New York, May 22, 2026, 17:01 EDT
Joby Aviation shares closed out Friday with a 5% gain at $10.92 before slipping to $10.90 after hours. JOBY kept attracting buyers going into the Memorial Day break, with volume running higher than usual. The stock still trades roughly 50% under its 52-week high at $20.95.
Normal trading hours were in effect Friday for U.S. stocks, with the New York Stock Exchange closing the main session at 4 p.m. Eastern before starting late hours until 8 p.m. Nasdaq lists Monday, May 25, as closed for Memorial Day. Traders won’t have a session again until after the three-day break.
Joby shares rose on Friday while the Dow touched an intraday record high not seen since February, according to Reuters. The gain in Joby comes as traders look for the company to convert flight trials, regulatory steps, and Blade routes into paying air-taxi business before investor patience runs out.
Joby is developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The battery-powered craft is designed to lift off like a helicopter, then cruise like a small plane. Joby wants it to carry a pilot plus four passengers. First riders are targeted for 2026, the company said.
Joby said in its most recent SEC filing that its first FAA-conforming aircraft has flown under Type Inspection Authorization. The company also completed its SR3 audit with the FAA. Joby closed March with $2.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Joby’s shareholder letter showed a split on the stock. Revenue for the quarter came in at $24 million, with Blade providing most of that. Net loss was $110 million. Joby spent $195 million in cash and equivalents, excluding new financing. The company is sticking with its 2026 revenue goal of $105 million to $115 million.
Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in May the company has the “clearest path” so far to starting passenger service after demo flights in New York and San Francisco. Investors are tracking that because the market cares more about certification timing and the service launch than about current earnings. SEC
Joby can shift from just test flights to real paying customers using Blade. Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal told Business Insider this week that “narrow arteries around JFK” make up 70% to 80% of a typical car trip’s travel time. Quick airport trips might let commuters try out what vertical transport does. Business Insider
Archer Aviation said this month it completed Phase 3 in the FAA’s type-cert for its Midnight aircraft. Eve, which has backing from Embraer, said on May 21 it finished hover and low-speed flight tests before moving on to transition flights. The two are both hitting milestones. The eVTOL race isn’t just Joby’s story.
Joby still sees clear risks ahead. In its latest quarterly filing, the company warned that delays or changes to key approvals or certifications could push back the start of commercial service. Joby also flagged high investment costs, competition, infrastructure challenges, and Archer’s International Trade Commission complaint as threats to getting certified and launching.
Joby shares rallied Friday, with traders focusing on the company’s milestones over immediate profits. After the holiday weekend, attention shifts from demonstration flights to whether Joby can line up regulators, infrastructure, and actual fares around the same time.
