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Boeing (BA) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to Boeing and its jets. See what it sells, where the money goes, who it competes with and what protects the business.

⚡What does Boeing do, in 30 seconds?

Boeing builds commercial jets, military aircraft, weapons and satellites, and it services aircraft for customers worldwide 1. It sold $89.5bn ✓ in FY2025, and Commercial Airplanes made up 46% ✓ of that. Operating profit was $4.3bn ✓ and profit after tax was $2.2bn ✓. Both include a $9,566 million gain on selling parts of its digital aviation business 7. Boeing's net gain on such sales was $9,672 million, and without it, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7.

Revenue, FY2025
$89.5bn✓
Profit, FY2025
$2.2bn✓
Sales growth, 4 quarters to 30 Sep 2026
17.5%✓
Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted), 30 Sep 2026
-$25.2bn✓
Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia 1
Incorporated
1916 in Washington state; Delaware since 1934 1
Employees
About 182,000 at December 31, 2025 1
CEO
Robert K. Ortberg, since August 8, 2024 29
Total backlog
$745,431 million at September 30, 2026 2
Fiscal year ends
December 31 1

📱What does Boeing sell?

Boeing has three business lines. Commercial Airplanes was the largest in FY2025, at 46% ✓ of sales. Here is what each one is and who buys from it.

✈️

Commercial Airplanes

Commercial jets. The models in production are the 737 narrow-body and the 767, 777 and 787 wide-bodies 1. The FAA certified the 737-7 in the third quarter of 2026 and the 737-10 in October 2026 23. This line brought in $41.5bn ✓ in FY2025. Boeing delivered 600 commercial airplanes in 2025 5. Commercial Airplanes lost $7,079 million from operations in 2025 5.

👥 Mainly airlines worldwide 1. In 2025, non-U.S. customers, including Foreign Military Sales, made up 60% of this line's revenue from customer contracts 6.

🛰️

Defense, Space & Security

Military aircraft and weapons, including fighters, trainers, rotorcraft, tilt-rotors and tankers 1. It also covers strategic defense and intelligence systems 1. Satellites and space exploration are part of this line too 1. Deliveries in 2025 included 19 new AH-64 Apache helicopters, 14 F/A-18 fighters, 14 KC-46 tankers and 9 F-15 fighters 5. This line brought in $27.2bn ✓ in FY2025.

👥 Across the whole company, 35% of 2025 revenues came from U.S. government contracts, a figure that includes Foreign Military Sales 6. At September 30, 2026, 23% of this line's backlog came from customers outside the U.S. 2.

🔧

Global Services

Spare parts, supply chain and logistics, engineering, maintenance and modifications 1. It also covers upgrades, conversions, pilot and maintenance training, and digital analytics 1. This line brought in $20.9bn ✓ in FY2025. On October 31, 2025, Boeing sold parts of this line's Digital Aviation Solutions business, including Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData and OzRunways, to Thoma Bravo for $10,550 million 7.

👥 Commercial and defense customers worldwide 1.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2023Commercial Airplanes: $33.9bn (43%)Commercial Airplanes 43%Defense, Space & Security: $24.9bn (32%)Defense, Space & Security 32%Global Services: $19.1bn (25%)Global Services 25%FY2024Commercial Airplanes: $22.9bn (34%)Commercial Airplanes 34%Defense, Space & Security: $23.9bn (36%)Defense, Space & Security 36%Global Services: $20.0bn (30%)Global Services 30%FY2025Commercial Airplanes: $41.5bn (46%)Commercial Airplanes 46%Defense, Space & Security: $27.2bn (30%)Defense, Space & Security 30%Global Services: $20.9bn (23%)Global Services 23%
Revenue mix by productFY23Commercial Airplanes: $33.9bn (43%)43%Defense, Space & Security: $24.9bn (32%)32%Global Services: $19.1bn (25%)25%FY24Commercial Airplanes: $22.9bn (34%)34%Defense, Space & Security: $23.9bn (36%)36%Global Services: $20.0bn (30%)30%FY25Commercial Airplanes: $41.5bn (46%)46%Defense, Space & Security: $27.2bn (30%)30%Global Services: $20.9bn (23%)23%Commercial AirplanesDefense, Space & SecurityGlobal Services
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: The Boeing Company 10-K filed 2026-01-30.

Where the customers are

The United States is Boeing's biggest market, at 54% ✓ of sales in FY2025. Asia added 18% ✓, Europe 13% ✓ and the Middle East 8% ✓. Canada added 2% ✓, Africa 2% ✓, Oceania 2% ✓ and Latin America 2% ✓.

