized in accordance with the 
accounting rules for the estimate, which is typically in the period 
when new information becomes available to management. Areas 
where the nature of the estimate makes it reasonably possible that 
actual results could materially differ from amounts estimated 
include: self-insurance accruals; retirement plan obligations; 
long-term incentive accruals; tax liabilities; loss contingencies; 
litigation claims; impairment assessments on long-lived assets 
(including goodwill); and purchase price allocations. 

56

 57

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTE 2: RECENT ACCOUNTING 
GUIDANCE

New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly 
impact our reported results and the comparability of our financial 
statements. We believe the following new accounting guidance is 
relevant to the readers of our financial statements.  

During the first quarter of 2017, we retrospectively adopted the 
authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards 
Board (“FASB”) to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. 
This new guidance requires entities to present debt issuance costs 
related to a recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the 
carrying amount of that debt liability, rather than as an asset. This 
new guidance had a minimal impact on our accounting and financial 
reporting.

During the second quarter of 2017, we adopted the Accounting 
Standards Update issued by the FASB in March 2016 to simplify the 
accounting for share-based payment transactions. The new guidance 
requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of awards that 
vest or are settled as income tax expense or benefit in the income 
statement as opposed to additional paid-in capital. The guidance also 
provides clarification of the presentation of certain components of 
share-based awards in the statement of cash flows. Additionally, the 
guidance allows companies to make a policy election to account for 
forfeitures either upon occurrence or by estimating forfeitures. We 
have elected to continue estimating forfeitures expected to occur in 
order to determine the amount of compensation cost to be recognized 
each period and to apply the cash flow classification guidance 
prospectively. Excess tax benefits are now classified as an operating 
activity rather than a financing activity. The adoption of the new 
standard resulted in a benefit to net income of $55 million ($0.17 per 
diluted share) for the year ended May 31, 2017. The first quarter of 
2017 was not recast due to immateriality.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards 
Board issued a new accounting standard that will supersede virtually 
all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted 
accounting principles in the United States. This standard will be 
effective for us beginning in fiscal 2019. The fundamental principles  
of the new guidance are that companies should recognize revenue  
in a manner that reflects the timing of the transfer of services to 
customers and the amount of revenue recognized reflects the 
consideration that a company expects to receive for the goods and 
services provided. The new guidance establishes a five-step approach 

for the recognition of revenue. We are continuing to assess the impact 
of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements and 
related disclosures, including ongoing contract reviews. We do not 
anticipate that the new guidance will have a material impact on  
our revenue recognition policies, practices or systems.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued a new lease accounting 
standard which requires lessees to put most leases on their balance 
sheets but recognize the expenses on their income statements in a 
manner similar to current practice. The new standard states that a 
lessee will recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease 
payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying 
asset for the lease term. Expenses related to leases determined to  
be operating leases will be recognized on a straight-line basis, while 
those determined to be financing leases will be recognized following 
a front-loaded expense profile in which interest and amortization are 
presented separately in the income statement. Based on our lease 
portfolio, we currently anticipate recognizing a lease liability and 
related right-of-use asset on the balance sheet in excess of $13 billion 
with an immaterial impact on our income statement compared to the 
current lease accounting model. However, the ultimate impact of the 
standard will depend on the company’s lease portfolio as of the 
adoption date. We are currently in the process of evaluating our 
existing lease portfolios, including accumulating all of the necessary 
information required to properly account for the leases under the new 
standard. Additionally, we are implementing an enterprise-wide lease 
management system to assist in the accounting and are evaluating 
additional changes to our processes and internal controls to ensure 
we meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements. These 
changes will be effective for our fiscal year beginning June 1, 2019 
(fiscal 2020), with a modified retrospective adoption method to the 
beginning of 2018.

In March 2017, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update that 
changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other 
postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in 
the income statement. This new guidance requires entities to report 
the service cost component in the same line item or items as other 
compensation costs. The other components of net benefit cost are 
required to be presented in the income statement separately from the 
service cost component outside of income from operations. This 
standard will impact our operating income but will have no impact on 
our net income or earnings per share. For example, adoption of this 
guidance would have reduced 2017 operating income by $471 million 
but would not have impacted our net income. This new guidance will 
be effective for our fiscal year beginning June 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019) 
and will be applied retrospectively. 

56

 57

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTE 3: BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

The purchase price was allocated to the identifiable intangible assets 
acquired as follows (in millions):  

On May 25, 2016, we acquired TNT Express for €4.4 billion  
(approximately $4.9 billion). Cash acquired in the acquisition was 
approximately €250 million ($280 million). All shares associated with 
the transaction were tendered or transferred as of the third quarter  
of 2017. We funded the acquisition with proceeds from an April 2016 
debt issuance and existing cash balances. The financial results of this 
business for 2017 are included in the FedEx Express group and the  
TNT Express segment. Financial results for 2016 were immaterial  
from the time of acquisition and are included in “Eliminations, 
corporate and other.”  

TNT Express collects, transports and delivers documents, parcels and 
freight to over 200 countries. This strategic acquisition broadens our 
portfolio of international transportation solutions with the combined 
strength of TNT Express’s strong European road platform and FedEx 
Express’s strength in other regions globally.

Our purchase price allocation for TNT Express was finalized in the 
fourth quarter of 2017. As a result of this acquisition, we recognized 
$3.5 billion of goodwill, which is primarily attributable to the expected 
benefits from synergies of the combination with existing businesses 
and growth opportunities and the TNT Express workforce. The 
majority of the purchase price allocated to goodwill is not deductible 
for income tax purposes. The following table summarizes the final 
amounts of the fair values recognized for the assets acquired and 
liabilities assumed for this acquisition, as well as adjustments made 
during the measurement period (in millions):  

Preliminary
(May 31, 2016)
$ 1,905

Measurement 
Period
Adjustments
$ (53)

Final
(May 31, 2017)
$ 1,852

1,104
2,964

Current assets(1)
Property and  
  equipment
Goodwill
Identifiable  
  intangible assets 
Other non-current  
  assets
Current liabilities(2)
Long-term liabilities
Total purchase price
(1)  Primarily accounts receivable and cash.
(2) Primarily accounts payable and accrued expenses.

289
(1,644)
(644)
$ 4,894

920

(124)
488

(390)

183
(44)
(60)
–

$

980
3,452

530

472
(1,688)
(704)
$ 4,894

Intangible assets with finite lives
  Customer relationships (12-year life) 
  Technology (3-year life)
  Trademarks (4-year life)
Total intangible assets

 $ 430 
20
80
$ 530

See Note 4 for further discussion of our intangible assets.

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information 
presents the combined operations of FedEx and TNT Express as if the 
acquisition had occurred at the beginning of 2015 (dollars in millions, 
except per share amounts): 

Consolidated revenues

Consolidated net income

Diluted earnings per share

(Unaudited)

2016 
$  57,899 
 1,600  
 5.73 

$

2015 
$  55,862 
 638 
 2.22 

$

The accounting literature establishes guidelines regarding the 
presentation of this unaudited pro forma information. Therefore, this 
unaudited pro forma information is not intended to represent, nor do 
we believe it is indicative of, the consolidated results of operations of 
FedEx that would have been reported had the acquisition been 
completed as of the beginning of 2015. Furthermore, this unaudited 
pro forma information does not give effect to the anticipated business 
and tax synergies of the acquisition and is not representative or 
indicative of the anticipated future consolidated results of operations 
of FedEx. 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information reflects 
our historical financial information and the historical results of  
TNT Express, after conversion of TNT Express’s accounting methods 
from International Financial Reporting Standards to U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles, adjusted to reflect the acquisition 
had it been completed as of the beginning of 2015. The most 
significant pro forma adjustments to the historical results of 
operations relate to the application of purchase accounting and  
the financing for the acquisition. The unaudited pro forma financial 
information includes various assumptions, including those related  
to the finalization of the purchase price allocation. The tax impact  
of these adjustments was calculated based on TNT Express’s 
statutory rate.  

Adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation as of  
May 31, 2016 resulted in a net increase to goodwill of $488 million. 
These updates were primarily recorded during the second quarter  
of 2017 and reflect the valuation work completed by third-party 
experts and the receipt of additional information during the  
measurement period about facts and circumstances that existed  
at the acquisition date. 

58

 59

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSIncluded in the unaudited pro forma net income (net of tax) are 
nonrecurring acquisition-related costs incurred by TNT Express 
associated with the sale of TNT Express’s airline operations,  
a condition precedent to the acquisition, and transaction and 
integration-planning expenses of $115 million in 2016. In addition, 
the TNT Express results include expenses for restructuring, 
impairments, litigation matters and pension adjustments of 
approximately $40 million in 2016 and $320 million in 2015.  

During 2015, we acquired two businesses that expanded our portfolio 
in e-commerce and supply chain solutions. On January 30, 2015, we 
acquired GENCO Distribution System, Inc., now FedEx Supply Chain, a 
leading North American third-party logistics provider, for $1.4 billion, 

which was funded using a portion of the proceeds from our January 
2015 debt issuance. The financial results of this business are included 
in the FedEx Ground segment from the date of acquisition. 

In addition, on December 16, 2014, we acquired Bongo International, 
LLC, now FedEx CrossBorder, LLC (“FedEx Cross Border”), a leader in 
cross-border enablement technologies and solutions, for $42 million in 
cash from operations. The financial results of this business are 
included in the FedEx Express segment from the date of acquisition. 

The financial results of the FedEx Supply Chain and FedEx Cross 
Border businesses were not material, individually or in the aggregate, 
to our results of operations and therefore, pro forma financial 
information has not been presented.  

NOTE 4: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL. The carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each reportable operating segment and changes therein are as follows (in millions): 

FedEx Express 
Segment
$ 1,677
–
1,677
–
(88)
1,589
2,191
$ 3,780

Goodwill at May 31, 2015
Accumulated impairment charges
Balance as of May 31, 2015 
Goodwill acquired(1)
Purchase adjustments and other(2)
Balance as of May 31, 2016
Purchase adjustments and other(2)
Balance as of May 31, 2017
Accumulated goodwill impairment  
  charges as of May 31, 2017
(1)  Goodwill acquired relates to the acquisition of TNT Express in 2016. See Note 3 for related disclosures. 
(2)  Primarily purchase-related adjustments, currency translation adjustments, and acquired goodwill related to immaterial acquisitions. FY17 includes goodwill attributed to FedEx Express as part 

$ (1,177)

$         –

$        –

$        –

$ (133)

FedEx Freight 
Segment
$  773
(133)
640
–
(5)
635
–
$  635

FedEx Services 
Segment
$  1,525
(1,177)
348
–
–
348
–
$     348

FedEx Ground 
Segment
$ 1,145
–
1,145
–
66
1,211
–
$ 1,211

TNT Express 
Segment
$         –
–
–
2,964
–
2,964
(1,784)
$  1,180

Total
$  5,120
(1,310)
3,810
2,964
(27)
6,747
407
$  7,154

$ (1,310)

of the acquisition of TNT Express.

58

 59

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOur reporting units with significant recorded goodwill include FedEx 
Express, TNT Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office 
(reported in the FedEx Services segment) and FedEx Supply Chain 
(reported in the FedEx Ground segment). We evaluated reporting units 
for impairment during the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2016. The 
estimated fair value of each of these reporting units exceeded their 

carrying values in 2017 and 2016, and we do not believe that any of 
these reporting units were impaired as of the balance sheet dates.

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS. The summary of our intangible assets and 
related accumulated amortization at May 31, 2017 and 2016 is as 
follows (in millions): 

Gross Carrying 
Amount
$ 656 
 54 
 136 
  $ 846 

2017

Accumulated 
Amortization
$ (203)
 (26)
 (88)
  $ (317)

Net Book  
Value
$ 453 
 28 
 48 
$ 529 

Gross Carrying 
Amount
$   912 
 123 
 202 
  $1,237 

2016

Accumulated 
Amortization
$ (156)
 (16)
 (57)
  $ (229)

Net Book  
Value
$    756 
 107 
 145 
$ 1,008 

Customer relationships
Technology
Trademarks and other
  Total

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $91 million in 2017, 
$14 million in 2016 and $21 million in 2015.

NOTE 5: SELECTED CURRENT LIABILITIES

Expected amortization expense for the next five years is as follows (in 
millions): 

The components of selected current liability captions at May 31 were 
as follows (in millions): 

2018 
2019 
2020 
2021 
2022

 $ 81 
71 
55 
44 
41 

Accrued Salaries and Employee Benefits
  Salaries
  Employee benefits, including 
    variable compensation
  Compensated absences

Accrued Expenses
  Self-insurance accruals
  Taxes other than income taxes
  Other

2017

2016

$

431

$

478 

781
702
$ 1,914

$

976
283
1,971
$ 3,230

 804 
 690 
$  1,972 

$  837 
 311 
 1,915 
$  3,063 

60

 61

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
NOTE 6: LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER 
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

The components of long-term debt (net of discounts and debt issuance 
costs), along with maturity dates for the years subsequent to May 31, 
2017, are as follows (in millions): 

Maturity
2019
2020
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2034
2035
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2065
2098

Maturity
2019
2020
2023
2027

Senior unsecured debt: 
  Interest Rate %
8.00
2.30
2.625-2.70
4.00
3.20
3.25
3.30
4.90
3.90
3.875-4.10
5.10
4.10
4.55-4.75
4.40
4.50
7.60
Euro senior unsecured debt: 
  Interest Rate %
floating rate
0.50
1.00
1.625
Total senior unsecured debt
Other debt
Capital lease obligations

    Less current portion

$

 May 31,

2017

2016

749
398
745
745
695
743
445
495
493
983
742
640
2,458
734
246
237

$

748
397
745
744
694
743
–
495
493
982
741
640
2,458
–
245
237

558
557
833
1,382
14,878
9
44
14,931
22
$ 14,909

557
556
832
1,380
13,687
12
63
13,762
29
$ 13,733

Interest on our U.S. dollar fixed-rate notes is paid semi-annually. Interest 
on our Euro fixed-rate notes is paid annually. Our floating-rate Euro 
senior notes bear interest at three-month EURIBOR plus a spread of  
55 basis points and resets quarterly. The weighted average interest  
rate on long-term debt was 3.6% in 2017. Long-term debt, exclusive 
of capital leases, had estimated fair values of $15.5 billion at May 31, 
2017 and $14.3 billion at May 31, 2016. The estimated fair values 
were determined based on quoted market prices and the current rates 
offered for debt with similar terms and maturities. The fair value of our 
long-term debt is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. 
This classification is defined as a fair value determined using market-
based inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the 
liability, either directly or indirectly. 

