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Boeing Shares Rise As CEO Set To Join Trump On China Trip, Fueling Aircraft Order Speculation

Boeing Shares Rise As CEO Set To Join Trump On China Trip, Fueling Aircraft Order Speculation

Boeing shares rose in late-morning trading in New York after CNBC reported that CEO Kelly Ortberg will join President Trump on his trip to Beijing next week for talks with President Xi Jinping.

Boeing shares climbed a little more than 2% on the news as traders began to price in the possibility of a Chinese aircraft order, potentially covering both narrow-body and wide-body jets from the U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer.

Senator Steve Daines, who is leading the bipartisan delegation to China, has called for stability and peaceful cooperation between the U.S. and China.

"I strongly believe that we want to de-escalate, not decouple. We want stability; we want mutual respect," Daines said in opening remarks at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Daines also released a statement:

Readout of Daines' Congressional Delegation Trip to China

U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) today conducted three official meetings in Beijing with Premier of China Li Qiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The bipartisan delegation discussed the importance of direct and open communication between the leadership of the two countries as well as issues of international and local importance. Topics of discussion included cooperation to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and supply chain security. The Senators discussed the importance of reciprocal trade and opening up China's markets to sustained agriculture trade across beef, wheat, pulse crops, potatoes, apples, cherries, soybeans, grain sorghum, seafood, and other industries. The delegation also discussed the importance of China's relationship with Boeing and the proposed aircraft purchase currently under consideration. The Senators expressed their hope for an impactful and successful summit between President Trump and President Xi next week.

Related:

Semafor speculates that the Trump team will invite "CEOs from Nvidia, Apple, Exxon, Boeing, and other big companies." 

Given Beijing's history of using large commercial aircraft purchases as goodwill gestures, Ortberg's inclusion on the trip raises the likelihood that Boeing could benefit and suggests tensions are cooling between the two superpowers, despite ongoing energy and trade turmoil in the Gulf region.

Tyler Durden Thu, 05/07/2026 - 12:25

Planet Fitness Crashes Most On Record After Membership Slump Hits Outlook

Planet Fitness Crashes Most On Record After Membership Slump Hits Outlook

Planet Fitness shares crashed the most on record, according to Bloomberg data going back to 2015, after the budget gym operator slashed its full-year outlook, citing weaker-than-expected new-member sign-ups during the first quarter.

CEO Colleen Keating told analysts, "We faced some internal and external headwinds that impacted our join momentum year-to-date."

Keating said, "Our overall performance reflects the strength and resiliency of our model. However, the addition of more than 700,000 net new members during the quarter did not meet our expectations."

She continued, "Severe cold and winter weather in late January and February disrupted joins, especially as several of the storms fell on Mondays, our busiest join day of the week. We anticipated that our March campaign, Black Card first month free, which was very successful during the same time last year, would improve our join momentum over the remainder of Q1 and into Q2," adding, "Yet as we moved through March and into early April, our join trends remained below our plan."

Planet Fitness now expects 2026 sales growth of about 7%, down from prior guidance of roughly 9%. It also cut its adjusted EPS growth outlook to about 4%, well below the Bloomberg Consensus of 9.7%.

Here's a snapshot of the full-year forecast, courtesy of Bloomberg:

  • Sees club sales growth up about 1%, saw up about 4% to 5%

  • Sees revenue up about 7%, saw about up 9%

  • Sees adjusted EBITDA up about 6%, saw about up 10%

  • Still sees system-wide new club openings of about 180 to 190 locations

While first-quarter sales and profit beat Bloomberg Consensus estimates, traders focused on dismal membership trends. Shares crashed 32% in the early U.S. cash session.

In the year, Planet Fitness shares are down nearly 60%, trading at levels last seen in Covid 2020 lows. Shares have fallen 61% since late 2025.

Not one analyst questioned Planet Fitness executives on whether GLP-1 trends impacted membership.

Tyler Durden Thu, 05/07/2026 - 11:55

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