AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV – Free Report) had its target price raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $200.00 to $210.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the aerospace company’s stock.
A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $248.00 to $235.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Wedbush assumed coverage on AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Citizens Jmp decreased their price objective on AeroVironment from $350.00 to $230.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on AeroVironment from $315.00 to $220.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research cut AeroVironment to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, AeroVironment currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $247.79.
View Our Latest Stock Report on AVAV
AeroVironment Trading Down 0.2%
AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 5.77% and a positive return on equity of 4.04%. The company had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $451.95 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.32 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AeroVironment will post 3.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other AeroVironment news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.98, for a total value of $47,995.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 48,503 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,311,605.94. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total transaction of $41,381.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 705 shares of company stock valued at $132,979. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in AVAV. Capital Analysts LLC boosted its position in shares of AeroVironment by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 2,019 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $333,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in AeroVironment in the second quarter valued at about $59,000. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in AeroVironment by 31.4% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,084 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,004,000 after purchasing an additional 1,455 shares during the last quarter. Nykredit A S acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the second quarter valued at about $176,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in AeroVironment by 119.9% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 387 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 211 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.38% of the company’s stock.
AeroVironment News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Record results and backlog: Fiscal Q1 FY2027 revenue increased 5.7% year over year to a record $480.5 million, while adjusted earnings of $0.59 per share exceeded consensus estimates. Funded backlog rose 37% to approximately $1.5 billion, and the 1.4 book-to-bill ratio points to solid future demand. AeroVironment’s Record Backlog and Earnings Beat Fuel Recovery Case
- Positive Sentiment: LOCUST international expansion: AeroVironment received its first international purchase order for its LOCUST directed-energy counter-drone system, valued at more than $50 million. Management said laser weapons could become a flagship franchise, with low operating costs potentially supporting broader adoption. AeroVironment Secures First International Order for LOCUST
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains: JPMorgan raised its target to $210 and Citizens JMP maintained an Outperform rating with a $230 target after the earnings report, reflecting optimism about autonomous systems demand and a second-half production ramp.
- Neutral Sentiment: Guidance was maintained but not raised: AeroVironment reaffirmed fiscal 2027 earnings guidance of $3.02–$3.34 per share. However, full-year revenue guidance of approximately $2.18 billion at the midpoint was slightly below analyst expectations, tempering the earnings beat.
- Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution concerns: Analysts note that growth is moderating, profitability remains pressured, and the stock still carries a premium valuation despite its substantial decline from its 12-month high. Investors are also watching the company’s ability to scale LOCUST and other programs efficiently.
- Negative Sentiment: Price-target cut weighs on sentiment: Bank of America retained a Buy rating but lowered its target from $225 to $185, signaling reduced near-term upside expectations and contributing to the stock’s decline.
AeroVironment Company Profile
AeroVironment, Inc is a defense technology company that develops and produces unmanned aircraft systems, loitering munitions, counter-unmanned aircraft systems and related robotic technologies. Its products are designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision strike, force protection and tactical communications applications.
The company’s portfolio includes the Raven, Puma and Wasp small unmanned aircraft systems; the JUMP 20 vertical takeoff and landing aircraft; and the Switchblade family of loitering munitions.
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