Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg Leads Company Toward Recovery with Strong Leadership and Potential Upside of 12.06%

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has led the company towards recovery by addressing internal issues and reducing quarterly net loss to $612 million. Analysts forecast an average price target of $256.75, a 12.06% upside from the current share price. Boeing holds an "Outperform" rating with an average brokerage recommendation of 1.9. The estimated GF Value for Boeing in one year is $202.99, indicating a possible downside of 11.4% from the current price.

Boeing's CEO Kelly Ortberg has garnered praise for his first year at the helm, navigating the aviation giant through a series of challenges and driving significant improvements in performance. Ortberg, who stepped out of retirement to lead the company in August 2024, has been commended for his leadership, particularly in addressing internal issues and reducing Boeing's quarterly net loss to $612 million in the second quarter of 2025 [1].

In his first year, Ortberg secured a deal to end the Machinists’ strike, bringing Boeing’s Puget Sound factories back online. He also raised $21 billion in an expanded share sale in October, shoring up the company’s balance sheet. The CEO announced significant layoffs to cut 10% of the workforce, focusing on core areas of the business [2].

Ortberg increased production rates of the 737 MAX, bringing monthly production to the maximum allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Boeing reported a net loss of $612 million in the second quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from the $1.4 billion loss in the same period of 2024 [1].

In the defense business, Ortberg’s first year saw the start of a recovery, with two consecutive quarters showing no write-offs from fixed-price government contracts. Boeing won a contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, the F-47 [2].

Analysts forecast an average price target of $256.75 for Boeing Co (BA), a 12.06% upside from the current share price. The consensus recommendation gathered from 28 brokerage firms gives Boeing Co's (BA) average recommendation a score of 1.9, suggesting an "Outperform" status [3].

However, despite these achievements, Ortberg faced challenges, such as the Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, India, in June. The crash killed 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. The preliminary report from India’s civil aviation bureau found no recommended actions related to Boeing’s 787 and the General Electric engines powering the Dreamliner [2].

Looking ahead, Ortberg has outlined a to-do list for his second year, including navigating a work stoppage at Boeing’s St. Louis region defense factories, continuing to increase 737 MAX production, finalizing FAA certification for new plane models, and completing the acquisition of supplier Spirit AeroSystems [2].

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-receives-praise-year-aviation-giant-leader-2508-79/
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-receives-praise-year-aviation-giant-leader-2508/
[3] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/3049562/boeing-ba-cleared-to-acquire-spirit-aerosystems-in-47b-deal