Boeing Reports First-Quarter Results

Source: Boeing

First Quarter 2023

• Still expect to deliver 400-450 737 airplanes in 2023; plan to increase production to 38 per month later this year
• Revenue increased to $17.9 billion primarily reflecting 130 commercial deliveries
• Operating cash flow of ($0.3) billion and free cash flow of ($0.8) billion (non-GAAP); cash and marketable securities of $14.8 billion
• Total company backlog of $411 billion, including over 4,500 commercial airplanes
• Reaffirm guidance: $4.5-$6.5 billion of operating cash flow and $3.0-$5.0 billion of free cash flow (non-GAAP)

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] recorded first-quarter revenue of $17.9 billion, GAAP loss per share of ($0.69), and core loss per share (non-GAAP)* of ($1.27) (Table 1). Boeing reported operating cash flow of ($0.3) billion and free cash flow of ($0.8) billion (non-GAAP). Results improved on commercial volume and performance.

“We delivered a solid first quarter and are focused on driving stability for our customers,” said Dave Calhoun, Boeing president and chief executive officer. “We are progressing through recent supply chain disruptions but remain confident in the goals we set for this year, as well as for the longer term. Demand is strong across our key markets and we are growing investments to advance our development programs and innovate strategic capabilities for our customers and for our future.”

Operating cash flow was ($0.3) billion in the quarter reflecting higher commercial deliveries and favorable receipt timing (Table 2).

Cash and investments in marketable securities totaled $14.8 billion, compared to $17.2 billion at the beginning of the quarter (Table 3). Debt was $55.4 billion, down from $57.0 billion at the beginning of the quarter due to the pay down of debt maturities. The company has access to credit facilities of $12.0 billion, which remain undrawn.

Total company backlog at quarter-end was $411 billion.

Segment Results

Commercial Airplanes

Commercial Airplanes first-quarter revenue increased to $6.7 billion driven by higher 737 and 787 deliveries, partially offset by 787 customer considerations (Table 4). Operating margin of (9.2) percent also reflects abnormal costs and period expenses, including research and development.

On the 737 program, earlier this month the program’s fuselage supplier notified Boeing that a non-standard manufacturing process was used on two fittings in the aft fuselage section of certain 737 airplanes. This is not an immediate safety of flight issue and the in-service fleet can continue operating safely. While near-term deliveries and production will be impacted as the program performs necessary inspections and rework, the program still expects to deliver 400-450 airplanes this year. On production, the supplier master schedule remains unchanged including anticipated production rate increases, which will result in higher inventory levels. The company expects final assembly production to recover in the coming months with plans to increase to 38 per month later this year and 50 per month in the 2025/2026 timeframe.

The 787 program is producing at three per month with plans to ramp production to five per month in late 2023 and to 10 per month in the 2025/2026 timeframe.

During the quarter, Commercial Airplanes secured net orders of 107. Also during the quarter the company secured commitments from Air India for 190 737 MAX, 20 787, and 10 777X airplanes and from Riyadh Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines for up to 121 787 airplanes. Commercial Airplanes delivered 130 airplanes during the quarter and backlog included over 4,500 airplanes valued at $334 billion.

Defense, Space & Security

Defense, Space & Security first-quarter revenue was $6.5 billion. First-quarter operating margin of (3.2) percent primarily reflects a $245 million pre-tax charge on the KC-46A Tanker program largely driven by the previously shared supplier quality issue resulting in factory disruption and rework. Results also include the continued operational impact of labor instability and supply chain disruption on other programs.

During the quarter, Defense, Space & Security captured awards from the U.S. Army for 184 Apaches and from the U.S. Air Force for 15 KC-46A Tankers and the initial E-7 development contract. Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $58 billion, of which 30 percent represents orders from customers outside the U.S.

Global Services

Global Services first-quarter revenue of $4.7 billion and operating margin of 17.9 percent reflect higher commercial volume and favorable mix.

During the quarter, Global Services committed to set up the first Boeing Converted Freighter line in India in collaboration with GMR Aero Technic, delivered AerCap’s 50th 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter and broke ground on a new component operations facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

Additional Financial Information

The increase in loss from Other unallocated items and eliminations was driven by timing of allocations and deferred compensation expense. Other income primarily reflects an increase in investment income due to higher interest rates. The first-quarter effective tax rate primarily reflects the tax benefit of pretax losses.

Segment results reflect the realignment of Boeing Capital into the Commercial Airplanes segment during the first quarter of 2023. Prior period amounts have also been reclassified to conform to the 2023 presentation.

Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company’s ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:

Core Operating Loss, Core Operating Margin and Core Loss Per Share

Core operating loss is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment. The FAS/CAS service cost adjustment represents the difference between the Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) pension and postretirement service costs calculated under GAAP and costs allocated to the business segments. Core operating margin is defined as core operating loss expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core loss per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment and Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses. Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses represent the components of net periodic benefit costs other than service cost. Pension costs allocated to BDS and BGS businesses supporting government customers are computed in accordance with U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), which employ different actuarial assumptions and accounting conventions than GAAP. CAS costs are allocable to government contracts. Other postretirement benefit costs are allocated to all business segments based on CAS, which is generally based on benefits paid. Management uses core operating loss, core operating margin and core loss per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude non-service pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the non-GAAP and GAAP measures is provided on page 13.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is GAAP operating cash flow reduced by capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. See Table 2 on page 2 and page 14 for reconciliations of free cash flow to GAAP operating cash flow.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable when made, but that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are risks related to: (1) general conditions in the economy and our industry, including those due to regulatory changes; (2) our reliance on our commercial airline customers; (3) the overall health of our aircraft production system, planned commercial aircraft production rate changes, our ability to successfully develop and certify new aircraft or new derivative aircraft, and the ability of our aircraft to meet stringent performance and reliability standards; (4) changing budget and appropriation levels and acquisition priorities of the U.S. government, as well as the potential impact of a government shutdown; (5) our dependence on our subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the availability of highly skilled labor and raw materials; (6) competition within our markets; (7) our non-U.S. operations and sales to non-U.S. customers; (8) changes in accounting estimates; (9) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures/strategic alliances or divestitures; (10) our dependence on U.S. government contracts; (11) our reliance on fixed-price contracts; (12) our reliance on cost-type contracts; (13) contracts that include in-orbit incentive payments; (14) unauthorized access to our, our customers’ and/or our suppliers’ information and systems; (15) potential business disruptions, including threats to physical security or our information technology systems, extreme weather (including effects of climate change) or other acts of nature, and pandemics or other public health crises; (16) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government inquiries or investigations; (17) potential environmental liabilities; (18) effects of climate change and legal, regulatory or market responses to such change; (19) changes in our ability to obtain debt financing on commercially reasonable terms, at competitive rates and in sufficient amounts; (20) substantial pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; (21) the adequacy of our insurance coverage; (22) customer and aircraft concentration in our customer financing portfolio; and (23) work stoppages or other labor disruptions.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.