The eVTOL Company No One Is Talking About (Hint: It's Not Joby Aviation or Archer)

By Scott Levine – Feb 24, 2026 at 8:05PM ESTKey PointsJoby Aviation and Archer Aviation are two of the most well-known eVTOL stocks.Simply because a stock isn't popular doesn't mean it's not a valid investment option.An investment in a pre-revenue company such as an eVTOL stock requires investors to be comfortable with a higher degree of risk.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSE: EVTLVertical AerospaceMarket Cap$412MToday's Changeangle-down(2.46%) $0.10Current Price$4.17Price as of February 24, 2026 at 3:56 PM ETThis innovative aviation company isn't winning popularity contests, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't appear on your radar.In these early days of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight, there are the usual suspects. Joby Aviation (JOBY +2.04%) and Archer Aviation (ACHR +3.31%) are two companies at the vanguard of this revolution in air travel. But they're not alone. Another eVTOL specialist has its sights set on providing this innovative air travel option to customers, and it's a company that investors interested in this burgeoning industry should familiarize themselves with. Image source: Getty Images. This under-the-radar eVTOL company is preparing for takeoff Founded almost five years ago, Vertical Aerospace (EVTL +2.46%) is a British company navigating toward offering eVTOL flights to air passengers. Like Joby, which is partnering with Delta Air Lines, and Archer, which is partnering with United Airlines, Vertical Aerospace is also working with a major airline from this side of the pond: American Airlines. ExpandNYSE: EVTLVertical AerospaceToday's Change(2.46%) $0.10Current Price$4.17Key Data PointsMarket Cap$412MDay's Range$4.02 - $4.1752wk Range$2.76 - $7.60Volume12KAvg Vol1.7M In 2021, American Airlines announced plans to order up to 250 Vertical Aerospace aircraft, representing a potential $1 billion purchase, plus an option to order an additional 100 aircraft; in addition, American Airlines announced it expected to invest $25 million in the eVTOL start-up.

And American Airlines isn't the only dance partner. Vertical Aerospace is also partnering with Bristow Group, a company specializing in vertical flight solutions. After inking an initial memorandum of understanding in 2021 that included Bristow's preorder of 25 eVTOL aircraft as well as an option for an additional 25 aircraft, the two companies announced in 2025 that Bristow would help Vertical's pursuit of launching commercial operations by providing it with access to its pilots, maintenance, and other services. Plus, Bristow ordered 50 additional aircraft, with an option for the purchase of another 50. Lest investors suspect that Vertical Aerospace's partnerships with American Airlines and Bristow Group represent the entirety of its orders, the company currently has about 1,500 preorders for its Valo eVTOL aircraft, valued at about $6 billion. For context, Archer stated in 2024 that it too had an order book of about $6 billion. Joby, on the other hand, hasn't provided clear insight into its order book. Is now the time to land Vertical Aerospace stock in your portfolio? Despite its lack of popularity, Vertical Aerospace demands serious attention from those interested in eVTOL stocks. The company foresees launching commercial eVTOL flights in the United Kingdom by the end of 2028, paving the way for it to receive certifications from other regulators (including the Federal Aviation Administration) thereafter. By the end of 2030, the company is targeting an annual production run rate of more than 225 aircraft. Moreover, management aims to achieve a 20% gross margin by 2030 and expand it to about 40% after scaling operations. With respect to cash flow, management projects the company will generate over $100 million in operating cash flow.

While Vertical Aerospace sees blue skies ahead, it's important to recognize the considerable risks with an investment in the company as it pursues the start of commercial operations, just as there are risks with Archer stock and Joby stock. Potential investors, therefore, must perform their due diligence to determine if an investment is right for them.Read NextJul 20, 2022 •By Lou WhitemanWhy Vertical Aerospace Shares Are Higher TodayJul 15, 2022 •By Lou WhitemanWhy Vertical Aerospace Stock Is Soaring Higher TodayApr 12, 2022 •By Rich SmithWhy Vertical Aerospace Went Straight Up TodayJan 20, 2022 •By Lou WhitemanWhy Vertical Aerospace Stock Lifted Off TodayAbout the AuthorScott Levine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, technology, and materials. He is also a high school English teacher and a small business owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Adelphi University, and an advanced certificate in school building leadership from CUNY Queens College. A crossword puzzle enthusiast, he has solved more than 3,100 New York Times puzzles with a 97% solve rate.TMFProudMonkeyX@TMFProudMonkeyStocks MentionedVertical AerospaceNYSE: EVTL$4.17 (+2.46%) $+0.10Delta Air LinesNYSE: DAL$69.29 (+3.60%) $+2.41United AirlinesNASDAQ: UAL$112.57 (+5.04%) $+5.40American Airlines GroupNASDAQ: AAL$13.15 (+1.70%) $+0.22Joby AviationNYSE: JOBY$9.73 (+2.04%) $+0.20Archer AviationNYSE: ACHR$7.19 (+3.31%) $+0.23Bristow GroupNYSE: VTOL$46.88 (+0.45%) $+0.21*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.