Latest news with #Midnight
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Down 20%! This ex-penny stock just got stung by a short report
Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) is a former penny stock that has been on my mind recently. I sold shares of this flying taxi start-up about a year ago, just before they went on to surge by more than 200%. Cue Homer Simpson's famous catchphrase… Rubbing salt in the wounds was rival Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY), the stock I doubled down on with the cash from that Archer sale. Until recently, it was 'only' up about 40% over this period. So I was beginning to think I might have backed the wrong horse, especially after Archer signed a deal with Palantir earlier this year to 'build artificial intelligence (AI) for the future of next-gen aviation technologies'. However, two pieces of news have recently sent the Archer and Joby share prices on divergent flight paths. Here's what has happened. Archer Aviation is aiming to launch an air taxi service in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2025 with its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In Q1, it said everything had gone splendidly, and it had more than $1bn on the balance sheet. Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein commented: 'Archer's pushing the boundaries of what's possible and reshaping the future of aviation for years to come.' The stock jumped 23% after this bullish update. However, it plummeted 20% a couple of weeks ago when short-seller Culper Research released a report accusing Archer of misleading investors. It said the firm's Midnight eVTOL isn't as far along as management has claimed, while also highlighting design changes that might suggest aircraft stability problems. In response, Archer called the claims 'baseless', and said Culper is 'not a credible research institution'. By contrast, Joby stock surged 27% this week following the closure of a $250m investment from partner Toyota. This funding supports the firm's progress toward FAA certification and commercial production of its electric air taxis. Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt commented: 'We're already seeing the benefit of working with Toyota in streamlining manufacturing processes and optimising design.' Joby remains on track to launch its service in Dubai later this year, but there could always be regulatory setbacks. Meanwhile, flying passengers safely from Manchester Airport to Leeds in just 15 minutes — instead of one hour+ by car or train — is still unproven. In my experience, reports from short-sellers need to be taken seriously, even though they have a financial incentive to see the stock in question fall. It definitely adds risk to the investment case because Archer hasn't addressed any of the specific accusations yet. That said, you can normally gauge how seriously other investors take the claims by the severity of the share price reaction. In Archer's case, it's 20% lower than before the report, but still up 27% in the past month and 230% over a year. Heavyweight partners like United Airlines and Stellantis add weight to its technology. For investors looking to invest in this exciting space, I think Joby is worth a look at $8. But both these stocks are high risk because eVTOLS haven't been approved by the FAA yet, meaning each firm is pre-revenue and therefore loss-making. Still, at least recent developments have eased my concern that I backed the wrong horse. The post Down 20%! This ex-penny stock just got stung by a short report appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Ben McPoland has positions in Joby Aviation. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertical Aerospace's First eVTOL Prototype Flight Is a Success
Vertical Aerospace has taken a major step toward commercializing its VX4 winged eVTOL, or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Last Thursday, the electric aviation startup's prototype performed its first wingborne flight with approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, making the VX4 the first winged eVTOL to have flown through open European airspace. Vertical's chief test pilot, Simon Davies, lifted the prototype from Cotswold Airport and navigated it through a brief climb before cruising around the vicinity at an altitude of 2,000 feet. According to Aviation International News, the VX4 reached a maximum speed of 120 knots (138 miles per hour). As the prototype flew, on-ground engineers captured more than 30,000 in-flight data parameters related to stability, control, and energy consumption. Once the VX4 touched down again, Vertical confirmed the aircraft had flown "as expected." "In Phase 3 of testing—wingborne flight—the VX4 operates like a conventional aircraft using lift generated by its wings, rather than relying solely on rotor thrust," Vertical said. "This low-power, quiet, and range-efficient mode of flight is key to making electric air travel practical, scalable, and economically viable." Before Thursday, Vertical had conducted two other flight tests. The first, which took place in September 2024, involved VX4 hovering while loosely tethered to the ground. In February 2025, the prototype took off and landed vertically via its propellers, performing low-speed flight maneuvers in between. Now Vertical is preparing for its final test, dubbed the "transition" phase. Before the end of the year, the VX4 will transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight and back again. This is considered the last major flight milestone before certification for commercial flights. The startup hopes to achieve this step by 2030. Should Vertical—or any other eVTOL brand, for that matter—introduce commercial flights to a metropolitan region such as London, the flights could reduce conventional air travel and even longer road trips. In 2023, United Airlines announced that it would introduce an "air taxi route" to the Chicago region in 2025, using Archer Aviation's "Midnight" eVTOL. Though there hasn't been a major update regarding the route since then, Archer's website says it is currently working through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification processes that will bring its air taxi to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other major cities.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Archer Aviation Stock Steadies After Short-Seller Report