Revenue by regionUnited States$48.1bn 54% of salesAsia$16.5bn 18% of salesEurope$11.4bn 13% of salesMiddle East$7.0bn 8% of salesCanada$1.8bn 2% of salesAfrica$1.6bn 2% of salesOceania$1.6bn 2% of salesLatin America$1.5bn 2% of sales
Revenue by regionUnited States$48.1bn 54%Asia$16.5bn 18%Europe$11.4bn 13%Middle East$7.0bn 8%Canada$1.8bn 2%Africa$1.6bn 2%Oceania$1.6bn 2%Latin America$1.5bn 2%
Revenue by region, FY2025. Source: The Boeing Company 10-K filed 2026-01-30.

💸How does Boeing make money?

Follow the money: what customers pay for, what it costs to make, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitCommercial Airplanes → Revenue: $41.5bnDefense, Space & Security → Revenue: $27.2bnGlobal Services → Revenue: $20.9bnRevenue → Gross profit: $4.3bnRevenue → Cost of sales: $85.2bnGross profit → Operating profit: -$5.4bnOther operating income → Operating profit: $9.7bnGross profit → R&D: $3.6bnGross profit → Selling & admin: $6.1bnOperating profit → Net income: $2.2bnOperating profit → Income tax: $0.4bnOperating profit → Other costs: $1.6bnCommercial Airplanes$41.5bn · 46%Defense, Space & Security$27.2bn · 30%Global Services$20.9bn · 23%Revenue$89.5bnGross profit$4.3bn · 5%Cost of sales$85.2bn · 95%Other operating income$9.7bn · 11%Operating profit$4.3bn · 5%R&D$3.6bn · 4%Selling & admin$6.1bn · 7%Net income$2.2bn · 2%Income tax$0.4bn · <1%Other costs$1.6bn · 2%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitCommercial Airplanes: $41.5bnDefense, Space & Security: $27.2bnGlobal Services: $20.9bnCommercial Airplanes$41.5bn · 46%Defense, Space & Security$27.2bn · 30%Global Services$20.9bn · 23%Revenue: $89.5bnRevenue$89.5bn · 100%Gross profit: $4.3bnCost of sales: $85.2bnGross profit$4.3bn · 5%Cost of sales$85.2bn · 95%Operating profit: $4.3bnR&D: $3.6bnSelling & admin: $6.1bnOther operating income, added: $9.7bnOperating profit$4.3bn · 5%R&D$3.6bn · 4%Selling & admin$6.1bn · 7%Other operating income, added$9.7bn · 11%Net income: $2.2bnIncome tax: $0.4bnOther costs: $1.6bnNet income$2.2bn · 2%Income tax$0.4bn · <1%Other costs$1.6bn · 2%

FY2023, FY2024: Boeing's costs were bigger than its sales, so those years have no money map.

Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: The Boeing Company 10-K filings.

Boeing sold $89.5bn ✓ of airplanes, defense products and services in FY2025. Making those products and delivering those services cost $85.2bn ✓. What is left is gross profit, the money kept after paying for what was sold. That came to $4.3bn ✓.

Next come the costs of running the company. Research and development took $3.6bn ✓, and selling and admin took $6.1bn ✓. Added to the cost of sales, these costs were bigger than sales, as they were in FY2023 and FY2024. Other operating items came to -$9.7bn ✓, which means they added money instead of costing it. They included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7. A gain of $9,566 million came from selling parts of the digital aviation business on October 31, 2025 7. That left operating profit of $4.3bn ✓. Without the net gain, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7.

Items outside operations came to -$1.6bn ✓, and tax was $0.4bn ✓. Net income was $2.2bn ✓. That was 2.5% ✓ of sales. The $11 ✓ added on top of every hundred dollars of sales is the gain on selling businesses and other income 7.

The two years before were losses. In FY2024, operating profit was -$10.7bn ✓ and net income was -$11.8bn ✓. In FY2023, operating profit was -$0.8bn ✓ and net income was -$2.2bn ✓.

Out of every $100 customers paid in FY2025…

Making the products and services $95Research and development $4Selling and admin $7Other costs (interest and losses) $2Profit kept $3The gain on selling businesses and other income, added on top +$11

The gain on selling businesses and other income added +$11 for every $100 of sales, so the slices above add up to $111, well over $100.

💡
Boeing's FY2025 operating profit came from a gain on dispositions, not from running the business 7. Operating profit was $4.3bn ✓, and without the net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7. Commercial Airplanes lost $7,079 million from operations in 2025 5. Global Services' earnings from operations rose by $9,856 million in 2025, primarily due to the $9,566 million gain on the Digital Aviation Solutions sale 5.

📈How is Boeing doing?

Boeing's sales grew 34.5% ✓ in FY2025, but its operating profit that year came from selling parts of its digital aviation business 7. Sales reached $89.5bn ✓, and that year includes Spirit AeroSystems from December 8, 2025 14. Boeing delivered 600 commercial airplanes in 2025, against 348 in 2024 5. Operating profit was $4.3bn ✓, and it included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7. Without that gain, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7. Net income was $2.2bn ✓, and free cash flow was -$1.9bn ✓.

