Filed under: Deals, Boeing Co (BA), Northrop Grumman (NOC)
After the market close, the US military announced that it was giving its new tanker refueling contract to Airbus parent EADS and Northrop Grumman Company NYSE: NOC). The market believed that The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), which has been supplying tankers for years, was a lock to get the deal.
The news is a stunning turnaround for Airbus since its planes will be adapted for military use. A year ago the European airframe company was in real trouble because of product delays. But, the tables have been turned recently. Boeing has been slow getting its new Dreamliner to customers. The plane has been delayed twice.
According to The Wall Street Journal “Under the contract, the Northrop-led team will build up to 179 tankers based on the Airbus A330 jetliner.” The deal is valued at $40 billion.
Shares in Boeing are down over 3% after hours and NOC is up 5.7%.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.











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