We have a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that allows us to sell, in one or more 
future offerings, any combination of our unsecured debt securities  
and common stock. 

On January 6, 2017, we issued $1.2 billion of senior unsecured  
debt under our current shelf registration statement, comprised of  
$450 million of 3.30% fixed-rate notes due in March 2027 and  
$750 million of 4.40% fixed-rate notes due in January 2047. Interest 
on these notes is paid semiannually. We used the net proceeds for a 
voluntary incremental contribution in January 2017 to our tax-qualified 
U.S. domestic pension plans (“U.S. Pension Plans”) and for working 
capital and general corporate purposes.

We have a five-year $1.75 billion revolving credit facility that expires 
in November 2020. The facility, which includes a $500 million letter  
of credit sublimit, is available to finance our operations and other  
cash flow needs. The agreement contains a financial covenant,  
which requires us to maintain a ratio of debt to consolidated earnings 
(excluding non-cash pension mark-to-market adjustments and non-
cash asset impairment charges) before interest, taxes, depreciation 
and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, 
calculated as of the end of the applicable quarter on a rolling  
four-quarters basis. The ratio of our debt to adjusted EBITDA was 
1.9 to 1.0 at May 31, 2017. We believe this covenant is the only 
significant restrictive covenant in our revolving credit agreement. Our 
revolving credit agreement contains other customary covenants that 
do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially restrict the conduct 
of our business. We are in compliance with the financial covenant 
and all other covenants of our revolving credit agreement and do not 
expect the covenants to affect our operations, including our liquidity 
or expected funding needs. As of May 31, 2017, no commercial paper 
was outstanding. However, we had a total of $317 million in letters of 
credit outstanding at May 31, 2017, with $183 million of the letter of 
credit sublimit unused under our revolving credit facility.

60

 61

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTE 7: LEASES

We utilize certain aircraft, land, facilities, retail locations and 
equipment under capital and operating leases that expire at various 
dates through 2049. We leased 9% of our total aircraft fleet under 
operating leases as of May 31, 2017 and 10% as of May 31, 2016.  
A portion of our supplemental aircraft are leased by us under 
agreements that provide for cancellation upon 30 days’ notice.  
Our leased facilities include national, regional and metropolitan 
sorting facilities, retail facilities and administrative buildings. 

Rent expense under operating leases for the years ended May 31 
was as follows (in millions): 

Minimum rentals
Contingent rentals(1)

2017
 $ 2,814 
 178 
 $ 2,992 
(1) Contingent rentals are based on equipment usage.

2016
 $ 2,394 
 214 
 $ 2,608 

2015
 $ 2,249 
 194 
 $ 2,443 

A summary of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable 
operating leases with an initial or remaining term in excess of one 
year at May 31, 2017 is as follows (in millions):   

Aircraft and 
Related 
Equipment 
 $    398 
343
261
203
185
175
 $ 1,565 

 Operating Leases

Facilities and 
Other
 $   2,047 
1,887
1,670
1,506
1,355
7,844
 $ 16,309 

Total Operating 
Leases
 $   2,445 
2,230
1,931
1,709
1,540
8,019
 $ 17,874 

2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Total

Property and equipment recorded under capital leases and future 
minimum lease payments under capital leases are immaterial. The 
weighted-average remaining lease term of all operating leases 
outstanding at May 31, 2017 was approximately six years. While 
certain of our lease agreements contain covenants governing the 
use of the leased assets or require us to maintain certain levels of 
insurance, none of our lease agreements include material financial 
covenants or limitations. 

FedEx Express makes payments under certain leveraged operating 
leases that are sufficient to pay principal and interest on certain 
pass-through certificates. The pass-through certificates are not 
direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, FedEx or FedEx Express. 

We are the lessee under certain operating leases covering a portion  
of our leased aircraft in which the lessors are trusts established 
specifically to purchase, finance and lease these aircraft to us. These 
leasing entities are variable interest entities. We are not the primary 
beneficiary of the leasing entities, as the lease terms are at market  
at the inception of the lease and do not include a residual value 
guarantee, fixed-price purchase option or similar feature that 
obligates us to absorb decreases in value or entitles us to participate 
in increases in the value of the aircraft. As such, we are not required 
to consolidate the entity as the primary beneficiary. Our maximum 
exposure under these leases is included in the summary of future 
minimum lease payments.  

NOTE 8: PREFERRED STOCK

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board of Directors, at 
its discretion, to issue up to 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The 
stock is issuable in series, which may vary as to certain rights and 
preferences, and has no par value. As of May 31, 2017, none of these 
shares had been issued. 

62

 63

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 9:  ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table provides changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), net of tax, reported in the consolidated  
financial statements for the years ended May 31 (in millions; amounts in parentheses indicate debits to AOCI): 

Foreign currency translation gain (loss):
  Balance at beginning of period
  Translation adjustments
  Balance at end of period
Retirement plans adjustments:
  Balance at beginning of period
   Prior service credit and other arising during period
  Reclassifications from AOCI
  Balance at end of period
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income at end of period

2017

2016

2015

$ (514)
(171)
(685)

345
1
(76)
270
$ (415)

$  (253)
 (261)
 (514)

 425 
 (4)
 (76)
 345 
$   (169 )

$

 81 
 (334)
 (253)

425 
 72 
 (72)
 425 
 172 

$

The following table presents details of the reclassifications from AOCI for the years ended May 31 (in millions; amounts in parentheses indicate 
debits to earnings): 

Amount Reclassified from AOCI
2016

2017

2015

Affected Line Item in the  
Income Statement

Amortization of retirement plans prior  
  service credits, before tax
Income tax benefit
AOCI reclassifications, net of tax

$ 120
(44)
76

$

$ 121
(45)
76

$

$ 115
(43)
72

$

Salaries and employee benefits
Provision for income taxes
Net income

62

 63

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
NOTE 10: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our total stock-based compensation expense for the years ended  
May 31 was as follows (in millions):

Stock-based compensation expense

2017
$ 154 

2016
$ 144 

2015
$ 133 

We have two types of equity-based compensation: stock options and 
restricted stock.

STOCK OPTIONS. Under the provisions of our incentive stock plans,  
key employees and non-employee directors may be granted options  
to purchase shares of our common stock at a price not less than its fair 
market value on the date of grant. Vesting requirements are determined 
at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our Board of 
Directors. Option-vesting periods range from one to four years, with 
82% of our options vesting ratably over four years. Compensation 
expense associated with these awards is recognized on a straight-line 
basis over the requisite service period of the award. 

RESTRICTED STOCK. Under the terms of our incentive stock plans, 
restricted shares of our common stock are awarded to key employees. 
All restrictions on the shares expire ratably over a four-year period. 
Shares are valued at the market price on the date of award. The terms 
of our restricted stock provide for continued vesting subsequent to the 
employee’s retirement. Compensation expense associated with these 
awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the 
remaining service or vesting period.  

VALUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS. We use the Black-Scholes option 
pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options. The value of 
restricted stock awards is based on the stock price of the award on 
the grant date. We record stock-based compensation expense in the 
“Salaries and employee benefits” caption in the accompanying 
consolidated statements of income. 

The key assumptions for the Black-Scholes valuation method include 
the expected life of the option, stock price volatility, a risk-free 
interest rate and dividend yield. The following is a table of the 
weighted-average Black-Scholes value of our stock option grants, the 
intrinsic value of options exercised (in millions) and the key weighted-
average assumptions used in the valuation calculations for options 
granted during the years ended May 31, and then a discussion of our 
methodology for developing each of the assumptions used in the 
valuation model: 

Weighted-average  
  Black-Scholes value
Intrinsic value of options exercised
Black-Scholes Assumptions:
  Expected lives
  Expected volatility
  Risk-free interest rate
  Dividend yield

2017

2016

2015

$ 43.99 
$    274 

$ 52.40 
$    115 

$ 53.33 
$    253 

6.5 years

6.4 years

6.3 years

25 %
1.64%
0.719 %

28 %
1.94%
0.519 %

34 %
2.02%
0.448 %

The expected life represents an estimate of the period of time options 
are expected to remain outstanding, and we examine actual stock 
option exercises to determine the expected life of the options. Options 
granted have a maximum term of 10 years. Expected volatilities are 
based on the actual changes in the market value of our stock and are 
calculated using daily market value changes from the date of grant 
over a past period equal to the expected life of the options. The 
risk-free interest rate is the U.S. Treasury Strip rate posted at the date 
of grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. The 
expected dividend yield is the annual rate of dividends per share over 
the exercise price of the option. 

The following table summarizes information about stock option activity for the year ended May 31, 2017:

Stock Options

Outstanding at June 1, 2016
  Granted
  Exercised
  Forfeited
Outstanding at May 31, 2017
Exercisable
Expected to vest
Available for future grants
(1) Only presented for options with market value at May 31, 2017 in excess of the exercise price of the option. 

Shares
14,441,431 
 2,783,968 
 (3,330,197)
 (296,503)
 13,598,699 
 7,820,992 
 5,473,800 
 8,304,621 

Weighted-Average 
Exercise Price
$ 111.99 
 169.73 
 100.65 
 152.91 
 $ 125.66 
 $ 100.92 
 $ 159.15 

Weighted-Average 
Remaining  
Contractual Term

Aggregate  
Intrinsic Value 

(in millions)(1)

6.2 years
4.7 years
8.2 years

 $    928 
 $    727 
 $    191 

64

 65

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The options granted during the year ended May 31, 2017 are primarily 
related to our principal annual stock option grant in June 2016. 

The following table summarizes information about vested and 
unvested restricted stock for the year ended May 31, 2017:

Restricted Stock

Shares
389,152
153,984
(177,877)
(2,955)
362,304

Weighted-Average  
Grant Date Fair Value
$   136.57 
166.12
123.25
159.46
$   155.53 

Unvested at June 1, 2016
  Granted
  Vested
  Forfeited
Unvested at May 31, 2017

During the year ended May 31, 2016, there were 139,838 shares  
of restricted stock granted with a weighted-average fair value of 
$168.83 per share. During the year ended May 31, 2015, there were 
154,115 shares of restricted stock granted with a weighted-average 
fair value of $148.89 per share.  

The following table summarizes information about stock option  
vesting during the years ended May 31:

2017 
2016 
2015 

Stock Options

Vested during 
the year
2,427,837
2,572,129
2,611,524

Fair value 
(in millions)
 $ 104 
 98 
 83 

As of May 31, 2017, there was $187 million of total unrecognized 
compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested 
share-based compensation arrangements. This compensation 
expense is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over 
the remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 
two years. 

Total shares outstanding or available for grant related to equity 
compensation at May 31, 2017 represented 8% of the total 
outstanding common and equity compensation shares and equity 
compensation shares available for grant. 

NOTE 11: COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS 
PER SHARE

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for 
the years ended May 31 was as follows (in millions, except per share 
amounts): 

2017

2016

2015

Basic earnings per common share: 
Net earnings allocable to common shares(1) $ 2,993  $ 1,818 
Weighted-average common shares 
276 
$ 11.24  $   6.59 
Basic earnings per common share 

266 

$ 1,048 
283 
$   3.70 

Diluted earnings per common share: 
Net earnings allocable to common shares(1) $ 2,993  $ 1,818 
276 
Weighted-average common shares 
3 
Dilutive effect of share-based awards 
Weighted-average diluted shares 
279 
Diluted earnings per common share 
$ 11.07   $   6.51 
Anti-dilutive options excluded from  
  diluted earnings per common share
(1) Net earnings available to participating securities were immaterial in all periods presented.

$ 1,048 
283 
4 
287 
$   3.65 

266 
4 
270 

2.1

3.9

4.5

NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES

The components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended 
May 31 were as follows (in millions): 

2017

2016

2015

Current provision 
  Domestic:
    Federal
    State and local 
  Foreign

Deferred provision (benefit)
  Domestic:
    Federal
    State and local 
  Foreign

 $   269 
88
285
642

989
59
(108)
940
 $ 1,582 

 $   513 
 72 
 200 
 785 

 155 
 (18)
 (2)
 135 
 $   920 

 $   795 
 102 
 214 
 1,111 

 (474)
 (47)
 (13)
 (534)
 $   577 

Pre-tax earnings of foreign operations for 2017, 2016 and 2015 were 
$919 million, $905 million and $773 million, respectively. These 
amounts represent only a portion of total results associated with 
international shipments and do not represent our international results 
of operations. 

