Unfortunately Boeing has been allowed to grow Too Big To Fail. They won't be allowed to die as they make up a significant portion of the Defense Industrial Base

Unfortunately Boeing has been allowed to grow Too Big To Fail. They won't be allowed to die as they make up a significant portion of the Defense Industrial Base. Since stock buybacks are legal again, they can artificially maintain its price so long as they can raise the capital to do so. Worst case for them, the affected fleets get grounded and airlines stop buying those models. Plenty will still buy Boeing because the alternative is waiting forever for an Airbus, or being beholden to a single manufacturer. There are up and coming competitors like Embraer, but they cannot ramp up production fast enough to strangle Boeing. If Boeing dies it will be a zombie walk into oblivion. It is as you said, speculation.