** Parcel delivery company FedEx FDX.N said it was planning for $175 million in unexpected peak-season costs to find trucks and planes to move goods that would have flown on its MD-11 cargo plane fleet that was grounded after a deadly UPS crash last month
** Co reports fiscal second-quarter profit and revenue above analyst estimates on Thursday, lifting low end of full-year earnings outlook on peak-season pricing and cost-cutting efforts
** Shares fall 1.4% to $283 premarket
COST BUMP AHEAD
** J.P. Morgan ("neutral," PT: $294) expects FedEx’s stock to react neutrally to Q2 earnings beat and full-year guidance increase, as impact from retiring MD-11 aircraft will be felt more in Q3
** Morgan Stanley ("underweight," PT: $210) says new business wins in healthcare and auto drove nearly half of FedEx’s Q2 growth, offsetting international volume pressure and MD-11 drag
** TD Cowen ("buy," PT: $313) expects 2H margins to face pressure from MD-11 grounding costs
** Jefferies ("buy," PT: $326) sees well-defined cost headwinds in 2H, though argues Q2 is clear proof of what FDX can deliver once challenges pass
(Reporting by Akriti Shah in Bengaluru)
((akriti.shah@thomsonreuters.com))
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