Boeing shares tumble after it releases cautious growth forecast

Boeing shares plummeted nearly 9% on Tuesday as the company's cautious growth forecast disappointed Wall Street analysts. Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg announced that Boeing does not anticipate 737 MAX production to reach 52 per month until the second half of 2027, starting with a stabilization at 47 per month. Investors viewed raising 737 MAX output as essential for revenue and profit growth, but Ortberg defended the approach, stating that progress was being made, though significant work remained to achieve stability.

She added that it's more crucial to execute the ramp-up correctly than to hit a specific production rate. Ortberg also provided a timeframe for the company to achieve $10 billion in annual free cash flow by 2029. Following the CEO's statement, shares continued to decline, indicating analysts expected a quicker turnaround. The CEO joined Boeing in August 2024 amid the aftermath of two deadly 737 MAX crashes and a near-fatal incident in January 2024.

While Ortberg highlighted recent certifications and a Pentagon award for the US Navy's next-generation fighter jets, she emphasized the supply chain's challenges and the discipline required in ramping up production. The CEO's comments came as Boeing reported a third-quarter loss of $116 million, compared to a loss of $5.3 billion in the same period the previous year, mainly due to delays in certifying the 777X.

Despite the earnings per share loss being larger than analysts anticipated, shares did not react significantly. Ortberg cited the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 certifications and the transformational Pentagon award as evidence of momentum, projecting deliveries between 10 and 15 aircraft next year.