Boeing made losses in each of the six years before that. Operating profit was -$2.0bn ✓ in FY2019, -$12.8bn ✓ in FY2020 and -$2.9bn ✓ in FY2021. It was -$3.5bn ✓ in FY2022, -$0.8bn ✓ in FY2023 and -$10.7bn ✓ in FY2024. Net income over those six years was -$0.6bn ✓, -$11.9bn ✓, -$4.2bn ✓, -$4.9bn ✓, -$2.2bn ✓ and -$11.8bn ✓.

Boeing recorded additional reach-forward losses on the 777X program of $4.9 billion in 2025 and $3.5 billion in 2024 6. In 2024, the defense line recorded $5.0 billion of additional losses on its five most significant fixed-price development programs 6.

Two 737 MAX accidents, Lion Air flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March 2019, resulted in the loss of 346 lives 257. On March 13, 2019, the FAA ordered all 737 MAX aircraft in the U.S. and operated by U.S. carriers to stop flying 26. Deliveries of the 737 MAX resumed in the fourth quarter of 2020 27. On January 5, 2024, a door plug separated from Alaska Airlines flight 1282, a 737-9, during climb after takeoff 28. One flight attendant and seven passengers had minor injuries 28.

During 2024, the FAA said it would not approve 737 production rates beyond 38 airplanes per month until Boeing met required quality and safety standards 24. In October 2025, the FAA and Boeing jointly agreed that key performance indicators supported a rate of 42 per month 5. In the second quarter of 2026, the 737 program began moving from 42 to 47 airplanes per month with FAA concurrence 2.

In the four quarters to September 30, 2026, sales were $94.9bn ✓, up 17.5% ✓ on the four quarters before. Those sales include Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing bought on December 8, 2025 14. Operating margin was 10.3% ✓, net income was $7.7bn ✓ and free cash flow was $16m ✓. Those four quarters include the $9,566 million gain on selling parts of its digital aviation business on October 31, 2025 7. They also include a $252 million gain on the sale of HRL Laboratories in the third quarter of 2026 32.

Total backlog was $745,431 million at September 30, 2026, up from $682,207 million at December 31, 2025 2. Boeing expected about 17% of that backlog to become revenue through 2027 and about 57% through 2030 14.

📝 The report card

Boeing earns a B ✓ for growth, a D ✓ for its balance sheet, and an F ✓ for profit, an F ✓ for cash and an F ✓ for steadiness. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Boeing (orange) and its 5 peers land; further right is better.

B

Growth

Sales growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
10.3% · peer median 4.8%
#1 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 5.0%D ≥ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Boeing's sales grew 10.3% ✓ a year over its last three fiscal years, which earns a B ✓. General Dynamics grew 10.1% ✓ a year, also a B ✓. The peer median was 4.8% ✓. FY2025 includes Spirit AeroSystems from December 8, 2025 14.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing sales is the engine of a business. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

F

Profitability

Operating margin, last 3 years combined
-3.1% · peer median 9.3%
#6 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 30.0%B ≥ 20.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Boeing's operating margin was -3.1% ✓, which earns an F ✓. FY2025's operating profit is part of that figure, and it included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7. Without that gain, FY2025 operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7. The peer median was 9.3% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Operating margin is the share of each sales dollar left after running the business. Software and platforms often clear 30%; hardware makers usually sit below 10%.

F

Cash generation

Free cash flow as a share of sales, last 3 years combined
-5.0% · peer median 7.5%
#6 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 15.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Boeing's free cash flow was -5.0% ✓ of sales, an F ✓. Free cash flow was $4.4bn ✓ in FY2023, -$14.3bn ✓ in FY2024 and -$1.9bn ✓ in FY2025. The peer median was 7.5% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Free cash flow is the cash left after paying for factories, data centres and equipment. It funds dividends, buybacks and new bets.

D

Balance sheet

Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) as a share of a year's sales
-27.6% · peer median -23.4%
#5 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 5.0%C ≥ -10.0%D ≥ -30.0%F below -30.0%

At the end of FY2025, Boeing's cash and investments minus its borrowings (leases not counted) equalled -27.6% ✓ of a year's sales, a D ✓. In dollars, net cash was -$24.7bn ✓ at that date. At September 30, 2026, it was -$25.2bn ✓. The peer median was -23.4% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

More cash than debt gives a company room to ride out bad years. Some debt is normal; a lot of it makes a company fragile.

F

Steadiness

How much yearly sales growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
18.3% · peer median 6.5%
#6 of 6 in the peer group
A ≤ 5.0%B ≤ 8.0%C ≤ 12.0%D ≤ 18.0%F above 18.0%

Boeing's yearly sales growth swings widely, with a standard deviation of 18.3% ✓, which earns an F ✓. Sales growth was -24.3% ✓ in FY2019, -24.0% ✓ in FY2020, -14.5% ✓ in FY2024 and 34.5% ✓ in FY2025.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean sales depend on product cycles, the economy or one-off events.

