, Columnist
Boeing Just Needs to Stay Out of Its Own Way
Its climb is even more impressive in the context of its extra-curricular setbacks.
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What goes up must come down, unless we're talking about Boeing Co.
The planemaker -- now also the biggest U.S. industrial company after doubling its market value over the last year -- reported fourth-quarter results on Wednesday that were nearly perfect. The recently passed U.S. tax legislation contributed an outsized $1.74 to Boeing's fourth-quarter earnings per share, equating to a roughly $1 billion of extra profit based on its most recent share count. Boeing expects its effective tax rate next year to be just 16 percent, well below the 21 percent corporate rate targeted by the tax bill.1517409368730