AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Stock Price Up 3.7% – Should You Buy?

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) shares were up 3.7% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $153.90 and last traded at $152.28. Approximately 1,317,786 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 1,606,169 shares. The stock had previously closed at $146.88.

AeroVironment News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AeroVironment received a $51 million U.S. Army order for additional Switchblade 600 Block 2 loitering munitions, including Block 1 systems for a foreign military sale. The contract reinforces demand for the company’s precision-strike products and supports its production-expansion plans. AV Receives $51 Million U.S. Army Order for Switchblade 600 Loitering Munitions
• Positive Sentiment: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory selected AeroVironment to help build three Ingenuity-inspired Mars helicopters for a planned 2028 mission to search for subsurface ice. The project is a long-term technology and visibility catalyst, though its direct financial impact was not disclosed. NASA Taps AeroVironment for Three Mars Helicopters
• Positive Sentiment: William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma reiterated a Buy rating, citing strong loitering-munitions demand and the potential for an Army E-HEL laser contract to offset near-term revenue pressure. William Blair Reiterates Buy on AeroVironment
• Neutral Sentiment: AeroVironment will report fiscal first-quarter 2027 results after the market close on September 9. Investors are looking for evidence that contract wins, production expansion and European demand are translating into revenue growth.
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent investor commentary remains cautiously optimistic, supported by a multibillion-dollar backlog and defense spending, but technical models indicate potential downside. Reported analyst targets remain well above the current trading range, while institutional positioning has been mixed.
• Negative Sentiment: Two law firms announced investigations into whether AeroVironment’s board and executives properly disclosed competitive risks related to the U.S. Space Force’s SCAR satellite-communications program. The inquiries could create legal costs and reputational uncertainty, although no wrongdoing has been established. Berger Montague AeroVironment Investigation
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider activity shows sales by executives and no reported open-market purchases over the past six months, a modestly cautionary signal for investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AVAV shares. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective 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. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $315.00 to $220.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 price objective on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Zacks Research raised AeroVironment from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $266.68.

AeroVironment Stock Performance

The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $160.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $187.63. The company has a market capitalization of $7.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -41.38, a PEG ratio of 5.01 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 4.30 and a quick ratio of 3.59.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 29th. The aerospace company reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.37. The firm had revenue of $641.62 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $555.97 million. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 9.00% and a positive return on equity of 3.71%. The company’s revenue was up 133.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.61 EPS. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment

In other AeroVironment news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total value of $43,602.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 49,001 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,546,264.41. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 205 shares of the business’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 directly owned 7,888 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their position. 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 90 days, insiders have sold 705 shares of company stock worth $132,979. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of AeroVironment

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AVAV. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in AeroVironment by 230.3% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 109 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its position in AeroVironment by 90.0% during the fourth quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 133 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About AeroVironment

AeroVironment, Inc (NASDAQ:AVAV) is a technology company specializing in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), tactical missiles and precision loitering munitions, electric vehicle charging and scalable energy systems. Headquartered in Monrovia, California, the company develops solutions for defense, public safety and commercial markets. Their offerings include small UAS for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as advanced weapons systems designed to meet the needs of modern military operations.

The company’s unmanned aerial systems portfolio features platforms such as the Raven, Puma and Switchblade series, which are deployed by the U.S.