🧑‍🏫 How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Peers for context. The rank shows how Boeing compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  4. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  5. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

11 years at a glance

Revenue
$89.5bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2015: $96.1bnFY2016: $93.5bnFY2017: $94.0bnFY2018: $101.1bnFY2019: $76.6bnFY2020: $58.2bnFY2021: $62.3bnFY2022: $66.6bnFY2023: $77.8bnFY2024: $66.5bnFY2025: $89.5bnFY2015FY2025
Operating margin
4.8%
FY2025
Operating marginFY2015FY2025
Free cash flow
-$1.9bn
FY2025
Free cash flow by fiscal yearFY2015: $6.9bnFY2016: $7.9bnFY2017: $11.6bnFY2018: $13.6bnFY2019: -$4.3bnFY2020: -$19.7bnFY2021: -$4.4bnFY2022: $2.3bnFY2023: $4.4bnFY2024: -$14.3bnFY2025: -$1.9bnFY2015FY2025
Net cash
-$24.7bn
end of FY2025
Net cash by fiscal yearFY2015: $2.1bnFY2016: $0.1bnFY2017: -$1.7bnFY2018: -$7.2bnFY2019: -$23.4bnFY2020: -$38.0bnFY2021: -$41.9bnFY2022: -$39.8bnFY2023: -$36.3bnFY2024: -$27.6bnFY2025: -$24.7bnFY2015FY2025

Where the cash goes

Over the 11 fiscal years from FY2015 to FY2025, Boeing spent more on buybacks and dividends than it made in free cash flow. It spent $53.4bn ✓ on buybacks and dividends, against $2.2bn ✓ of free cash flow. In FY2025, dividends were $0.3bn ✓ and free cash flow was -$1.9bn ✓. Total debt was $54.1bn ✓ at the end of FY2025 and $45.9bn ✓ at September 30, 2026. The FY2025 operating margin of 4.8% ✓ includes a net gain of $9,672 million 7.

Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders-$20bn-$10bn$0bn$10bnFY2016 free cash flow $7.9bnFY2016 buybacks + dividends $9.8bnFY16FY2017 free cash flow $11.6bnFY2017 buybacks + dividends $12.7bnFY17FY2018 free cash flow $13.6bnFY2018 buybacks + dividends $12.9bnFY18FY2019 free cash flow -$4.3bnFY2019 buybacks + dividends $7.3bnFY19FY2020 free cash flow -$19.7bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $1.2bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow -$4.4bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $0FY21FY2022 free cash flow $2.3bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $0FY22FY2023 free cash flow $4.4bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $0FY23FY2024 free cash flow -$14.3bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $0FY24FY2025 free cash flow -$1.9bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $0.3bnFY25
Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders-$20bn-$10bn$0bnFY2020 free cash flow -$19.7bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $1.2bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow -$4.4bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $0FY21FY2022 free cash flow $2.3bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $0FY22FY2023 free cash flow $4.4bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $0FY23FY2024 free cash flow -$14.3bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $0FY24FY2025 free cash flow -$1.9bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $0.3bnFY25
■ Free cash flow   ■ Buybacks + dividends. Source: The Boeing Company 10-K filings.

🧮Ratios 101: what are Boeing's key financial ratios?

Ratios put Boeing's large numbers in proportion, and FY2025's profit ratios include a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Boeing's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

💰 Profitability: how much of each sale is kept?

Higher is better

Gross margin

4.8%
Gross profit$4.3bn$89.5bnSales=4.8%

What is left from each sale after paying to make the product or deliver the service.

👉 Boeing kept 4.8% ✓ of sales as gross profit in FY2025, against a 15.1% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 40% usually signals pricing power or a big software or services mix.

Peer median 15.1% (3 peers)FY2015 14.6%
Gross margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Operating margin

4.8%
Operating profit$4.3bn$89.5bnSales=4.8%

What is left after also paying for research, marketing and running the company.

👉 Boeing's 4.8% ✓ compares with a 10.3% ✓ peer median. It includes a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7. Without that gain, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 20% is strong for a large company.

Peer median 10.3% (5 peers)FY2015 7.7%
Operating margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Net margin

2.5%
Net income$2.2bn$89.5bnSales=2.5%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of sales.

👉 Boeing's 2.5% ✓ compares with a 7.6% ✓ peer median. Net income of $2.2bn ✓ includes that year's net gain of $9,672 million 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 7.6% (5 peers)FY2015 5.4%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

41.0%
Net income$2.2bn$5.5bnShareholders' equity=41.0%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

👉 Boeing's ROE was 41.0% ✓, against a 16.4% ✓ peer median, on shareholders' equity of $5.5bn ✓. Net income includes that year's net gain of $9,672 million 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 16.4% (5 peers)FY2015 81.7%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

⚙️ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

1.3%
Net income$2.2bn$168.2bnTotal assets=1.3%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

👉 Boeing's ROA of 1.3% ✓ compares with a 7.4% ✓ peer median. Net income includes that year's net gain of $9,672 million 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 10% is strong; banks and factories usually earn less.

