Jim Cramer Doesn’t Have ‘Any Conviction Whatsoever’ That Boeing (BA) is Getting This Right

We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Latest Lightning Round: Top 10 Stocks to WatchSince Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) ranks 8th on the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Jim Cramer in a latest program on CNBC talked about the latest rebound in the market.

“Never get tired of all-time highs. We are experiencing a time for the market which is what I said would happen when the Fed starts cutting rates when the economy is still solid.”

Cramer said that the key reason the market roared to highs was strong earnings from top banks. He said since the Fed’s interest rate cuts have just started, investors believe maybe the “best is yet to come.”

Jim Cramer wondered whether this strong performance trend would be a “pattern” in this earnings season.

“We will find out soon enough. We will see if the positive action will be sustained.”

Cramer recommended investors to “listen to the calls” this earning season and “ponder a moment, and only then should you pull the trigger.”

“We are at the beginning of one of the year’s four reporting periods. Probably the most exciting. I can’t believe I still get fired up, but man, am I ever.”

For this article, we watched the latest episodes of Jim Cramer’s ‘Lightning Round’ segment on CNBC and picked 10 stocks he was talking about. With each company, we have mentioned its hedge fund sentiment. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Boeing Co (NYSE:BA)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 42

When asked about Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) in a latest program on CNBC, Cramer said that he’s “worried” about the company.

“Let me tell you why I’m worried. Because the balance sheet is not great. They should have raised capital when they had a chance to. It was jarring news, and I don’t have any conviction whatsoever that they are getting this right.”

Jim Cramer was previously bullish on Boeing Co (NYSE:BA). Why? The new CEO was the main reason.

Kelly Ortberg has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and brings a technical background to the role, a shift from the accounting-focused leadership that investors have found concerning.

Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is also increasing production rates, having already increased output and reactivated its third 737 MAX assembly line. The company has submitted a comprehensive plan to the FAA, aiming to surpass the current cap of 38 MAX airplanes per month. While these measures will not immediately impact earnings, they signal Boeing Co (NYSE:BA)’s commitment to sustainable growth.

On the certification front, Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is progressing with solutions for the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10, and has entered a new phase in the 777X certification campaign. These developments are seen as positive.

Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) has made progress with the 737 MAX program. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) has reduced traveled work, leading to cleaner fuselages and improved quality and reliability. Boeing’s submission of a comprehensive safety and quality plan to the FAA marks an important milestone. Production has increased from a low single-digit rate in the first quarter to 25 airplanes per month in June and July, though still short of the target of 38 airplanes per month by year-end. This increase suggests progress in managing manufacturing quality.

However, with worker strikes ongoing and credit ratings in danger, Boeing Co (NYSE:BA)’s journey back to normality will be long and hard.

Overall, Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) ranks 8th on Insider Monkey’s list titled Jim Cramer Latest Lightning Round: Top 10 Stocks to Watch. While we acknowledge the potential of Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion “Opportunity” for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.