We are moving closer to the holiday season, and more people are booking flights to their dream destinations. It should be a good time for airlines and the companies that make them. That’s why on Tuesday, October 27, CNBC’s Jim Cramer recommended buying one major aerospace stock right now and another that he feels needs more time to recover.
The stock he recommended viewers buy right now is GE Aerospace (GE), while the stock he feels will take longer to recover is Boeing (BA). One thing the two stocks have in common is that both fell after the companies reported their earnings this month. However, Cramer thinks the drop is a good chance to buy both companies.
Why Cramer still likes GE Aerospace after the sell-off
The value of GE Aerospace’s stock reached about $389 per share on August 6, 2026, but it has dropped roughly 23% since then. The major reason the stock dropped is rising jet fuel prices and higher interest rates, which make airlines cautious about ordering new planes.
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Then GE Aerospace released its third-quarter report this month, and one of the numbers gave investors more reason to sell. The company’s reported free cash flow fell 14% from a year earlier, which is a concern when the company trades at about 37 times earnings. However, even with the free cash flow miss, GE’s commercial engines & services orders increased by 58%, its equipment orders rose by 235%, and the company’s commercial services backlog grew to $170 billion, according to the company’s earnings.
These strong numbers were the reason why Cramer said the drop was overdone. And he even told viewers that, “GE’s post-earnings pullback has created a buying opportunity,” pointing to the engine business in particular as the reason to stay patient.
Jim Cramer sees opposite paths for GE Aerospace and Boeing following their recent third-quarter earnings reports.jetcityimage / Getty Images
Boeing’s slow recovery and what it means for investors
Boeing fell more than 10% on October 27 alone, which led it to a new 52-week low. The fall came after the company announced that it was lowering its cash flow outlook for the next few years.
Then Boeing‘s management added to the pressure when CEO Kelly Ortberg said the production line is now targeting 47 planes a month in early 2027, which is a delay to the company’s original timeline. The CEO said the bigger ramp to 52 planes a month will not come until the second half of 2027. That is a big deal to investors because the 737 Max is Boeing’s biggest source of commercial revenue. So a slower ramp would mean less cash coming into the business.
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However, even with all this, Cramer was not negative about the company. “We’re hopeful that this reset can be a clearing event,” he said, suggesting that the lower forecast may give the company a chance to beat expectations. Also, with the recent approval of the 737 Max 10, one of BA investors’ major worries has been settled.
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In addition to that, Boeing’s record backlog of $612 billion in commercial orders and $101 billion in defense orders shows that customers still want its planes. The only challenge the company is facing is turning those orders into finished planes and actual cash. But even with the challenge, some Wall Street firms still support the buy call. Bank of America kept a Buy rating on the stock with a $235 price target on October 28.
What this means for your portfolio
GE Aerospace’s pullback came from a cash flow miss investors already knew about, and Cramer believes the company’s engine business is still worth paying up for. So GE should be a more solid near-term pick.
Boeing’s management told shareholders to expect a delay in its production timeline, and cut its free cash flow target. The company already has orders waiting. All it needs is to convert those orders into real cash.
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