Boeing Posts $1.6B Loss on Charges

CHICAGO (TheStreet) -- Boeing(BA) reported an expected third-quarter net loss after it said it would take charges for delays in two key programs, and it reduced full-year earnings guidance.

The aircraft maker cut full-year 2009 earnings guidance to between $1.35 and $1.55 a share, down from $4.70 to $5, to reflect delays in the 787 and 747 programs. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had been looking for earnings of $1.53 a share.

For the quarter, Boeing reported a net loss of $1.6 billion, or $2.23 a share. Analysts had estimated a loss of $2.12 a share. Revenue rose 9% to $16.7 billion; analysts had estimated $17.2 billion.

> See The 787 Boeing Dreamliner

The loss reflected charges of $3.59 a share, including $2.46 a share related to 787 cost reclassification for the first three 787 aircraft, and 99 cents a share for 747 charges. While those charges were expected, Boeing also disclosed a charge of 14 cents a share for spending on the first three 787 aircraft in August and September.

The charges were "partially offset by solid performance in other commercial airplane programs and the company's defense business," Boeing said Wednesday. A year earlier, Boeing earned $695 million, or 96 cents a share.

"The 787 cost reclassification and the 747 charge for increased costs and difficult market conditions clearly overshadowed what continues to be otherwise solid performance across our commercial production programs and defense business," said CEO Jim McNerney, in a prepared statement.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes' revenue guidance remains unchanged at between $34 billion and $35 billion, while 2009 delivery guidance remains at 480 to 485 aircraft. Revenue guidance at its Integrated Defense Systems division remains unchanged at $33 billion to $34 billion.