Joby Aviation (JOBY) Surges 18.2% on Landmark Acquisition—What’s Next for the eVTOL Giant?

Summary
• Joby Aviation’s stock leaps 18.2% intraday to $20.28, hitting its 52-week high of $20.45
• $125M acquisition of Blade’s passenger business unlocks NYC infrastructure and 50,000+ loyal fliers
• Technicals signal bullish momentum: RSI at 72.9, MACD above signal line

Joby Aviation’s stock has ignited a frenzy, surging over 18% on news of a transformative acquisition. With Blade’s urban air mobility infrastructure and customer base now under its wing, the eVTOL pioneer is positioning itself as a clear leader in the race to commercialize electric air taxis. Traders are now racing to decode whether this momentum can sustain amid a sector grappling with regulatory and cost challenges.

Strategic Acquisition of Blade’s Passenger Business Ignites JOBY’s Bullish Surge
Joby Aviation’s explosive move stems from its $125 million acquisition of Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business, a landmark deal that accelerates its path to commercialization. The acquisition grants immediate access to Blade’s 12 urban terminals in New York, Europe, and Dubai, along with a loyal customer base of 50,000+ fliers. Blade’s CEO Rob Wiesenthal will retain operational control, ensuring continuity in passenger services while transitioning to Joby’s electric aircraft. This strategic expansion eliminates infrastructure costs and customer acquisition hurdles, directly addressing skepticism around the eVTOL industry’s scalability. The deal also positions Joby to leverage Blade’s decade of premium air mobility experience, aligning with its 2026 Dubai launch timeline.

Aerospace & Defense Sector Mixed as JOBY Outperforms on eVTOL Momentum
While the Aerospace & Defense sector remains volatile, Joby’s gains starkly contrast with peers like Boeing, which fell 0.75% intraday. The sector’s broader challenges—regulatory delays, high R&D costs, and geopolitical risks—highlight Joby’s unique advantage: a clear commercialization roadmap. By acquiring Blade’s infrastructure, Joby bypasses the need for costly ground-up development, a critical differentiator in an industry where 80% of firms remain unprofitable. The deal also aligns with global push for sustainable aviation, a theme underpinning ETFs like XLRE, though no leveraged ETFs are directly tied to eVTOLs.

Options and Technicals: Capitalizing on JOBY’s Volatility and Bullish RSI
• MACD (1.85) > Signal Line (1.997): Divergence suggests short-term momentum
• RSI (72.9): Overbought but not extreme; watch for pullback
• Bollinger Bands: Price at 20.28, near upper band (20.57), indicating tight consolidation

Joby’s technicals scream for a short-term bullish trade. The RSI at 72.9 and MACD above the signal line confirm a strong upward trend, while the price hovering near the Bollinger upper band hints at potential breakouts. Key support levels lie at the 20-day EMA (15.39) and 30-day EMA (13.40). The 200-day EMA (8.05) is a distant floor, indicating a low-probability reversal.

Top Options Picks:
• JOBY20250808C20: Call option with 60.69 delta, 136.84% IV, and 21.896M turnover.
- Delta (0.607): High sensitivity to price moves
- IV (136.84%): Elevated volatility ensures premium retention
- Gamma (0.116): Strong reactivity to further price swings
- Turnover (999,330): High liquidity ensures ease of entry/exit
- Payoff at 5% upside (21.30): Max(0, 21.30 - 20) = $1.30 per contract
- Why it stands out: High gamma and turnover make it ideal for a breakout play.

• JOBY20250815C20: Call option with 60.23 delta, 106.48% IV, and 3.47M turnover.
- Delta (0.602): Similar to the 8th August contract but with lower IV
- IV (106.48%): Slightly lower volatility, but still robust
- Gamma (0.097): Sufficient sensitivity for a mid-term hold
- Turnover (347,219): Strong liquidity for a 15th August expiration
- Payoff at 5% upside (21.30): Max(0, 21.30 - 20) = $1.30 per contract
- Why it stands out: Balances gamma with lower IV for a controlled risk-reward profile.

Hook: Aggressive bulls should prioritize JOBY20250808C20 for a breakout play, but cap risk with a stop at $19.50.

Backtest Joby Aviation Stock Performance
The backtest of JOBY's performance after an 18% intraday surge shows mixed results. While the stock experienced a significant one-day gain, the overall short-term performance was lackluster, with the 3-day win rate at 45.87% and the 10-day win rate at 50.10%, both below the 52.40% 30-day win rate. This suggests that JOBY's intraday surge was not consistently followed by further gains over the short term.

Position for JOBY’s Next Move: Key Levels and Options Playbook
Joby’s 18.2% surge is a clear signal of market confidence in its eVTOL commercialization strategy. While the RSI suggests caution on overbought territory, the acquisition of Blade’s infrastructure removes a major scalability risk, making a retest of the 52-week high ($20.45) highly probable. Traders should monitor the 20-day EMA (15.39) as a critical support level—break below triggers a deeper correction. Meanwhile, Boeing’s -0.75% decline underscores sector-wide jitters, but Joby’s unique value proposition (existing terminals, loyal fliers) sets it apart. Action: Buy the 20-strike August calls for a breakout trade, and watch the 15th August 20-strike calls for a controlled position. If $20.45 breaks, the 21-strike puts (JOBY20250815P21) offer short-side insurance.