Palantir and Archer Aviation's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Partnership: Which Stock Is the Better Buy?

Core Viewpoint - The partnership between Palantir Technologies and Archer Aviation aims to innovate in the aviation sector by leveraging AI for air traffic control and route planning, with both companies experiencing significant stock price increases over the past year [1][2]. Company Overview - Palantir Technologies is a leading AI analytics firm that provides solutions primarily to the U.S. government and large enterprises, generating $3.11 billion in revenue and $571 million in net income over the last 12 months [8]. - Archer Aviation is focused on developing electric air taxis, specifically the Midnight vehicle, and is currently pre-revenue, with a market cap of $6.6 billion despite not having sold any units yet [7]. Partnership Details - The collaboration will utilize Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) to create software for future air traffic control and route planning, which is essential for integrating air taxi networks with existing aviation systems [4][10]. Market Position and Valuation - Palantir's market cap exceeds $300 billion, with a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio over 100, which is significantly higher than typical software companies that usually range between 10 to 20 [9]. - Archer Aviation, while pre-revenue, has established partnerships with companies like United Airlines and the city of Abu Dhabi, but its valuation is considered high given its current lack of revenue generation [7][14]. Future Outlook - The potential for Archer Aviation to generate revenue hinges on the FAA's approval of its air taxi, with projections suggesting that even at a high sales volume, revenue may only reach $500 million annually, translating to low-margin earnings [14]. - Despite the innovative technologies being developed, both companies are viewed as not suitable for investment at this time due to their high valuations relative to their current financial performance [11][15].