3 U.S. Stocks Making Big Moves: Archer Surges 18.4%

Several U.S. stocks made notable moves, with different factors driving each stock’s gains or losses. Archer Aviation was the biggest gainer after announcing a strategic deal with Boeing, while Trade Desk came under pressure following its second-quarter results, and First Solar declined as investors moved to take profits.

Archer Aviation Surges 18.4% After Boeing Deal

Archer Aviation shares jumped about 18.4% after the company announced definitive agreements to acquire three Boeing subsidiaries: Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu.

Under the deal, Boeing will receive a 19.75% stake in Archer, along with two financial instruments worth $100 million each. Boeing will also receive a seat on Archer’s board and an option to purchase additional shares in the company worth up to $200 million at predetermined prices over the coming years.

The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026 after receiving the required regulatory approvals, including antitrust review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, along with the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

The transaction gives Archer access to the three companies’ capabilities in autonomous aviation, airspace management, and unmanned aircraft systems. According to the available data, the acquired businesses add more than $200 million in annual revenue and nearly 2 million hours of autonomous flight operations across 35 countries.

Trade Desk Falls 5.8% After Second-Quarter Results

Meanwhile, The Trade Desk shares fell about 5.8% after the company reported its second-quarter 2026 results, covering the quarter that ended June 30.

The company reported $715.1 million in second-quarter revenue, an increase of 3% year over year. It also posted GAAP net income of $64.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization reached $241.3 million, with a 34% margin, while non-GAAP diluted earnings came to $0.34 per share.

However, the company issued third-quarter guidance for revenue of at least $650 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $160 million. The outlook came amid investor concerns about slower growth and execution.

The company’s Co-Founder and CEO, Jeff Green, said the quarter did not meet the standard the company had set for itself, pointing to a complex environment and execution challenges. At the same time, the company maintained a customer retention rate above 95% during the second quarter, according to its statement.

First Solar Falls 5.6% After Strong Rally

First Solar shares declined 5.6% following an earlier rally of about 14%. The previous gain was linked to tariff-related dynamics before the stock pulled back as investors moved to take profits.

Based on the available data, describing the decline as profit-taking is consistent with coverage of the stock’s move, while the extent to which tariffs influenced the rally may vary depending on how other factors affecting the broader stock sector are weighed.

Archer-Boeing Deal Reshapes Autonomous Aviation

The deal combines Archer’s capabilities in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, with the technologies of Boeing’s three subsidiaries.

Wisk Aero develops autonomous air taxi technology, while SkyGrid focuses on automated airspace management and airspace intelligence. Insitu operates in the unmanned aircraft systems sector, with a focus on defense applications.

Boeing will also retain access to Wisk’s core autonomous flight technologies for use in its commercial and defense aircraft under technology-sharing and collaboration arrangements.

According to the official materials, the deal aims to combine capabilities in autonomy, electric aircraft, and unmanned aircraft systems to create an integrated physical AI platform for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Why Did Trade Desk Come Under Pressure?

Trade Desk’s decline came after its second-quarter results and third-quarter guidance, as the company faced an environment its CEO described as complex.

The available data pointed to challenges in key sectors, along with execution issues, despite continued strength in some areas of the company’s business, including connected TV and audio, as well as growth in international business and smaller accounts.

The customer retention rate, which remained above 95% during the second quarter, remains a sign that the company continues to retain its customer base despite the pressure reflected in its results and guidance.

First Solar Between a Rally and Profit-Taking

First Solar shares rose about 14% before falling 5.6%, marking a sharp reversal in the stock’s direction.

Tariffs were among the factors linked to the stock’s earlier rally, while the subsequent decline was attributed to profit-taking. However, the available data indicates that some market coverage may also attribute the stock’s move to other factors, so it cannot be concluded that a single factor was solely responsible for the decline.

Written by shindy
Researcher focused on U.S. news since 2011