Peer median 7.4% (5 peers)FY2015 5.5%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Higher is better

Asset turnover

0.5x
Sales$89.5bn$168.2bnTotal assets=0.5x

Dollars of sales squeezed out of each dollar of assets.

👉 Boeing's sales were 0.5x ✓ its total assets of $168.2bn ✓, against a 0.8x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Retailers often top 2x; asset-heavy businesses can sit below 0.5x.

Peer median 0.8x (5 peers)FY2015 1.0x
Asset turnover by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

🛟 Safety: could it survive a bad year?

It depends

Current ratio

1.2x
Current assets$128.5bn$108.1bnCurrent liabilities=1.2x

Can short-term assets (cash, money owed by customers, stock) pay the bills due within a year?

👉 Boeing's 1.2x ✓ means it had $128.5bn ✓ of current assets against $108.1bn ✓ of bills due within a year. The peer median was 1.1x ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 1.0x is the classic comfort line, but cash-rich giants can run below it on purpose.

Peer median 1.1x (4 peers)FY2015 1.4x
Current ratio by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Lower is better

Debt to equity

9.9x
Total debt$54.1bn$5.5bnShareholders' equity=9.9x

How much the company has borrowed for each dollar shareholders have in it.

👉 At the end of FY2025, Boeing had total debt of $54.1bn ✓ on shareholders' equity of $5.5bn ✓, or 9.9x ✓. The peer median was 0.5x ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Below 1.0x is conservative. Like ROE, it can rise when buybacks shrink equity, even if debt has not changed.

Peer median 0.5x (5 peers)FY2015 1.6x
Debt to equity by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

💵 Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

Higher is better

Cash conversion

-0.8x
Free cash flow-$1.9bn$2.2bnNet income=-0.8x

Does reported profit turn into real cash? Free cash flow is operating cash minus capital spending.

👉 Boeing's -0.8x ✓ compares with a 1.0x ✓ peer median: free cash flow was -$1.9bn ✓ and net income was $2.2bn ✓. That net income includes the year's net gain of $9,672 million 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Near or above 1.0x means profits are backed by cash.

Peer median 1.0x (5 peers)FY2015 1.3x
Cash conversion by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

R&D intensity

4.0%
R&D$3.6bn$89.5bnSales=4.0%

How much of each sales dollar goes into inventing future products.

👉 Boeing spent 4.0% ✓ of sales on R&D, against a 2.9% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Tech companies often spend 10% to 20%; more is not always better if it does not pay off.

Peer median 2.9% (4 peers)FY2015 3.5%
R&D intensity by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
Lower is better

Stock pay

0.5%
Share-based pay$0.4bn$89.5bnSales=0.5%

Pay given to staff in shares instead of cash. It is a real cost to owners because it adds shares.

👉 Stock pay was 0.5% ✓ of sales, close to the 0.4% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Under 5% of sales is modest for a tech company.

Peer median 0.4% (5 peers)FY2015 0.2%
Stock pay by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Shareholder payout

14.8%
Dividends + buybacks$0.3bn$2.2bnNet income=14.8%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

👉 Boeing's payouts of $0.3bn ✓ were 14.8% ✓ of net income, against a 69.8% ✓ peer median. That net income includes the year's net gain of $9,672 million 7.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 69.8% (5 peers)FY2015 178.5%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

🥊Who are Boeing's competitors?

