New York, January 16, 2026, 13:31 EST — Regular session underway.
- Boeing shares slipped roughly 0.2% in early afternoon trading following a turbulent week of news.
- A union representing former Spirit AeroSystems white-collar workers in Wichita announced a tentative agreement with Boeing and called for its approval.
- The NTSB released new details on the fatal UPS MD-11 crash, while fresh settlements in 737 MAX lawsuits kept legal risks in the spotlight.
Boeing shares slipped 0.2% to $247.23 in early afternoon New York trading Friday, as investors digested cautious progress on a labor agreement linked to its Spirit AeroSystems acquisition and the latest developments from a federal crash investigation.
The market remains sharp on anything linked to Boeing’s production flow. Spirit’s Wichita plant supplies key structures to Boeing’s commercial assembly, and investors are closely monitoring whether the supplier’s reintegration will ease or disrupt output.
The legal drumbeat shows no sign of slowing. An NTSB update on a UPS cargo crash has reopened scrutiny of older Boeing guidance. Headlines like this can hit a stock hard, even if the incident itself isn’t fresh news.
A union representing roughly 1,600 former Spirit white-collar employees in Wichita said it has reached a tentative contract with Boeing and is urging members to approve it. The deal offers larger wage “pools” for raises, a $6,000 ratification bonus, and a 10% 401(k) match beginning in 2027, among other benefits, according to both the union and Boeing. Negotiation chair James Hatfield highlighted “better medical benefits, better dental benefits, more vacation time” as key parts of the package. 1
Boeing finalized its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit on Dec. 8, bringing a key wing-and-fuselage supplier back under its roof. The move aims to tackle quality issues and simplify oversight by cutting down on multiple handoffs. Reuters also reported that Airbus acquired some Spirit operations amid the wider supply chain shuffle. 2
The NTSB reported fatigue cracks in a support structure on the left pylon—the engine-mounting system—of a UPS MD-11 that crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 15. Boeing had issued a service letter in 2011 following previous failures and called for inspections but did not classify it as a “safety-of-flight” issue, the NTSB said. Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse warned that “if fatigue isn’t handled properly” it could become one. 3
Boeing took a step to close one persistent courtroom battle. The company reached tentative settlements with Manant Vaidya, a Canadian who lost six family members in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash, just after a jury was selected for a Chicago trial, Reuters reported. Boeing expressed it was “deeply sorry” for the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines tragedies and reiterated it has accepted legal responsibility in the civil cases. 4
Wall Street analysts doubled down on the recovery story. Bernstein’s Douglas Harned bumped his price target to $298 from $277, holding firm on an Outperform rating. He named Boeing his top pick in aerospace and defense for 2026. (Remember, a price target is just an estimate of where the stock might head, not a promise.) 5
Susquehanna bumped its target to $280 from $255, maintaining a Positive rating. The firm pointed to strong commercial aerospace, defense, and aftermarket demand in a research note tied to its quarterly preview. 6
The downside is clear. A “no” vote in Wichita would force Boeing back to the negotiating table right before the current contract expires. Meanwhile, the MD-11 probe could expand, raising sharper questions for both Boeing and its operators. On another front, Boeing faces a shareholder class-action lawsuit now caught up in a wider court dispute over how to calculate damages. Investors blame losses on a mid-air door panel failure and related disclosures, according to Reuters. 7
Boeing’s calendar is packed with key dates that could shake up the tape. The company will release its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 27, followed by a 10:30 a.m. ET conference call featuring CEO Kelly Ortberg and CFO Jay Malave. Meanwhile, the Wichita union vote wraps up on Jan. 30, sharpening the focus on the Spirit integration saga. 8
