Boeing goes well beyond the Dreamliner

Article Excerpt

THE BOEING CO. $107 (New York symbol BA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 758.7 million; Market cap: $81.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.boeing.com) is a leading maker of passenger jets. The company launched its latest plane, the 787 Dreamliner, in 2011. The 787 uses advanced materials that are lighter than aluminum. That makes it 20% more fuel efficient than comparable planes. It also features state-of-the-art jet engines and electronics. Headline risk adds to volatility The new plane is off to a rocky start. In early 2013, air travel regulators grounded all 787s in response to a problem with the lithium-ion batteries that power the electrical systems. Boeing has since fixed the problem, but the stock remains sensitive to any bad news regarding the 787. The 787 is just a small part of Boeing’s commercial jet division, which accounted for 53% of its 2012 revenue and 61% of its earnings…