64

 65

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A reconciliation of total income tax expense and the amount 
computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate (35%) 
to income before taxes for the years ended May 31 is as follows (in 
millions): 

Taxes computed at federal  
  statutory rate
Increases (decreases) in income  
  tax from:
  State and local income taxes,  
    net of federal benefit
  Foreign operations
  Legal entity restructuring
  TNT Express integration/  
    acquisition costs
  Other, net

Effective Tax Rate

2017

2016

2015

$ 1,603 

$ 959 

$ 569 

99
(87)
–

33
(50)
(76)

36
(43)
–

25
(58)
$ 1,582

 34.6 %

40
14
$ 920
 33.6 %

–
15
$ 577
 35.5 %

Our 2017 tax rate was favorably impacted by $62 million as a result of 
the implementation of new U.S. foreign currency tax regulations and 
by $55 million from the adoption of the Accounting Standards Update 
on share-based payments.     

Our 2016 tax rate was favorably impacted by $76 million from an 
internal corporate legal entity restructuring done in anticipation of 
the integration of the foreign operations of FedEx Express and TNT 
Express. A lower state tax rate primarily due to the resolution of a 
state tax matter also provided a benefit to our 2016 tax rate.   

The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of 
May 31 were as follows (in millions):

2017

2016

Deferred 
Tax  
Assets

Deferred 
Tax 
Liabilities

Deferred 
Tax  
Assets

Deferred 
Tax 
Liabilities

Property, equipment,  
  leases and intangibles
Employee benefits
Self-insurance accruals
Other
Net operating loss/credit  
  carryforwards
Valuation allowances

$     124
1,951
745
692

1,069
(738)
$ 3,843

$ 4,993
–
–
660

–
–
$ 5,653

 $    129 
 2,453 
 681 
 528 

 925 
 (738)
 $ 3,978 

 $ 4,767 
 – 
 – 
 343 

 – 
 – 
 $ 5,110 

The net deferred tax liabilities as of May 31 have been classified in 
the balance sheets as follows (in millions): 

Noncurrent deferred tax assets(1)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

2017
$      675
 (2,485)
$  (1,810)

2016
$      435
 (1,567)
$  (1,132)

(1)  Noncurrent deferred tax assets are included in the line item “Other Assets” in our  

consolidated balance sheets.

We have approximately $3.6 billion of net operating loss carryovers  
in various foreign jurisdictions and $663 million of state operating  
loss carryovers. The valuation allowances primarily represent amounts 
reserved for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, which expire 
over varying periods starting in 2018. The ending valuation allowance 
balance includes a decrease for changes in forecasted earnings for 
the foreign branches of FedEx Express which did not impact current 
year tax expense because they were offset by related U.S. deferred 
income tax liabilities. This valuation allowance decrease was fully 
offset by purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition 
of TNT Express and current year activity. We believe that a substantial 
portion of these deferred tax assets may not be realized. Therefore, 
we establish valuation allowances if it is more likely than not that 
deferred income tax assets will not be realized. In making this  
determination, we consider all available positive and negative 
evidence and make certain assumptions. We consider, among other 
things, our future projections of sustained profitability, deferred 
income tax liabilities, the overall business environment, our historical 
financial results and potential current and future tax planning  
strategies. If we were to identify and implement tax planning  
strategies to recover these deferred tax assets or generate sufficient 
income of the appropriate character in these jurisdictions in the future, 
it could lead to the reversal of these valuation allowances and a  
reduction of income tax expense. We believe that we will generate 
sufficient future taxable income to realize the tax benefits related to the 
remaining net deferred tax assets in our consolidated balance sheet. 

Permanently reinvested earnings of our foreign subsidiaries amounted 
to $2.1 billion at the end of 2017 and $1.6 billion at the end of 2016.   
We have not recognized deferred taxes for U.S. federal income tax 
purposes on those earnings. Were the earnings to be distributed, in  
the form of dividends or otherwise, these earnings could be subject to 
U.S. federal income tax and non-U.S. withholding taxes. Unrecognized 
foreign tax credits potentially could be available to reduce a portion 
of any U.S. tax liability. Determination of the amount of unrecognized 
deferred U.S. income tax liability is not practicable due to uncertainties 
related to the timing and source of any potential distribution of such 
funds, along with other important factors such as the amount of  
associated foreign tax credits. Cash in offshore jurisdictions associated 
with our permanent reinvestment strategy totaled $1.2 billion at the end 
of 2017 and $522 million at the end of 2016. 

In 2017, approximately 90% of our total enterprise-wide income 
was earned in U.S. companies of FedEx that are taxable in the 
United States. As a U.S. airline, our FedEx Express unit is required 
by Federal Aviation Administration and other rules to conduct its 
air operations, domestic and international, through a U.S. company. 
However, we serve more than 220 countries and territories around 
the world, and are required to establish legal entities in many of 
them. Most of our entities in those countries are operating entities, 
engaged in picking up and delivering packages and performing other 
transportation services. We are continually expanding our global 
network to meet our customers’ needs, which requires increasing 
investment outside the U.S. In 2017, we established a new legal 
entity structure for the integration and operation of FedEx Express 
and TNT Express. 

66

 67

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
We are subject to taxation in the U.S. and various U.S. state, local 
and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service is currently 
auditing our 2014 and 2015 tax returns. It is reasonably possible 
that certain income tax return proceedings will be completed during 
the next 12 months and could result in a change in our balance of 
unrecognized tax benefits. The expected impact of any changes 
would not be material to our consolidated financial statements. 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized 
tax benefits is as follows (in millions): 

Balance at beginning of year
  Increases for tax positions taken in  
    the current year
  Increases for tax positions taken in  
    prior years
  Increase for business acquisition
  Decreases for tax positions taken in  
    prior years
  Settlements
  Decreases from lapse of statute  
    of limitations
  Changes due to currency translation
Balance at end of year

2017
$ 49 

2016
$ 36 

2015
$ 38 

–

8
17

(1)
(4)

(2)
–
$ 67 

 3 

 3 
 25 

 (5)
 (4)

 (7)
 (2)
$ 49 

 1 

 6 
–

 (2)
 (2)

 – 
 (5)
$ 36 

Our liabilities recorded for uncertain tax positions include $63 million 
at May 31, 2017 and $45 million at May 31, 2016 associated with 
positions that, if favorably resolved, would provide a benefit  
to our effective tax rate. We classify interest related to income  
tax liabilities as interest expense and, if applicable, penalties are 
recognized as a component of income tax expense. The balance of 
accrued interest and penalties was $11 million on May 31, 2017  
and May 31, 2016. Total interest and penalties included in our 
consolidated statements of income are immaterial.

It is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome or the timing of 
resolution for tax positions. Changes may result from the conclusion 
of ongoing audits, appeals or litigation in state, local, federal  
and foreign tax jurisdictions, or from the resolution of various 
proceedings between U.S. and foreign tax authorities. Our liability 
for uncertain tax positions includes no matters that are individually 
or collectively material to us. It is reasonably possible that the 
amount of the benefit with respect to certain of our unrecognized 
tax positions will increase or decrease within the next 12 months, 
but an estimate of the range of the reasonably possible changes 
cannot be made. However, we do not expect that the resolution of 
any of our uncertain tax positions will have a material effect on us. 

NOTE 13: RETIREMENT PLANS 

We sponsor programs that provide retirement benefits to most of our 
employees. These programs include defined benefit pension plans, 
defined contribution plans and postretirement healthcare plans.  

The accounting guidance related to postretirement benefits requires 
recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined 
benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and the 
recognition in either expense or AOCI of unrecognized gains or losses 
and prior service costs or credits. We use mark-to-market accounting 
for the recognition of our actuarial gains and losses related to our 
defined benefit pension and postretirement healthcare plans as 
described in Note 1. The funded status is measured as the difference 
between the fair value of the plan’s assets and the projected benefit 
obligation (“PBO”) of the plan.  

A summary of our retirement plans costs over the past three years is 
as follows (in millions):

Defined benefit pension plans
Defined contribution plans
Postretirement healthcare plans
Retirement plans mark-to-market  
    adjustment

2017
 $  234
480
76

2016
 $    214
 416 
 82 

2015
 $     (41)
 385 
 81 

(24)
 $  766 

 1,498 
 $ 2,210 

 2,190 
 $ 2,615 

The components of the pre-tax mark-to-market adjustments are as 
follows (in millions): 

Actual versus expected return on  
  assets
Discount rate changes
Demographic assumption experience
Total mark-to-market (gain) loss

2017

2016

2015

 $ (740 )
266
450
 $   (24 )

 $ 1,285 
 1,129 
 (916)
 $ 1,498 

 $      (35)
 791 
 1,434 
 $  2,190 

2017
The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets of 9.6% was 
higher than our expected return of 6.50% primarily due to a rise in the 
value of global equity markets in addition to favorable credit market 
conditions. The weighted average discount rate for all of our pension 
and postretirement healthcare plans decreased from 4.04% at May 
31, 2016 to 3.98% at May 31, 2017. The demographic assumption 
experience in 2017 reflects an update in mortality tables for U.S.  
pension and other postemployment benefit plans.

66

 67

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
The actual rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets of 1.2%  
was lower than our expected return of 6.50% primarily due to a 
challenging environment for global equities and other risk-seeking asset 
classes. The weighted average discount rate for all of our pension and 
postretirement healthcare plans declined from 4.38% at May 31, 2015 
to 4.04% at May 31, 2016. The demographic assumption experience  
in 2016 reflects a change in disability rates and an increase in the 
average retirement age for U.S. pension and other postemployment 
benefit plans.  

2015
The implementation of new U.S. mortality tables in 2015 resulted in 
an increased participant life expectancy assumption, which increased 
the overall PBO by $1.2 billion. The weighted average discount rate for 
all of our pension and postretirement healthcare plans declined from 
4.57% at May 31, 2014 to 4.38% at May 31, 2015.  

PENSION PLANS. Our largest pension plan covers certain U.S. 
employees age 21 and over, with at least one year of service. Pension 
benefits for most employees are accrued under a cash balance 
formula we call the Portable Pension Account. Under the Portable 
Pension Account, the retirement benefit is expressed as a dollar 
amount in a notional account that grows with annual credits based 
on pay, age and years of credited service, and interest on the notional 
account balance. The Portable Pension Account benefit is payable as a 
lump sum or an annuity at retirement at the election of the employee. 
The plan interest credit rate varies from year to year based on a U.S. 
Treasury index. Prior to 2009, certain employees earned benefits using 
a traditional pension formula (based on average earnings and years of 
service). Benefits under this formula were capped on May 31, 2008  
for most employees. 

Our U.S. Pension Plans were amended to permit former employees with 
a vested traditional pension benefit to make a one-time, irrevocable 
election to receive their benefits in a lump-sum distribution. 
Approximately 18,300 former employees elected to receive this 
lump-sum distribution and a total of approximately $1.3 billion was 
paid by the plans in May 2017.

We also sponsor or participate in nonqualified benefit plans covering 
certain of our U.S. employee groups and other pension plans covering 
certain of our international employees. The international defined 
benefit pension plans provide benefits primarily based on earnings 
and years of service and are funded in compliance with local laws and 
practices. The majority of our international obligations are for defined 
benefit pension plans in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.    

POSTRETIREMENT HEALTHCARE PLANS. Certain of our subsidiaries 
offer medical, dental and vision coverage to eligible U.S. retirees and 
their eligible dependents and a small number of international 
employees. U.S. employees covered by the principal plan become 
eligible for these benefits at age 55 and older, if they have permanent, 
continuous service of at least 10 years after attainment of age 45 if 
hired prior to January 1, 1988, or at least 20 years after attainment of 
age 35 if hired on or after January 1, 1988. Postretirement healthcare 
benefits are capped at 150% of the 1993 per capita projected 
employer cost, which has been reached under most plans so these 
benefits are not subject to future inflation.    

PENSION PLAN ASSUMPTIONS. The accounting for pension and 
postretirement healthcare plans includes numerous assumptions, 
such as: discount rates; expected long-term investment returns on 
plan assets; future salary increases; employee turnover; mortality; 
and retirement ages.  

Weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost of our plans are as follows: 

Discount rate used to determine benefit obligation 
Discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Rate of increase in future compensation levels used to  
  determine benefit obligation
Rate of increase in future compensation levels used to  
  determine net periodic benefit cost
Expected long-term rate of return on assets — Consolidated
Expected long-term rate of return on assets — Segment Reporting

U.S.  
Pension Plans 
2017 
2016 
4.08% 4.13% 4.42%
4.42
4.13

2015 

4.60

International  
Pension Plans
2016 

Postretirement 
Healthcare Plans
2016 
2017 

2015 

2017 
2.43% 2.46% 2.95% 4.32% 4.43% 4.60%
2.46

2015 

4.62

4.70

4.43

3.57

2.95

4.47

4.46

4.62

2.42

2.82

3.19

4.46
6.50
6.50

4.62
6.50
6.50

4.56
7.75
6.50

2.82
–
3.18

3.19
–
3.68

3.31
–
5.13

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

 – 

 – 
 – 
–

68

 69

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOur U.S. Pension Plan assets are invested primarily in publicly 
tradable securities, and our pension plans hold only a minimal 
investment in FedEx common stock that is entirely at the discretion 
of third-party pension fund investment managers. As part of our 
strategy to manage pension costs and funded status volatility, we 
follow a liability-driven investment strategy to better align plan 
assets with liabilities. 

Establishing the expected future rate of investment return on our 
pension assets is a judgmental matter, which we review on an 
annual basis and revise as appropriate. Management considers the 
following factors in determining this assumption: 

>   the duration of our pension plan liabilities, which drives the  

mainly benchmarked to the S&P 500 Index and other global indices). 
Accordingly, we do not have any significant concentrations of risk. 
Active management strategies are utilized within the plan in an  
effort to realize investment returns in excess of market indices.  
Our investment strategy also includes the limited use of derivative 
financial instruments on a discretionary basis to improve investment 
returns and manage exposure to market risk. In all cases, our 
investment managers are prohibited from using derivatives for 
speculative purposes and are not permitted to use derivatives to 
leverage a portfolio.   

