Boeing's Fourth-Quarter Earnings Fall Despite Revenue Gain, No Impact Seen From Grounding Of 787 Dreamliner Fleet

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) officials maintained Wednesday that the ongoing investigation of 787 Dreamliner batteries – which has led the Federal Aviation Administration to indefinitely ground all 787s -- would have “no significant financial impact” on profitability.

The Chicago-based aerospace giant issued the forecast as it reported a nearly 30 percent drop in net profit, to $978 million from $1.39 billion in the year-earlier quarter, which was boosted by a one-time favorable tax matter.

Earnings per share from continuing operations in the fourth quarter fell to $1.38 from $1.84, despite a revenue gain of 14 percent to $22.3 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.19.

“The company's current 2013 financial guidance assumes no significant financial impact from the FAA directive” to ground all in-service 787 Dreamliners until problems with the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries are solved.

Shares rose in premarket trading by 95 cents to $74.60.