Boeing reports wider third-quarter loss as crucial union vote looms
Investing.com — Boeing (NYSE:BA) has reported a deeper core loss in the third quarter and lower-than-anticipated overall revenues, as the aerospace giant grapples with the impact of a financially-damaging machinists strike.
The results come as the airplane maker braces for a crucial vote on Wednesday by the roughly 33,000 striking workers in the US Pacific Northwest on a revamped compensation deal, which has fueled hopes that the more than five-week old work stoppage may soon end.
The strike has threatened Boeing’s already strained finances, put its credit rating in jeopardy of slipping into junk territory, and led to a halt in production for some of its top-selling planes. Prior to the strike, Boeing was already working to address heavy scrutiny over its safety record following a dangerous mid-air door plug breach in January.
Operating cash flow during the three months ended on Sept. 30 sank to negative $1.35 billion, reflecting lower commercial widebody deliveries, unfavorable working capital timing, and the impact of the strike.
According to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 751, which represents the workers, the updated offer includes a $7,000 ratification bonus and a reinstated incentive plan. Greater contributions will also be plugged into employees’ 401(k) retirement plans, including a one-off $5,000 contribution and up to 12% in employer contributions.
Details of the potential strike settlement, such as the date on which workers would return to their posts, will be part of the vote, the IAM said.
Even if the labor action reaches its conclusion, new Boeing Chief Exeuctive Officer Kelly Ortberg said the company still faces a battle to return “to its former legacy.”
“Going forward, we will be focused on fundamentally changing the culture, stabilizing the business, and improving program execution, while setting the foundation for the future of Boeing,” said Ortberg.
Quarterly revenues at Boeing’s all-important commercial airlines division dropped by 5% to $7.44 billion, missing Bloomberg consensus estimates of $7.66 billion. Total group-wide revenue of $17.84 billion was also below expectations.
Core loss per share also widened to $10.44 from $3.26 in the corresponding period in 2023.
Boeing has previously filed a registration statement with the US markets regulator that will allow it to raise up to $25 billion via a mixture of debt securities and other classes of stock. In the filing, the embattled jetmaker did not say when or exactly how much it will raise through the offering, although media reports have suggested that a share sale could come before the end of the year due to impending debt maturities.
The company also announced it had secured a $10 billion credit line from banks including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs as part of a bid to shore up its finances. Boeing has previously said it will book a $5 billion loss in the third quarter and unveiled job cuts amounting to 10% of its global headcount.
Ortberg told employees earlier this month that “tough decisions,” such as structural changes, will be needed to bolster the performance of the wider business and ensure its long-term competitiveness.
Shares in Boeing were lower in early US trading on Wednesday.
“We are not expecting a significant stock reaction to the [third-quarter] results. The company had pre-announced the high level financial results, and prior to the conference call today, there is little incremental information on major issues, such as the strike, capital raise, further restructuring and portfolio changes, or near- or mid-term expectations for program production and deliveries and [free cash flow],” analysts at RBC Capital Markets said in a note to clients.