Boeing competes with Airbus and entrants from China in commercial jets 1. Lockheed Martin and Boeing each name the other among their main defense competitors 161718. Boeing and Northrop Grumman each name the other as a defense competitor 11920. Boeing's annual report names General Dynamics and RTX among the main rivals of its defense segment 12123. Textron's Bell and Boeing both supply military rotorcraft 522.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%0%10%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →Boeing: revenue $89.5bn, growth 10.3%/yr, operating margin 4.8%BARTX: revenue $88.6bn, growth 9.7%/yr, operating margin 10.5%RTXLockheed Martin: revenue $75.0bn, growth 4.4%/yr, operating margin 10.3%LMTGeneral Dynamics: revenue $52.6bn, growth 10.1%/yr, operating margin 10.2%GDNorthrop Grumman: revenue $42.0bn, growth 4.7%/yr, operating margin 10.8%NOCTextron: revenue $14.8bn, growth 4.8%/yr, operating margin 6.7%TXT
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%0%10%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →Boeing: revenue $89.5bn, growth 10.3%/yr, operating margin 4.8%BARTX: revenue $88.6bn, growth 9.7%/yr, operating margin 10.5%RTXLockheed Martin: revenue $75.0bn, growth 4.4%/yr, operating margin 10.3%LMTGeneral Dynamics: revenue $52.6bn, growth 10.1%/yr, operating margin 10.2%GDNorthrop Grumman: revenue $42.0bn, growth 4.7%/yr, operating margin 10.8%NOCTextron: revenue $14.8bn, growth 4.8%/yr, operating margin 6.7%TXT
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [8] [10] [11] [9] [12] [13].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Op. marginFCF margin
Boeing (BA, FY2025)Commercial jets, military aircraft and weapons, satellites, and aircraft services$89.5bn10.3%4.8%-2.1%
Lockheed Martin (LMT, FY2025)Military aircraft and military helicopters; each owns 50% of the United Launch Alliance rocket venture 161718$75.0bn4.4%10.3%9.2%
Northrop Grumman (NOC, FY2025)Defense; the other contender for the Navy's F/A-XX fighter, which went to Boeing in September 2026 11920$42.0bn4.7%10.8%7.9%
General Dynamics (GD, FY2025)Named among the main rivals of Boeing's defense segment; it also builds ships and land combat vehicles that Boeing does not 121$52.6bn10.1%10.2%7.5%
Textron (TXT, FY2025)Military rotorcraft: Boeing builds the AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook, and Textron's Bell produces H-1 helicopters for the U.S. Government and is developing the Army's MV-75 tiltrotor 522$14.8bn4.8%6.7%6.3%
RTX (RTX, FY2025)Named among the main rivals of Boeing's defense segment; RTX's Collins business also counts Boeing among its largest commercial customers 123$88.6bn9.7%10.5%9.0%

Boeing says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors in commercial jets, intent on raising their market share 1. It says Global Services faces many of the same strong competitors as its other two segments 1. Boeing's FY2025 operating margin of 4.8% ✓ includes a net gain of $9,672 million on selling businesses; without it, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7.

🧭Boeing SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

💪 Strengths

  • Boeing's commercial backlog was a record $612 billion at September 30, 2026, and included over 6,300 airplanes 3.
  • Global Services earned an operating margin of 18.2% in the first nine months of 2026 3.
  • During the third quarter of 2026, the U.S. Navy selected Boeing to design, build and deliver the F/A-XX fighter. The order is not in backlog until the source selection and evaluation review is done 3.
  • Boeing had delivered 9,240 737s and 1,249 787s in total as of December 31, 2025 5.

🩹 Weaknesses

  • Commercial Airplanes lost $7,079 million from operations in 2025 and $7,969 million in 2024 5.
  • Boeing's FY2025 operating profit of $4.3bn ✓ included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million. Without that gain, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7.
  • Boeing's total debt was $45.9 billion at September 30, 2026, with $4.6 billion classified as short-term 2.
  • A strike by IAM District 751 lasted 53 days, ending on November 4, 2024, and halted production of most commercial aircraft and certain defense products 124.

🚀 Opportunities

  • The FAA certified the 737-7 in the third quarter of 2026 and the 737-10 in October 2026 23.
  • Boeing's forecast projects demand for about 43,600 new airplanes over the next 20 years 5.
  • Boeing bought Spirit AeroSystems on December 8, 2025 14. The purchase brought in fuselage work for the 737, P-8 and KC-46 Tanker and major structures for the 767, 777 and 787 5.
  • Boeing plans to raise the 737 production rate to 52 per month after showing stability at 47 per month, which it expects in 2027 2.

⚠️ Threats

  • Boeing says many of its suppliers face inflation, resource limits and quality problems 62. It says certain suppliers are in financial difficulty 62.
  • The 737 program may increase production rates or add production lines only with FAA concurrence 1.
  • Delays on the 737, 777X and 787 programs have given customers rights to terminate orders, receive compensation for late deliveries or substitute other Boeing aircraft 6.
  • Boeing says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors in commercial jets 1.

🏰Does Boeing have a moat?

Narrow moatBoeing has a record backlog and FAA certification rules in its favor, but it faces aggressive rivals and its airplane line has lost money 315.
Brand 3/5
Why 3?

Boeing describes itself as one of the world's major aerospace firms and a leading producer of commercial aircraft 1. Its commercial backlog was a record $612 billion at September 30, 2026 3. Boeing lists reputational factors among the influences on demand for its commercial aircraft 6. It says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors 1.

Switching costs 3/5
Why 3?

Global Services offers training, fleet services, logistics, maintenance and engineering across the life of Boeing aircraft 1. In the third quarter of 2026, the U.S. Army awarded Global Services work to maintain its AH-64 Apache fleet 3. But delays on the 737, 777X and 787 programs have given customers rights to terminate orders 6. Boeing also says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors 1.

Network effects 2/5
Why 2?