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used 
for investments measured at fair value: 

investment strategy we can employ with our pension plan assets;

>   Cash and cash equivalents. These Level 1 investments include 

>   the types of investment classes in which we invest our pension 

plan assets and the expected compound geometric return we can 
reasonably expect those investment classes to earn over time; 
and  

>   the investment returns we can reasonably expect our investment 
management program to achieve in excess of the returns we 
could expect if investments were made strictly in indexed funds.

For consolidated pension expense, we assumed a 6.50% expected 
long-term rate of return on our U.S. Pension Plan assets in 2017 and 
2016 and 7.75% in 2015. We lowered our EROA assumption in 2016 
as we continued to implement our asset and liability management 
strategy. For the 15-year period ended May 31, 2017, our actual 
returns were 7.8%. 

The investment strategy for our U.S. Pension Plan assets is to utilize a 
diversified mix of global public and private equity portfolios, together 
with fixed-income portfolios, to earn a long-term investment return 
that meets our pension plan obligations. Our largest asset classes  
are Corporate Fixed Income Securities and Government Fixed Income 
Securities (which are largely benchmarked against the Barclays Long 
Government, Barclays Long Corporate or the Citigroup 20+ STRIPS 
indices), and U.S. and International Large Cap Equities (which are 

cash, cash equivalents and foreign currency valued using 
exchange rates. These Level 2 investments include short-term 
investment funds which are collective funds priced at a constant 
value by the administrator of the funds.  

>   Domestic, international and global equities. These Level 1 

investments are valued at the closing price or last trade reported  
on the major market on which the individual securities are traded.  
These Level 2 investments include mutual funds.

>   Fixed income. We determine the fair value of these Level 2 

corporate bonds, U.S. and non-U.S. government securities and 
other fixed income securities by using bid evaluation pricing 
models or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics.

>   Alternative Investments. The valuation of these Level 3  

investments requires significant judgment due to the absence  
of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity and the 
long-term nature of such assets. Investments in private equity, 
debt, real estate and other private investments are valued at 
estimated fair value based on quarterly financial information 
received from the investment advisor and/or general partner. 
These estimates incorporate factors such as contributions and 
distributions, market transactions, market comparables and 
performance multiples.

68

 69

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSThe fair values of investments by level and asset category and the weighted-average asset allocations for our U.S. Pension Plans and most 
significant international pension plans at the measurement date are presented in the following table (in millions): 

Plan Assets at Measurement Date
2017
Quoted Prices in 
Active Markets 
Level 1
$      26

Target 
Range%(2)
0-5%

Other Observable 
Inputs  
Level 2
$   1,050

Unobservable 
Inputs  
Level 3 

Fair Value
$   1,076

Actual  %
4%

2,415
3,521
3,276
987

8,163
4,674
603
377
(159)
$ 24,933

30-50

50-70

0-5

10
14
13
4

33
19
2
2
(1)
100%

830
2,747

987

(161)
$ 4,429

157

8,163
3,454
129

2
$ 12,955

$ 129

$ 129

Asset Class (U.S. Plans)
Cash and cash equivalents
Equities
  U.S. large cap equity(1)
  International equities(1)
  Global equities(1)
  U.S. SMID cap equity
Fixed income securities
  Corporate
  Government(1)
  Mortgage-backed and other(1)
Alternative investments(1)
Other
Total U.S. plan assets

4%

$        2

$        48

137
202

Asset Class (International Plans)
Cash and cash equivalents
Equities
  International equities(1)
  Global equities(1)
Fixed income securities
  Corporate(1)
  Government(1)
  Mortgage-backed and other(1)
Alternative investments
Other
Total International plan assets
(1)  Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy but are included 

270
405
145
17
(18)
$   1,206

22
34
12
1
(1)
100%

17
(16)
$      398

(2)
$      95

49
230

$        46

11
17

95

72

in the total.

(2)  Target ranges have not been provided for international plan assets as they are managed at an individual country level.

70

 71

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Plan Assets at Measurement Date
2016
Quoted Prices in 
Active Markets 
Level 1
$      76 

Target 
Range%(2)
0-5%

Other Observable 
Inputs  
Level 2
  $      492 

Unobservable 
Inputs  
Level 3 

Fair Value
 $      568 

Actual  %
 2 %

 3,257 
 3,381 
 2,794 
 913 

 6,608 
 5,148 
 347 
 322 
 (321)
 $ 23,017 

35-55

45-65

0-5

 14 
 15 
 12 
 4 

 29 
 22 
 2 
 1 
 (1)
 100 %

 750 
 2,685 

 913 

 121 

 6,608 
 5,148 
 146 

 (305)
$ 4,119 

 (16)
 $ 12,499 

$ 48

$ 48

Asset Class (U.S. Plans)
Cash and cash equivalents
Equities
  U.S. large cap equity(1)
  International equities(1)
  Global equities(1)
  U.S. SMID cap equity
Fixed income securities
  Corporate
  Government
  Mortgage-backed and other(1)
Alternative investments(1)
Other
Total U.S. plan assets

19%

$    157

$      211

124
148

Asset Class (International Plans)
Cash and cash equivalents
Equities
  International equities(1)
  Global equities(1)
Fixed income securities
  Corporate(1)
  Government(1)
  Mortgage-backed and other(1)
Alternative investments(1)
Other
Total International plan assets
(1)  Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy but are included 

122
324
134
39
(10)
$   1,092

11
30
12
4
(1)
100%

18 
4 
$      396 

(14)
$    203

44 
213 

$        54 

11
14

63 

60

in the total.

(2)  Target ranges have not been provided for international plan assets as they are managed at an individual country level.

The change in fair value of Level 3 assets that use significant unobservable inputs is shown in the table below (in millions):

Balance at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets:
  Assets held during current year
  Assets sold during the year
Purchases, sales and settlements
Balance at end of year

U.S. Pension Plans
2017
$    48

2016
$   –

5
1
75
$ 129

2
–
46
$ 48

70

 71

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the pension and postretirement healthcare plans’ benefit obligations and fair 
value of assets over the two-year period ended May 31, 2017 and a statement of the funded status as of May 31, 2017 and 2016 (in millions): 

Accumulated Benefit Obligation ("ABO")
Changes in Projected Benefit Obligation (“PBO”) and 
  Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (“APBO”)
PBO/APBO at the beginning of year
  Service cost
  Interest cost
  Actuarial loss
  Benefits paid
  Business acquisition
  Purchase accounting adjustment
  Other
PBO/APBO at the end of year
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of year
  Actual return on plan assets
  Company contributions
  Benefits paid
  Business acquisition
  Other
Fair value of plan assets at the end of year
Funded Status of the Plans
Amount Recognized in the Balance Sheet at May 31:
  Noncurrent asset
  Current pension, postretirement healthcare and other  
    benefit obligations
  Noncurrent pension, postretirement healthcare and other 
      benefit obligations
Net amount recognized
Amounts Recognized in AOCI and not yet reflected in  
  Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
  Prior service credit and other
Amounts Recognized in AOCI and not yet reflected in 
  Net Periodic Benefit Cost expected to be amortized in 
  next year’s Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
  Prior service credit and other

U.S. 
Pension Plans
2017

2016

International 
Pension Plans
2017

2016

Postretirement 
Healthcare Plans
2016
2017

$ 27,244

$ 27,236

$ 1,842

$ 1,609

$ 27,804
638
1,128
571
(2,271)
–
–
–
$ 27,870

$ 23,017
2,167
2,020
(2,271)
–
–
$ 24,933
$ (2,937)

$ 26,636
622
1,155
284
(893)
–
–
–
$ 27,804

$ 23,006
211
693
(893)
–
–
$ 23,017
$ (4,787)

$ 1,798
83
43
161
(38)
–
26
(30)
$ 2,043

$ 1,254
112
95
(38)
–
(44)
$ 1,379
$ (664)

$ 876
40
25
(7)
(19)
907
–
(24)
$ 1,798

$ 499
12
33
(19)
761
(32)
$ 1,254
$ (544)

$ 905
36
39
(14)
(72)
–
–
33
$ 927

$

–
–
36
(72)
– 
36
$
–
$ (927)

$ 929
40
42
(64)
(78)
–
–
36
$ 905

$

–
–
42
(78)
–
36
$
–
$ (905)

$

–

$

–

$

40

$

53

$

–

$

–

(33)

(19)

(17)

(12)

(39)

(40)

(2,904)
$ (2,937)

(4,768)
$ (4,787)

(687)
$ (664)

(585)
$ (544)

(888)
$ (927)

(865)
$ (905)

$

(410)

$

(528)

$

(13)

$

(18)

$

(4)

$

–

$

(118)

$

(118)

$

(2)

$

(3)

$

–

$

–

72

 73

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our pension plans included the following components at May 31 (in millions):

2017
  Qualified
  Nonqualified
  International Plans
  Total
2016
  Qualified
  Nonqualified
  International Plans
  Total

PBO

  $ 27,600
270
2,043
  $ 29,913

$ 27,543
261
1,798
  $ 29,602

Fair Value of  
Plan Assets

$ 24,933
–
1,379
$ 26,312

$ 23,017
–
1,254
$ 24,271

Funded  
Status

$ (2,667)
(270)
(664)
$ (3,601)

$ (4,526)
(261)
(544)
$ (5,331)

The table above provides the PBO, fair value of plan assets and funded status of our pension plans on an aggregated basis. The following table 
presents our plans on a disaggregated basis to show those plans (as a group) whose assets did not exceed their liabilities. The fair value of plan 
assets for pension plans with a PBO or ABO in excess of plan assets at May 31 were as follows (in millions):

U.S. Pension Benefits 
  Fair value of plan assets 
  PBO 
  Net funded status 
International Pension Benefits 
  Fair value of plan assets 
  PBO 
  Net funded status 

U.S. Pension Benefits
  ABO(1)
  Fair value of plan assets 
  PBO 
  Net funded status 
International Pension Benefits
  ABO(1)
  Fair value of plan assets 
  PBO 
  Net funded status 
(1) ABO not used in determination of funded status.

PBO Exceeds the Fair Value  
of Plan Assets

2017

2016

$  24,933
(27,870)
$   (2,937)

$       952
(1,656)
$      (704)

$  23,017
(27,804)
$   (4,787)

$       850
(1,447)
$      (597)

ABO Exceeds the Fair Value  
of Plan Assets

2017

2016

$ (27,244)
24,933
(27,870)
$   (2,937)

$   (1,433)
928
(1,626)
$      (698)

$ (27,236)
23,017
(27,804)
$   (4,787)

$   (1,257)
848
(1,445)
$      (597)

 73

72

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions to our U.S. Pension Plans for the years ended May 31 were as follows (in millions):

Required
Voluntary

2017
$    459
1,541
$ 2,000

2016
$     8 
652 
 $ 660 

For 2018, we anticipate making contributions to our U.S. Pension Plans totaling $1.0 billion (approximately $700 million of which are expected to 
be required). 

Net periodic benefit cost for the three years ended May 31 were as follows (in millions):

Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service credit
Actuarial losses (gains) and other
Net periodic benefit cost

U.S.  
Pension Plans 

International  
Pension Plans

Postretirement Healthcare 
Plans

2017 
$     638
1,128
(1,501)
(118)
(95)
$       52

2016 
$     622
1,155
(1,490)
(118)
1,563
$  1,732

2015 
$     615
1,068
(1,655)
(112)
2,154
$  2,070

2017 
$   83
43
(38) 
(2)
87
$ 173

2016 
$  40
25
(18)
(3)
(1)
$  43

2015 
$  38
28
(23)
(3)
36
$  76

2017 
$  36
39
–
–
(14)
$  61

2016 
$  40
42
–
–
(64)
$  18

2015 
$ 40
41
–
–
6
$ 87

Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) for all plans for the years ended May 31 were as follows (in millions): 

U.S. 
Pension Plans

2017
International 
Pension Plans

Postretirement  
Healthcare Plans

U.S. 
Pension Plans

2016
International 
Pension Plans

Postretirement  
Healthcare Plans

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Gross 
Amount

Net of Tax 
Amount

Prior service  
cost (credit)
arising  
during period
Amortizations:
  Prior services  
    credit
Total recognized  
  in OCI

$     –

$   –

$ 1

$ 1

$ (3)

$ (2)

$     –

$   –

$ –

$ –

$ –

$ –

118

74

$ 118

$ 74

2

$ 3

2

$ 3

–

–

118

74

$ (3)

$ (2)

$ 118

$ 74

3

$ 3

2

$ 2

–

$ –

–

$ –

Benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid as follows for the years ending May 31 (in millions):

2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023–2027

U.S. Pension Plans
$  1,013
1,070
1,169
1,233
1,345
8,565

International Pension Plans
$  44
43
48
53
59
789

Postretirement Healthcare Plans
$  39
40
42
42
43
246

These estimates are based on assumptions about future events. Actual benefit payments may vary significantly from these estimates. 

Future medical benefit claims costs are estimated to increase at an annual rate of 7.8% during 2018, decreasing to an annual growth rate of 
4.50% in 2037 and thereafter. A 1% change in these annual trend rates would not have a significant impact on the APBO at May 31, 2017 or 
2017 benefit expense because the level of these benefits is capped. 

