AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) Stock Has Average Target Price of $224.81 According to Analysts

Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation, nineteen have assigned a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $223.86.

A number of research firms recently commented on AVAV. Citigroup reiterated a “market outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $229.00 to $204.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 price objective on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, Citizens Jmp dropped their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $230.00 to $170.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 19th.

AeroVironment News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AeroVironment selected Leonardo DRS to provide integration expertise for the U.S. Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser production program, adding a new program opportunity. Leonardo DRS selected for E-HEL program
• Positive Sentiment: ARK bought AeroVironment shares, a sign of investor interest following the company’s results, though portfolio activity alone does not establish a change in fundamentals. Cathie Wood makes major shift
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp lowered its price target to $200 from $220 but kept an “overweight” rating; the revised target still implies substantial upside from the reported share price. KeyCorp rating information
• Neutral Sentiment: A Zacks earnings-season roundup lists AVAV among defense stocks analysts expect could beat estimates. This is a forecast, not a reported earnings surprise. Defense stocks poised to beat expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage emphasizes that the stock remains far below its high after the Space Force canceled a reported $1.7 billion contract earlier this year. The cancellation is a major source of investor concern, even as the article points to broader U.S. drone-funding plans as a possible opportunity. AeroVironment’s decline and drone budgets

AeroVironment Stock Performance

Shares of AVAV stock opened at $123.53 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $139.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $184.82. The company has a market cap of $6.28 billion, a PE ratio of -52.79, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 4.26, a quick ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. AeroVironment has a 12-month low of $113.15 and a 12-month high of $408.25.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%. The firm had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $451.95 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS. The business’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. Analysts expect that AeroVironment will post 3.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at AeroVironment

In related news, Director Stephen Page sold 250 shares of AeroVironment stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total transaction of $38,067.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 48,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,347,484.31. The trade was a 0.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the company’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 value of $41,381.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 7,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 805 shares of company stock valued at $142,671. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AVAV. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the first quarter valued at $28,000. Balance Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, DecisionPoint Financial LLC acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. 86.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AeroVironment Company Profile

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.