Boeing revenue rises 8% to $70.965 billion in first nine months of 2026

Key Facts

Boeing said revenue reached $70.965 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2026, up 8% from the same period a year earlier. But the company posted a net loss of $551 million over the same period. The cumulative results came amid divergent performance across the company’s businesses: commercial aircraft continued to post operating losses, while the defense and services segments recorded operating profits in the third quarter. Boeing shares fell 1.8% in morning trading on the day results were announced, according to a report published by Investing.com on October 27. Company data also showed that its total backlog reached a record at the end of the third quarter.

The commercial airplanes segment posted an operating loss of $697 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared with a loss of $5.353 billion in the same quarter of 2025. Boeing said the segment’s performance was affected by a less favorable delivery mix, higher expected costs related to future production-rate changes, and increased estimates for supply-chain costs. It also said the operating margin in the third quarter of last year was affected by a charge on the 777X program, a factor to consider when reading the year-over-year comparison. The company delivered 161 commercial aircraft in the third quarter, compared with 160 a year earlier. In the first nine months of 2026, deliveries totaled 475 aircraft, compared with 440 in the same period of 2025.

Boeing’s total backlog rose to $745.431 billion on September 30, 2026, from $682.207 billion at the end of 2025. The company said in July that its backlog stood at $715 billion, including more than 6,200 commercial aircraft. In the defense, space and security segment, backlog reached a record $101 billion, with 23% from customers outside the United States. Boeing said its defense segment secured a seven-year contract during the quarter to expand production of the PAC-3 seeker. These contracts reflect growth in recorded orders alongside the challenge of converting them into production and deliveries.

Revenue in the defense, space and security segment rose 15% to $7.935 billion in the third quarter, from $6.902 billion a year earlier. Operating profit increased to $492 million, compared with $114 million in the same period. Boeing said the 6.2% operating margin mainly reflected a $252 million gain from the sale of HRL Laboratories, alongside improved operating performance. Global Services recorded revenue of $5.574 billion and operating profit of $1.019 billion, increases of 4% and 9% year over year, respectively. The company said Global Services won a U.S. Army contract to provide maintenance services for the AH-64 Apache helicopter fleet.

Operating cash flow improved to $1.496 billion in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $1.123 billion in the same period a year earlier. Free cash flow rose to $464 million, from $238 million a year earlier. Boeing ended the quarter with $20.7 billion in cash and marketable securities investments, compared with $20.0 billion at the end of the second quarter. Consolidated debt stood at $45.9 billion at quarter-end, unchanged from the end of the previous quarter. Additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $1.032 billion, compared with $885 million a year earlier, and the company said spending mainly reflected higher investment at its Charleston and St. Louis sites.

Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said Boeing is focused on safety, quality, disciplined execution and meeting its commitments. For its aircraft programs, the company said 787 production is stable at eight aircraft a month. It said the first 777-9 delivery remains targeted for 2027, with flight certification testing ongoing. On October 20, Boeing announced that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had approved the amended type certificate for the 737-10, clearing it for commercial service. The company also announced that the U.S. Navy had selected it to design, build and deliver a next-generation fighter, but said the order would not enter its backlog until the selection review and evaluation were complete.