FedEx is often considered a bellwether for the U.S. economy, along with its main rival United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N). FedEx and companies in the industrial sector faced the brunt of trade tensions on Tuesday after China vowed to retaliate against U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods.
"I have never been so optimistic and so sure of our strategy and our ability to deliver an exciting future," FedEx Chief Executive Frederick Smith said on a conference call.
He spoke after the company reported a fourth-quarter profit, excluding items, of $5.91 per share - 20 cents per share better than analysts' average estimate, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue matched Wall Street's target, rising 10.2 percent to $17.3 billion.