Boeing Co. profits soar 147% in 4th-quarter

Boeing Co. profits soar 147% in 4th-quarter    The Boeing Co. Wednesday reported a 147 percent jump in fourth quarter net income to $460 million, from $186 million in the year-prior period.
   Quarterly revenue improved 7 percent to $14.20 billion, from $13.31 billion in the third quarter 2004.
   Boeing said its commercial airplanes section generated revenue of $5.85 million up 7 percent. Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) delivered 73 aircraft in the quarter, compared to 67 a year ago.
   For the full year, Boeing’s net income is up 37 percent to $2.57 billion from $1.87 billion, with revenue up 5 percent to $54.45 billion.
   After 12 months, BCA received a record 1,002 net commercial airplane orders from 72 different customers, up 268 percent from 272 net orders in 2004. Gross orders in 2005, excluding cancellations and conversions, totaled 1,029. This figure was slightly less than its European rival Airbus which had 1,055 net orders and 1,111 gross orders in 2005.
   Boeing said it has received 291 firm orders from 27 customers for its 787 “Dreamliner” plane due to go into production this year.
   The company said it anticipates revenue of about $60 billion in 2006 and between $63.5 billion and $64.5 billion in 2007.
   “The commercial airplane outlook is very strong. The 2006 delivery forecast remains approximately 395 airplanes, 36 percent higher than in 2005, while 2007 deliveries are expected to increase between 440 and 445 airplanes,” Boeing said.