Archer Aviation's stock shows resilience after a short-seller report, as investors shift to the upcoming milestones and flight demonstrations for validation. This story originally appeared on MarketBeat [content-module:CompanyOverview|NYSE:ACHR] Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) recently found itself in the spotlight after a critical report from short-seller Culper Research on May 20th caused its stock to dip. However, in the days since, Archer's shares have shown signs of stabilizing. At midday on May 29, 2025, the stock price was approximately $10.66. Acher Aviation's stock activity, since the report suggests the market might be looking past the initial shock. Now, investor attention is sharply focused on Archer's upcoming operational milestones. Can the company deliver the flight demonstrations needed to fully counter the short-seller's claims and propel the stock forward? How Did Archer Stock Respond to Short Seller Claims? Culper Research's report on May 20 didn't pull any punches. It accused Archer Aviation of misleading investors about its progress. Key allegations included questions about testing timelines for its Midnight eVTOL aircraft and the validity of a key flight milestone in June 2024. Archer quickly responded, calling the claims "baseless" and questioning Culper's credibility as a research firm. What happened to the stock? Initial Drop: Archer's stock price fell sharply right after the report, by as much as 12-14% during trading on May 20 and 21. Archer's stock price fell sharply right after the report, by as much as 12-14% during trading on May 20 and 21. Finding a Floor: Over the following days, up to May 29, the stock price showed signs of stabilizing. It even saw some upward movement on May 27 and 28, closing at $10.93 and $10.95, respectively. Over the following days, up to May 29, the stock price showed signs of stabilizing. It even saw some upward movement on May 27 and 28, closing at $10.93 and $10.95, respectively. Market Interpretation: This stabilization might mean a couple of things. First, the market quickly priced in the short-seller's arguments. Second, without new, equally damaging information from Culper immediately following up, some investors may be taking a "wait and see" approach. They might be looking for Archer to prove its case through actions, not just words. Recent financial news has highlighted the ongoing dispute between the two organizations, presenting both perspectives. This media coverage has likely confused most investors, further stalling Archer's stock price progress as the market awaits a resolution. What Archer's Institutional Filings Reveal While daily stock prices can be volatile, looking at who owns a company can offer a different perspective. Reports from large institutional investors (like pension funds and investment firms) about their holdings at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 continued to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the past few weeks. These filings continue to show that many major institutions were increasing their investments in Archer before the short report surfaced. This kind of activity from large, sophisticated investors often suggests they've done their homework and believe in a company's long-term plans. This implies that they saw fundamental value in Archer leading into 2025. Archer's strong Q1 2025 financial results, reported on May 12, also provide a solid foundation. The company announced an earnings per share (EPS) that beat analyst expectations and confirmed its cash position exceeded $1 billion. This financial health is crucial for a company still developing its core product. Archer's Next Demonstrations Are Critical The most effective way for Archer to answer the short-seller's claims is through clear, verifiable progress. Investor attention is now firmly fixed on the company's ability to deliver on its stated operational targets. Key upcoming milestones include: UAE Deployment: Archer plans to deliver its first piloted Midnight aircraft to the United Arab Emirates this summer (2025). The goal is to start generating revenue there later in the year through its "Launch Edition" program with partners like Abu Dhabi Aviation. Archer plans to deliver its first piloted Midnight aircraft to the United Arab Emirates this summer (2025). The goal is to start generating revenue there later in the year through its "Launch Edition" program with partners like Abu Dhabi Aviation. Manufacturing Goals: The company aims to build up to ten Midnight aircraft at its Georgia facility in 2025. Hitting this target would demonstrate its ability to scale production. The company aims to build up to ten Midnight aircraft at its Georgia facility in 2025. Hitting this target would demonstrate its ability to scale production. FAA Certification: Continued progress towards getting full Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Midnight aircraft in the U.S. (targeted for late 2025) remains a top priority. Continued progress towards getting full Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Midnight aircraft in the U.S. (targeted for late 2025) remains a top priority. New Initiatives: Updates on the UK cargo eVTOL testing program with Anduril UK could also show operational capability in new areas. The successful execution of these milestones, particularly visible flight demonstrations leading to early commercial operations, would directly counter many of the short-seller's core allegations regarding aircraft readiness and testing progress. