Boeing Shares Receive Bullish Endorsement from Citigroup with Significant Upside Projected

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Boeing's stock demonstrated notable strength as trading concluded for the week. The aerospace manufacturer's shares advanced more than 1.8% on Friday, buoyed by a fresh and optimistic assessment from Wall Street. Analysts at Citigroup have initiated coverage on the company with a definitive "Buy" recommendation, accompanied by a price target substantially above current trading levels. This positive sentiment coincides with the firm reporting tangible progress in its efforts to ramp up aircraft production.

The company's recent operational metrics offer concrete support for the growing optimism. In November, Boeing delivered a total of 44 commercial aircraft. This delivery batch included 32 units of the 737 MAX, the program central to the company's cash flow generation, alongside 12 wide-body jets, which comprised 787 Dreamliners.

Furthermore, the company recorded 164 gross new orders for the month, a figure that comfortably exceeded cancellations. A key highlight was new demand for the 777X program from carriers in the Middle East, underscoring the persistent robust demand for long-haul aircraft. Market experts view this stabilization in production and orders as a critical prerequisite for Boeing's goal of returning to positive free cash flow by 2026.

Citigroup Sets a $265 Price Target

Leading the current wave of analyst confidence is Citigroup strategist John Godyn. In his newly published analysis, he assigns Boeing a price target of $265 per share. This projection implies a potential upside of approximately 30% from recent levels. The rationale behind this bullish stance is the expectation that Boeing will successfully accelerate its production rates and stabilize its balance sheet over the next one to two years.

This perspective is not isolated. UBS recently reaffirmed its own "Buy" rating for Boeing, accompanied by a $275 price objective. The broader analyst consensus has now coalesced in a range between $230 and $250 per share, which remains decisively higher than the recent price near $204.

Certification Delay for 737 MAX 7 Model

Despite the positive momentum, challenges persist on the regulatory front. Southwest Airlines, the launch customer for the smaller 737 MAX 7 variant, now anticipates certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by August 2026. This timeline is later than initially projected, reflecting a continued period of intensified regulatory scrutiny for Boeing.

The immediate market reaction to this news on Friday was relatively muted. However, the delay confirms that the company remains under a heightened level of oversight, which will defer revenue and deliveries from this specific model until late 2026 or early 2027 at the earliest.

Technical and Fundamental Outlook

From a chart perspective, Boeing's equity is approaching a significant technical level. Friday's close above the $203 mark indicates near-term strength, with the next notable resistance point seen at the 200-day moving average, currently around $214. Institutional investors appear to be positioning for a longer-term recovery narrative.

The company's next quarterly earnings report is scheduled for early February 2026. In the interim, monthly delivery figures and updates on aircraft certification processes are likely to be the primary drivers of share price movement.