Boeing says Global Services draws on an extensive services network and faces many of the same strong competitors as its other two segments 1. Boeing had delivered 9,240 737s and 1,249 787s in total as of December 31, 2025 5.

Cost advantages and scale 3/5
Why 3?

Boeing had delivered 9,240 737s and 1,249 787s in total as of December 31, 2025 5. Global Services earned an operating margin of 18.2% in the first nine months of 2026 3. But Commercial Airplanes lost $7,079 million from operations in 2025 and $7,969 million in 2024 5. Boeing buys many major components on a sole-source basis 1. It says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors 1.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 4/5
Why 4?

New aircraft models and derivatives must obtain FAA certification before entering service, and similar requirements apply outside the U.S. 1. The 777X was launched in 2013 and Boeing expects its first delivery in 2027 6. Boeing owns many patents but does not believe the expiration of any particular patent or license would materially affect its business 1.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Boeing; grey dots are peers).

🔭What should you watch next?

By the end of 2026

777X certification flight testing

Boeing expects approval on the final phases of 777X certification flight testing by the end of 2026 2. It expects first delivery of the 777-9 in 2027 2.

Open at the end of the third quarter of 2026

777X engine durability

Boeing is working with the FAA and its engine supplier to certify a fix 2. The 777X engine durability issue was identified in 2025 2.

December 2026

Wide-body production rate

Boeing plans to begin its next 787 production rate increase beyond eight per month in December 2026 2.

After stability at 47 per month, expected in 2027

Narrow-body production rate

Boeing plans to raise the 737 production rate to 52 per month after showing stability at 47 per month, which it expects in 2027 2.

Through the first half of 2027

Wide-body parts shortages

Boeing expects 777 factory operations to stay disrupted by parts shortages through the first half of 2027 2.

First quarter of 2027

Starliner test mission

Boeing expects to complete an uncrewed Starliner mission in the first quarter of 2027, with crewed missions commencing in late 2028 14.

Pending at the end of the third quarter of 2026

F/A-XX order

Boeing's F/A-XX order will enter backlog only after the source selection and evaluation review is completed 3.

June 2027

Union contract in Kansas

Boeing's contract with IAM District 70 in Kansas expires in June 2027 1.

📚Learn the words

Revenue (sales)All the money a company takes in from customers before paying any costs.
Gross marginThe share of each sales dollar left after paying to make the product or deliver the service.
Operating profitProfit after paying for products, research, marketing and admin, but before interest and tax. A gain on selling a business can be counted in it.
Net incomeThe profit left at the very end, after every cost and tax has been paid.
Free cash flowThe cash a business has left after running itself and buying equipment.
BacklogWork a customer has ordered that has not yet been delivered and counted as revenue.
Reach-forward lossA loss Boeing records when its estimated costs on a contract are more than its estimated price 6.
Fixed-price contractA contract with a price set in advance, so the seller bears the extra cost if the work costs more.
DispositionThe sale of a business or asset. A gain is recorded when the sale price is above its value in the accounts.
FAA certificationApproval from the US aviation regulator that a new aircraft model or derivative needs before entering service 1.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like a strong brand or high switching costs, that keeps rivals from taking a company's customers.
RatioOne number divided by another, such as profit divided by sales. Ratios let you compare companies of very different sizes.

❓Frequently asked questions about Boeing

How does Boeing make money?

Boeing makes money by selling commercial jets, military aircraft and weapons, and aircraft services 1. In FY2025, Commercial Airplanes brought in $41.5bn ✓, Defense, Space & Security $27.2bn ✓ and Global Services $20.9bn ✓.

Why did Boeing show an operating profit in FY2025?

Boeing's FY2025 operating profit of $4.3bn ✓ included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million. Without that gain, operations would have shown a loss of about $5.4 billion 7. Boeing recorded a gain of $9,566 million on selling parts of its digital aviation business on October 31, 2025 7.

Has Boeing been making losses?

Boeing made a net loss in each year from FY2019 to FY2024. Net income was -$0.6bn ✓ in FY2019 and -$11.8bn ✓ in FY2024. Net income in FY2025 was $2.2bn ✓, after operating profit that included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7.

What happened with the 737 MAX?

Two 737 MAX accidents, Lion Air flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March 2019, resulted in the loss of 346 lives 257. On March 13, 2019, the FAA ordered all 737 MAX aircraft in the U.S. and operated by U.S. carriers to stop flying 26. Deliveries resumed in the fourth quarter of 2020 27. On May 29, 2025, Boeing and the U.S. Department of Justice entered a non-prosecution agreement 7. It required a $244 million fine and $445 million of additional compensation for families of those who died 7.

What happened on Alaska Airlines flight 1282?