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Holding Pattern or Launchpad? Archer's Next Moves Will Tell [content-module:Forecast|NYSE:ACHR] Archer Aviation's stock is in a period of consolidation after the initial impact of the Culper Research report. The market has heard the allegations and the company's defense. Now, it seems to be waiting for Archer to deliver concrete proof of its capabilities through upcoming operational validation. If Archer successfully executes its flight demonstrations, meets its UAE deployment timelines, and continues to progress with manufacturing and certification, the questions raised by the short report will likely become less significant for many investors. For those who believe in Archer's technology and the future of the eVTOL sector, this holding pattern could be an excellent period to accumulate shares before the company's next set of crucial operational catalysts. Before you make your next trade, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. Our team has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and none of the big name stocks were on the list. They believe these five stocks are the five best companies for investors to buy now... See The Five Stocks Here
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Better Growth Stock: Archer Aviation vs. Rocket Lab USA
Archer Aviation plans to deliver a lot more aircraft. Rocket Lab plans to launch more rockets. One of these companies has a clearer vision for the future. 10 stocks we like better than Archer Aviation › Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) and Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) are both highly speculative aerospace stocks. Archer is a developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, while Rocket Lab sells reusable orbital rockets. But over the past 12 months, Archer's stock soared more than 220% as Rocket Lab's stock surged over 500%. Let's see if either of these hot stocks is worth buying as a growth play today. Archer's flagship Midnight eVTOL aircraft can carry one pilot and four passengers. It can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge with a maximum speed of 150 miles per hour. It promotes the Midnight as a cheaper, greener, and easier-to-land alternative to helicopters, and it's already working with major airlines, automakers, and the U.S. Air Force to provide air taxi services. The company also plans to launch its own air taxi service, which it claims will cost roughly the same as Uber Technologies' premium UberBlack service within the next two years. Archer's backlog already includes hundreds of orders, and it claims it can increase its annual production to 10 aircraft in 2025, 48 aircraft in 2026, 252 aircraft in 2027, and 650 aircraft in 2028. It believes it can eventually manufacture up to 2,000 aircraft annually as it scales up its business. That growth trajectory would be incredible, but Archer has only delivered a single Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force so far. That delivery didn't generate any revenue because it was a test aircraft, but Archer expects to deliver its first "revenue-generating" aircraft to Abu Dhabi Aviation for its new air taxi service by the end of this year. Archer also partnered with Palantir Technologies, a leading provider of analytics and AI services for the U.S. government, this March to accelerate the production of its aircraft and strengthen its aviation systems. Analysts expect Archer's revenue to rise from nothing in 2024 to $12.7 million in 2025, $143.9 million in 2026, and $437.1 million in 2027. But with a market capitalization of $5.8 billion, it already trades at 13 times its projected sales for 2027 -- so a lot of growth is already baked into its high-flying shares. The company also won't come close to breaking even anytime soon. But if you expect Archer's eVTOL aircraft to replace helicopters over the next decade, it might just deserve that higher valuation. Rocket Lab's flagship reusable rocket, the Electron, is used to carry small payloads of up to 300 kilograms into space. It's been successfully launched 64 times, was used to deploy 225 satellites, and operates from three dedicated launch pads. Its next rocket, the Neutron, will carry a maximum capacity of 15,000 kilograms when it launches in the second half of this year. The company already serves large customers like NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Swedish National Space Agency, Capella Space, and BlackSky Technology. It launched six rockets in 2021, nine in 2022, 10 in 2023, and 16 last year. From 2021 to 2024, Rocket Lab's annual revenue rose more than sevenfold from $62 million to $436 million as its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin improved from negative 70% to negative 22%. Over the past year, it shipped two research satellites for NASA and gained an additional contract for the agency's next Mars mission. It also agreed to deploy a constellation of 25 satellites for Kinéis, a global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity provider, sealed a multiyear Electron launch contract with Japan's Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), and secured new U.S. defense contracts. