The newly independent FedEx Freight Holding Co Inc (FDXF.US) is charting its future by targeting new business in sectors such as data center infrastructure, fresh groceries, and healthcare.

In the year leading up to its spin-off from the parcel delivery giant FedEx (FDX.US) earlier this month, the company has been assembling a dedicated sales team.

This team's mission is to capture business in historically less-tapped but high-margin market segments, according to CEO John Smith.

Smith stated in an interview on Thursday that the company is moving into a "hunting phase" to pursue these new opportunities, noting the specialized sales force as a key differentiator in its transition.

As the largest less-than-truckload (LTL) provider in North America, FedEx Freight focuses on shipments larger than parcels but smaller than full truckloads.

The company enters the market as the trucking industry seeks to capitalize on early signs of freight rate recovery following a prolonged downturn.

This challenging environment is compounded by inflationary pressures and higher oil prices stemming from the conflict in Iran.

The logistics sector also faces intensifying competition from Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.US), which recently announced an expansion of its freight services, causing a sharp decline in the stock prices of FedEx Freight and its LTL peers.

Smith's comments coincided with the company's first earnings report since becoming independent, released on Thursday.

The report showed fourth-quarter revenue reached $2.4 billion, a 4.8% year-over-year increase.

However, operating profit was $158 million, reflecting a steep 66.9% decline.

Adjusted operating profit came in at $363 million, down 23.9% from the prior year.

The operating profit margin was 6.6%, with an adjusted margin of 15.1%, compared to a 20.8% margin in the same quarter last year.

FedEx Freight did not report separate quarterly earnings per share (EPS).

The company stated it cannot predict mark-to-market (MTM) retirement plan accounting adjustments for the seven-month period ending December 31, 2026.

Consequently, it is unable to provide a GAAP-based EPS or effective tax rate (ETR) outlook for the transition period from June 1 to December 31, 2026.

For the seven-month period ending December 31, 2026, the company anticipates revenue growth of 4% to 6% compared to the $5.1 billion reported for the seven months ending December 31, 2025.

Adjusted EPS, which excludes costs related to the spin-off, is forecasted to be between $2.40 and $2.60.