Billionaire investors David Tepper and Paul Tudor Jones initiated new positions in Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) as of June 30, according to latest 13F filings. The moves occurred even as the aerospace giant’s stock formed a technical death cross and fell nearly 12% over the past year.

The filings reflect institutional holdings at the end of the second quarter. Tepper’s Appaloosa Management and Tudor Jones’ Tudor Investment established these stakes before the chart deteriorated further. The data does not indicate whether they have since added to or trimmed these positions.

Contract Visibility vs. Technical Weakness

Boeing’s defense business offers long-term visibility through a recent indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15 Eagle program. The agreement has a ceiling value of $131.2 billion and extends through 2037. It covers aircraft production, modernization, and sustainment for U.S. and international customers.

This ceiling represents the maximum potential order value, not an immediate award. The deal aligns with a broader U.S. military budget poised to reach $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027.

Technically, the stock faces headwinds. The 50-day moving average dropped to $219.52, falling below the 200-day moving average at $220.09. This death cross signals weakening long-term momentum to many traders. The Relative Strength Index remains below the neutral 50 level, indicating subdued buyer interest.

Operational Headwinds Persist

Despite the bullish institutional bets, Boeing continues to navigate legacy challenges. The company recently settled a $3.1 million FAA civil penalty related to manufacturing quality violations. Additionally, the integration of Spirit AeroSystems has introduced unexpected liabilities that weighed on financial results.

Investors remain divided on whether these issues are temporary execution errors or signs of deeper structural problems. The commercial aviation business still needs to demonstrate consistent production and stronger margins to fully restore confidence.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between institutional positioning and technical indicators is notable. While the chart suggests caution with the death cross and RSI below 50, top-tier hedge funds are accumulating shares. This implies investors like Tepper and Tudor Jones may be pricing in a longer-term recovery driven by defense contracts, rather than reacting to short-term volatility or safety penalties.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) paid a $3.1 million penalty to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in January, resolving allegations of hundreds of safety-related breaches.

The payment follows a proposed penalty announced by the agency in September 2025. The regulator cited multiple violations tied to Boeing’s 737 operations in Renton, Washington, and fuselage work at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, between September 2023 and February 2024.

Safety Violations and Regulatory Findings

Federal inspectors documented extensive quality violations during the specified period. The FAA reported that Boeing undermined the independence of safety personnel and submitted two aircraft for approval that were not fit to fly.

One specific case involved a Boeing worker urging a colleague performing FAA-related duties to approve a 737 MAX despite the colleague’s view that the plane failed to meet requirements. The pressure was applied to keep deliveries on schedule.

Context of Recent Incidents

The fines emerge against a backdrop of severe scrutiny following multiple high-profile incidents involving Boeing aircraft since late 2019.

• In January 2024, an Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) 737 MAX 9 experienced a mid-air door plug blowout, prompting a temporary grounding of the fleet. Flight attendants on board subsequently sued Boeing for physical and emotional damages.
• Last year, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed minutes after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, killing 260 people.
• The 737 MAX program previously faced global grounding after crashes by Lion Air in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in 2019, which resulted in 157 deaths.

Market Reaction

Shares of Boeing rose 0.30% to $209.29 in pre-market trading on Thursday. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the settlement.