Hope doesn't raise shareholder value or generate revenue, so FedEx has zero interest in providing it at the moment.
I recommend all FDX hopefuls read this years annual report to shareholders. Its a slick, well marketed document outlining financial performance last year. Some highpoints I noticed...
1.1 Billion contribution to pension fund. Thoughts I had were A-thank God I fly for a sound company and B-how bad off was our pension if they had to put that kind of money in?
FDX EXPRESS volumes are on an uptick, but lots of improvements in margins, etc due to COST CUTTING. MD10 expenses written off, some jets retired, and early retirements all points company made to indicate short term expenses to increase long term bottom line.
Company predicts slow growth in 2004, but ROI and margins to increase in 2005 due to cost cutting measures starting to pay off (plus hopefully increased business).
Company tries to stay lean historically, and if they think 2004 will be a "modest" year but 2005 a more successful one, then I think their long term model for hiring and fleet expansion would mirror those predictions. Does that mean I think they won't hire in 04? No--some in 04 but more in 05. I think the "wave" everyone predicts was based on past hiring trends, which was when company was still planning to expand for increased growth and revenues (and a brand new postal contract). It seems FDX planners now view the Express side (at least domestically) as a mature company with gains likely to come from efficiency and cost reductions. So...I predict some hiring but not the floodgates of the past when FDX had an upturn in the economy.
I'm just a fighter pilot...no MBA background...so I may be wrong. Read the report and see what you can translate.
Good luck to all.