FedEx Corporation
Explore FedEx
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
FedEx Corporation
Explore FedEx
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
Company History
Founded 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee
Frederick W. Smith developed the core idea for an overnight delivery network while studying at Yale, then founded Federal Express in 1971. The company moved operations to Memphis and launched commercial service in April 1973, creating a new express-delivery category.
Smith founded Federal Express in 1971, began commercial operations in 1973, and led the company for decades as it built a global express and logistics network.
Frederick W. Smith incorporates Federal Express Corporation and begins building an overnight air-delivery network.
Federal Express begins commercial service from Memphis using a hub-and-spoke overnight model.
The company completes its initial public offering to finance network expansion.
FedEx acquires Caliber System, adding the assets that become FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight.
FedEx acquires TNT Express to expand its European and international express network.
Raj Subramaniam succeeds Frederick W. Smith as CEO and leads FedEx's transformation program.
FedEx reports $94.720 billion in FY2026 revenue while continuing Network 2.0 and the FedEx Freight separation process.
FedEx acquired Caliber to expand beyond express delivery into ground parcel and freight.
FedEx acquired TNT to expand European and international express capabilities.
The company was founded as Federal Express Corporation in June 1971 in Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving its massive hub to Memphis, Tennessee.
It was founded by Frederick W. Smith, a highly legendary entrepreneur and former US Marine who served in the Vietnam War.
Yes. While at Yale University in 1965, Fred Smith wrote an economics paper proposing a massive 'hub-and-spoke' overnight delivery system. Legend states the professor gave him a 'C', calling the idea completely unfeasible. Smith used that exact paper to build a multi-billion dollar empire.
Yes. In 1973, the company was completely out of money and unable to buy jet fuel. Highly desperate, Smith took the company's last $5,000, flew to Las Vegas, and aggressively played blackjack. He won $27,000, which was exactly enough to buy fuel for the week and save the massive company from total bankruptcy.
In 1994, the company executed a massive corporate rebranding, officially shortening the name to 'FedEx'. The word had already become a massive cultural verb ('I'll FedEx it to you'), and the new logo brilliantly hid an arrow in the negative space between the 'E' and 'x'.