Flying Machines & Fool’s Gold

Now, I reckon a fella can get mighty excited by the notion of flyin’ machines. Been a dream of ours since I was a boy, watchin’ birds and wishin’ I could join ’em. These here electric vertical takeoff and landin’ contraptions – eVTOLs, they call ’em, a mouthful, ain’t it? – they’re tryin’ to make that dream a reality. And Joby Aviation, a company with more ambition than sense, seems determined to lead the charge. They’ve built this S4, a machine that promises to whisk you about like a hummingbird, if you’ve got the coin, that is.

This S4, it carries a pilot and four passengers, can travel a hundred miles on a charge, and reaches two hundred miles an hour. Faster than most of its rivals, like Archer Aviation’s Midnight. Now, Archer’s machine uses separate propellers for liftin’ and cruisin’, which is like tryin’ to run a race with one foot tied to an anchor. Joby’s S4, though, uses tilt-rotor propellers, switchin’ between liftin’ and movin’ like a clever critter. Makes a heap more sense, if you ask me, though it don’t necessarily make it cheaper.

They’ve attracted some hefty investors, Toyota and Delta Air Lines among ’em. But the real partnership, the one that’s got folks talkin’, is with Uber. Uber, that company that figured out how to get folks to pay more for a ride in a perfectly good automobile. Now they’re aimin’ to take to the skies, usin’ Joby’s machines for their air taxi service. It’s a grand scheme, I’ll give ’em that, but whether it’s a sensible one remains to be seen.

Why These Two Need Each Other, Bless Their Hearts

Uber and Joby started dancin’ together ’bout six years ago. Uber tossed fifty million dollars at Joby, then sold ’em their Elevate air-ride business and added another seventy-five million. Now, Elevate was fiddlin’ with air taxi routes and software, tryin’ to get folks to pay a premium for helicopter rides. Uber decided it wasn’t worth the bother, so they handed it over to Joby to sort out. A sensible move for Uber, perhaps, but a hefty gamble for Joby.

Just last year, Joby acquired Blade’s helicopter service, expandin’ their platform. Shortly after, Uber integrated Blade’s rides into their app. Seems they’re tryin’ to build a whole network of flyin’ machines, connectin’ cities and airports. It’s a bold vision, but I’ve seen bolder visions end in a heap of trouble.

Uber, with over 202 million monthly customers, plans to tie itself to Joby’s air taxi partners – Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and All Nippon Airways. They even launched Uber Air, with plans to start flyin’ in Dubai later this year. A significant milestone, they claim. I reckon it’ll be a sight to behold, if it actually happens.

Now, the Federal Aviation Administration hasn’t given Joby’s S4, or Archer’s Midnight, the green light for commercial flights just yet. But Joby expects approval this year, and Delta’s already workin’ with ’em to launch routes in New York and Los Angeles. They’ve even secured a spot as the official air taxi provider for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. A grand opportunity, no doubt, but also a heap of pressure.

But Is This Stock Worth Your Hard-Earned Dollars?

Analysts expect Joby’s revenue to nearly quadruple from 2025 to 2027, jumpin’ from fifty-three million to two hundred and ten million dollars. But with a market cap of nine point nine billion dollars, it’s already valued at forty-seven times its projected 2027 sales. That’s a hefty price tag, even for a flyin’ machine.

That premium valuation might be justified if the FAA approves those flights and the partners expand their networks. But it could come tumblin’ down if those approvals are delayed, or if Joby struggles to produce enough machines to meet the demand. And don’t forget, they’re expected to remain unprofitable for the foreseeable future, and they’ll likely keep dilutin’ investors with secondary offerings. It’s a risky proposition, to say the least.

I wouldn’t rush to buy Joby’s stock in this frothy market, but I wouldn’t ignore it either. They’re establishin’ an early mover’s advantage in the eVTOL market, which could grow exponentially over the next decade as these greener aircraft gradually replace conventional helicopters. But remember, folks, there’s always a risk when you’re gamblin’ on the future. And sometimes, the most sensible thing to do is to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.

2026-02-27 19:34

Why These Two Need Each Other, Bless Their Hearts

But Is This Stock Worth Your Hard-Earned Dollars?

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