NEW YORK — Friday, December 26, 2025 (3:15 p.m. ET) — In a thin, post‑Christmas trading session on Wall Street, The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is back in the spotlight as investors weigh a fresh geopolitical headline out of Beijing, the company’s newly completed Spirit AeroSystems acquisition, and the steady (but still closely regulated) push to ramp jet production. [1]
As of 3:15 p.m. ET, Boeing shares were trading at $216.31, down $1.85 (-0.85%) on the day.
The bigger market backdrop matters too. Major U.S. indexes were mixed to slightly lower in light volume after the Christmas holiday, with traders still eyeing year‑end positioning and seasonal patterns. [2]
Boeing stock price today: where BA trades in late‑afternoon action
Boeing’s intraday move on December 26 is modest versus its recent volatility, but the why behind the tape is important. In a market that’s “near all‑time highs” and trading with noticeably lower participation post‑holiday, single headlines can move large‑cap industrials more than usual—especially a Dow component like Boeing. [3]
The U.S. core NYSE trading session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, putting Boeing in the final stretch of regular trading at the time of writing. [4]
Why Boeing is in the headlines today: China sanctions tied to Taiwan arms sales
The day’s most immediate Boeing‑related news is geopolitical:
China’s foreign ministry announced sanctions targeting 10 individuals and 20 U.S. defense firms, including Boeing’s St. Louis branch, citing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Reuters reported that the measures include freezing any assets in China and barring domestic organizations and individuals in China from doing business with the sanctioned entities; individuals on the list were also banned from entering China. [5]
Reuters noted the move followed Washington’s announcement last week of $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, described as the largest U.S. weapons package for the island. [6]
What investors are watching now:
- Scope and practical impact. The headline targets Boeing’s St. Louis defense operations, but markets will be sensitive to any sign that U.S.–China tensions spill into commercial aerospace (orders, deliveries, certifications, or airline demand) even if today’s announcement is defense‑focused. [7]
- Follow‑on measures. In geopolitics, what matters is often what comes next: retaliatory steps, procurement restrictions, or broader policy moves.
Spirit AeroSystems acquisition is now closed—why that changes the Boeing story
Just weeks before today’s sanctions news, Boeing crossed a major operational milestone: on December 8, 2025, Boeing announced it completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR). Boeing framed the deal as a move to strengthen aviation safety and airplane quality while improving commercial production and supply‑chain stability. [8]
In its announcement, Boeing said the acquisition brings in Spirit’s Boeing‑related commercial operations, including 737 fuselages and major structures for the 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner, and adds Spirit’s aftermarket businesses—expanding Boeing Global Services’ footprint. Boeing also detailed the creation of “Spirit Defense” as a non‑integrated subsidiary to support defense customers, and said roughly 15,000 employees across multiple sites are becoming part of Boeing. [9]
The regulatory conditions investors should understand
The acquisition’s path wasn’t frictionless. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on December 3, 2025 that it would require Boeing to divest significant Spirit assets to address antitrust concerns tied to Boeing’s $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit. The FTC said those divestitures included:
- Spirit businesses supplying aerostructures to Airbus, to be divested to Airbus, and
- Spirit’s Subang, Malaysia aerostructures business, to be divested to Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM). [10]
Reuters also reported the deal structure and timing, noting Boeing expected to close by year‑end (which it ultimately did) and describing how the broader transaction value includes Airbus’ portion and other pieces. [11]
Why this matters for BA stock: Boeing investors have been laser‑focused on execution—not just demand. Bringing a critical supplier in‑house can reduce bottlenecks and quality escapes over time, but integration also introduces operational risk (process changes, workforce alignment, near‑term costs). The market’s long‑term reward depends on whether the acquisition translates into higher, more predictable deliveries and improved cash generation.
