Caleb Naysmith

Wed, Jun 18, 2025, 10:52 AM5 min read

A new analysis of long-term stock performance reveals that several iconic U.S. companies have been dramatically outpaced by their international competitors over the past decades. Comparing pairs of leading American and foreign firms across major industries, the data highlights a striking trend: U.S. giants have often lagged far behind their overseas counterparts in terms of shareholder returns. While this isn’t sweeping across every industry — with giants like Nvidia (NVDA) outpacing nearly any company on the planet — it does highlight a concerning trend amongst America’s biggest names.

Long before Boeing (BA) faced the recent Air India crash — an event that sent its shares down about 4% — the company was already being outperformed by its European rival, Airbus (EADSY). From 2000 through 2020, Boeing and Airbus traded in close lockstep, but since then, their paths have diverged sharply. Boeing has struggled with production and regulatory challenges, while Airbus has surged ahead, capitalizing on global demand for commercial aircraft.

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While both companies have experienced periods of growth and volatility, Airbus has decisively pulled ahead in total returns. Boeing has been plagued over the years with a number of high-profile events that make the stock difficult to invest in, despite being a global leader in a lucrative industry. Most notable was the disastrous launch of the Boeing 737 MAX, a plane that was sent out all over the world with some serious issues, which then resulted in 346 people’s deaths from 2 crashes. This event caused Boeing to lose an estimated $60 billion from fines, legal fees, order cancellations, and other costs.

While this is largely in the rear-view mirror, every subsequent incident or crash involving Boeing planes is widely publicized and heavily scrutinized, making it difficult for the stock to get ahead. The latest Air India crash is just the latest in a string of events creating uncertainty around the brand and an opportunity for its largest competitor.

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