The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) finished Friday’s session higher and then held onto most of those gains in extended trading, as investors digested a fresh Wall Street endorsement and a late-day regulatory headline tied to the 777 freighter line.
Boeing shares closed at $214.08 on Friday, Dec. 19, up 2.79%. In after-hours trading, BA was last indicated around $214.83 (+0.35%) as of 7:59 p.m. ET. [1]
Below is what moved Boeing stock after the bell on 12/19/2025, what today’s news flow means for the near-term setup, and the key items to keep on your radar heading into the next U.S. market session.
Boeing stock price check after the bell: where BA stands now
Here are the most important “closing bell” numbers for BA:
- Regular session close (Dec. 19): $214.08 (+2.79%) [2]
- After-hours (as of ~7:59 p.m. ET): $214.83 (+0.35%) [3]
- Intraday range (Dec. 19): roughly $209.27 to $215.98 [4]
- 52-week range:$128.88 to $242.69 [5]
MarketWatch data also showed BA around $214.70 in after-hours at 5:49 p.m. ET, with after-hours volume of ~3.07 million shares—a reminder that extended trading can have meaningful activity, but still behaves differently than the regular session. [6]
Why Boeing stock rose Friday: JPMorgan’s “top pick” call resets the narrative
The cleanest explanation for Friday’s move is simple: a major analyst reiterated confidence in Boeing’s recovery path.
Multiple reports tied BA’s rally to JPMorgan raising its Boeing price target to $245 from $240 while keeping an “Overweight” view and describing Boeing as a top pick. [7]
JPMorgan’s logic, as summarized in Reuters coverage, centered on:
- Years of production embedded in Boeing and Airbus backlogs
- Growing air traffic
- A global aircraft fleet that is ~2 years older than pre-pandemic, supportive of replacement demand [8]
The punchline from JPMorgan—also echoed in same-day market commentary—was blunt: the opportunity hinges on Boeing’s ability to build and deliver more aircraft. [9]
That message matters because it reframes Boeing’s story away from short-term headline risk and back toward execution: deliveries, production stability, and certification milestones.
The late headline investors are watching: Boeing asks FAA for a 777F emissions waiver
After the bell, Boeing also landed in the news for a separate reason—one that speaks directly to regulatory timelines and the widebody cargo market.
Reuters reported Friday that Boeing asked the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a waiver tied to airplane emissions rules that take effect in 2028, so Boeing can sell 35 additional 777F freighters while it waits for the next-generation freighter to arrive. [10]
Key points from Reuters’ report:
- Boeing said the 777-8 Freighter (expected to comply with the limits) won’t be ready until after 2028 due to certification timing. [11]
- Boeing said it is seeking FAA approval by May 1. [12]
- Boeing has stated the 777-9 is currently targeted for 2027, and the first 777-8F would be delivered roughly two years after the first 777-9 delivery. [13]
- Boeing argued the 777F is important to trade flows and emphasized the export value tied to each aircraft. [14]
Why this matters for BA stock: the 777F is one of Boeing’s most visible widebody programs in the cargo niche, and anything that affects production continuity or delivery windows can influence both revenue timing and investor confidence—especially while the company is trying to prove its manufacturing rhythm is durable.
Another Boeing-linked catalyst in today’s news: Pegasus’ $5.9B engine-and-maintenance deal for 737-10s
A second headline circulating in same-day stock-move explainers involved Pegasus Airlines and CFM International—but the implications touch Boeing’s 737-10 demand narrative.
Investing.com reported that Pegasus signed a supply and maintenance agreement with CFM for LEAP-1B engines to power up to 150 Boeing 737-10 aircraft, with potential payments up to $5.9 billion assuming maintenance services run the full term. [15]
The practical takeaway: while this is an engine-maker deal, it reinforces that airlines are still positioning for future MAX 10 fleets, even as investors remain focused on certification timelines and ramp capacity across Boeing’s narrowbody line.
Deliveries and production momentum: the “December push” is in focus
Boeing’s stock tends to trade on a few repeat drivers—deliveries, production rate, certification milestones, and regulatory posture. On that front, Friday also featured a data-driven reminder that deliveries remain the scoreboard.
Aviation Week reported that Boeing had delivered almost 540 aircraft by the end of November 2025, and suggested Boeing still has an outside shot at approaching ~650 deliveries for the year if December resembles historically strong year-end delivery months. [16]
This matters because it connects directly to the thesis JPMorgan highlighted: the market is rewarding evidence that Boeing can convert backlog into deliveries consistently, not just win orders.
Forecasts and analyst outlook: what Wall Street is pricing in now
Friday’s price action came with a clear message from analysts: expectations remain constructive—but not uniform.