Delivery and production watch: 737 MAX rate, 787 ramp, and monthly deliveries
737 MAX: the production rate is rising, but the FAA remains the referee
One of the clearest stock drivers for Boeing is the pace of 737 MAX output. Reuters reported that the FAA approved Boeing to raise 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month, easing a 38‑plane cap that had been imposed after the January 2024 Alaska Airlines door‑plug incident. [12]
The key investor takeaway is straightforward: deliveries drive revenue, and deliveries drive cash—but Boeing’s production ramp is still occurring under heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Reuters also reported that Ryanair’s CEO told Reuters he was “fairly confident” Boeing would receive permission to move from 38 to 42, and that the airline was also confident about a subsequent step toward 48 per month around March/April (timing and approvals still subject to the FAA and execution realities). [13]
787 Dreamliner: Boeing is positioning for a widebody recovery
On the widebody side, Reuters reported Boeing began work on an expansion at North Charleston, South Carolina that is expected to allow Boeing to raise 787 output to 10 per month in 2026, from about seven currently, and noted Boeing’s stated $1 billion investment alongside a backlog of nearly 1,000 787s. [14]
November deliveries: the scoreboard still matters
The market also watches Boeing’s monthly deliveries as a near‑real‑time indicator of whether the turnaround is holding.
Reuters reported Boeing delivered 44 jets in November (down from 53 in October), while Airbus delivered 72. Reuters also reported that through November 30 Boeing delivered 537 jets and had an order backlog of 6,019 at month‑end. [15]
Free cash flow is the battleground metric for 2026
If there’s one phrase that keeps resurfacing in Boeing coverage, it’s free cash flow.
Reuters reported that Boeing CFO Jay Malave said Boeing expects positive cash flow in 2026, helped by higher deliveries of commercial jets, after an expected negative $2 billion cash outflow this year. Malave described expectations as “low single digits” of positive free cash flow (without giving a specific dollar figure), and said deliveries on both the 737 and the 787 are expected to grow. [16]
For equity investors, this matters because sustained positive free cash flow can:
- Reduce pressure from a debt‑heavy balance sheet,
- Expand strategic flexibility (capex, supplier investments), and
- Improve valuation resilience if the broader market corrects.
Regulatory and program risks: MAX 10 alerts, MAX 7 timing, 777X delays, and 777F emissions waiver
Boeing’s upside case (ramp deliveries, stabilize quality, generate cash) still sits alongside a risk stack that can interrupt momentum.
MAX 10: FAA review of cockpit alerting changes
Reuters reported the FAA will review Boeing’s proposed enhanced flight crew alerting system for the 737 MAX 10, including a synthetic enhanced angle‑of‑attack system and a way to shut off certain alerts. The report also pointed back to the 2022 congressional waiver tied to cockpit alert standards and the requirement to retrofit safety enhancements after MAX 10 certification. [17]
The same Reuters report noted Southwest’s CEO told Reuters he expects the MAX 7 to be certified by August 2026, with the carrier expecting to start flying it in Q1 2027. [18]
777X: delayed to 2027 with another major charge
On October 29, Reuters reported Boeing pushed first delivery of the 777X to 2027 and took a roughly $5 billion charge, adding to a long list of costs and delays on the program. Reuters also quoted AeroDynamic Advisory’s Richard Aboulafia, who said the size of the charge raised questions about whether there could be “more surprises.” [19]
Reuters separately reported RBC Capital Markets analyst Ken Herbert told investors he expected 777X deliveries to start in the second half of 2027. [20]
777F freighter: Boeing seeks an FAA emissions waiver
In a related widebody/freighter development, Reuters reported Boeing asked the FAA for a waiver of airplane emissions rules to allow sales of 35 additional 777F freighters, pointing to strong demand and a delay in certification timing for its next‑generation freighter. Reuters reported the emissions rules take effect in 2028, and that Boeing said the next‑generation 777‑8 Freighter will not be ready until after that date. [21]
Defense and Space: Pentagon order adds to the backlog narrative
Boeing’s defense business can be lumpy quarter‑to‑quarter, but it still contributes meaningful revenue and helps diversify the company beyond airline cycles.
