Boeing vs General Motors: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Boeing reported $89.5B of revenue in FY2025 and $2.2B of net income. General Motors reported $185B of revenue in FY2025 and $2.7B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Boeing
- Latest revenue
- $89.5B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $2.2B
- Net margin
- 2.5%
- Revenue growth
- -0.5% a year, FY2016–FY2025
General Motors
- Latest revenue
- $185B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $2.7B
- Net margin
- 1.5%
- Revenue growth
- +2.4% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Financial summary
Boeing
Boeing went from record revenue of $101.1 billion and a $10.5 billion profit in 2018 to six straight years of losses after the 737 MAX grounding, the pandemic, the 2024 door-plug blowout and a 53-day machinists' strike. The 2024 loss alone was $11.8 billion. To protect its investment-grade rating, Boeing raised about $24 billion of equity in October 2024 and sold Jeppesen, ForeFlight and other digital aviation assets to Thoma Bravo for $10.55 billion in 2025. FY2025 revenue rose 34% to $89.5 billion and net earnings returned to $2.2 billion, but that profit came from the $9.6 billion sale gain; Commercial Airplanes still lost $7.1 billion. In the first half of 2026 revenue rose 11% to $46.8 billion, the net loss narrowed to $435 million, and consolidated debt fell to $45.9 billion from $54.1 billion at the end of 2025.
General Motors
GM's finances are funded by internal-combustion trucks and SUVs. In 2025 it generated $185.0 billion of revenue, $12.7 billion of EBIT-adjusted, and $10.6 billion of adjusted automotive free cash flow, but EV write-downs cut net income attributable to stockholders 55% to $2.7 billion. Q1 2026 revenue was $43.6 billion with $2.6 billion of net income; Q2 2026 revenue was $48.0 billion with $1.3 billion of net income, $3.9 billion of EBIT-adjusted, and North America margins back inside GM's 8-10% target. GM returns large amounts of cash to shareholders and approved a new $6.0 billion buyback alongside a 20% higher quarterly dividend in January 2026.
Revenue and profit by year
Boeing
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $89.5B | $2.2B | 2.5% | +34.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | $66.5B | -$11.8B | -17.8% | -14.5% | Source |
| FY2023 | $77.8B | -$2.2B | -2.9% | +16.8% | Source |
| FY2022 | $66.6B | -$4.9B | -7.4% | +6.9% | Source |
| FY2021 | $62.3B | -$4.2B | -6.7% | +7.1% | Source |
| FY2020 | $58.2B | -$11.9B | -20.4% | -24.0% | Source |
| FY2019 | $76.6B | -$636M | -0.8% | -24.3% | Source |
| FY2018 | $101.1B | $10.5B | 10.3% | +7.6% | Source |
| FY2017 | $94B | $8.5B | 9.0% | +0.5% | Source |
| FY2016 | $93.5B | $5B | 5.4% | — | Source |
General Motors
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $185B | $2.7B | 1.5% | -1.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | $187.4B | $6B | 3.2% | +9.1% | Source |
| FY2023 | $171.8B | $10.1B | 5.9% | +9.6% | Source |
| FY2022 | $156.7B | $9.9B | 6.3% | +23.4% | Source |
| FY2021 | $127B | $10B | 7.9% | +3.7% | Source |
| FY2020 | $122.5B | $6.4B | 5.2% | -10.7% | Source |
| FY2019 | $137.2B | $6.7B | 4.9% | -6.7% | Source |
| FY2018 | $147B | $8B | 5.4% | +1.0% | Source |
| FY2017 | $145.6B | -$3.9B | -2.7% | -2.4% | Source |
| FY2016 | $149.2B | $9.4B | 6.3% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Boeing
- Commercial Airplanes
46% ($41.5B in 2025)
737 MAX, 767, 777/777X and 787 sales to airlines and lessors; revenue is recognized mostly at delivery, and the segment lost $7.1B from operations in 2025.
- Defense, Space & Security
30% ($27.2B in 2025)
Military aircraft, weapons, satellites and space systems for the U.S. government and allies, with a record $85B backlog at the end of 2025.
