J.P. Morgan downgrades Fedex, freight stocks under pressure

FedEx Downgrade & Freight Division Weakness - JP Morgan downgrades FedEx shares to neutral, citing weakness in its freight division [1] - Analysts suggest the freight division's weakness could challenge FedEx's full-year EPS guidance and the planned spin-off of FedEx Freight in June [1] Freight Recession & Industry-Wide Impact - A freight recession is weighing on the entire sector, leading to price target cuts for major players like XPO, Old Dominion, JB Hunt, and Knight Swift [2] - Channel checks indicate price discipline across the industry is weakening, impacting multiples until volume improves [3] - Container shipping on rails is down 1% year-over-year in September, a potential indicator of a broader freight environment slowdown [3] Manufacturing Contraction & Tariffs - The manufacturing sector is contracting, with the ISM below 50 for most of the year, impacting high-margin freight [4][5] - Tariffs are weighing on the manufacturing sector and CEO confidence [5] - New truck tariffs taking effect on November 1st could raise expenses and pressure margins for the entire industry [6] Capacity & Competition - Increased capacity is weighing on pricing in the freight sector, with orders for new tractor trailers jumping double digits year-over-year and month-over-month [5] - FedEx and UPS are facing increased competition in the parcel business from smaller players [7][8]