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Boeing Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose sharply: Revenue was $23.9 billion, up from $15.2 billion a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $89.5 billion, up from $66.5 billion. Source
  • Gain drove per-share earnings: Diluted EPS was $10.23 and core EPS $9.92. The Digital Aviation Solutions gain added $11.83 per share. Source
  • Full-year operating earnings turned positive: Full-year earnings from operations were $4.3 billion, against a loss of $10.7 billion in 2024. Source
  • 737 production rate reached 42: The 737 program increased its production rate to 42 per month during the quarter. Source
  • Core operating margin above GAAP margin: Core operating earnings were $8.5 billion, a 35.6 percent margin, against a loss of $4.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow positive in quarter: Operating cash flow was $1.3 billion in the quarter, reflecting higher commercial deliveries and working capital timing. Source

“We made significant progress on our recovery in 2025 and have set the foundation to keep our momentum going in the year ahead,”

Kelly Ortberg, Boeing president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
777-9 first delivery Source20272027Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Spirit AeroSystems acquisition completed in December. Source
  • New: Digital Aviation Solutions transaction closed, with a gain on sale recorded. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose sharply: Revenue was $23.9 billion, up from $15.2 billion a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $89.5 billion, up from $66.5 billion. Source
  • Gain drove per-share earnings: Diluted EPS was $10.23 and core EPS $9.92. The Digital Aviation Solutions gain added $11.83 per share. Source
  • Full-year operating earnings turned positive: Full-year earnings from operations were $4.3 billion, against a loss of $10.7 billion in 2024. Source

Segment results

  • Commercial margin negative but narrower: Commercial Airplanes revenue was $11.4 billion, with an operating margin of (5.6) percent, against (43.9) percent a year earlier. Source
  • Defense segment margin negative: Defense, Space & Security revenue was $7.4 billion, with an operating margin of (6.8) percent in the quarter. Source
  • Global Services margin reflects gain: Global Services revenue was $5.2 billion. Its operating margin of 202.4 percent reflects the Digital Aviation Solutions gain. Source

“We completed the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems and the sale of portions of the Digital Aviation Solutions business and remain focused on promoting stable operations”

Kelly Ortberg, Boeing president and chief executive officer

Products and customers

  • 737 production rate reached 42: The 737 program increased its production rate to 42 per month during the quarter. Source
  • 777X in certification flight testing: The 777-9 began the Type Inspection Authorization 3 phase of certification flight testing in the quarter. Source
  • Alaska and Emirates orders booked: Commercial Airplanes booked 336 net orders in the quarter, including Alaska Airlines and Emirates orders for 737-10, 787-9 and 777-9 airplanes. Source
  • Defense awards for tankers and helicopters: Defense, Space & Security won a U.S. Air Force award for 15 KC-46A tankers and a U.S. Army contract for 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters. Source

Costs and margins

  • Core operating margin above GAAP margin: Core operating earnings were $8.5 billion, a 35.6 percent margin, against a loss of $4.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • FAS/CAS adjustment added to GAAP: The FAS/CAS service cost adjustment added $258 million to quarterly GAAP operating earnings, and $1,045 million for the full year. Source
  • Unallocated costs reduced operating earnings: Unallocated items, eliminations and other reduced operating earnings by $886 million in the quarter and $3,031 million for the year. Source
  • Low tax rate in quarter: The effective tax rate was 1.2 percent in the quarter and 15.1 percent for the full year. Source

Cash flow and spending

  • Operating cash flow positive in quarter: Operating cash flow was $1.3 billion in the quarter, reflecting higher commercial deliveries and working capital timing. Source
  • Capital spending on Charleston and Saint Louis: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $956 million in the quarter and $2.9 billion for the full year. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive in quarter: Free cash flow was $375 million in the quarter and negative $1,877 million for the full year, against negative $14.3 billion in 2024. Source

Debt, liquidity and shares

  • Cash and investments rose: Cash and marketable securities were $29.4 billion, up from $23.0 billion, driven by Digital Aviation Solutions proceeds and free cash flow. Source
  • Debt rose with Spirit acquisition: Debt was $54.1 billion, up from $53.4 billion, mainly reflecting the Spirit AeroSystems acquisition. Source
  • Credit facilities remain undrawn: The company has $10.0 billion of credit facilities, which remain undrawn. Source
  • Diluted share count rose: Diluted weighted average shares were 803.8 million in the quarter, against 717.9 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and priorities

  • Development and trust named as priorities: Management named completing development programs and rebuilding trust with stakeholders among its priorities, with the aim of full restoration. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 January 2026

  • 737-10 final-phase flight testing: Management said the 737-10 is now in the final phase of certification flight testing, following FAA approval. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Commercial Airplanes deliveries, fourth quarter Source160
Commercial Airplanes deliveries, full year Source600
Commercial Airplanes net orders, full year Source1,173
Commercial Airplanes backlog Source$567,290 million
Defense, Space & Security backlog Source$84,786 million
Global Services backlog Source$29,720 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Results include impacts associated with the Spirit AeroSystems acquisition, which the company identified as a driver of segment results. Source
  • Operational: The KC-46A program produced $0.6 billion of losses, driven by higher estimated production support and supply chain costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it still anticipates first delivery in 2027, the date it gave last quarter. Source
  • Met: Management said the 737 rate increase to 42 per month was carried out, after the FAA agreement reached in October. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.