If You Invested $1,000 in Boeing or GE 5 Years Ago, Here’s What You’d Have Today

Core Insights - Over the past five years, General Electric (GE) Aerospace significantly outperformed Boeing, with GE returning +382.62% compared to Boeing's -8.41% [6] Boeing's Performance - Boeing faced multiple crises, including the 737 MAX grounding, COVID-19 impacts, supply chain issues, and a machinists' strike, leading to only 57 commercial deliveries in Q4 2024 [3] - The company accumulated $54.1 billion in consolidated debt and suspended its dividend, resulting in negative free cash flow [3] - In 2025, Boeing reported $89.46 billion in revenue, a 34.49% increase year over year, but the financial recovery remains challenging due to its debt levels [3] GE Aerospace's Transformation - GE Aerospace underwent a significant transformation by spinning off GE HealthCare in January 2023 and its energy business as GE Vernova in April 2024, focusing solely on aerospace [4] - The streamlined business achieved $45.86 billion in revenue for 2025, an 18.48% increase, and generated $7.69 billion in free cash flow, up 109% year over year [4] Comparative Returns - Over five years, a $1,000 investment in Boeing would have decreased to $916, while the same investment in GE Aerospace would have grown to $4,826 [6][7] - The S&P 500 index returned $1,714 over the same period, highlighting the stark contrast in performance between Boeing and GE Aerospace [6][7]