Boeing’s Cash Drain Improves as Jet Production Stabilizes (3)

Boeing Co. reported first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street’s estimates, giving the embattled planemaker a greater degree of stability to navigate dislocations in global trade that have complicated exports.

The planemaker used $2.3 billion in free cash in the three months ended March 31 as it ramped up jet production, Boeing said in a statement Wednesday. That’s better than the $3.4 billion withdrawal that analysts had predicted, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The adjusted loss per share of 49 cents was the smallest in more than a year.

Boeing’s shares jumped as much as 8.7% as of 9:40 ...