Cramer Changes His Tune on Boeing
Mad Money host Jim Cramer is warming up to Boeing Co. (BA), and that's notable given the rough couple of years the aerospace giant has endured. On Wednesday, Cramer posted on X that he was "starting to lean" towards the aviation manufacturer, teasing what could be a "monstrous 2026" ahead.
While Cramer didn't spell out his specific reasoning, the timing aligns with Boeing's steady climb out of what's been a regulatory and reputational nightmare. Remember, this is a company that's spent years dealing with fatal crashes, lawsuits, and the kind of federal scrutiny that makes executives lose sleep.
The Turnaround Takes Shape
Over just the past month, Boeing has landed some serious wins. The company secured a $7 billion contract from the U.S. military, along with substantial deals from airlines in the UAE and Ethiopia. These additions bolster what's already a massive $636 billion order book, which sounds impressive until you remember they still need to actually build and deliver these planes.
More importantly, the regulatory environment is shifting in Boeing's favor. The Federal Aviation Administration recently dialed back some of the restrictions it slapped on the company after those two devastating 737 Max crashes in 2019. Boeing can now handle its own final safety inspections again, and the FAA is considering whether to lift the production cap that currently limits 737 Max output to 38 jets per month.
Wall Street Joins the Optimism
Cramer isn't alone in his newfound bullishness. Several prominent analysts have upgraded their outlook on the stock, signaling they see meaningful upside from here. Sergey Glinyanov at Freedom Capital Markets recently upgraded Boeing (BA) to "Buy" from "Hold," setting a price target of $223. That represents about 19% upside from current trading levels.
The broader analyst consensus is even more optimistic. Based on ratings from 23 aviation industry analysts, the consensus price target sits at $230 per share, suggesting roughly 23% upside potential.
As for the stock itself, Boeing shares climbed 2.46% on Wednesday to close at $186.92, with minimal movement in after-hours trading (up just 0.02%). Worth noting: the stock's technical picture remains challenging, with unfavorable price trends across short, medium, and long-term timeframes according to market data.
The question now is whether Boeing can actually execute on this opportunity. The orders are there, the regulatory pressure is easing, and Wall Street is getting interested again. But turning that into the kind of "monstrous" performance Cramer is hinting at? That's going to require Boeing to do something it's struggled with lately: deliver planes on time, safely, and without the drama that's defined the past few years.