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Rocket Lab's annual revenue to nearly triple from $436 million to $1.18 billion. They also expect its adjusted EBITDA to turn positive in 2026 and for it to turn fully profitable by 2027. That rosy outlook suggests it will keep thriving in the shadow of its bigger competitor, SpaceX, which launched a record 138 Falcon rockets in 2024. But with a market cap of $11.7 billion, it also isn't a bargain at nearly 10 times its projected sales for 2027. Archer Aviation could have plenty of upside potential if the nascent eVTOL market takes off, but it hasn't proven that its business model is sustainable yet. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab USA has significantly ramped up its launches over the past few years, it's developing new rockets, and its margins are steadily improving as economies of scale kick in. So, if I had to pick one of these speculative stocks over the other, I'd stick with Rocket Lab because it seems better prepared to expand its fledgling business. Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Archer Aviation wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $639,271!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $804,688!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 957% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 167% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Rocket Lab USA. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Growth Stock: Archer Aviation vs. Rocket Lab USA was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This All-in-One Kitchen Appliance Won Me Over. And It's 25% Off Right Now
I'm not a big fan of single-function kitchen gadgets, so when I tested the Chefman Everything Maker, I was expecting a novelty product that I would never actually buy myself. What I got was a genuinely useful, space-saving kitchen sidekick that's now part of my daily cooking routine. It's compact, clever and capable of making just about everything from waffles and paninis to pizza and eggs, all without taking up half the counter. The $59.99 price tag on the Chefman website already feels like a steal for what it does. Which is, well, everything really. But right now, you can get the Everything Maker in color Midnight for 25% off on Amazon, bringing the price down to just $45. (The Concrete color is currently 20% off, too). Too often all-in-one kitchen appliances end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of doing one thing well. And, since some models have a lot of different components, they can be a nightmare to clean. But the Everything Maker quickly won me over. The nonstick cooking surfaces heat up quickly and clean off with minimal effort (a serious win in my book). I've made crispy hash browns, gooey grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches and perfectly golden pancakes -- all in one compact machine. And it's not just a breakfast tool. I've used it for late-night quesadillas and quick lunches more times than I can count in the last few weeks. The design is intuitive, easy to store upright (though I rarely put it away) and surprisingly durable. No extra bells and whistles here. It's just a well-made, easy-to-use appliance that works every time. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. How I use my Everything Maker Macy Meyer/CNET The Chefman Everything Maker lives up to its name by offering a versatile, all-in-one cooking solution that fits easily on a countertop. With a 12-inch nonstick cooking surface and a slim, compact design, it's well-suited for small kitchens or anyone looking to simplify meal prep. I've found it particularly convenient for cooking breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes with the lid open, then switching to grilled sandwiches or quesadillas with the lid closed. It also heats quickly and evenly, reaching up to 428°F (220°C), which is enough for searing, sautéing or even light grilling. I made a summer flatbread (with burrata, pesto and prosciutto) over the weekend and used the Everything Maker to lightly sear some peaches to add as a topping. They came out perfectly. Cleanup is another strong point. The nonstick surface wipes down easily after use -- no scrubbing or soaking required -- which has made it a reliable go-to for quick weekday meals. The Everything Maker also comes with a digital cookbook featuring 16 chef-crafted recipes, which I've used as inspiration for trying new dishes beyond my usual routine. While it doesn't replace every kitchen tool, the Everything Maker handles a surprising variety of tasks in a compact footprint. A thoughtful and affordable gift for Father's Day (and beyond) If you're looking for a gift for the dad who loves breakfast (or just appreciates a good gadget), the Chefman Everything Maker hits that sweet spot of fun and functional. At $60, it's already reasonably priced even without the discount. But the $45 deal on Amazon is quite the steal, considering it's the kind of gift that actually gets used and will keep getting used. While the Everything Maker isn't on sale on the Chefman website currently, it's still worth checking Chefman's website from time to time. They run promotions regularly (in fact, my favorite Obliterator Blender is 20% off right now). My buying advice Whether you're shopping for a Father's Day gift or just want to level up your own cuisine game, the Chefman Everything Maker is a surprisingly versatile little appliance. Even at full price, it offers solid value and delivers big on convenience, but for just $45, you really can't beat the value. If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite hostess or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
