FEDEX UPBEAT ON 3RD-QUARTER OUTLOOK

FEDEX UPBEAT ON 3RD-QUARTER OUTLOOK    FedEx Corp. said Monday its earnings for its fiscal third quarter ending Feb. 24 are expected to be at the top or slightly better than the previously established range of 25 to 35 cents per diluted share.
   The Memphis-based integrator also reaffirmed its fourth quarter earnings guidance of 70 to 80 cents per diluted share.
   'Strong revenue and profit growth at FedEx Ground and continued focus on costs at FedEx Express will improve our profitability this quarter,' said Alan B. Graf Jr., executive vice president and chief financial officer.
   FedEx projects growth of its FedEx Ground package volume at 20 percent for the quarter, and yields should increase by 5 percent. The company also expects additional interest in its FedEx Home Delivery product from the business-to-business market, with the recent expansion of the unit's network to 90 percent of the U.S. population.
   FedEx also said additional traffic from its alliance with the U.S. Postal Service for Priority Mail shipments should offset softness in the express package business.