New York, Jan 18, 2026, 5:25 PM EST — The market has closed.
- Boeing shares closed Friday nearly unchanged, finishing at $247.68.
- Investors are keeping an eye on a union vote set for Jan. 30 involving former Spirit AeroSystems employees.
- Boeing will release its quarterly earnings on Jan. 27, following a holiday-shortened week.
Boeing shares slipped 0.02%, ending Friday at $247.68, as investors braced for the long weekend with ongoing labor negotiations and legal risks still looming.
U.S. stock markets remain closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with trading set to resume Tuesday.
This is critical for Boeing, with several key dates clustered tightly. The planemaker will release its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 27, followed just days later by a union ratification deadline for workers added after the Spirit AeroSystems acquisition.
Late last week, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace announced a tentative contract with Boeing for roughly 1,600 white-collar workers in Wichita, Kansas, previously linked to Spirit. Union representative James Hatfield described the deal as delivering “better medical benefits, better dental benefits, more vacation time and a decent set of salary pools for raises.” Reuters
Boeing pushed for approval. “We’re pleased the union’s bargaining committee has fully endorsed our Best and Final Offer,” a company spokesperson said, urging employees to vote “yes.” Reuters
The union announced that members have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 30 to cast their votes, just before the current contract expires on Jan. 31. If approved, workers would receive a one-time “ratification bonus.” Boeing’s offer includes a $6,000 ratification bonus and a 10% 401(k) match beginning in 2027, according to the union. Reuters
Boeing has struck tentative settlements in lawsuits connected to the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash, Reuters reported, just as jury selection was getting underway in federal court in Chicago. The company said it has already settled over 90% of the civil cases linked to the two MAX crashes.
Regulators continue to pose headline risks. The FAA announced a proposed airworthiness directive targeting specific 737 models, prompted by reports of pitch oscillations tied to excessive horizontal stabilizer freeplay. Stakeholders have until Feb. 23 to submit comments. (An airworthiness directive is an FAA order that can mandate inspections or repairs.)
Boeing’s stock slipped on Friday, trailing behind other aerospace and defense players. RTX and TransDigm both climbed, even as the overall market showed little direction.
The risk for bulls is clear: workers might reject the deal, forcing Boeing back to negotiations with the Jan. 31 contract deadline looming. On top of that, any new legal or safety issues could quickly clamp down on the stock’s momentum.
Traders return Tuesday to a holiday-shortened week, eyeing Boeing’s Jan. 27 earnings and outlook call as the next key event. The Spirit-related union vote deadline looms shortly after, on Jan. 30.