On January 5, 2024, the left mid exit door plug separated from the Boeing 737-9 during climb after takeoff from Portland 28. The airplane returned to Portland 28. One flight attendant and seven passengers had minor injuries 28. The NTSB attributed the separation to Boeing's failure to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight for its parts removal process 28. It cited the FAA's ineffective compliance enforcement as a contributing factor 28.

Who are Boeing's biggest competitors?

Boeing says Airbus and entrants from China are aggressive competitors in commercial jets 1. In defense, Lockheed Martin and Boeing each name the other among their main competitors 161718. Boeing's annual report also names General Dynamics and RTX among the main rivals of its defense segment 12123.

How big is Boeing's backlog?

Boeing's total backlog was $745,431 million at September 30, 2026 2. Commercial Airplanes had $611,833 million, Defense, Space & Security $100,505 million and Global Services $32,725 million 2.

How much of Boeing's revenue comes from the US government?

In 2025, 35% of Boeing's revenues came from U.S. government contracts, a figure that includes Foreign Military Sales 6.

🎮Play: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower · round 1 of 4

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [8] [10] [11] [9] [12] [13].

Score: 0

🧠 Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. How many commercial airplanes did Boeing deliver in 2025?

Boeing delivered 600 commercial airplanes in 2025, after 348 in 2024 and 528 in 2023 5.

2. What share of Boeing's 2025 revenues came from U.S. government contracts, including Foreign Military Sales?

In 2025, 35% of Boeing's revenues came from U.S. government contracts, a figure that includes Foreign Military Sales 6.

3. What did Boeing's FY2025 operating profit include?

Boeing's 2025 operating earnings included a net gain on dispositions of $9,672 million 7.

4. Which Boeing business line had the largest backlog at September 30, 2026?

Commercial Airplanes' backlog was $611,833 million, against $100,505 million at Defense, Space & Security and $32,725 million at Global Services 2.

5. In what year was Boeing incorporated?

Boeing was incorporated in Washington state in 1916 1.

🔎Sources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked ✓). Company financials come from the reports each company files with the SEC (10-K annual and 10-Q quarterly reports). Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1 business: segments, workforce, unions, competition, regulation, incorporation (accessed 2026-11-08)
  2. Boeing Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 — MD&A: backlog, program rates, certification, supply chain, labor, funding, liquidity (accessed 2026-11-08)
  3. Boeing third quarter 2026 results, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 — Deliveries, orders, backlog, F/A-XX selection, HRL sale, Apache services award, cash and debt (accessed 2026-11-08)
  4. Boeing (BA) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-01-30 — revenue and cost of sales by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-11-04)
  5. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 7 MD&A: divestiture, Spirit, 737 rate history, deliveries, fleet demand forecast (accessed 2026-11-08)
  6. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1A risk factors: non-U.S. and U.S. government revenue, fixed-price contracts, debt, 777X, labor (accessed 2026-11-08)
  7. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 8 statements and notes: gain on dispositions, Notes 2 and 3, Note 23 legal matters (accessed 2026-11-08)
  8. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Boeing (BA) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  9. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP (GD) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  10. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP (LMT) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  11. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP /DE/ (NOC) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  12. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: TEXTRON INC (TXT) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  13. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: RTX Corp (RTX) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  14. Boeing Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 — Notes: Spirit consideration, fixed-price programs, debt, legal matters (accessed 2026-11-08)
  15. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Boeing (BA) — balance sheet at 2026-09-30 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  16. Lockheed Martin Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1: competition (accessed 2026-11-08)
  17. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 1: Defense, Space & Security competition; products (accessed 2026-11-08)
  18. Lockheed Martin Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2026 — Note 2: United Launch Alliance equity investment (accessed 2026-11-08)
  19. Northrop Grumman Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Competitive conditions: named defense competitors (accessed 2026-11-08)
  20. Stars and Stripes: Navy sixth-generation fighter award to Boeing — F/A-XX award and Northrop Grumman as the other competitor (accessed 2026-11-08)
  21. General Dynamics Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, Technologies (accessed 2026-11-08)
  22. Textron Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Bell military programs: V-22 and MV-75 (accessed 2026-11-08)
  23. RTX Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Collins customers: Boeing among its largest commercial customers (accessed 2026-11-08)
  24. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2024 — FAA limit on 737 production rate; 2024 strike dates and production effects (accessed 2026-11-08)
  25. SEC press release 2022-170: Boeing and former CEO charged over 737 MAX statements — Lives lost in the two 737 MAX accidents (accessed 2026-11-08)
  26. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2019 — 737 MAX grounding order, production cut and suspension (accessed 2026-11-08)
  27. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2020 — FAA rescinding the 737 MAX grounding order (accessed 2026-11-08)
  28. NTSB investigation DCA24MA063, Alaska Airlines flight 1282 — Door plug accident: date, injuries, probable cause (accessed 2026-11-08)
  29. Boeing Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Item 10 executive officers: chief executive (accessed 2026-11-08)
  30. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Boeing (BA) — quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)