Free cash flow burn has accelerated to $181.7 million in 2026Q1, driven by a quarterly capital expenditure increase to $32.6 million as the company prioritizes long-term asset deployment.
| Cash from Operations | -487.4M | -432.9M | -368.6M | -271.6M | -200.4M | -108.4M | -22.8M | -809K |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | -144300% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Operating CF Growth % | -118.55% | -17.44% | -35.71% | -35.53% | -84.87% | -375.44% | -2718.29% | - |
| Net Income | -742.5M | -618.2M | -536.8M | -457.9M | -317.3M | -347.8M | -24.8M | -944K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 23.7M | 20M | 11.7M | 6.5M | 4.4M | 1.3M | 200K | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 193.4M | 223.5M | 108.8M | 45.2M | 102.8M | 123.6M | 200K | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113M | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 41.4M | -51M | 64.9M | 121.4M | -9.5M | 1.9M | 300K | 105K |
| Working Capital Changes | -3.4M | -7.2M | -17.2M | 13.2M | 19.2M | -400K | 1.3M | 30K |
| Change in Receivables | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 200K | 8.8M | -100K | 9.2M | -100K | -800K | 1.6M | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -1.09B | -1.18B | -82M | 420.7M | -464.3M | -3.5M | -1.9M | -4K |
| Capital Expenditures | -101.4M | -78.8M | -82M | -44.3M | -6.9M | -3.5M | -1.4M | -4K |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 5336.84% | 26266.67% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acquisitions | -129.6M | -125.9M | 0 | 0 | 457.4K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -26.2M | -26.2M | 0 | 0 | -457.4K | 0 | -500K | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | 1.5B | 1.8B | 820.4M | 250.1M | -9.9M | 822.2M | 51.2M | 10.93M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -100K | 0 | 57.5M | -2.5M | -10M | 20M | 900K | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 1.57B | 1.86B | 783.4M | 260.7M | 100K | 600M | 50.3M | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -69M | -59.1M | -20.5M | -8.1M | 0 | 202.2M | 0 | 10.93M |
| Net Change in Cash | -78.5M | 187.5M | 369.8M | 399.2M | -674.6M | 710.3M | 26.5M | 10.12M |
| Free Cash Flow | -588.8M | -511.7M | -450.6M | -315.9M | -207.3M | -111.9M | -24.7M | -813K |
| FCF Margin % | -30989.47% | -170566.67% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| FCF Growth % | -30.44% | -13.56% | -42.64% | -52.39% | -85.25% | -353.04% | -2938.13% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.77 | -0.82 | -1.20 | -1.17 | -0.86 | -0.47 | -0.21 | -0.02 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.79x | 0.70x | 0.69x | 0.59x | 0.63x | 0.31x | 0.92x | 0.86x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Certification and liquidity runway
As reported in recent financial statements, Archer Aviation's operating cash flow consistently trails net income, with the OCF/NI ratio fluctuating between 0.50 and 1.01, suggesting that non-cash charges and working capital movements are masking the true extent of the company's underlying cash-based operational losses.
The persistent gap between net income and operating cash flow indicates that the company's accounting earnings are heavily influenced by non-cash items, likely including significant stock-based compensation. Investors should monitor whether this divergence narrows as the company moves toward commercialization, as a failure to align cash generation with earnings could signal ongoing structural inefficiencies.
Based on Archer's reported figures, free cash flow has deteriorated from a quarterly burn of $93.0 million in 2023Q4 to $181.7 million by 2026Q1, reflecting the intensifying capital requirements necessary to support the final stages of the Midnight aircraft's development and certification timeline.
The widening FCF deficit highlights the company's reliance on external financing to fund its R&D and testing activities. This trajectory suggests that the cash burn rate is likely to remain elevated until the company achieves a transition to revenue-generating operations, warranting close scrutiny of the remaining liquidity runway.
According to recent SEC filings, Archer's quarterly capital expenditures have surged from $9.0 million in 2023Q4 to $32.6 million in 2026Q1, illustrating the transition from prototype development to the more capital-intensive phase of establishing manufacturing capabilities at the Covington facility.
This increase in capital intensity is a natural progression for an aerospace firm preparing for high-rate production, yet it places additional pressure on the company's cash reserves. The shift toward higher capex suggests that management is prioritizing infrastructure readiness, which may provide a long-term competitive advantage if production targets are met.
As evidenced by the $125.9 million acquisition outflow in 2025Q4, Archer is actively deploying its cash reserves to secure strategic assets, a move that appears aimed at de-risking the manufacturing supply chain rather than returning capital to shareholders through dividends or buybacks.
The focus on inorganic growth and infrastructure investment suggests management is attempting to build a defensible moat around its production capabilities. While this strategy may enhance long-term operational control, it also accelerates the depletion of cash, increasing the potential for future dilutive equity raises.
Based on the provided data, the cash flow statement fails to fully capture the impact of non-cash warrant liabilities and the significant stock-based compensation, which totaled $88.9 million in 2025Q4, effectively obscuring the true economic cost of talent acquisition and strategic partnerships.
These adjustments suggest that the reported cash flow figures may present a more favorable picture of operational health than is supported by the underlying business economics. Investors should be cautious, as the reliance on equity-based incentives to manage cash burn may lead to significant dilution that is not immediately apparent in the cash flow statement.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying ACHR stock.
Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR) generated $-432.9M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR) reported negative free cash flow of $511.7M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR) spent $78.8M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.