Boeing vs Hitachi: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Boeing reported $89.5B of revenue in FY2025 and $2.2B of net income. Hitachi reported ~$70.9B of revenue in FY2026 and ~$5.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
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.
Hitachi
Hitachi posted a ~$5.27 billion (¥787.3 billion) net loss for fiscal 2008, then the largest ever by a Japanese manufacturer. Under Takashi Kawamura and Hiroaki Nakanishi it cut loss-making consumer businesses, and later leaders sold listed subsidiaries such as Hitachi Chemical (2020), Hitachi Metals (2023), and a controlling stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery (2022). Revenue dipped from ~$72.9 billion (¥10.88 trillion) in FY2022 to ~$65.2 billion (¥9.73 trillion) in FY2023 as those units left, then climbed back to ~$71 billion (¥10.59 trillion) in FY2025 on organic growth. FY2025 adjusted EBITA was a record ~$8.78 billion (¥1.31 trillion) (12.4% margin) and net income was ~$5.38 billion (¥802.3 billion), up about 30%. In Q1 FY2026 (April-June 2026) revenue rose 20% to ~$18.2 billion (¥2,709.6 billion), helped by currency, and management raised full-year guidance.
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 |
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.
Hitachi
- Digital Systems & Services
Reported sector
Japanese IT systems for finance and government, GlobalLogic digital engineering, cloud and managed services, and Lumada solutions.
- Energy
Reported sector
Hitachi Energy grid infrastructure, HVDC, transformers, and related service contracts.
- Mobility
Reported sector
Hitachi Rail trains, signalling and train control (including former Thales GTS), and maintenance.
- Connective Industries
Reported sector
Building systems, industrial products and systems, Hitachi High-Tech, and, until its sale, home appliances.
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.
Hitachi
How it makes money
Hitachi is a B2B infrastructure and IT company. It sells long-lived physical assets (transformers, HVDC converter stations, trains, signalling, elevators, semiconductor metrology tools) and then earns recurring service, maintenance, and software revenue on that installed base. Lumada is the umbrella for the data, AI, and digital services layered on top, and Hitachi reports Lumada as a growing share of total revenue.
Growth strategy
Hitachi grows by attaching software and services to its installed base and by reshaping its portfolio. It is expanding Hitachi Energy factory capacity for transformers and HVDC, integrating Thales GTS into Hitachi Rail, and scaling Lumada through GlobalLogic and AI partnerships.
Competitive advantage
Hitachi's edge is owning both the operational technology and the IT. Hitachi Energy (built on ABB's former Power Grids business) is one of a handful of suppliers able to deliver HVDC links and large power transformers at scale, Hitachi Rail became a top-tier signalling supplier after buying Thales GTS in 2024, and GlobalLogic plus Hitachi's Japanese IT business supply the software.
Questions about Boeing vs Hitachi
Which company has higher revenue — The Boeing Company or Hitachi, Ltd.?
The Boeing Company reported $89.5B (FY2025), while Hitachi, Ltd. reported ~$70.9B (FY2026). By last reported revenue, The Boeing Company is the larger business, with Hitachi, Ltd. reporting a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of The Boeing Company vs Hitachi, Ltd.?
The Boeing Company's market capitalisation stands at $148.0B, while Hitachi, Ltd.'s is $157.8B. Hitachi, Ltd. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to The Boeing Company.
Which is more financially efficient — The Boeing Company or Hitachi, Ltd.?
The Boeing Company generates $492k / employee in revenue per employee, while Hitachi, Ltd. generates $246k / employee. The Boeing 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 Hitachi, Ltd. make money?
The Boeing Company and Hitachi, Ltd. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. The Boeing Company: Boeing earns money in three segments. Hitachi, Ltd.: Hitachi is a B2B infrastructure and IT company.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — The Boeing Company or Hitachi, Ltd.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, The Boeing Company trades at 1.7x P/S and Hitachi, Ltd. at 2.2x P/S. Hitachi, Ltd. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to The Boeing 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 Hitachi, Ltd.?
By last reported revenue, The Boeing Company ($89.5B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Hitachi, Ltd. (~$70.9B (FY2026)). 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 Hitachi overview