Examining Boeing’s Valuation After a 42.8% Gain and Cash Flow Turnaround

Debating what to do with Boeing stock? You’re not alone. With its share price ending last session at $221.35 and a strong rally over the past year, investors are buzzing as they consider whether to add, hold, or even take profits. Over the last twelve months, Boeing has delivered a stellar 42.8% return, and so far in 2024, it’s up nearly 29%. That is no fluke; in just the past week, the stock climbed 3.9%. Even looking further back, Boeing has been on a long-term recovery arc, returning over 53% in both the last three and five years.

Much of this momentum comes as the aviation industry navigates a tricky but promising landscape. Recent headlines point to rising airline demand and progress on resolving manufacturing delays, both of which have helped reshape risk perception around Boeing’s prospects. Investors have also reacted favorably to announcements about expanded partnerships and moves to improve production oversight, signifying more confidence in the company’s ability to deliver on its pipeline.

So, how does Boeing stack up on valuation? When we score the stock across six key checks for undervaluation, it comes in at 3 out of 6. That is not a screaming bargain, but it is no red flag either. Different approaches to valuation inevitably tell different stories, so which is most reliable for today’s market? Next, we will break down what each method reveals, and later share an even smarter way to put those numbers in perspective.

Boeing delivered 42.8% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Aerospace & Defense industry.

The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model estimates a company’s intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and discounting them back to today’s value using a required rate of return. This method gives investors a sense of what the business is worth based on its ability to generate cash over time.

For Boeing, the most recent free cash flow over the last twelve months is negative at $8.1 Billion. However, analysts anticipate a significant turnaround and forecast free cash flow to rise to $12.8 Billion by 2029. While direct analyst estimates only extend a few years ahead, Simply Wall St extrapolates these further by projecting steady growth in Boeing’s cash generation through 2035.

Based on these projections, the DCF analysis arrives at an intrinsic value of $319.00 per share. With Boeing’s current price at $221.35, this suggests the stock is trading at a substantial discount of around 30.6% relative to its estimated true value.

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