NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The best performing Dow stock this year is one that's had more than its share of trouble with investors in recent years -- Boeing Co.

Stock in the aircraft maker and defense contractor has jumped about 27 percent this year, but the company is still feeling the effects of the airline industry's financial crisis, which started a good nine months before the Sept. 11 attacks.

Boeing and American Airlines announced Monday that the world's largest airline would defer delivery of 54 of 56 jets it had been due to buy the next six years until after 2010 in order to conserve cash.

Boeing, the nation's biggest exporter, has also been hit by scandals in its defense operations. It is blocked from bidding on some contracts after it was caught with documents from a competitor.

Congressional critics are also threatening a lucrative deal for Boeing (Research) to lease refueling tankers to the Air Force.

But officials at Chicago-based Boeing insist they're putting their problems behind them.

They say that while commercial aircraft deliveries won't approach boom levels any time soon, the company can build planes more profitably today.

And they are confident about their defense operations during this time of war, despite some of the company's missteps in the past.

Boeing executives have boosted their earnings outlook repeatedly this year. The question now is can the stock keep climbing, or is it too late to get on board? Find out in our Stock Spotlight »»