AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Sets New 12-Month Low on Analyst Downgrade

Posted by Geri Gentry on Oct 20th, 2026

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV – Get Free Report)’s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday after Citizens Jmp lowered their price target on the stock from $230.00 to $170.00. Citizens Jmp currently has a market outperform rating on the stock. AeroVironment traded as low as $116.30 and last traded at $119.6420, with a volume of 133,906 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $117.90.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on AVAV. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $225.00 price target on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Wolfe Research lowered AeroVironment to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered AeroVironment from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $210.00 to $180.00 in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on AeroVironment from $229.00 to $204.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn assumed coverage on AeroVironment in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $225.80.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AVAV

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total value of $38,067.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 48,253 shares in the company, valued at $7,347,484.31. This represents a 0.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Insiders sold 805 shares of company stock valued at $142,671 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AeroVironment

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Clark Financial Services Group Inc. BD lifted its position in AeroVironment by 20.3% in the 3rd quarter. Clark Financial Services Group Inc. BD now owns 1,793 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $255,000 after buying an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC grew its position in AeroVironment by 302.8% during the third quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC now owns 7,150 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 5,375 shares during the last quarter. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in AeroVironment by 13.6% during the third quarter. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,054 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $861,000 after acquiring an additional 725 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in AeroVironment by 12.3% during the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,834 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $972,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC grew its position in AeroVironment by 8.0% during the third quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,588 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $653,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.38% of the company’s stock.

AeroVironment Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $6.08 billion, a PE ratio of -50.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 4.26 and a quick ratio of 3.33. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $150.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $164.86.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. The firm had revenue of $480.49 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $451.95 million. AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.32 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AeroVironment Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

AeroVironment, Inc is a defense technology company that develops and supplies uncrewed aircraft systems, loitering munitions, counter-uncrewed-aircraft systems, space systems and related autonomous technologies. Its products are designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision strike, tactical communications and other defense and security missions.

The company’s portfolio includes the Raven, Puma and Quantix unmanned aircraft systems; the JUMP 20 vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft; and the Switchblade family of loitering munitions.