Airbus targets 870 deliveries this year, below estimates as Boeing competition tightens

Core Viewpoint - Airbus is facing increased pressure as it expects to deliver 870 commercial aircraft in 2026, slightly below analyst expectations of 880, amid signs of recovery from rival Boeing [1][2]. Group 1: Airbus Performance - Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in the previous year, exceeding its target of 790, despite having previously cut its goal from 820 due to supplier quality issues affecting A320 family deliveries [3]. - In the fourth quarter, Airbus reported adjusted EBIT of 2.98 billion euros, aligning with estimates, while revenues were 25.98 billion euros, slightly below the expected 26.5 billion euros [14]. - For the full year, Airbus achieved EBIT of 7.13 billion euros on revenues of 73.4 billion euros, and it anticipates adjusted EBIT of around 7.5 billion euros and free cash flow of about 4.5 billion euros in 2026 [15]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Boeing is showing signs of recovery, having delivered 46 aircraft and booked 103 net orders in January 2026, while Airbus reported only 19 deliveries and 49 net orders during the same period [11][12]. - The sentiment around Airbus has become more negative since the beginning of the year, with UBS analysts adjusting their delivery model for Airbus from 905 to 880 aircraft for 2026, while noting potential upside risks for Q4 results [2]. - Analysts from Barclays described Airbus's recent disruptions as a "temporary execution setback," maintaining that the long-term growth trajectory remains intact [6].