Boeing Co. reported better than expected earnings for the second quarter. The nation's biggest aircraft maker also raised its earnings forecast for the year, suggesting demand for new planes could insulate it from the sluggish global economic environment.
Boeing CEO Jim McNerney was asked on the earnings conference call if his company might take advantage of its current position of strength to make a major acquisition.
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ANALYST: Jim, can you talk to us a little bit about your appetite on M&A. In down cycles, the big players tend to pick up the weaker players and is your interest — do you have interest in small tactical deals or are you starting to maybe think about some larger deals going forward?
MCNERNEY: Well, I think the small tactical deals are kind of the flow deals that we're implementing in areas that you're aware of. And we're continuing that. I think the big major deal is one that would not be done without a great deal of thought. And that's really not on our radar screen despite the impending storm clouds. We think we've got a pretty strong business here.
