Category Stockmarkets
Boeing faces lawsuit over alleged safety and profit prioritization

© Reuters

NEW YORK – A class action lawsuit has been filed against The Boeing Company (NYSE: NYSE:), alleging that the aerospace giant prioritized profits over safety, leading to manufacturing flaws in its 737 MAX aircraft. The lawsuit, lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, represents individuals and entities who acquired Boeing securities between October 23, 2019, and January 24, 2024.

According to the complaint, Boeing made false and misleading statements regarding its commitment to safety and quality during the specified period. The company had assured investors of its progress toward the safe return to service of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes in October 2018 and March 2019, which killed 346 people and resulted in the grounding of the aircraft model until December 2020.

The lawsuit claims that Boeing’s assurances were contradicted by a January 5, 2024 incident where a component known as a “door plug” detached from a 737 MAX 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight, causing a significant hole in the plane’s cabin. Subsequent investigations revealed other 737 MAX planes with similar issues, leading to further groundings.

Boeing’s stock price reportedly fell by 18.9% following these disclosures, from $249.00 on January 5, 2024, to $201.88 on January 25, 2024. The lawsuit suggests that the decline was a result of the market reacting to the company’s alleged failure to maintain adequate quality control standards.

Investors who have suffered a loss from Boeing shares and wish to participate in the action have until April 1, 2024, to apply to be appointed as lead plaintiff. The legal action is spearheaded by Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a law firm that specializes in stockholder rights and has a history of representing investors in various litigations.

This news is based on a press release statement and reflects the ongoing legal proceedings involving The Boeing Company, without implying any judgment or forecast of the lawsuit’s outcome.

InvestingPro Insights

As The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) faces legal challenges, it’s essential for investors to consider the company’s financial metrics and performance. According to real-time data from InvestingPro, Boeing’s market capitalization stands at $121.26 billion. Despite a significant revenue growth of 23.34% over the last twelve months as of Q3 2023, the company’s gross profit margin during the same period was relatively low at 11.44%. This aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips indicating that Boeing suffers from weak gross profit margins.

Investors should note that Boeing’s stock has experienced considerable volatility, with a 23.1% decline in the one-month price total return as of the end of 2024. The InvestingPro Tips also reveal that analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting potential optimism about the company’s future performance. However, they do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year, which reflects in the negative P/E ratio of -42.63.

For those looking to delve deeper into Boeing’s financials and investment potential, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights. Currently, InvestingPro lists a total of 10 additional tips for Boeing, which can be accessed by subscribers. The InvestingPro subscription is now on a special New Year sale with a discount of up to 50%. To get an even better deal, use coupon code SFY24 for an additional 10% off a 2-year InvestingPro+ subscription, or SFY241 for an additional 10% off a 1-year InvestingPro+ subscription. These tips and metrics can provide valuable context as investors navigate the implications of Boeing’s ongoing legal situation.

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