- Global Services
23% ($20.9B in 2025)
Parts, maintenance, modifications and training for commercial and government fleets; Boeing's most profitable segment.
General Motors
- North America Vehicle Sales
Largest profit pool
Revenue comes from wholesale sales of Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick vehicles, with trucks and large SUVs driving a disproportionate share of profit.
- GM Financial
Captive finance
Revenue comes from retail loans, leases, dealer floorplan financing, commercial lending, and related finance products that support GM vehicle sales.
- International Vehicle Sales
International operations
Revenue comes from vehicle sales and operations outside North America, including South America and select global markets.
- China Joint Ventures
Equity-method exposure
GM participates in China through joint ventures, making performance visible through equity income rather than fully consolidated vehicle revenue.
- Software, Services, and Parts
Recurring and aftermarket
Revenue comes from OnStar, Super Cruise, connected services, parts, accessories, fleet services, and other software-enabled vehicle products.
Business model and strategy
Boeing
How it makes money
Boeing earns money in three segments. Commercial Airplanes (BCA) designs, builds and sells the 737, 767, 777 and 787. Airlines and lessors pay deposits and progress payments over several years, but most of the price arrives at delivery, so revenue moves with delivery volume.
Growth strategy
Under Kelly Ortberg the plan is to stabilize first and grow second. Boeing runs a Safety & Quality Plan with key performance indicators for each factory and raises 737 and 787 rates only when those metrics and the FAA allow it.
Competitive advantage
Boeing's advantages are hard to copy: a century of certification know-how, a global installed fleet that keeps buying parts and services, and a backlog of more than 6,200 commercial airplanes worth $597 billion at June 30, 2026. Only Airbus builds comparable large jets, and with both makers sold out for years, airlines that need aircraft this decade order from both. In defense, Boeing now holds both U.S.
General Motors
How it makes money
GM makes money mainly by building and wholesaling vehicles to its dealer network, then earning a second layer of profit through GM Financial, its captive lender. GM North America (GMNA) is the profit engine: full-size pickups such as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra and large SUVs such as the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade carry far higher margins than small cars or current EVs.
Growth strategy
GM's growth strategy has shifted from an all-EV push to flexibility. It still sells EVs on its Ultium-based platforms, such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Cadillac Lyriq, but after 2025 it cut EV capacity, kept investing in gas trucks and SUVs, and plans lower-cost lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells with LG Energy Solution.
Competitive advantage
GM's clearest advantage is scale in U.S. full-size pickups and SUVs: it has led the full-size pickup segment for six straight years, selling about 940,000 in 2025. That franchise, a national Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac dealer network, and GM Financial's captive lending give it cash flow and pricing power that newer EV-only rivals do not have.
Questions about Boeing vs General Motors
Which company has higher revenue — The Boeing Company or General Motors Company?
The Boeing Company reported $89.5B (FY2025), while General Motors Company reported $185.0B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, General Motors Company is the larger business, with The Boeing Company reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of The Boeing Company vs General Motors Company?
The Boeing Company's market capitalisation stands at $148.0B, while General Motors Company's is $74.9B. The Boeing Company carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to General Motors Company.
Which is more financially efficient — The Boeing Company or General Motors Company?
The Boeing Company generates $492k / employee in revenue per employee, while General Motors Company generates $1.19M / employee. General Motors Company shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do The Boeing Company and General Motors Company make money?
The Boeing Company and General Motors Company generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. The Boeing Company: Boeing earns money in three segments. General Motors Company: GM makes money mainly by building and wholesaling vehicles to its dealer network, then earning a second layer of profit through GM Financial, its captive lender.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — The Boeing Company or General Motors Company?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, The Boeing Company trades at 1.7x P/S and General Motors Company at 0.4x P/S. The Boeing Company commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to General Motors Company. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is The Boeing Company bigger than General Motors Company?
By last reported revenue, General Motors Company ($185.0B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to The Boeing Company ($89.5B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Boeing vs General Motors overview