Boeing Posts Stronger-Than-Expected Results

By Chelsey Dulaney 

Boeing Co. posted higher fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that easily beat expectations, but the company gave a disappointing earnings outlook for 2015.

Shares climbed nearly 4% premarket.

Boeing's results have been buoyed by strong commercial-jet demand in recent quarters, despite geopolitical developments that have slowed air-traffic growth in some regions.

Boeing and rival Airbus Group NV have built record order books on the promise of improved fuel efficiency. Tumbling oil prices, though, could make airlines defer investment in more fuel-efficient planes.

The world's largest aerospace company by revenue is working through a record $430 billion order backlog for commercial jets. That comes as some industry executives and investors have voiced concern about a potential bubble in jetliner demand.

Boeing reported a fourth-quarter profit of $1.47 billion, or $2.02 a share, compared with $1.23 billion, or $1.61 a share, a year earlier. Core operating earnings, which exclude items including pension components related to market fluctuations, rose to $2.31 from $1.88.

Revenue improved to $24.47 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected $2.11 in per-share earnings and $23.93 billion in revenue.

For 2015, Boeing guided for earnings of $8.20 to $8.40 a share on revenue of $94.5 billion to $96.5 billion. Analysts called for $8.64 a share and $93.25 billion, respectively.

Write to Chelsey Dulaney at [e-mail]

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