Advertisement

Boeing’s market value takes $25B hit as countries ground 737 MAX 8 aircraft

Click to play video: 'Marc Garneau: Canada prepared to ground MAX 8 if need be'
Marc Garneau: Canada prepared to ground MAX 8 if need be
WATCH: Marc Garneau says Canada prepared to ground MAX 8 if need be – Mar 12, 2019

Boeing Co’s stock took another beating on Tuesday, knocking off more than $25 billion from the planemaker’s market value over the past two days, as more countries lined up to ground its 737 MAX 8 aircraft following Sunday’s deadly crash in Ethiopia.

Britain joined China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and other countries in banning the 737 MAX planes, squeezing the shares, which had been one of best performing stocks so far this year on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

READ MORE: Boeing 737 MAX 8 bans — what Canadian travellers should know

Boeing shares have delivered a total return – including reinvested dividends – of nearly four times the performance of the full index since U.S. stocks began rebounding from the 2007-09 financial crisis.

The stock fell 7 percent to $372 in midday trade on Tuesday, adding to a 5 percent decline on Monday. The losses set the stock for its biggest two-day percentage drop since June 2009.

Story continues below advertisement

Shares of U.S. airlines were broadly lower in midday trade, with the S&P 1500 airlines index off 1.5 percent.

WATCH: Global fears grow over Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 planes

Click to play video: 'Global fears grow over Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 planes'
Global fears grow over Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 planes

Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group Inc, which analysts said were among the U.S. airlines most exposed to the Boeing aircraft model at issue, saw their shares fall more than 2 percent.

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.

Get weekly money news

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

At least seven of the 24 analysts covering the stock have reviewed their ratings over the last two days, with two downgrades and one price target cut so far, according to Refinitiv data.

DZ Bank became the first brokerage in nearly two years to place a “sell” rating on the stock, while setting a price target of $333 – the lowest on Wall Street.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: Pressure mounting for Boeing after deadly Ethiopian airlines crash

Click to play video: 'Pressure mounting for Boeing after deadly Ethiopian airlines crash'
Pressure mounting for Boeing after deadly Ethiopian airlines crash

Brokerage Edward Jones also downgraded the stock to “hold” from “buy,” saying the accidents could result in additional expenses, some order delays and pressure financial results.

The single-aisle 737, the world’s most-sold commercial aircraft, is central to Boeing’s future. The MAX line is the fastest-selling jetliner in the company’s history with more than 5,000 orders booked and a backlog valued at nearly $500 billion at list prices.

READ MORE: Boeing 737 MAX aircraft banned from European airspace after deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash

The United States will mandate that Boeing implement design changes by April, but said the plane was airworthy and did not need to be grounded.

Story continues below advertisement

Boeing defended its aircraft and said it has “full confidence in the safety of the Max.”

Safety experts say it is too early to speculate on what caused Sunday’s crash and black box recorders were yet to yield the cause.

Sponsored content

AdChoices