
NYSE:BA
BA is still down from its high pre-2019. BA of course experienced a significant headwind in the last few years caused by airline crashes and review of the MAX. BA’s sales recently just reached back to 2019 levels, but BA is still experiencing negative operating losses. The balance sheet has $39B in net debt. Total debt is around 4.2x times the trailing twelve-month cash flow of $9.2B. The company is still on its way to recovery, sales and bookings have accelerated into double-digit growth in recent quarters. The company expects to generate $3.0-$5.0B in free cash flow in 2023. Based on consensus estimates, EBIT is not expected to come back to 2018’s level until 2024. We are generally not a huge fan of turnaround stories, however, we think BA could have potential here. The stock is showing good momentum, and could benefit from lower interest rates (if and when) as well as a lower US dollar. We would be OK with a slow accumulation, keeping a position size small while it further builds on its operational recovery.
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Up 73% from the September lows because of delivering more planes. They just announced production delays, which will hurt free cash flow, because the effected 737 Max is 60% of free cash flow, a near-term issue. Not a safety issue, but a supply one. They enjoy a duopoly with Airbus and have a large backlog of orders. A volatile stock, but stick with it. An opportunity lies ahead.
They take two steps forward, and one step back, and this announcement is a doozy--shares are down 20% in the last two months. Boeing insists this is not a safety issue, so he reckons it is a manufacturing issue, but it will get solved. He trusts Boeing management; the CEO has pulled things around. Their cash flow is cleaning up their balance sheet.