Core Viewpoint - Boeing has faced significant challenges in recent years, with its stock underperforming compared to the S&P 500, but recent operational improvements and a strong backlog provide a glimmer of hope for recovery [1][10]. Group 1: Stock Performance - As of July 8, Boeing's five-year total return was only 22%, significantly lower than the S&P 500's return of approximately 112% [1]. - Boeing stock started 2025 poorly, falling 23% through early April, but rebounded to a 23% increase by June 8, outperforming the S&P 500's 6% return [2][3]. Group 2: Operational Improvements - Boeing reported a 27% increase in commercial plane deliveries in June compared to the previous year, with a total of 60 planes delivered [4]. - For the first half of 2025, Boeing's commercial plane deliveries reached 280, marking a 60% increase from the first half of 2024 [4]. - Defense, Space, and Security deliveries also improved, totaling 62, a nearly 48% increase from 42 in the first half of 2024 [4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Boeing is narrowing the gap with Airbus, which delivered 306 planes in the first half of 2025, while Boeing's deliveries have surged [5]. - Airbus's deliveries fell by around 5.6%, indicating a potential shift in market dynamics favoring Boeing [5]. Group 4: Safety Concerns - Safety remains a critical issue for Boeing, highlighted by the recent Air India crash involving a 787 Dreamliner, which could impact public perception [6][7]. - Despite efforts to improve safety, including leadership changes and quality control measures, it will take time to rebuild trust in Boeing's safety record [8]. Group 5: Backlog and Future Outlook - Boeing's backlog stood at 5,953 planes at the end of June, indicating strong demand and a potential for future growth [9]. - The current recovery is seen as a positive sign, but Boeing must continue to improve execution to see significant stock appreciation [10].

Earnings for Q1 2025 are rolling out. Some companies in an unexpected industry posted strong results. In turn, Wall Street analysts are upgrading these stocks. While investors wouldn’t generally think manufacturing-heavy stocks would perform well during a period of tariff uncertainty, that is exactly what has happened in the aerospace and defense industry. Demonstrating this is that the return of the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF BATS: ITA is the inverse of the overall market in 2025. As of the April ...