Boeing (NYSE: BA) has traded in a whipsaw in August, but the good news is that its generally going up. Boeing stock price has risen by an incredible 37% in the last 52 weeks and is up by 32% year-to-date. This is a big comfort for long-term investors who have been through a lot of struggles. But like everything else about Boeing, the story isn’t all plain smooth; it still faces some bumps in the road, with its turbulent past weighing in.
A Lift From Space and Defense
Boeing’s space division is one the major news stories that is has injected renewed confidence in recent days. Recently, the airplane manufacture has successfully launched the X-37B spaceplane from the Kennedy Space Center. The U.S. Space Force is working with the spacecraft on its eighth mission.
This isn’t just a normal test flight, either. The goal of the mission is to look into new technologies, like laser communications and quantum inertial sensors. Both of these could have a big impact on how the military and commercial aerospace industries work in the future. These kinds of actions show that Boeing is expanding its business beyond commercial aircraft into defense and space, which are becoming important growth drivers.
The FAA and the 737 MAX Cloud Overcast
The 737 MAX is still the main focus when it comes to Boeing’s business. The FAA is currently getting ready for “tabletop exercises” to make sure that the company is ready to ramp up production, after months of regulatory limits. That’s good news for airlines that are eager to get their aircraft and for Boeing’s income stream.
However, investors know that the MAX story isn’t over yet. The Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy in October 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019, both of which were caused by a flaws in the MCAS system, started the dark chapter.
At the time, Boeing’s officials explained away the risks and said the plane was safe, but those assurances turned out to be inaccurate. In March 2019, the 737 MAX was grounded around the world, and the market reacted negatively, with Boeing stock price declining by around 10% in a snap.
The $200 Million Settlement Still Bites
In September 2022, Boeing reached an agreement with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to pay $200 million. The market regulator said that Boeing had lied to investors by hiding flaws with the MCAS and making false promises about safety. It’s important to note that Boeing didn’t admit to any wrongdoing; instead, they chose to settle, which ended one part of the legal drama.
The event, however, had a lasting effect. It continues to hurt Boeing’s brand and investor psychology. Some experts say that these problems will never go away completely as long as the MAX is Boeing’s main focus.
Financials and Production Outlook
Boeing is still recovering financially, but the last quarter shows considerable progress. It made $22.7 billion in the second quarter of 2025. This was roughly 35% more than the corresponding quarter last year and well over Wall Street’s projections. The main reason for the rise was that more planes were delivered, with 150 jets delivered, a 63% increase over the previous year.
Boeing is still not making profits even if its top line is growing. The company lost $611 million in the quarter, which is a big improvement over the $1.44 billion loss it had recorded for the corresponding quarter last year.
In the most recent quarterly reporting, Boeing lost $1.24 per share, which was less than what analysts had expected (about -$1.40) and a lot less than last year’s loss of -$2.90 per share. Cash flow also seemed to be normalizing, which is a good sign. Also, the company’s free cash outflow went down to only $200 million. That was a substantial rise from the $4.3 billion it lost in the same quarter of 2024.
Boeing’s backlog is still one of the company’s major assets. It has orders worth around $522 billion, which translates to more than 5,900 planes set for delivery. As long as the company can keep production up, that pipeline gives them a clear view of their future revenue and a safety net.
Investors Look Forward, Not Backward
Even with all the problems, Wall Street feels hopeful. Analysts have a consensus “Strong Buy” on Boeing stock price, thanks to the company’s commercial recovery and defense expansion. The continued drive into space exploration and military technology could provide a consistent stream of income that isn’t as affected by airline cycles.
For investors, the most important thing is whether Boeing can deliver on its commitments. There’s reason to be hopeful because demand for new planes is rising, defense contracts are coming in, and programs like the X-37B could elevate the company on the innovation front. But the weight of past failures, especially the litigation settlements, nevertheless serves as a reminder that Boeing has to earn back public trust.
The Bottom Line
Boeing’s stock is going up, and there are good reasons for it. Space missions, defense projects are all helping to build momentum and boosting sentiment. But it is also worth remembering that history is hard to forget. The $200 million settlement over 737 MAX safety disclosures shows how bad things got when Boeing chose to conceal matters that called for transparency.
For now, investors are counting on Boeing’s ability to turn things around and the sentiment is largely positive. The company’s recovery story may be just getting started if it can keep coming up with innovative projects and limit making mistakes.
Boeing stock price is up by 32% YTD, primarily driven by strong aircraft deliveries, the X37B space program and narrowing of losses.
Not yet. The company reported a net loss of $611 million in Q2 2025. However, its revenue grew to over $22.7 billion and analysts forecast a return to profit in 2026.
Boeing has about $522 billion worth of orders backlog, and with the FAA expected to approve production ramp up, it could clear the way for an uptick in income.
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