Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Boeing tops Q4 expectations but offers no 2024 guidance

(Sharecast News) - Troubled aerospace giant Boeing topped market expectations on fourth quarter losses on Wednesday, but declined to offer guidance for 2024 as it grappled with safety issues with its 737 MAX-9 narrowbody. The company reported a quarterly loss per share of 47 cents, surpassing the expected 78 cents loss.

Revenue also exceeded estimates, totalling $22.02bn, compared to the expected $21.1bn.

In the fourth quarter, Boeing delivered 157 commercial aeroplanes and recorded 611 net orders.

The production rate for the 787 stood at five per month, while the 737 production rate reached 38 per month.

It generated $3.4bn in operating cash flow in the period, and $3bn in free cash flow on a non-GAAP basis.

For the full year, Boeing delivered 528 commercial aircraft and recorded 1,576 net orders, leading to a substantial total company backlog of $520bn, including over 5,600 commercial aircraft.

The company's operating cash flow for the year amounted to $6bn, with free cash flow of $4.4bn.

Despite the positive figures, Boeing remained cautious due to the ongoing 737 MAX 9 crisis.

The company did not provide a 2024 outlook, following an incident where a fuselage panel blew out mid-flight on a near-new 737 MAX 9 on 5 January.

Chief executive officer Dave Calhoun emphasised that the current priority was addressing quality and safety issues, particularly regarding the 737 MAX.

"While we often use this time of year to share or update our financial and operational objectives, now is not the time for that," he said.

Calhoun expressed a commitment to supporting customers, working transparently with regulators, and ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality.

Federal investigators in the US were currently examining the circumstances surrounding the 737 MAX 9 incident.

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had cleared the MAX 9 to fly again, it halted Boeing's planned production ramp-up, which aimed to reach about 50 MAX planes per month by 2025 or 2026.

At 1024 EST (1524 GMT), shares in the Boeing Company were up 3.4% on the New York Stock Exchange, at $207.26.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

ECR Minerals mulls expansion into US helium market
(Sharecast News) - ECR Minerals, an exploration and development company traditionally focused on gold in Australia, announced on Friday that its board was exploring potential investments in producing helium assets in the United States.
Zenova reports solid momentum as interim loss narrows
(Sharecast News) - Fire safety and heat management technology specialist Zenova Group reported significant first-half strides in its interim results on Friday, despite a challenging financial backdrop.
Jefferies lowers target price on Life Science REIT
(Sharecast News) - Jefferies cut its price target on real estate investment trust Life Sciences REIT from 45.0p to 36.0p following a visit to the group's Cambourne Science & Technology Park.
Beowulf reports substantial first-half progress
(Sharecast News) - Mineral explorer and developer Beowulf Mining reported substantial progress across its portfolio in its interim results on Friday, particularly in advancing its key projects at Gállok in Sweden and the Graphite Anode Materials Plant (GAMP) in Finland.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.