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Package delivery giant FedEx Corp reported a higher profit for its fiscal second quarter, meeting expectations, but announced a 20 percent pay cut for CEO Fred Smith and said it was suspending retirement plan contributions as the U.S. economy’s outlook looks bleak.

FedEx said it has a hiring freeze in place and has cut staff levels at its FedEx Freight and FedEx Office units.

FedEx said new measures include a 20 percent base salary decrease for Smith and pay cuts of between 7.5 and 10 percent for other senior executives as of January 1. All other U.S. salaried personnel will have a 5 percent pay cut.

According to a company filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in July, Smith’s base salary for the company’s fiscal 2009 year was set at around $1.48 million.

The company also announced the suspension of matching contributions to FedEx’s 401(k) retirement plan for a minimum of one year as of February 1.

FedEx said the cost-cutting measures would reduce expenses by $800 million by the end of its fiscal 2010 year.

“Our financial performance is increasingly being challenged by some of the worst economic conditions in the company’s 35-year operating history,” Smith said in a statement.

FedEx also gave a broad earnings outlook range for the second half of its fiscal 2009 year and said it would not provide an outlook for the third quarter because of “significant economic uncertainty faxless pay day loans.”

“It’s tough, but it’s a sign of the times,” Al Meyers, portfolio manager of the AHA Diversified Equity Fund, which owns FedEx shares, said of the pay cuts. “The fact that executives including Fred Smith are taking pay cuts sends a message to employees that ‘we’re all in the same boat,’ which is a positive.”

“As long as we have confidence in the management at FedEx and in the overall business model, we’ll stick with them,” he added.

The Memphis, Tennessee-based company, which like United Parcel Service Inc is considered a bellwether of U.S. economic health, reported that net income for its fiscal second quarter ended November 30 rose to $493 million, or $1.58 per share.

That compared with the $479 million, or $1.54 per share, the company reported a year earlier.

FedEx said falling fuel prices had lifted profits, which offset lower package volumes due to global economic weakness.

“I am very pleased with the results,” said Dan Ortwerth, a research analyst at Edward Jones. “FedEx is getting better and better at managing its cost structure.”

Edward Jones has a “buy” rating for both FedEx and UPS. 

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