Boeing hopes for turnaround in 2021

Article Excerpt

BOEING CO. $229 remains a hold. The aircraft maker (New York symbol BA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 583.0 million; Market cap: $133.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend suspended in June 2020; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.boeing.com) has received approval from aviation regulators for modifications to its 737 Max jetliner. In 2019, regulators grounded the plane following crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Boeing’s software update lets pilots override the autopilot system and fly the 737 Max manually. It’s likely that problems with the autopilot software played a role in the two crashes. Due to COVID-19, the company delivered just 157 aircraft (including 43 737 Max planes) in the quarter ended December 31, 2020. That’s down 58.7% from 380 a year earlier. As a result, Boeing’s revenue in the quarter fell 24.0%, to $58.16 billion from $76.56 billion. If you factor out charges related to the 737 Max and other unusual items, the company’s losses worsened to $15.25 a share compared to $2.33. Boeing…