Core Insights - Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) and FedEx Corporation (FDX) have both increased their dividends this year, highlighting their commitment to shareholder returns despite economic uncertainty [1][3] Dividend Performance - EXPD raised its semi-annual dividend by 5.5%, increasing the payout from $0.73 to $0.77 per share, with a payout ratio of 25% and a five-year dividend growth rate of 7.4% [3] - FDX increased its quarterly cash dividend to $1.45 per share from $1.38, resulting in an annualized dividend of $5.80 compared to $5.52 [3] Price Performance Comparison - Over the past year, EXPD has outperformed FDX in stock performance, attributed to better handling of market volatility and geopolitical challenges [5] - FDX's weaker performance is linked to revenue pressures from geopolitical uncertainty and inflation, leading to lower package shipment volumes [5] - EXPD's stock performance is supported by a recovering airfreight environment, with a 4% year-over-year increase in tonnage in the September quarter [6] E-commerce Impact - The demand for intermodal services has increased due to the growing importance of e-commerce, which continues to support growth for companies like Expeditors despite a moderation from pandemic peaks [7] Earnings Surprise History - EXPD has consistently exceeded earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 13.9%, while FDX has beaten estimates in three of the last four quarters with a 5.7% average surprise [12] Valuation Comparison - EXPD trades at a forward sales multiple of 1.99X and has a Value Score of D, while FDX has a Value Score of A and trades at a lower forward sales multiple [11] Conclusion - EXPD's stronger share price performance and earnings track record suggest it is the more attractive investment option at present, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) compared to FDX's Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [14]

Core Insights - FedEx's revenue is expected to benefit from strong growth in higher-value B2B customers, with a significant shift in sales mix towards B2B in recent years [1] Group 1: Company Performance - In the last quarter, nearly half of FedEx's revenue came from B2B customers, indicating a successful transition in its sales strategy [1]

Core Insights - FedEx's revenue is expected to benefit from strong growth in higher-value B2B customers, with a significant shift in sales mix towards B2B in recent years [1] Group 1: Company Performance - In the last quarter, nearly half of FedEx's revenue came from B2B customers, indicating a successful transition in its sales strategy [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article provides an update on FedEx Corporation (FDX) following a previous downgrade to a hold rating due to less attractive risk-reward dynamics, emphasizing a fundamentals-based approach to value investing [1]. Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The company believes that low multiple stocks are not necessarily cheap and seeks firms that demonstrate long-term durability at affordable prices [1]. - There is a preference for companies with steady long-term growth, minimal cyclicality, and strong balance sheets [1]. - The article acknowledges the inherent risks in investing in successful companies, particularly the potential to overpay, highlighting the importance of valuation [1]. Group 2: Market Outlook - The company asserts that in certain situations, the potential for growth is so significant that immediate price considerations become less critical [1].

Core Insights - Deep-pocketed investors are showing a bullish sentiment towards FedEx, indicating potential significant developments ahead [1] - The options activity for FedEx is unusually high, with 45% of investors leaning bullish and 36% bearish [2] Options Activity - A total of 11 extraordinary options activities were recorded for FedEx, with notable put and call volumes [2] - The put options totaled $405,795 while call options amounted to $165,726, reflecting a mixed sentiment among investors [2] - Whales have targeted a price range for FedEx between $250.0 and $310.0 over the last three months based on volume and open interest [3] Volume & Open Interest Trends - Insights into volume and open interest are crucial for understanding liquidity and interest levels in FedEx's options [4] - A snapshot of trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts indicates significant trading activity within the $250.0 to $310.0 strike price range [4] Current Market Position - FedEx's Federal Express segment accounted for 86% of total revenue in fiscal 2025, with the remainder coming from FedEx Freight and other services [8] - Recent expert ratings suggest an average target price of $305.6 for FedEx, with various analysts maintaining differing ratings and target prices ranging from $210 to $345 [10][12]

Federal Holiday Overview - January 1, 2026, is a federal holiday in the United States, with federal government offices, courts, and most federal agencies closed, providing employees a paid day off [1][2] - Federal offices will resume operations on January 2, 2026, and the next federal holiday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day [1][2] Banking Sector - Most retail banks will be closed on New Year's Day 2026, following the Federal Reserve schedule, but digital banking, mobile apps, and ATMs will remain accessible [3] Stock Market Operations - The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and other major US markets will be closed on New Year's Day, with normal operations resuming on January 2, 2026 [4] - On December 31, 2025, the NYSE will operate normal hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, while bond markets will close at 2 p.m. [4] Postal and Delivery Services - The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not deliver regular mail or packages on New Year's Day [4] - UPS and FedEx stores will also be closed on this day [5] Courts and Government Offices - All federal courts, including US District and Appellate courts, will be closed, along with Social Security offices and most other federal agencies [6]

