Needham & Company LLC restated their buy rating on shares of AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV – Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $225.00 price objective on the aerospace company’s stock.
AVAV has been the topic of several other research reports. Wolfe Research cut shares of AeroVironment to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $315.00 to $220.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $305.00 to $229.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Wedbush assumed coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $247.79.
View Our Latest Report on AVAV
AeroVironment Stock Down 0.2%
AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%.The company had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $451.95 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.32 EPS. The firm’s quarterly 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, research analysts predict that AeroVironment will post 3.22 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment
In related news, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of AeroVironment stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total value of $41,381.30. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares in the company, valued at $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Stephen Page sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.98, for a total value of $47,995.00. Following the sale, the director owned 48,503 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,311,605.94. The trade was a 0.51% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 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. Corporate insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Trading of AeroVironment
Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. NewEdge Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of AeroVironment by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 3,709 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $897,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in AeroVironment by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 1,081 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $261,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in AeroVironment by 29.7% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 188 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its holdings in AeroVironment by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 2,667 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $645,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. grew its holdings in AeroVironment by 90.0% during the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 133 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. 86.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Trending Headlines about AeroVironment
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.
About AeroVironment
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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