SOAR vs SRFM vs ACHR vs JOBY

For growth investors, Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) is the stronger pick with 391. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 8% for Surf Air Mobility Inc. (SRFM). Analysts rate Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR) a "Buy" — based on 9 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) delivered a total return of +1. 0%, compared to -99. 9% for Volato Group, Inc. (SOAR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JOBY returned -4. 8% versus SOAR's -99. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Volato Group, Inc.

(SOAR) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 30β versus Surf Air Mobility Inc. 's 3. 58β — meaning SRFM is approximately 56% more volatile than SOAR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for Joby Aviation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) is pulling ahead at 391. 8% versus -10. 8% for Surf Air Mobility Inc. (SRFM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Volato Group, Inc. grew EPS 43. 6% year-over-year, compared to -29. 9% for Joby Aviation, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SOAR leads at 252. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Volato Group, Inc.

(SOAR) is the more profitable company, earning -87. 8% net margin versus -2060. 7% for Archer Aviation Inc. — meaning it keeps -87. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SOAR leads at -20. 2% versus -2431. 0% for ACHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SOAR leads at 16. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Volato Group, Inc. (SOAR) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (JOBY: -4. 8%, SOAR: -99. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SOAR is a small-cap high-growth stock; SRFM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACHR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JOBY is a small-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.