Archer Aviation's (ACHR +0.50%) electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, aka flying taxis, could be coming to a city near you. The company is hitting key milestones to bring its eVTOL to market. But investors have grown impatient with the stock, which is now down 61% from its 52-week high and trading below $6 per share.
If you're considering investing in Archer Aviation, here's what you need to know.
NYSE: ACHR
Key Data Points
Archer is taking steps toward commercializing its aircraft
Archer is a part of the White House's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which aims to accelerate the deployment of eVTOLs and deploy its Midnight aircraft across different regions in the U.S.
The eVTOL developer's Midnight aircraft is in Phase 4 of the Federal Aviation Administration's four-part type certification process and is undergoing testing and validation to ensure it meets airworthiness requirements. The company also hopes to start flights in Abu Dhabi in late 2026.
Image source: Archer Aviation.
The company is diversifying its business into defense
Archer is expanding beyond passenger eVTOLs and into the aerospace and defense industries. On Aug. 10, the company agreed to acquire Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu from Boeing in an all-stock deal.
The move builds on its platform and extends its autonomous flight capabilities through Wisk, which has completed 1,700 autonomous flight tests across six generations of eVTOL aircraft. Skygrid gives Archer an air traffic management solution. Finally, Insitu provides uncrewed aircraft systems used for intelligence and reconnaissance operations.
Is Archer Aviation stock a buy?
Archer Aviation is in pre-commercial operations but could begin limited passenger flights in the UAE as soon as this year and in the U.S. within the next couple of years. That said, it's still an early-stage, capital-intensive business, and it faces risks as it ramps up.
The stock is down 61% from its 52-week high, and the dip gives aggressive investors with a long-term outlook a chance to scoop up the stock at a lower price. However, execution risks remain high, and anyone buying today should keep their position size small and as part of a well-diversified portfolio.