Reuters reported the Pentagon awarded Boeing a $2 billion order related to the B‑52 commercial engine replacement program. [22]
That defense exposure is also why the China sanctions headline matters even if it’s targeted: it keeps attention on cross‑border policy risk around defense primes and suppliers. [23]
Analyst forecasts and price targets: what Wall Street is modeling for BA
Forecasts vary, but recent analyst notes highlight a market that increasingly sees Boeing as a turnaround—with execution and certification as the gating factors.
- Citi coverage initiation: TipRanks/TheFly reported Citi initiated Boeing with a Buy rating and a $265 price target, calling Boeing an “unusually attractive mega‑cap turnaround” story and pointing to broader aerospace/defense “megatrends.” [24]
- JPMorgan target raise: MarketBeat reported Boeing shares rose intraday on December 19 after JPMorgan raised its price target to $245 and maintained an overweight rating. [25]
- Consensus snapshot: The same MarketBeat report listed a MarketBeat consensus of “Moderate Buy” with a consensus target price of $233.17, reflecting a mix of buy/hold/sell views. [26]
How to read these targets as an investor: price targets are less useful as “where the stock will be,” and more useful as a window into what assumptions analysts are making about (1) delivery rates, (2) pricing, (3) costs/rework, and (4) the timing of cash‑flow inflection.
The long-term demand backdrop: Boeing’s own 20‑year outlook
Even as the stock reacts to daily headlines, Boeing’s equity story is ultimately anchored to long‑cycle aviation demand.
Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook 2025–2044 projects that passenger traffic is expected to more than double over the next 20 years, outpacing global economic growth, and that the global fleet will nearly double as airlines add capacity and replace older aircraft. [27]
Investors generally treat OEM long‑range outlooks as directional (not gospel), but they can help explain why the market continues to value aerospace capacity despite the sector’s execution risks.
What investors should watch into the close—and before the next session
Because markets are open right now and the NYSE core session ends at 4:00 p.m. ET, the “next session” risk checklist is really an into‑the‑close / into Monday checklist. [28]
1) Geopolitical headline risk over the weekend
China’s sanctions announcement is fresh, and weekend follow‑ups (clarifications, additional measures, responses from U.S. officials or companies) can shift sentiment before the next open. [29]
2) Any Spirit integration updates
The Spirit acquisition is now closed; investors will be watching for updates on:
- Quality metrics and rework trends,
- Supply continuity at key sites, and
- Whether integration improves delivery cadence over the next several months. [30]
3) Delivery cadence and production rate commentary
Boeing’s monthly deliveries and any credible signals about production stability (especially around the 42/month 737 MAX rate) tend to be market‑moving. [31]
4) Certification headlines: MAX 10 and MAX 7
Any FAA news—especially around the MAX 10 alerting system review or MAX 7/10 timelines—can quickly change risk appetite for BA. [32]
5) “Cash flow in 2026” becomes the central narrative
Expect investors to keep pressure on every datapoint that supports (or undermines) Boeing’s stated expectation for positive free cash flow in 2026. [33]
Bottom line for Boeing (BA) stock right now
In late‑day trading on December 26, Boeing stock is modestly lower—but the underlying debate is anything but small.
Bulls are leaning on a familiar turnaround framework: production stabilizes, deliveries rise, Spirit integration reduces supply‑chain friction, and 2026 marks a return to positive free cash flow. [34]
Bears (or cautious holders) are focused on what could derail that path: regulatory hurdles for MAX variants, the still‑delayed 777X, and geopolitical or policy shocks that complicate demand, deliveries, or costs. [35]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.nyse.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. investors.boeing.com, 9. investors.boeing.com, 10. www.ftc.gov, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.reuters.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.tipranks.com, 25. www.marketbeat.com, 26. www.marketbeat.com, 27. www.boeing.com, 28. www.nyse.com, 29. www.reuters.com, 30. investors.boeing.com, 31. www.reuters.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. www.reuters.com, 34. www.reuters.com, 35. www.reuters.com
