Sept. 21, 2016: Today’s weekly analyst synopsis includes commentary on the US presidential election on defense stocks; some updates about Boeing and its recent appearance before the Morgan Stanley conference; and improvements at Zodiac, which affect Airbus.
Analysts continue to believe Boeing will further cut the 777 Classic production rate, with an annoucnement toward the end of this year.
General update, September 15, 2016
We see November elections as likely to support a growing DoD budget that is already set to grow. We are skeptical, however, that either candidate would be able to break through Congressional gridlock. With our current view of low to mid-single digit growth for DoD spending, we see defense stocks as generally at fair value, particularly when pensions are considered. We prefer General Dynamics (valuation, Gulfstream issues priced in) and Raytheon (international exposure), and BAE Systems (valuation) and rate each Outperform.
Weekly Insights, Sept. 19, 2016
For 2017, Boeing guided to flat BCA and BDS sales, higher cash flow (vs. 2016), and challenges to the goal for double digit BCA margins. BA also appeared to indicate risk to its ~1x book to bill guide for 2016. BA states that pending competitions in the next 2-3 months will drive a decision on 777 rates. That appears to preclude BA lowering 777 rates on the 3Q16 earnings call. Although, BA noted to us that we shouldn’t read anything into the comments about what’s said when they report 3Q16, we think it’s possible BA lowers 777 production rates to 4/mo. |
Zodiac reported F4Q results noting a substantial increase in lavatory production rates to 7/mo in August – consistent with the rate Airbus needs to achieve 50 deliveries by year end. Despite the improvement, we see risk to Airbus’ guide for 50 A350 deliveries this year. Under coverage, HXL and SPR are most impacted by the A350 with each having a shipset content of $5M.
Airlines and A+D Update, Sept. 19, 2016
Boeing (via its CEO) provided a comprehensive update that pointed to deliveries growing in 2017 but with flattish revenues, orders concentrated in narrow-bodies over wide-bodies with a book to bill remaining roughly at 1x, and cash flow growth in an even punitive environment (i.e. with a 777 cut announcement that appears more probable later in the year), all of which helped our OverWeight rating. Elsewhere, SPR (OW) supported growing cash flow and manageable 737 rate increases, all while a resolution over BA negotiations appeared to be in the works.
Just a general question. Anybody know when the first flight of the a350-1000 will happen. RR haven’t certified the Trent XWB-97 yet. Are dates going backwards?
AFAIK, the 1st Flight has been postponed a bit (about 2 months). Seems indeed related to some engine test to be done before FF. No more specific news, the program remains challenging.
Should be in the next month or 2 with EIS around Q3 2017 hopefully, my guesstimate. The parts are arriving for it now apparently.
Parts for Qatars first that is. Three prototypes have already been built or are being completed / tweaked
Some breaking (good) news for both Boeing & Airbus. According to Reuters, US has just started to unblock sales to Iran (a first export license has been issued). Airbus might be allowed to deliver a first batch of 17 airplanes to Iran.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-aviation-idUSKCN11R1JH?il=0