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Boeing says Qantas orders 31 more 737-800s for $2.3 billion

Boeing is closing-out 2007 in fitting fashion: with yet another order in an already record year for commercial plane orders for the company.

Boeing announced Thursday Australia-based Qantas has ordered 31 more 737-800 commercial jetliners, in a deal worth roughly $2.3 billion, Reuters reported.

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) officials told the Puget Sound Business Journal Friday that Qantas' order is the largest order for its 737 class single-aisle plane.

Two years ago, in December 2005 Qantas agreed to buy up to 115 next-generation 787 Dreamliners worth up to $6.1 billion, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported Friday.

Continue reading Boeing says Qantas orders 31 more 737-800s for $2.3 billion

Boeing says 787 Dreamliner on track for 2008 delivery

Boeing Airlines 787 DreamlinerBoeing announced Tuesday that it is still on track to fly its first 787 Dreamliner in Q1 2008 and deliver the plane to its first customer, All Nippon Airways, by the end of 2008, The Wall Street Journal reported (subscription required).

Boeing (NYSE: BA) also confirmed full-build 787 aircraft production plans. Earlier this year, Boeing delayed delivery of the 787 by six months to about December 2008, instead of May 2008, due to a parts shortage and also to complete additional work previously assigned to contractors, Bloomberg News reported. Boeing's shares were down 40 cents to $92.33 in Tuesday mid-day trading.

Boeing has 762 orders for the 787, valued at about $120 billion. Analysts view an aerospace company's ability to deliver planes on time as critical to the company's future prospects, due to the high cost airlines incur for delayed planes. Delayed plane deliveries also discourage future plane orders, analysts generally agree.



In addition to the 787's next-generation passenger amenities and substantially improved fuel efficiency, the plane also serves as a touch-point in the aerospace battle between Boeing and Airbus.

Continue reading Boeing says 787 Dreamliner on track for 2008 delivery

Textron looks to the skies for earnings

Cessna CJ-1 jetLook for Textron (NYSE: TXT) to continue to benefit from the global economy's tailwind.

Strong global economic growth should continue to generate solid demand of the company's Cessna jets and planes, which accounted for 51% of its profits. Further, analysts expect Textron's Bell division to perform well in 2008-2009 on strong commercial and military helicopter orders.

Textron's Industrial division should also post solid results, manufacturing everything from golf carts to lawn care machinery to auto parts. A decent, stable dividend adds to the mix. The Reuters F2007/F2008 EPS consensus estimates for TXT are $3.49/$4.09.

Continue reading Textron looks to the skies for earnings

Remember when Boeing was a laughingstock?

Boeing (NYSE: BA) DreamlinerRemember four, five years ago when everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Boeing (NYSE: BA)? The company not only lost market share to Airbus SAS but ousted its CEO, Phil Condit, and his successor, Harry Stonecipher, for among other things having affairs with subordinates. Former CFO Michael Sears was sent to prison for his role in one of many Pentagon scandals involving the company.

Under Chief Executive James McNerney, who joined the plane maker from 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) in 2005, Boeing has managed to put its problems behind it. The company reported net income of $1.11 billion, or $1.44 a share on revenue of $16.5 billion, beating Wall Street expectations. Boeing also raised earnings, revenue and cash flow guidance for the year. It trimmed back its forecasts for 2008, but that's to be expected given the delays in the 787 Dreamliner and the slowdown in the defense business.

Shares of the Chicago-based company are up about 6% this year, underperforming peers Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) mainly because of worries about the Dreamliner. This reaction is overblown. First of all, the fact that new, sophisticated aircraft has been delayed is hardly surprising. If the delays continue however, that's more serious. For now, Boeing's customers haven't lost faith, placing 710 firm orders.

If the Dreamliner stays on track and the company gets its fair share of defense spending, the shares may head higher.

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Last updated: November 10, 2009: 11:07 PM

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