74

 75

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 14: BUSINESS SEGMENT 
INFORMATION

FedEx Express, TNT Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight represent 
our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services, form the core of 
our reportable segments. Our reportable segments include the following 
businesses: 

FedEx Express Segment

 TNT Express Segment

FedEx Ground Segment

FedEx Freight Segment

FedEx Services Segment

>  FedEx Express  
(express transportation) 
>  FedEx Trade Networks  
(air and ocean freight forwarding, 
customs brokerage and cross-border 
enablement technology and solutions) 
> FedEx SupplyChain Systems  
  (logistics services)
>  TNT Express   
(international express transportation, 
small-package ground delivery and 
freight transportation)
> FedEx Ground  
  (small-package ground delivery)  
>  FedEx Supply Chain  
(third-party logistics) (formerly GENCO)

> FedEx Freight  
  (LTL freight transportation)  
> FedEx Custom Critical  
  (time-critical transportation)
>  FedEx Services  
(sales, marketing, information  
technology, communications, 
customer service, technical support, 
billing and collection services and 
back-office functions)
>  FedEx Office  
(document and business services  
and package acceptance)

During 2017, we announced that products and solutions offered by 
FedEx SupplyChain Systems would be combined with similar offerings 
within FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Express and FedEx Supply Chain 
(formerly GENCO) effective June 1, 2017. In addition, during 2017, we 
rebranded GENCO to FedEx Supply Chain.

FedEx Services Segment
The FedEx Services segment operates combined sales, marketing, 
administrative and information technology functions in shared services 
operations that support our transportation businesses and allow us to 
obtain synergies from the combination of these functions. For the 
international regions of FedEx Express and TNT Express, some of these 
functions are performed on a regional basis and reported by each 
respective company in their natural expense line items. The FedEx 
Services segment includes: FedEx Services, which provides sales, 
marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, 
technical support, billing and collection services for U.S. customers of 
our major business units and certain back-office support to our other 
companies; and FedEx Office, which provides an array of document and 
business services and retail access to our customers for our package 
transportation businesses.

The FedEx Services segment provides direct and indirect support to our 
transportation businesses, and we allocate all of the net operating costs 
of the FedEx Services segment (including the net operating results of 
FedEx Office) to reflect the full cost of operating our transportation 
businesses in the results of those segments. Within the FedEx Services 
segment allocation, the net operating results of FedEx Office, which are 
an immaterial component of our allocations, are allocated to FedEx 
Express and FedEx Ground. We review and evaluate the performance of 
our transportation segments based on operating income (inclusive of 
FedEx Services segment allocations). For the FedEx Services segment, 
performance is evaluated based on the impact of its total allocated net 
operating costs on our transportation segments.

Operating expenses for each of our transportation segments include the 
allocations from the FedEx Services segment to the respective 
transportation segments. These allocations also include charges and 
credits for administrative services provided between operating 
companies. The allocations of net operating costs are based on metrics 
such as relative revenues or estimated services provided. We believe 
these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions. 
Our allocation methodologies are refined periodically, as necessary, to 
reflect changes in our businesses. 

74

 75

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOther Intersegment Transactions
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and 
related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable 
segment. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, 
which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as 
revenues of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time 
to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenues 
and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated results and are not 
separately identified in the following segment information, because 
the amounts are not material. 

Corporate and other includes corporate headquarters costs for 
executive officers and certain legal and financial functions, as  
well as certain other costs and credits not attributed to our core 
business. These costs are not allocated to the business segments.  
In 2017, the year-over-year decrease in these costs was driven  
by the change in the MTM retirement plans adjustment and the 
year-over-year decrease in charges for legal reserves, which were 
partially offset by higher TNT Express integration expenses incurred 
at the corporate level.

The following table provides a reconciliation of reportable segment revenues, depreciation and amortization, operating income and segment assets to 
consolidated financial statement totals (in millions) for the years ended or as of May 31: 

FedEx  
Express 
Segment

TNT  
Express 
Segment

FedEx  
Ground 
Segment

FedEx  
Freight 
Segment

FedEx  
Services 
Segment

Eliminations, 
corporate  
and other(5)

Consolidated  
Total

$ 27,358
26,451
27,239

$ 7,401  
N/A  
N/A  

$ 18,075
16,574
12,984

$ 6,443
6,200
6,191

$ 1,621
1,593
1,545

$    (579)
(453)
(506)

$ 60,319
50,365
47,453

Revenues 
2017 
2016 
2015 

$   1,431
1,385
1,460

$      684
608
530

$    239  
N/A  
N/A  

Depreciation and 
amortization 
2017 
2016 
2015 
Operating income 
2017(1) 
2016(2) 
2015(3)
Segment assets(4)
2017
2016 
2015 
(1)  Includes TNT Express integration expenses and restructuring charges of $327 million, increased intangible asset amortization of $74 million as a result of the TNT Express acquisition, and a 

$ 6,939  
N/A  
N/A  

$      84  
N/A  
N/A  

$ (7,504)
2,517
(4,431)

$    (414)
(2,144)
(2,373)

$   2,292
2,276
2,172

$ 14,628
13,098
11,691

$ 24,882
21,205
20,382

$   2,678
2,519
1,584

$         1
6
1

$ 5,682
5,390
5,356

$ 3,925
3,749
3,471

$        –
–
–

$    269
248
230

$    397
426
484

$    371
384
390

$   5,037
3,077
1,867

$ 48,552
45,959
36,469

$   2,995
2,631
2,611

gain of $24 million associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting. These expenses are included in “Eliminations, corporate and other,” the FedEx Express segment and the TNT Express 
segment. Also includes $39 million of charges for legal reserves related to certain pending U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) matters involving FedEx Trade Networks and $22 million 
of charges in connection with the settlement of and certain expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground. See Note 18 below for additional information.

(2)  Includes a $1.5 billion loss associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting. Also includes provisions for the settlement of and expected losses related to independent contractor  

litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $256 million and expenses related to the settlement of a CBP notice of action in the amount of $69 million, in each case net of recognized immaterial 
insurance recovery, and transaction and integration-planning expenses related to our TNT Express acquisition of $113 million.      

(3)  Includes a $2.2 billion loss associated with our mark-to-market pension accounting, $276 million of impairment and related charges resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust 
the retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines, and a $197 million charge to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the 
amount of the settlement.

(4) Segment assets include intercompany receivables.
(5) Includes TNT Express’s assets and immaterial financial results for 2016 from the time of acquisition (May 25, 2016).   

The following table provides a reconciliation of reportable segment capital expenditures to consolidated totals for the years ended May 31 (in 
millions): 

FedEx  
Express 
Segment
$  2,525
2,356
2,380

TNT  
Express 
Segment

$  205  
N/A  
N/A  

FedEx  
Ground 
Segment
$  1,539
1,597
1,248

FedEx  
Freight 
Segment
$  431
433
337

FedEx  
Services 
Segment
$  416
432
381

Other
$  –
–
1

Consolidated  
Total
$  5,116
4,818
4,347

2017 
2016 
2015 

76

 77

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents revenue by service type and geographic 
information for the years ended or as of May 31 (in millions):

2017

2016

2015

NOTE 15: SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW 
INFORMATION

Cash paid for interest expense and income taxes for the years ended 
May 31 was as follows (in millions):

Revenue by Service Type
FedEx Express segment: 
  Package: 
    U.S. overnight box 
    U.S. overnight envelope 
    U.S. deferred 
      Total U.S. domestic package revenue 
    International priority
    International economy
      Total international export  
        package revenue
    International domestic(1)
      Total package revenue 
  Freight: 
    U.S. 
    International priority 
    International airfreight
      Total freight revenue 
  Other(2)
      Total FedEx Express segment 
TNT Express segment
FedEx Ground segment: 
  FedEx Ground
  FedEx Supply Chain
    Total FedEx Ground segment
FedEx Freight segment 
FedEx Services segment 
Other and eliminations(3)

Geographical Information(4)
Revenues: 
  U.S. 
  International: 
    FedEx Express segment 
    TNT Express segment
    FedEx Ground segment 
    FedEx Freight segment 
    FedEx Services segment 
    Other(3)
      Total international revenue 

Noncurrent assets: 
  U.S. 
  International 

$   6,958  $   6,763   $   6,704 
 1,629 
 1,662  
 3,342 
 3,379  
 11,675 
 11,804  
 6,251 
 5,697  
 2,301 
 2,282  

1,750
3,528
12,236
5,827
2,412

Cash payments for:
  Interest (net of capitalized interest)
  Income taxes
  Income tax refunds received
  Cash tax payments, net

2017

2016

2015

$    484
$    397
(20)
$    377

$    321
$    996 
 (5)
$    991 

$    201
$ 1,122 
 (9)
$ 1,113 

NOTE 16: GUARANTEES AND 
INDEMNIFICATIONS 

In conjunction with certain transactions, primarily the lease, sale or 
purchase of operating assets or services in the ordinary course of 
business and in connection with business acquisitions, we may provide 
routine guarantees or indemnifications (e.g., environmental, fuel, tax 
and software infringement), the terms of which range in duration, and 
often they are not limited and have no specified maximum obligation. As 
a result of the TNT Express acquisition, we have assumed a guarantee 
related to the demerger of TNT Express and PostNL Holding B.V., which 
occurred in 2011 for pension benefits earned prior to the date of the 
demerger. The risk of making payments associated with this guarantee 
is remote. The overall maximum potential amount of the obligation 
under such guarantees and indemnifications cannot be reasonably 
estimated. Historically, we have not been required to make significant 
payments under our guarantee or indemnification obligations and no 
material amounts have been recognized in our financial statements for 
the underlying fair value of these obligations. 

8,239
1,299
21,774

2,528
1,502
118
4,148
1,436
27,358
7,401

 7,979  
 1,285  
 21,068  

 8,552 
 1,406 
 21,633 

 2,481  
 1,384  
 126  
 3,991  
 1,392  
 26,451  
N/A

 2,300 
 1,588 
 180 
 4,068 
 1,538 
 27,239 
N/A

16,497
1,578
18,075
6,443
1,621
(579)

 12,568 
 416 
 12,984 
 6,191 
 1,545 
 (506)
$ 60,319  $ 50,365   $ 47,453 

 15,050  
 1,524  
 16,574  
 6,200  
 1,593  
 (453 )

$ 40,269 $ 38,070   $ 34,216  

12,094
7,346
451
149
10
–
20,050

 11,672  
 12,772 
N/A
N/A
 383  
 311 
 137  
 142 
 10  
 12 
 93  
–
 13,237 
 12,295  
$ 60,319  $ 50,365   $ 47,453 

$ 28,141  $ 25,942   $ 23,520 
 2,614 
 8,028 
$ 35,924  $ 33,970   $ 26,134 

7,783

76

(1)  International domestic revenues represent our intra-country operations.
(2) Includes FedEx Trade Networks and FedEx SupplyChain Systems.
(3)  Includes TNT Express’s revenue for 2016 from the time of acquisition (May 25, 2016).
(4)  International revenue includes shipments that either originate in or are destined to locations 
outside the United States, which could include U.S. payors. Noncurrent assets include property 
and equipment, goodwill and other long-term assets. Our flight equipment is registered in the 
U.S. and is included as U.S. assets; however, many of our aircraft operate internationally.

 77

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 17: COMMITMENTS

Annual purchase commitments under various contracts as of May 31, 
2017 were as follows (in millions): 

Aircraft and 
Aircraft Related 
$   1,777
2018 
1,729
2019 
1,933
2020 
1,341
2021 
1,276
2022 
2,895
Thereafter
$ 10,951
Total
(1)  Primarily equipment, advertising contracts and, in 2018, approximately $700 million of 

Other(1)
$ 1,440
508
400
309
198
499
$ 3,354

Total 
$   3,217
2,237
2,333
1,650
1,474
3,394
$ 14,305

previously utilized, and these expenditures are necessary to achieve 
significant long-term operating savings and to replace older aircraft. 
Our ability to delay the timing of these aircraft-related expenditures is 
limited without incurring significant costs to modify existing purchase 
agreements. 

In 2017, FedEx Express entered into agreements to accelerate the 
delivery of two B767F aircraft to 2017 from 2018 and two B777F 
aircraft to 2018 from 2023.

We had $729 million in deposits and progress payments as of  
May 31, 2017 on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-
related transactions. These deposits are classified in the “Other 
assets” caption of our consolidated balance sheets. Aircraft and 
aircraft-related contracts are subject to price escalations. The 
following table is a summary of the key aircraft we are committed 
to purchase as of May 31, 2017, with the year of expected delivery: 

estimated required quarterly contributions to our U.S. Pension Plans. 

The amounts reflected in the table above for purchase commitments 
represent noncancelable agreements to purchase goods or services. 
As of May 31, 2017, our obligation to purchase four Boeing 767-300 
Freighter (“B767F”) aircraft and six Boeing 777 Freighter (“B777F”) 
aircraft is conditioned upon there being no event that causes FedEx 
Express or its employees not to be covered by the Railway Labor Act 
of 1926, as amended. Open purchase orders that are cancelable are 
not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial 
reporting purposes and are not included in the table above. 

2018 
2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
Thereafter
Total

We have several aircraft modernization programs underway that are 
supported by the purchase of B777F and B767F aircraft. These aircraft 
are significantly more fuel-efficient per unit than the aircraft types 

B767F
14
15
16
10
10
6
71

B777F
4
2
3
3
4
–
16

Total
18
17
19
13
14
6
87

78

 79

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 18: CONTINGENCIES 

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR — LAWSUITS AND STATE 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS. FedEx Ground is involved in 
class-action lawsuits, individual lawsuits and state tax and other 
administrative proceedings that claim that the company’s owner-
operators under a contractor model no longer in use should have 
been treated as employees, rather than independent contractors.

