Dan Niles, founder and portfolio manager at Niles Investment Management, singled out Boeing as one of his highest-conviction ideas for 2026 during a CNBC appearance. He highlighted a record commercial backlog of more than 7,000 aircraft, driven by strong global air travel demand and fleet renewal programs. Niles also pointed to accelerating free cash flow, which he expects to exceed $6 billion next year, and improving delivery rates from four jets per month to six by mid-2026, factors he believes will support further multiple expansion.

The Pentagon awarded Boeing an $8.6 billion Foreign Military Sales contract to build 25 F-15IA fighter jets for the Israeli Air Force, with an option for 25 additional aircraft through 2035. Under the agreement, $840 million in funding was obligated immediately, and all production work will take place at Boeing’s St. Louis facility. This award follows a recent modification for depot maintenance services in Oklahoma City that increased that contract’s value to $4.2 billion, underscoring Boeing’s expanding defense backlog.

On December 30, 2025, Boeing led the industrials sector as U.S. equity benchmarks traded near record highs. Shares advanced as investors rotated into economically sensitive names, with Boeing’s stock rising about 0.8% on news of the Israeli contract. The shift toward value-oriented areas reflects expectations of a broader economic recovery and positions Boeing to capitalize on both commercial airline growth and defense spending increases in 2026.