Price targets skew higher, but the range is wide
- MarketWatch listed an average target price around $247.74 with an average recommendation of “Overweight” (30 ratings). [17]
- Investing.com’s snapshot showed an average target in the mid-$240s, with a high estimate near $285 and a low near $150. [18]
The spread between the low and high targets tells you what investors already know: Boeing is still an execution story, and analysts differ on how quickly the company can normalize production, cash flow, and margins.
Earnings expectations: investors are watching the next report
Zacks commentary syndicated by Finviz noted:
- Analysts expect Boeing’s upcoming earnings report to show EPS of -$0.43 on revenue around $21.81 billion (consensus figures cited in the article). [19]
- For the full year, Zacks consensus pointed to EPS of -$9.53 and revenue of $87.32 billion. [20]
Investing.com also listed Boeing’s next earnings date as Feb. 4, 2026. [21]
Market backdrop: Boeing helped lift the Dow as stocks ended higher
Friday’s move wasn’t happening in a vacuum. U.S. indexes ended higher, aided by strength in mega-cap and AI-linked names.
Zacks’ recap noted the S&P 500 gained 0.88%, the Dow rose 0.38%, and the Nasdaq added 1.31%. [22]
AP’s market summary reported similar closes (S&P +0.9%, Nasdaq +1.3%, Dow +0.4%). [23]
Because the Dow is price-weighted, Boeing’s rally also had an outsized “index math” impact. MarketWatch reported Boeing and Nvidia were among the biggest contributors to the Dow’s point gain during the session. [24]
What to know before the stock market opens tomorrow
One calendar note first: Dec. 20, 2025 is a Saturday, so U.S. equity markets won’t open tomorrow. The next regular NYSE session is Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Boeing’s investor site also notes that “for those dates that fall on a weekend no data is available,” consistent with the weekend market closure. [25]
With that in mind, here’s the practical checklist for BA investors heading into the next open:
1) Watch for follow-ups on the FAA 777F waiver request
Reuters’ report puts a new regulatory clock on the 777 freighter story (waiver sought; approval requested by May 1). Any weekend chatter—from regulators, lawmakers, or major cargo operators—can change sentiment quickly. [26]
2) Track certification and regulatory momentum across key programs
The market remains sensitive to Boeing’s relationship with regulators. Even if Friday’s catalyst was the 777F waiver headline, investors are still broadly focused on certification timelines and compliance posture.
A recent Reuters report said the FAA will review Boeing’s proposed cockpit alerting system for the 737 MAX 10, underscoring that certification workstreams remain active and scrutinized. [27]
3) Deliveries: any year-end “scoreboard” updates can move the stock
Aviation Week’s delivery math highlights why December is such a spotlight month for Boeing. If investors see evidence of a strong year-end delivery push—or, conversely, signs of bottlenecks—BA can react quickly. [28]
4) Analyst notes and price-target changes can keep driving flows
JPMorgan’s move mattered because it combined a target raise with a “top pick” framing and a broad, positive 2026 sector setup. Additional notes from other banks (upgrades, downgrades, target revisions) can create more momentum into Monday. [29]
5) Labor and integration headlines remain a stealth risk
Even when Boeing’s stock is trading on production optimism, labor/integration news can reintroduce uncertainty.
Reuters reported contract talks involving roughly 1,600 Spirit AeroSystems white-collar union members (post-acquisition) were paused until Jan. 5, with the union criticizing Boeing’s preparedness and Boeing calling the integration “highly complex.” [30]
The bottom line for Boeing stock after hours
Boeing’s Friday rally looks like a classic “analyst + execution narrative” move: JPMorgan reiterated Boeing as a top pick, raised its target, and emphasized the simple but difficult mandate—build and deliver more aircraft—while the broader market also finished higher. [31]
After the bell, Reuters’ 777F waiver story added a reminder that regulatory timelines still matter, especially for widebody programs tied to strict emissions and certification schedules. [32]
References
1. finance.yahoo.com, 2. finance.yahoo.com, 3. finance.yahoo.com, 4. www.investing.com, 5. www.investing.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. www.tradingview.com, 8. www.tradingview.com, 9. www.tradingview.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.investing.com, 16. aviationweek.com, 17. www.marketwatch.com, 18. www.investing.com, 19. finviz.com, 20. finviz.com, 21. www.investing.com, 22. finviz.com, 23. apnews.com, 24. www.marketwatch.com, 25. investors.boeing.com, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. aviationweek.com, 29. www.tradingview.com, 30. www.reuters.com, 31. www.tradingview.com, 32. www.reuters.com
