"Lot of Progress" in Boeing, BA Earnings Need Strong 737 MAX Showing

Core Viewpoint - Boeing's stock has seen significant gains, with shares up 25% this year and nearly 40% over the last 12 months, indicating a positive market sentiment towards the company [1]. Production and Deliveries - Boeing has experienced a few good months in terms of deliveries and production, suggesting progress in operations [2]. - The focus for the upcoming earnings release will be on increasing the production rate of the 737 Max and the performance of the 787 production [3]. - There is a massive backlog of orders for Boeing, and the key challenge is to ramp up production to address this backlog [6]. Financial Outlook - The company is expected to have negative free cash flow for the full year, but there is potential for positive cash flow in the fourth quarter [9]. - Opportunities exist for Boeing to start paying down debt if they can achieve positive cash flow [10]. Market Demand - There are significant orders coming from markets like China, which is seen as a major tailwind for Boeing [5]. - The overall demand story for Boeing appears positive, with a shift towards production capabilities being crucial for future performance [7][8]. Credit Rating - Boeing currently holds a credit rating of triple B minus with a negative outlook, reflecting ongoing concerns about free cash flow [9].