Text size
The chemoreceptor of a Boeing 737-A jet.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Federal Aviation Administration volition look into however Boeing handles safety-related communications with it, but the banal isn’t reacting, for a bully reason.
The review, reported precocious Monday by The Wall Street Journal, comes aft a tiny survey, conducted by the FAA, recovered that astir a 3rd of respondents astatine the institution reported difficulties successful being transparent with the regulator.
Boeing (ticker: BA) banal was up astir 1.3% successful greeting trading Tuesday. The S&P 500 had risen astir 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2%.
Safety is paramount successful the aerospace industry, but the stock’s deficiency of absorption makes immoderate sense. Boeing has been dealing with information issues for astir 2 years pursuing the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX pitchy successful March 2019.
The MAX is back successful astir countries passim the world. But the crashes that resulting successful its grounding, and the recertification process, led to accrued Congressional scrutiny, new laws regarding level certification, and a alteration of absorption astatine Boeing. Former CEO Dennis Muilenburg was succeeded by existent CEO Dave Calhoun. And portion each that was happening, Boeing created a board-level committee dedicated to information oversight.
All that means that to immoderate extent, the FAA missive is backward looking for investors. A batch of information quality is already reflected successful Boeing’s banal price. Shares are down astir 50% from their each clip high. Airbus (AIR. France) stock, for comparison, is down astir 20% from its peak.
What matters astir the missive is however Boeing’s caller absorption reacts to it.
“We instrumentality these matters with the utmost seriousness, and are continuously moving to amended the processes we person successful spot to guarantee the independency of the [FAA-related] members,” said Boeing successful an emailed statement. The institution acknowledged receiving the letter, but declined to marque it public. The FAA wasn’t instantly disposable for comment.
Boeing added successful its connection that the institution has worked hard to physique a civilization of unfastened connection and that it has told the unit that employees charged with communicating straight with the FAA indispensable beryllium accorded the aforesaid respect and deference the institution gives the regulator itself.
Barron’s precocious wrote positively astir Boeing stock, believing that if Calhoun took the close steps—including changing the company’s civilization to re-emphasize engineering excellence—the shares could gain. That nonfiction appeared earlier successful August. Shares are down astir 6% since then.
Airbus shares are disconnected astir 3%. News astir the Delta variant of Covid-19, and interest astir however if could impact question and request for jets, appears to beryllium weighing connected some stocks.
Write to Al Root astatine allen.root@dowjones.com
English (US) ·