Boeing Shares Jump 13.2% Over Three Months: Can the Upward Trend Continue?

Boeing's Recent Stock Performance

Over the past three months, shares of Boeing (BA) have climbed 13.2%, outpacing the Aerospace-Defense sector, which saw a 12.3% increase. This growth is fueled by strong demand for aircraft, substantial contract wins, and a healthy backlog supporting ongoing revenue expansion across Boeing’s commercial, defense, and services divisions.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Comparing Defense Sector Stocks

Other major defense companies, including RTX Corporation (RTX) and General Dynamics (GD), have also posted gains in the same period. RTX’s shares rose 19.2%, while General Dynamics saw a 5.8% increase. RTX continues to secure significant orders for its proven defense products from both the Pentagon and international partners. General Dynamics benefits from frequent contract awards and its extensive global footprint.

Given Boeing’s strong showing relative to its industry peers, investors may be considering whether now is the right time to add BA to their portfolios. Let’s explore the factors behind Boeing’s stock movement and evaluate its investment outlook.

Key Drivers Behind Boeing's Growth

Boeing stands as one of the top U.S. aircraft manufacturers, leading in revenue, orders, and deliveries, especially within the commercial aerospace sector. The company has recently experienced robust order and delivery activity, thanks to rising demand for commercial jets.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes segment reported a 181% year-over-year increase in deliveries, resulting in a 139% jump in revenue for this division.

The outlook for Boeing’s defense and space operations remains positive. The U.S. government’s commitment to enhancing national defense and space capabilities is expected to drive further growth for Boeing.

During Q4 2025, the Defense, Space & Security division secured $15 billion in new orders, including contracts for 15 KC-46A tankers from the U.S. Air Force and 96 Apache helicopters for Poland. This led to a backlog of $85 billion as of December 31, 2025, and a 37% year-over-year revenue increase for the segment.

In February 2026, Boeing and Sun PhuQuoc Airways announced an agreement for up to 40 787 Dreamliner jets, strengthening Boeing’s presence in Southeast Asia—a rapidly expanding aviation market—and potentially paving the way for more orders as the airline grows its fleet.

Challenges Facing Boeing

Despite its growth prospects, Boeing faces several obstacles. The aviation sector continues to struggle with supply-chain issues, including shortages of engines, castings, and other essential parts. These disruptions have delayed aircraft deliveries and raised production costs, preventing manufacturers from fully benefiting from increased demand.

In 2025, Boeing saw order cancellations totaling $11.09 billion, primarily affecting the 777X, 737, and 787 models, which reduced revenue opportunities for its Commercial Airplanes segment.

Analyst Estimates for Boeing and Peers

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boeing’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has dropped by 40% over the past two months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RTX’s 2026 EPS estimate has increased by 1.49% in the same period, with a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 10.16%. General Dynamics’ 2026 EPS estimate has decreased by 3.1%, but its long-term earnings growth rate stands at 10.3%.

Boeing's Earnings Track Record

Over the past four quarters, Boeing exceeded earnings expectations twice and fell short twice, resulting in an average negative surprise of 80.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Liquidity Position

Boeing’s current ratio stands at 1.19, surpassing the industry average of 1.15. This indicates that the company has sufficient short-term assets to cover its short-term liabilities if needed.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation: Boeing Trades at a Discount

Boeing’s forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 1.83, which is lower than the industry average of 2.77. This means investors are paying less for each dollar of expected sales compared to other companies in the sector.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Investor Guidance

Boeing continues to benefit from strong order and delivery activity, boosting its commercial airplanes segment. Its defense and space business remains promising, supported by ongoing government contracts and a substantial backlog.

However, with a negative earnings growth outlook, new investors may want to wait for a more favorable entry point. Existing shareholders of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock can consider maintaining their positions, given Boeing’s solid liquidity.