Core Insights - FedEx has experienced a significant stock recovery after a 25% drop in the first four months of 2025, with a strong comeback attributed to its June quarterly report highlighting savings from the DRIVE program [2] - The company achieved its fiscal 2025 DRIVE target of $2.2 billion and aims for permanent cost reductions of $1 billion in the current fiscal year through its DRIVE and Network 2.0 transformation programs [3] - Following the June report, FedEx has seen consistent growth in revenue, net income, and earnings per share, with a 6.84% year-over-year revenue growth reported for Q2 FY26, the highest since Q2 2022 [4] Spinoff Details - FedEx plans to spin off its freight division into an independent company named FedEx Freight, which is set to begin trading on the NYSE under the ticker FDXF on June 1 [6] - This spinoff is expected to enhance shareholder value by allowing FedEx to focus on its core parcel, ground, and express shipping services, while FedEx Freight will concentrate on trucking [8] - Investors will have the option to invest in either FedEx as a pure courier stock or in FedEx Freight for those interested in the freight sector [8]

OpenAI - OpenAI is attempting to raise $100 billion at a valuation of $830 billion, which is a significant increase from a previous valuation of $500 billion just weeks prior [2][4] - The debate around OpenAI's valuation reflects broader discussions about AI spending and the volatility in the shares of data center infrastructure providers like Oracle and CoreWeave, which have seen mixed performance this year [3] NIKE, Inc. - NIKE, Inc. reported $12.43 billion in revenue and $0.53 in earnings, surpassing analyst estimates of $12.22 billion and $0.38, but faced a 17% drop in Chinese revenue leading to a post-earnings share price decline [9][10] - Analysts have cut their price targets for NIKE, with UBS reducing it to $62 from $71, citing the need for the company to adjust its inventory and concerns about performance in China [10] - Cramer remains optimistic about NIKE's turnaround under CEO Elliott Hill, emphasizing the need to focus on the brand's core identity as a sports brand rather than a lifestyle brand [11][12][13] FedEx Corporation - FedEx Corporation reported $23.5 billion in revenue and $4.82 in earnings per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $22.8 billion and $4.12, leading to a positive outlook from analysts [9][14] - BMO Capital raised FedEx's share price target to $290 from $265 following the earnings report, reflecting confidence in the company's business-to-business strategy [14] - Cramer highlighted the importance of the business-to-business segment for FedEx, indicating that it is a more stable revenue source compared to business-to-consumer [14]

Group 1: First Solar and Clean Energy - First Solar is highlighted as a top pick by Mizuo, but the stock experienced a reversal, dropping 6% after previously being up due to a deal between Alphabet and Intersect Power, a customer of First Solar [1] Group 2: Live Nation and Concert Industry - Live Nation is considered a top pick at Evercore, with the belief that interest in concerts has intensified rather than waned, indicating a strong secular trend in the industry [2][3] Group 3: Estee Lauder and Cosmetics Market - Estee Lauder is viewed positively for its potential turnaround under new leadership, with expectations of recovery in the prestige makeup market in the US and China, alongside a margin rebuild plan [4][6] - The target price for Estee Lauder has been raised to $100, reflecting cautious optimism about its future performance [4][5] Group 4: FedEx and Logistics Sector - FedEx is noted for being one of the most inexpensive stocks in its coverage, with a turnaround underway, as evidenced by solid performance numbers [9][10] - The company is expected to spin off its troubled freight division into a separate publicly traded entity, which could unlock significant shareholder value [10][11]

Market Schedule - U.S. stock markets will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, and remain closed on Christmas Day, December 25 [9][21] - Bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve and will also be closed on December 25 [9][21] - Trading will resume as usual on Friday, December 26, 2025, with normal operating hours for both stock and bond markets [6][7][10] Holiday Impact on Trading - Financial markets typically experience lighter trading volumes during the final days of December, which can increase the risk of sharp price moves due to reduced liquidity [2] - The early closure schedule for Christmas and New Year's follows historical patterns as Wall Street adjusts operations around federal holidays [10][23] Banking and Government Operations - Major U.S. banks will operate on a limited schedule on Christmas Eve, typically from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will be fully closed on Christmas Day [16][22] - Federal government offices will be closed on both December 24 and December 25, providing employees with a four-day break [15][22] Mail and Delivery Services - Most mail and package delivery services will operate normally on Christmas Eve, with USPS and UPS providing regular service, while FedEx will have a modified schedule [11][12] - All major carriers will suspend regular operations on Christmas Day, with only limited services available for urgent shipments [12][22] Retail Operations - Major retail stores will have shortened hours on Christmas Eve and will be fully closed on Christmas Day [18][19] - Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target will operate on reduced hours, while supermarkets will also shorten their hours on Christmas Eve [19][20]