Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) companies Archer Aviation (ACHR), Joby Aviation (JOBY), and Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) recently reported quarterly results, giving investors a fresh look at which “flying taxi” stock may be best positioned after earnings. While all three companies continue to post losses as they invest heavily in aircraft development and FAA certification, Wall Street still sees strong long-term potential in the sector. Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison tool, we compared ACHR, JOBY, and EVTL to see which eVTOL stock analysts currently favor most.
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Trade ACHR with leverageRight now, ACHR and EVTL both carry Moderate Buy ratings, while JOBY holds a Hold consensus. Among the three, EVTL offers the highest upside potential of 371% based on analyst price targets. In terms of year-to-date performance, ACHR and JOBY are down about 15% and 21%, respectively, while EVTL has fallen more than 52%.
Let’s dig deeper.
Archer Aviation Moves Closer to Commercial Launch
Archer, the air taxi company developing its Midnight aircraft, reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.6 million, ahead of Wall Street estimates. The company posted an adjusted EBITDA loss of $172.5 million, while its net loss widened to $217.7 million as spending increased on FAA work, flight tests, and defense projects.
The biggest highlight for Archer was its FAA progress. In April, the company said it became the first eVTOL firm to complete Phase 3 of the FAA’s four-phase Type Certification process. Archer is now working through the final stage before commercial launch. The company also reaffirmed plans to begin U.S. operations in 2026 under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
Meanwhile, Archer ended the quarter with roughly $1.8 billion in cash and short-term investments, giving it enough funding to support aircraft testing, factory expansion, and defense projects.
Is ACHR Stock a Buy Now?
Following earnings, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard maintained an Overweight rating on ACHR stock. The 5-star analyst believes that Archer remains well positioned to benefit from the White House eVTOL pilot program and upcoming flight milestones. On the Street, ACHR carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 10 analysts’ reviews.
The average ACHR stock price target is $12.33, implying an 89% upside from current levels.
Joby Aviation Leads in Cash Reserves
Joby Aviation posted a better-than-feared Q1 update, with revenue of $24 million topping Wall Street estimates. Investors reacted positively, sending JOBY shares sharply higher after earnings as the company continued moving closer to commercial launch.
The main focus for investors was Joby’s FAA progress. During the quarter, the company said its first FAA-ready aircraft completed its first flight. Joby also completed its SR3 audit with the FAA, marking another key step toward full approval.
Importantly, Joby ended the quarter with $2.5 billion in cash and short-term investments, giving it the strongest cash position among major eVTOL companies. The company also reaffirmed plans to begin operations in 2026 through the White House-backed eVTOL pilot program.
Is JOBY a Good Stock to Buy?
Even so, Wall Street analysts remain cautious on the stock. Following earnings, top Canaccord analyst Austin Moeller lowered his price target on JOBY stock while maintaining a Hold rating. The analyst pointed to Joby’s strong cash position and FAA progress but kept a balanced outlook after the company updated its financial model.
The average JOBY stock price target is $11.79, implying a modest 6.6% upside from current levels.
Vertical Aerospace Offers the Biggest Upside Potential
Vertical Aerospace, the UK-based eVTOL company developing the VX4 aircraft, reported several key updates this quarter. While the company remains in the pre-revenue stage, investors focus on its flight progress and new financing support.
One of the biggest highlights came in April, when Vertical completed what it called the world’s first piloted wing-borne flight transition by a full-scale vectored-thrust eVTOL aircraft. The test showed that the VX4 prototype successfully transitioned from vertical lift to forward flight and back again.
At the same time, Vertical secured a new $850 million funding deal, giving the company more cash as FAA work continues. Management also said certification could move to late 2028, showing that the path to launch may still take time.
Is Vertical Aerospace a Good Stock to Buy?
Even so, analysts continue to see strong upside potential in EVTL because of its low valuation and improving technical progress. Currently, EVTL carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The average EVTL stock price target is $12.17, implying a 371.71% upside from current levels — the highest among the three eVTOL stocks.
Which eVTOL Stock Looks Best Right Now?
Vertical Aerospace currently offers the highest upside potential among the three eVTOL stocks, mainly due to its low valuation and smaller market cap. However, the stock also carries higher risk as the company continues working toward certification and commercial launch.
Meanwhile, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation appear to have stronger operational positions, supported by FAA progress, large cash reserves, and planned U.S. launch timelines.