Most of the class-action lawsuits were consolidated for administration 
of the pre-trial proceedings by a single federal court, the U.S. District 
Court for the Northern District of Indiana. The multidistrict litigation 
court granted class certification in 28 cases and denied it in 14 cases. 
On December 13, 2010, the court entered an opinion and order 
addressing all outstanding motions for summary judgment on the 
status of the owner-operators (i.e., independent contractor vs. 
employee). In sum, the court ruled on our summary judgment motions 
and entered judgment in favor of FedEx Ground on all claims in 20 of 
the 28 multidistrict litigation cases that had been certified as class 
actions, finding that the owner-operators in those cases were 
contractors as a matter of the law of 20 states. The plaintiffs filed 
notices of appeal in all of these 20 cases. The Seventh Circuit heard 
the appeal in the Kansas case in January 2012 and, in July 2012, 
issued an opinion that did not make a determination with respect to 
the correctness of the district court’s decision and, instead, certified 
two questions to the Kansas Supreme Court related to the classification 
of the plaintiffs as independent contractors under the Kansas Wage 
Payment Act. The other 19 cases that are before the Seventh Circuit 
were stayed.

On October 3, 2014, the Kansas Supreme Court determined that a  
20 factor right to control test applies to claims under the Kansas Wage 
Payment Act and concluded that under that test, the class members 
were employees, not independent contractors. The case was 
subsequently transferred back to the Seventh Circuit, where both 
parties made filings requesting the action necessary to complete the 
resolution of the appeals. The parties also made recommendations to 
the court regarding next steps for the other 19 cases that are before 
the Seventh Circuit. FedEx Ground requested that each of those cases 
be separately briefed given the potential differences in the applicable 
state law from that in Kansas. On July 8, 2015, the Seventh Circuit 
issued an order and opinion confirming the decision of the Kansas 
Supreme Court, concluding that the class members were employees, 
not independent contractors. Additionally, the Seventh Circuit referred 
the other 19 cases to a representative of the court for purposes of 
setting a case management conference to address briefing and 
argument for those cases.

During the second quarter of 2015, we established an accrual for the 
estimated probable loss in the Kansas case. In the second quarter of 
2016 the Kansas case settled, and we increased the accrual to the 
amount of the settlement.

During the third quarter of 2016, we reached agreements in principle 
to settle all of the 19 cases on appeal in the multidistrict independent 
contractor litigation. We recognized a liability for the expected loss 
(net of recognized insurance recovery) related to these cases and 
certain other pending independent-contractor-related proceedings of 
$204 million.

The Kansas case was remanded to the multidistrict litigation court, 
and the other 19 cases remained at the Seventh Circuit; however, 
approval proceedings were conducted primarily by the multidistrict 
litigation court. Plaintiffs filed motions for preliminary approval 
between June 15 and June 30, 2016, and on August 3 and 4, 2016, the 
multidistrict litigation court issued orders indicating that it would grant 
preliminary approval if the Seventh Circuit would remand the cases on 
appeal for the purpose of entering approval orders. Upon the parties’ 
joint motion, the Seventh Circuit remanded the cases for this purpose 
on August 10, 2016, and the multidistrict litigation court entered orders 
preliminarily approving the settlements on August 17, 2016. Fairness 
hearings were originally scheduled for January 23 and 24, 2017, but 
were held on March 13 and 14, 2017. On March 15, 2017, the court 
issued orders indicating that it would grant final approval of each 
settlement if the Seventh Circuit remanded the cases on appeal for the 
purpose of considering and granting final approval. In a series of orders 
and judgments issued on April 29, May 1, and June 21, 2017, the court 
granted final approval of all 20 settlements.

The multidistrict litigation court remanded the other eight certified 
class actions back to the district courts where they were originally filed 
because its summary judgment ruling did not completely dispose of all 
of the claims in those lawsuits. Seven of these matters settled for 
immaterial amounts and have received court approval. 

The case in California was appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of 
Appeals, where the court reversed the district court decisions and held 
that the plaintiffs in California were employees as a matter of law and 
remanded the cases to the district court for further proceedings. In the 
first quarter of 2015, we recognized an accrual for the then-estimated 
probable loss in this case.

In June 2015, the parties in the California case reached an agreement 
to settle the matter for $228 million, and in the fourth quarter of 2015 
we increased the accrual to that amount. The court entered final 
judgment on June 20, 2016, and two objectors to the settlement filed 
appeals with the Ninth Circuit. One objector has settled with plaintiffs’ 
counsel, and the appeal by the second objector was briefed in the 
fourth quarter of 2017. The court has indicated that it will schedule 
argument on the objector’s appeal for the second quarter of 2018. The 
settlement is not effective until all appeals have been resolved without 
affecting the court’s approval of the settlement.

In addition, we are defending contractor-model cases that are not or 
are no longer part of the multidistrict litigation. These cases are in 
varying stages of litigation. We do not expect to incur a material loss 
in these matters; however, it is reasonably possible that potential loss 
in some of these lawsuits or changes to the independent contractor 

78

 79

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSstatus of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators could be material. In these 
cases, we continue to evaluate what facts may arise in the course of 
discovery and what legal rulings the courts may render and how these 
facts and rulings might impact the loss. For a number of reasons, we 
are not currently able to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss 
in these cases. The number and identities of plaintiffs in these 
lawsuits are uncertain, as they are dependent on how the class of 
drivers is defined and how many individuals will qualify based on 
whatever criteria may be established. In addition, the parties have 
conducted only very limited discovery into damages in certain of these 
cases, which could vary considerably from plaintiff to plaintiff and be 
dependent on evidence pertaining to individual plaintiffs, which has 
yet to be produced in the cases. Further, the range of potential loss 
could be impacted substantially by future rulings by the court, 
including on the merits of the claims, on FedEx Ground’s defenses,  
and on evidentiary issues. As a consequence of these factors, as well 
as others that are specific to these cases, we are not currently able to 
estimate a range of reasonably possible loss. We do not believe that  
a material loss is probable in these matters.

Adverse determinations in matters related to FedEx Ground’s 
independent contractors could, among other things, entitle certain 
owner-operators and their drivers to the reimbursement of certain 
expenses and to the benefit of wage-and-hour laws and result in 
employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx 
Ground. We believe that FedEx Ground’s owner-operators are properly 
classified as independent contractors and that FedEx Ground is not an 
employer of the drivers of the company’s independent contractors.

CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK CIGARETTE SUIT. The City of New 
York and the State of New York filed two related lawsuits against 
FedEx Ground in December 2013 and November 2014 arising from 
FedEx Ground’s alleged shipments of cigarettes to New York residents 
in contravention of several statutes, including the Racketeer 
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and New York’s 
Public Health Law, as well as common law nuisance claims. In April 
2016, the two lawsuits were consolidated and will now proceed as 
one lawsuit. The first-filed lawsuit alleges that FedEx Ground provided 
delivery services on behalf of four shippers, and the second-filed 
lawsuit alleges that FedEx Ground provided delivery services on 
behalf of six additional shippers; none of these shippers continue  
to ship in our network. Following motions to dismiss filed in both 
lawsuits, some of the claims were dismissed entirely or limited. In the 
first-filed lawsuit, the New York Public Health Law and common law 
nuisance claims were dismissed and the plaintiffs voluntarily 
dismissed another claim. In the second-filed lawsuit, the common law 
nuisance claim has been dismissed entirely and the New York Public 
Health Law claim has been limited to claims arising after September 
27, 2013, when an amendment to that law provided enforcement 
authority to the City of New York and State of New York. Other 
claims, including the RICO claims, remain in both lawsuits. The 
likelihood of loss is reasonably possible, but the amount of loss 
cannot be estimated at this stage of the litigation and we expect the 
amount of any loss to be immaterial.

On July 10, 2017, the City of New York and the State of New York 
filed a third lawsuit against FedEx Ground and included FedEx Freight 
as a co-defendant. This new case identifies no shippers or shipments, 

but generally alleges violations of the same laws that are the subject 
of the other two lawsuits. The amount or reasonable range of loss, if 
any, cannot be estimated at this stage of the lawsuit. 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. SEC regulations require disclosure 
of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority 
is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential 
monetary sanctions that management reasonably believes could 
exceed $100,000.

On September 9, 2016, FedEx Supply Chain received a written  
offer from several District Attorneys’ Offices in California to settle  
a civil action that the District Attorneys intend to file against FedEx 
Supply Chain for alleged violations of the state’s hazardous waste 
regulations. Specifically, the District Attorneys’ Offices allege FedEx 
Supply Chain unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste at one of its 
California facilities and caused the illegal transportation and 
disposal of hazardous waste from the retail stores of a FedEx Supply 
Chain customer at this same facility. The District Attorneys allege 
these violations began in 2006 and continued until the facility 
closed in the spring of 2015. We believe an immaterial loss in this 
matter is probable. The District Attorneys are also investigating 
FedEx Supply Chain’s hazardous waste activities at eight additional 
facilities within California. We will pursue all available remedies 
against the sellers of GENCO to recover any losses in these matters.

OTHER MATTERS. During the third quarter of 2017, FedEx Trade 
Networks informed U.S. Customs and Border Protection that in 
connection with certain customs entries it may have made improper 
claims for (i) reduced-duty treatment and (ii) duty-free treatment. 
Loss in these matters is probable, and in the fourth quarter of 2017 
we established accruals totaling $39.3 million for the currently 
estimated probable loss for these matters. FedEx Trade Networks is 
continuing to review these matters, however, and a material loss is 
reasonably possible.

FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to other legal proceedings 
that arise in the ordinary course of business, including certain 
lawsuits containing various class-action allegations of wage-and-
hour violations in which plaintiffs claim, among other things, that 
they were forced to work “off the clock,” were not paid overtime or 
were not provided work breaks or other benefits. In the opinion of 
management, the aggregate liability, if any, with respect to these 
other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial 
position, results of operations or cash flows.  

NOTE 19: RELATED PARTY 
TRANSACTIONS

Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Frederick W. Smith,  
currently holds an approximate 10% ownership interest in the 
National Football League Washington Redskins professional football 
team and is a member of its board of directors. FedEx has a multi-year 
naming rights agreement with Washington Football, Inc. granting 
us certain marketing rights, including the right to name the stadium 
where the team plays and other events are held “FedExField.”

80

 81

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTE 20: SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

 (in millions, except per share amounts)
 2017(1)
 Revenues 
 Operating income 
 Net income 
 Basic earnings per common share(2)
 Diluted earnings per common share(2) 

First 
Quarter

$ 14,663
1,264
715
2.69
2.65

Second 
Quarter

$ 14,931
1,167
700
2.63
2.59

Third 
Quarter

$ 14,997
1,025
562
2.11
2.07

Fourth 
Quarter

$ 15,728
1,581
1,020
3.81
3.75 

 2016(3) 
 Revenues 
 Operating income (loss)
 Net income (loss) 
 Basic earnings (loss) per common share(2)
 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share(2)
(1)  The fourth quarter, third quarter, second quarter, and first quarter of 2017 include $124 million, $78 million, $58 million and $68 million, respectively, of TNT Express integration expenses and 
restructuring charges, and $20 million, $16 million, $10 million and $28 million, respectively, of increased intangible asset amortization as a result of the TNT Express acquisition. The fourth 
quarter of 2017 includes $39 million of charges for legal reserves related to certain pending CBP matters involving FedEx Trade Networks, $22 million of charges in connection with the  
settlement of and certain expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground and $24 million related to the retirement plans MTM gain.  

$ 12,453
1,137
691
2.47
2.44

$ 12,654
864
507
1.86
1.84

$ 12,279
1,144
692
2.45
2.42

$ 12,979
(68)
(70)
(0.26)
(0.26)

(2) The sum of the quarterly earnings per share may not equal annual amounts due to differences in the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the respective periods.
(3)  The fourth quarter of 2016 includes a $1.5 billion retirement plans MTM loss and TNT Express transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses and immaterial financial results from the 
time of acquisition totaling $79 million. In addition, the fourth quarter of 2016 includes a $76 million favorable tax impact from an internal corporate legal entity restructuring to facilitate the 
integration of FedEx Express and TNT Express and $11 million of expenses related to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground. The third quarter of 2016 includes provisions 
related to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $204 million and expenses related to the settlement of a CBP notice of action in the amount of $69 million (in each case, 
net of recognized immaterial insurance recovery), as well as TNT Express transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses of $25 million. The second quarter of 2016 includes provisions 
related to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $41 million and $19 million of TNT Express transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses. 

80

 81

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
NOTE 21: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We are required to present condensed consolidating financial information in order for the subsidiary guarantors of our public debt to continue  
to be exempt from reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

The guarantor subsidiaries, which are 100% owned by FedEx, guarantee $14.8 billion of our public debt. The guarantees are full and 
unconditional and joint and several. Our guarantor subsidiaries were not determined using geographic, service line or other similar  
criteria, and as a result, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries” and “Non-guarantor Subsidiaries” columns each include portions of our domestic  
and international operations. Accordingly, this basis of presentation is not intended to present our financial condition, results of operations 
or cash flows for any purpose other than to comply with the specific requirements for subsidiary guarantor reporting. 

