After an unexpectedly prolonged mission, the astronauts involved in Boeing’s Starliner project are finally on the verge of returning home. What was initially planned as an eight to ten-day trip has morphed into an extensive eight to ten-month ordeal. This news has been met with relief from shareholders, as Boeing's stock (BA) saw a nearly 3% increase during Wednesday afternoon trading sessions.
The upcoming Crew-10 flight, scheduled to launch on March 12, will serve as the journey home not only for the Crew-9 astronauts but also for seasoned space travelers Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been aboard the International Space Station since June. Although their extended stay raised concerns, both the astronauts and Boeing have emphasized that they were never stranded in space.
Following a designated "handover period" of several days, the crew, alongside Williams and Wilmore, will return to Earth, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The situation surrounding their prolonged mission inevitably drew political commentary, with the Trump administration placing blame on the Biden administration for the delay. However, the astronauts themselves have maintained that politics did not influence their mission or timeline.
In an unexpected twist, Boeing has recently completed the construction of 20 new silos in Alaska as part of the Fort Greely missile defense system. This expansion increases the facility’s capacity to launch missile interceptors from 44 to 64. These interceptors are integral to the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, which is over two decades old and designed to counter potential threats from nations such as Iran and North Korea.
There are also indications that further enhancements to this defense system may be on the horizon. Reports suggest that Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) is working on legislation that could add an additional 16 silos, raising the total from 64 to 80. This development reflects Boeing's ongoing commitment to national defense initiatives.
Turning our attention to Wall Street, analysts have issued a Moderate Buy consensus rating for Boeing (BA) stock based on recent evaluations. This rating comprises 13 Buy recommendations, five Holds, and one Sell, reflecting a balanced outlook on the stock’s performance over the past three months.
Despite experiencing a 19.66% loss in its share price over the past year, the average price target for BA stock stands at $196.88 per share, indicating a potential upside of 20.35%. Investors interested in aerospace and defense stocks should keep an eye on Boeing’s developments and analyst recommendations as they consider their portfolio options.
For more insights on BA analyst ratings and market trends, stay tuned to our updates.