Condensed consolidating financial statements for our guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented in the following 
tables (in millions): 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

Assets
Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances
   Spare parts, supplies, fuel, prepaid expenses  

  and other, less allowances

    Total current assets
Property and Equipment, at Cost
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    Net property and equipment
Intercompany Receivable
Goodwill
Investment in Subsidiaries
Other Assets

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment
Current Liabilities
  Current portion of long-term debt
  Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  Accounts payable
  Accrued expenses
    Total current liabilities
Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion
Intercompany Payable
Other Long-Term Liabilities
  Deferred income taxes
  Other liabilities
    Total other long-term liabilities
Stockholders’ Investment

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

May 31, 2017

$   1,884
3

25
1,912
22
18
4
1,521
–
27,712
3,494
$ 34,643

$          –
72
10
991
1,073
14,641
–

–
2,856
2,856
16,073
$ 34,643

$      325
4,729

787
5,841
47,201
23,211
23,990
2,607
1,571
2,636
1,271
$ 37,916

$          9
1,335
1,411
1,522
4,277
244
–

5,472
3,448
8,920
24,475
$ 37,916

$   1,807
2,928

248
4,983
3,403
1,416
1,987
–
5,583
–
1,249
$ 13,802

$        13
507
1,439
717
2,676
24
4,128

238
863
1,101
5,873
$ 13,802

$        (47)
(61)

–
(108)
–
–
–
(4,128)
–
(30,348)
(3,225)
$ (37,809)

$           –
–
(108)
–
(108)
–
(4,128)

(3,225)
–
(3,225)
(30,348)
$ (37,809)

$    3,969
7,599

1,060
12,628
50,626
24,645
25,981
–
7,154
–
2,789
$   48,552

$        22
1,914
2,752
3,230
7,918
14,909
–

2,485
7,167
9,652
16,073
$ 48,552

82

 83

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

Assets
Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents
  Receivables, less allowances
   Spare parts, supplies, fuel, prepaid expenses  

  and other, less allowances

    Total current assets
Property and Equipment, at Cost
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    Net property and equipment
Intercompany Receivable
Goodwill
Investment in Subsidiaries
Other Assets

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment
Current Liabilities
  Current portion of long-term debt
  Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  Accounts payable
  Accrued expenses
    Total current liabilities
Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion
Intercompany Payable
Other Long-Term Liabilities
  Deferred income taxes
  Other liabilities
    Total other long-term liabilities
Stockholders’ Investment

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Eliminations

Consolidated

May 31, 2016

 $   1,974 
 1 

 233 
 2,208 
 22 
 17 
 5 
 2,437 
 – 
 24,766 
 3,359 
 $ 32,775

$          – 
 54 
 8 
 883 
 945 
 13,451 
 – 

 – 
 4,595 
 4,595 
 13,784
 $ 32,775

 $      326 
 4,461 

 724 
 5,511 
 43,760 
 21,566 
 22,194 
 1,284 
 1,571 
 3,697 
 967 
 $ 35,224

$        13 
 1,377 
 1,501 
 1,411 
 4,302 
 245 
 – 

 4,436 
 3,375 
 7,811 
 22,866
 $ 35,224

 $   1,277 
 2,831 

 246 
 4,354 
 3,236 
 1,151 
 2,085 
 – 
 5,176 
 – 
 1,851 
 $ 13,466

$        16 
 541 
 1,519 
 769 
 2,845 
 37 
 3,721 

 369 
 897 
 1,266 
 5,597
 $ 13,466

$        (43)
 (41)

 – 
(84)
–
–
–
 (3,721)
 – 
 (28,463)
 (3,238)
 $ (35,506)

 $           – 
 – 
 (84)
 – 
 (84)
 – 
 (3,721)

 (3,238)
 – 
 (3,238)
(28,463)
 $ (35,506)

 $   3,534 
 7,252 

 1,203 
 11,989 
 47,018 
 22,734 
 24,284 
 – 
 6,747 
 – 
 2,939 
$ 45,959 

$        29 
 1,972 
 2,944 
 3,063 
 8,008 
 13,733 
 – 

 1,567 
 8,867 
 10,434 
13,784
$ 45,959 

82

 83

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income

Revenues
Operating Expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other

Operating Income
Other Income (Expense):
  Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  Interest, net
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other, net
Income Before Income Taxes
  Provision for income taxes
Net Income
Comprehensive Income

Year Ended May 31, 2017

Parent
$       –

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$ 44,823

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$ 15,798

Eliminations
$    (302)

Consolidated
$ 60,319

123
–
5
1
–
1
–
(434)
304
–
–

2,997
(507)
508
(1)
2,997
–
$ 2,997
$ 2,922

16,696
8,260
2,517
2,538
2,476
2,086
(75)
182
5,734
40,414
4,409

68
27
(296)
(134)
4,074
1,439
$   2,635
$   2,580

4,723
5,495
724
456
297
287
51
252
2,885
15,170
628

–
1
(212)
156
573
143
$      430
$      314

–
(125)
(6)
–
–
–
–
–
(171)
(302)
–

(3,065)
–
–
–
(3,065)
–
$ (3,065)
$ (3,065)

21,542
13,630
3,240
2,995
2,773
2,374
(24)
–
8,752
55,282
5,037

–
(479)
–
21
4,579
1,582
$   2,997
$   2,751

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income

Revenues
Operating Expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other

Operating Income
Other Income (Expense):
  Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  Interest, net
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other, net
Income Before Income Taxes
  Provision for income taxes
Net Income
Comprehensive Income

84

Year Ended May 31, 2016

Parent
$        –

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
  $ 42,143

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
 $ 8,547

Eliminations
 $    (325)

Consolidated
 $ 50,365

 119 
 – 
 5 
 1 
 – 
 1 
 – 
 (645)
 519 
 – 
–

 1,820 
 (355)
 369 
 (14)
 1,820
–
 $ 1,820
 $ 1,746

 15,880 
 7,380 
 2,484 
 2,399 
 2,324 
 1,954 
 1,414 
 425 
 5,274 
 39,534 
 2,609

 279 
 27 
 (354)
 (14)
 2,547
818
$   1,729 
$   1,704 

 2,582 
 2,720 
 371 
 231 
 75 
 153 
 84 
 220 
 1,643 
 8,079 
468

 – 
 13 
 (15)
 6
472
102
$    370
$    128

 – 
 (134)
 (6)
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 (185)
 (325)
–

 (2,099)
–
–
–
 (2,099)
–
 $ (2,099)
 $ (2,099)

 18,581 
 9,966 
 2,854 
 2,631 
 2,399 
 2,108 
 1,498 
 – 
 7,251 
 47,288 
 3,077

 – 
 (315)
 – 
 (22)
 2,740 
 920
 $   1,820 
 $   1,479 

 85

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income

Revenues
Operating Expenses:
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Purchased transportation
  Rentals and landing fees
  Depreciation and amortization
  Fuel
  Maintenance and repairs
  Impairment and other charges
  Retirement plans mark-to-market adjustment
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other

Operating Income
Other Income (Expense):
  Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  Interest, net
  Intercompany charges, net
  Other, net
Income Before Income Taxes
  Provision for income taxes
Net Income
Comprehensive Income

Year Ended May 31, 2015

Parent
$        –

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
  $ 39,420

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
 $ 8,414

Eliminations
 $    (381)

Consolidated
 $ 47,453

 106
–
 5 
 1 
–
 1 
–
–
 (450)
 337 
–
–

 1,050 
 (247)
 253 
 (6)
 1,050
–
 $ 1,050
 $ 1,053

 14,626 
 5,802 
 2,322 
 2,370 
 3,632 
 1,949 
 276 
 2,075 
117
 4,946 
 38,115 
 1,305

 337 
 23 
 (265)
 (32)
 1,368
390
$      978 
$      929

 2,378 
 2,878 
 360 
 240 
 88 
 149 
–
 115 
 333 
 1,311 
 7,852 
562

–
 3 
 12 
 19 
596
187
$    409
$    121

 – 
 (197)
 (5)
–
–
–
–
–
–
 (179)
 (381)
–

 (1,387)
–
–
–
 (1,387)
–
 $ (1,387)
 $ (1,387)

 17,110 
 8,483 
 2,682 
 2,611 
 3,720 
 2,099 
 276 
 2,190 
 – 
 6,415 
 45,586 
 1,867

 – 
 (221)
– 
 (19)
 1,627 
 577
 $   1,050 
 $      716 

84

 85

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCondensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investing activities
  Capital expenditures
  Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Financing activities
  Net transfers from (to) Parent
  Payment on loan between subsidiaries
  Intercompany dividends
  Principal payments on debt
  Proceeds from debt issuance
  Proceeds from stock issuances
  Dividends paid
  Purchase of treasury stock
  Other, net
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Year Ended May 31, 2017

Parent
$ (1,155)

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$ 5,254

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$    835

Eliminations
$   (4)

Consolidated
$ 4,930

—
34
34

421
41
—
—
1,190
337
(426)
(509)
(12)
1,042
(11)
(90)
1,974
$  1,884

(4,694)
25
(4,669)

(518)
(15)
1
(55)
–
–
–
–
(13)
(600)
14
(1)
326
$     325

(422)
76
(346)

97
(26)
(1)
(27)
–
–
–
–
43
86
(45)
530
1,277
$ 1,807

–
 –
–

 –
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(4)
(43)
$ (47)

(5,116)
135
(4,981)

–
–
–
(82)
1,190
337
(426)
(509)
18
528
(42)
435
3,534
$ 3,969

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investing activities
  Capital expenditures
  Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
  Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
Cash used in investing activities
Financing activities
  Net transfers from (to) Parent
  Payment on loan between subsidiaries
  Intercompany dividends
  Principal payments on debt
  Proceeds from debt issuance
  Proceeds from stock issuances
  Dividends paid
  Purchase of treasury stock
  Other, net
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Year Ended May 31, 2016

Parent
$    (831)

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$  5,932

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$   572

Eliminations
$   35

Consolidated
$  5,708

–
–
(55)
(55)

1,629
(4,805)
–
–
6,519
183
(277)
(2,722)
(51)
476
1
(409)
2,383
$  1,974

(4,617)
–
33
(4,584)

(1,549)
109
20
(19)
–
–
–
–
(48)
(1,487)
(22)
(161)
487
$     326

(201)
(4,618)
12
(4,807)

(80)
4,696
(20)
(22)
–
–
–
–
48
4,622
(81)
306
971
$ 1,277

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
–
 – 
 – 
–
 – 
 – 
–
 – 
 – 
 – 
 35 
 (78)
$  (43)

(4,818)
(4,618)
(10)
(9,446)

–
–
–
(41)
6,519
183
(277)
(2,722)
(51)
3,611
(102)
(229)
3,763
$  3,534

86

 87

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investing activities
  Capital expenditures
  Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
  Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
Cash used in investing activities
Financing activities
  Net transfers from (to) Parent
  Payment on loan between subsidiaries
  Intercompany dividends
  Principal payments on debt
  Proceeds from debt issuance
  Proceeds from stock issuances
  Dividends paid
  Purchase of treasury stock
  Other, net
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Parent
$   (727 )

 (1)
  (1,429 )
 – 
 (1,430)

 1,431 
–
–
–
 2,491 
 320 
 (227)
 (1,254)
 24
 2,785 
 (1 )
627 
 1,756 
$  2,383  

Year Ended May 31, 2015

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries
 $ 5,446  

Non-guarantor 
Subsidiaries
$  575  

Eliminations
$   72

Consolidated
 $   5,366  

 (4,139)
–
 42 
 (4,097)

 (1,502)
 267 
 68 
 (1)
–
–
–
–
 (105)
 (1,273)
 (30)
 46  
  441  
$     487  

 (207)
– 
 (18 )
 (225)

 71 
 (267)
 (68)
 (4)
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 105 
 (163)
 (77 )
 110  
 861  
$  971  

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
–
 – 
 – 
–
 – 
 – 
–
 – 
 – 
 – 
72
 (150)
$  (78)

 (4,347)
 (1,429)
 24 
 (5,752)

 – 
 – 
 – 
 (5)
 2,491 
 320 
 (227)
 (1,254)
 24
 1,349 
(108)
855 
 2,908 
 $   3,763  

86

 87

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders  
FedEx Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FedEx Corporation as of May 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated 
statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ investment and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 
May 31, 2017. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on  
these financial statements based on our audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards 
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material  
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An  
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall 
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of FedEx 
Corporation at May 31, 2017 and 2016, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period 
ended May 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), FedEx Corporation’s 
internal control over financial reporting as of May 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by  
the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated July 17, 2017 expressed an 
unqualified opinion thereon. 

Memphis, Tennessee 
July 17, 2017

88
88

 89

 89

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth (in millions, except per share amounts and other operating data) certain selected consolidated financial and 
operating data for FedEx as of and for the five years ended May 31, 2017. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated 
Financial Statements, MD&A and other financial data appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.  

Operating Results
Revenues
Operating income
Income before income taxes
Net income

Per Share Data
Earnings per share:
  Basic
  Diluted
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
Cash dividends declared

Financial Position
Property and equipment, net
Total assets(7)
Long-term debt, less current portion(7)
Common stockholders’ investment

2017(1)(2)(3)

2016(2)(4)

2015(2)(5)

2014(2)

2013(2)(6)

$ 60,319
5,037
4,579
2,997

$   11.24
$   11.07
266
270
$     1.60

$ 25,981
48,552
14,909
16,073

$ 50,365  
 3,077  
 2,740  
 1,820  

 $     6.59 
 $     6.51 
276
279
$     1.00

$ 24,284 
 45,959  
 13,733  
 13,784  

$ 47,453  
 1,867 
 1,627 
 1,050 

 $     3.70 
 $     3.65 
283
287
$     0.80

$ 20,875 
 36,469 
 7,187 
 14,993 

$ 45,567  
 3,815 
 3,658 
 2,324 

$ 44,287 
 4,434 
 4,338 
 2,716 

 $     7.56 
 $     7.48 
307
310
$     0.60

$ 19,550 
 33,032 
 4,698 
 15,277 

 $     8.61 
 $     8.55 
315
317
$     0.56

$ 18,484 
 33,545 
 2,717 
 17,398 

Other Operating Data
647
FedEx Express aircraft fleet
(1)  Results for 2017 include TNT Express integration expenses and restructuring charges of $327 million ($245 million, net of tax, or $0.91 per diluted share) and increased intangible asset amorti-

657

643

647

650

zation of $74 million ($57 million, net of tax, or $0.21 per diluted share) as a result of the TNT Express acquisition. These expenses are included in “Eliminations, corporate and other,” the FedEx 
Express segment and the TNT Express segment.

(2)  Results include mark-to-market gains of $24 million ($6 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per diluted share) in 2017 and $1.4 billion ($835 million, net of tax, or $2.63 per diluted share) in 2013 and 

losses of $1.5 billion ($946 million, net of tax, or $3.39 per diluted share) in 2016, $2.2 billion ($1.4 billion, net of tax, or $4.81 per diluted share) in 2015 and $15 million ($9 million, net of tax, or 
$0.03 per diluted share) in 2014. See Note 1 and Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information. 

(3)  Results for 2017 include charges for legal reserves related to certain pending CBP matters involving FedEx Trade Networks for $39 million ($24 million, net of tax, or $0.09 per diluted share) 

and the settlement of and certain expected losses relating to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground in the amount of $22 million ($13 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted 
share). See Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information.

(4)  Results for 2016 include provisions related to independent contractor litigation matters at FedEx Ground for $256 million, net of recognized immaterial insurance recovery ($158 million, net of 
tax, or $0.57 per diluted share), and expenses related to the settlement of a CBP notice of action in the amount of $69 million, net of recognized immaterial insurance recovery ($43 million, net 
of tax, or $0.15 per diluted share). Total transaction, financing and integration-planning expenses related to our TNT Express acquisition, as well as TNT Express’s immaterial financial results 
from the time of acquisition, were $132 million ($125 million, net of tax, or $0.45 per diluted share) during 2016. In addition, 2016 results include a $76 million ($0.27 per diluted share)  
favorable tax impact from an internal corporate legal entity restructuring to facilitate the integration of FedEx Express and TNT Express. 

(5)  Results for 2015 include impairment and related charges of $276 million ($175 million, net of tax, or $0.61 per diluted share) resulting from the decision to permanently retire and adjust the 
retirement schedule of certain aircraft and related engines. See Note 1 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Additionally, results for 2015 include a charge of $197 million 
($133 million, net of tax, or $0.46 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter to increase the legal reserve associated with the settlement of a legal matter at FedEx Ground to the amount of the 
settlement. See Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information. 

(6)  Results for 2013 include $560 million ($353 million, net of tax, or $1.11 per diluted share) of business realignment costs and a $100 million ($63 million, net of tax, or $0.20 per diluted share) 

impairment charge resulting from the decision to retire 10 aircraft and related engines at FedEx Express. 

(7)  Includes adjustments in 2013 through 2016 related to our adoption of an accounting standard that requires us to classify debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability as a direct 

deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, rather than as an asset.

88

88

 89
 89

FEDEX CORPORATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS

James L. Barksdale(3*)(4)
Chairman and President
Barksdale Management Corporation
Investment management company

John A. Edwardson(1*)
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CDW Corporation
Technology products and services company

Marvin R. Ellison(2)(3)(4) 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
Apparel and home furnishings retailer

John C. (“Chris”) Inglis(2)(3)(4) 
Professor 
U.S. Naval Academy

Kimberly A. Jabal(1)(3) 
Chief Financial Officer 
Weebly, Inc.
Small business software company

Shirley Ann Jackson(1)(2)(4)
President
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Technological research university

(1)  Audit Committee
(2)  Compensation Committee
(3)  Information Technology Oversight Committee
(4)  Nominating & Governance Committee
(5)  Lead Independent Director
 *  Committee Chair

R. Brad Martin(1)(4)
Chairman 
RBM Venture Company
Private investment company

Joshua Cooper Ramo(1)(3)
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer 
Kissinger Associates, Inc.
Strategic advisory firm

Susan C. Schwab(2)(3)
Professor
University of Maryland
School of Public Policy

Frederick W. Smith
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Corporation

David P. Steiner(4*)(5)
Former Chief Executive Officer
Waste Management, Inc.
Integrated waste management services company

Paul S. Walsh(2*)
Chairman
Compass Group PLC
Food service and support services company

90

 91

FEDEX CORPORATIONEXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

FedEx Corporation 
Frederick W. Smith
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

David J. Bronczek
President and Chief Operating Officer

Christine P. Richards
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Donald F. Colleran
Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer

Alan B. Graf, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Rajesh Subramaniam
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Robert B. Carter
Executive Vice President,  
FedEx Information Services and Chief Information Officer 

John L. Merino
Corporate Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer

FedEx Express Group
David L. Cunningham, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer 
FedEx Express

FedEx Ground Segment
Henry J. Maier
President and Chief Executive Officer 
FedEx Ground

Elise L. Jordan
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
FedEx Express

Ward B. Strang
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
FedEx Ground

Gregory F. Hall
Executive Vice President, Air Operations
FedEx Express

Michael K. Pigors
Regional President and Executive Vice President,
U.S. Domestic and U.S. International 
FedEx Express

David Binks
Regional President, Europe and
Chief Executive Officer, TNT Express 
FedEx Express

Richard W. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Trade Networks

FedEx Freight Segment
Michael L. Ducker
President and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Freight

Virginia C. Addicott
President and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Custom Critical

Arthur F. Smuck III
President and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Supply Chain

FedEx Services Segment
Brian D. Philips
President and Chief Executive Officer
FedEx Office

90

 91

FEDEX CORPORATIONCORPORATE INFORMATION 

FEDEX CORPORATION: 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, 
Tennessee 38120, (901) 818-7500, fedex.com

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREOWNERS: Monday, September 25, 2017,  
8:00 a.m. local time, FedEx Express World Headquarters, 3670 Hacks 
Cross Road, Building G, Memphis, Tennessee 38125.

STOCK LISTING: FedEx Corporation’s common stock is listed on the 
New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDX.

SHAREOWNERS: As of July 13, 2017, there were 12,218  
shareowners of record.

MARKET INFORMATION: Following are high and low sale prices and 
cash dividends paid, by quarter, for FedEx Corporation’s common stock  
in 2017 and 2016:

First  
Quarter

Second  
Quarter

Third  
Quarter

Fourth  
Quarter

FY2017
High
Low
Dividend
FY2016
High
Low
Dividend

$ 169.57
145.00
0.40

$ 185.19
130.01
0.25

$ 192.58
158.20
0.40

$ 164.94
140.01
0.25

$ 201.57
183.87
0.40

$ 160.67
119.71
0.25

$ 199.17
182.89
0.40

$ 169.30
137.30
0.25

FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Copies of FedEx Corporation’s Annual 
Report on Form 10-K, other documents filed with or furnished to the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other financial and 
statistical information are available through the Investor Relations 
page of our website at http://investors.fedex.com. The information we 
post on our Investor Relations website could be deemed to be material 
information. We encourage investors, the media and others interested 
in FedEx to visit this website from time to time, as information is 
updated and new information is posted. Company documents filed 
with or furnished to the SEC can also be found on the SEC’s website 
at www.sec.gov. You will be mailed a copy of the Form 10-K upon 
request to: FedEx Corporation Investor Relations, 942 South Shady 
Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, (901) 818-7200,  
e-mail: ir@fedex.com.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM:  
Ernst & Young LLP, Memphis, Tennessee

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Call 1-800-Go-FedEx or visit fedex.com.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Jess Bunn, Manager, Investor Relations, FedEx 
Corporation, 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, 
(901) 818-7463, e-mail: mediarelations@fedex.com

SHAREOWNER ACCOUNT SERVICES: Computershare,  
PO BOX 505000, Louisville, Kentucky 40233-5000, (800) 446-2617,  
www.computershare.com

DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT: For 
information on the direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment  
plan for FedEx Corporation common stock, call Computershare at  
(800) 446-2617 or visit their direct stock purchase plan website at 
www.computershare.com. This plan provides an alternative to  
traditional retail brokerage methods of purchasing, holding and  
selling FedEx common stock. This plan also permits shareowners to 
automatically reinvest their dividends to purchase additional shares  
of FedEx common stock.

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Mickey Foster, Vice President, Investor 
Relations, FedEx Corporation, 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, 
Tennessee 38120, (901) 818-7200, e-mail: ir@fedex.com

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Our greatest asset is our 
people. We are committed to providing a workplace where our 
employees and contractors feel respected, satisfied and appreciated. 
Our policies are designed to promote fairness and respect for 
everyone. We hire, evaluate and promote employees, and engage 
contractors, based on their skills and performance. With this in mind, 
we will not tolerate certain behaviors. These include harassment, 
retaliation, violence, intimidation and discrimination of any kind 
involving race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual 
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, 
veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal,  
state or local law.

For more detail on the information in this report,  
visit http://investors.fedex.com.

Our latest Global Citizenship Report is available  
at http://csr.fedex.com.

In line with FedEx’s commitment to sustainability, our Annual Report was produced using 
environmentally and socially responsible procurement and manufacturing practices to ensure  
a minimized environmental impact. This report was printed at EarthColor on FSC® certified  
paper containing 10% recycled PCW fiber. Printing plant utilized 100% renewable wind power  
(RECs) and lean manufacturing principles, including green chemistry principles, the recycling of 
residual materials as well as the use of low VOC inks and coatings. In addition, carbon and VOC 
reduction strategies were employed to destroy residual VOCs via bio-oxidation. Carbon offsets  
were purchased where carbon could not be eliminated rendering this report carbon-balanced.

92

> 138 trees preserved for the future

> 62 million BTUs of energy conserved

> 5,994 kWh of electricity offset

> 11,950 pounds of greenhouse gas reduced

> 64,810 gallons of water waste eliminated

> 4,339 pounds of solid waste eliminated

Sources: Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Paper Network 
Paper Calculator and the U.S. EPA ‘s power profiler.

.
c
n

I

r
o

l

o
C
h
t
r
a
E

y
b

g
n

i
t
n

i
r
P

.

N
M

,
s
i
l
o
p
a
e
n
n
i
M

,
.
c
n
I

,
g
n
i
t
e
k
r
a
M
d
o
o
W

y
e
l
n
a
H
y
b

n
g
i
s
e
d

d
n
a

g
n
i
t
i
r

w

,
y
g
e
t
a
r
t
S

 PB

FEDEX CORPORATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY17 WAS A YEAR OF PLUSES

$60 billion

in revenue  

14 B767F aircraft  

added, replacing less 
efficient airplanes 

64 countries

with integrated  
FedEx and TNT 
operations 

$5 billion 

record operating 
profit 

10 million

square feet of 
FedEx Ground facility 
space added for the 
FY17 peak season

5%increase

in FedEx Ground 
revenue per package 

CNG can be used  
in place of diesel,  
burns more cleanly, 
and helps diversify  
our fuel supply.

FEDEX FREIGHT LAUNCHES NEW CNG FLEET

From electric delivery vans to more 
fuel-efficient aircraft, FedEx continually 
pursues innovations to reduce our 
environmental impact. FedEx Freight 
is driving one of our latest initiatives 
to explore alternative fuel sources: 
compressed natural gas (CNG).

CNG is a simple concept. It’s made 

by compressing natural gas to less 
than 1 percent of its normal volume. 
We’re excited about adding 100 CNG 

tractors to our fleet because CNG  
can be used in place of diesel but is  
generally cleaner and helps diversify 
the fuel supply. 

It takes special equipment to 
refuel with CNG, so we also installed 
a fueling station at our Oklahoma City 
Service Center. This investment  
demonstrates our commitment to  
connecting the world responsibly  
and resourcefully.

Why CNG?
> It’s cleaner. CNG burns more cleanly
than diesel fuel, producing lower
CO2 emissions.

> It’s homegrown. Almost all natural
gas used in the U.S. is produced
domestically.

> It can be renewable. Some natural

gas is generated by landfills.

F
E
D
E
X

C
O
R
P
O
R
A
T
I

O
N

A
N
N
U
A
L

R
E
P
O
R
T

2
0
1
7

FedEx Annual Report 2017

investment + integration + innovation

  ADDS UP TO ACCELERATED PERFORMANCE

INVESTING IN A BETTER WORLD

FedEx understands that how we connect the world matters. We invest in community programs that 
mirror our corporate priorities and improve lives around the world. Our EarthSmart® strategy helps us 
integrate innovative sustainable practices into the way we work and the services we offer customers. 
We hold ourselves accountable by setting ambitious global goals and monitoring our progress.*

GOAL  
30%

reduction in aircraft 
emissions intensity 
from a 2005  
baseline by 2020 

PROGRESS

 22%

reduction in 
aircraft emissions 
intensity from a 
2005 baseline

GOAL  
30%

of jet fuel obtained 
from alternative 
sources by 2030 

PROGRESS

 2019

is the anticipated  
first delivery of 
commercially  
viable and available 
alternative fuels

GOAL  
50%

increase in FedEx 
Express vehicle 
fuel efficiency from 
a 2005 baseline  
by 2025

PROGRESS

 35%

GOAL

Expand on-site  
energy generation 
and continue to 
procure renewable 
energy for facilities

PROGRESS

18

improvement from 
a 2005 baseline

on-site solar 
installations

GOAL  $200

million investment 
in 200 communities 
around the world 
by 2020

PROGRESS

 $46.21

million investment 
in 97 communities

*To learn more, read the 2017 Global Citizenship Report at csr.fedex.com

FEDEX CORPORATION

942 South Shady Grove Road
Memphis, TN 38120
fedex.com