AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Shares Down 2.1% Following Insider Selling

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) was down 2.1% during trading on Friday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $159.40 and last traded at $159.95. 2,416,687 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 43% from the average daily volume of 1,694,732 shares. The stock had previously closed at $163.38.

Specifically, Director Stephen Page sold 250 shares of AeroVironment stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total transaction of $38,067.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 48,253 shares in the company, valued at $7,347,484.31. The trade was a 0.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on AVAV shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $225.00 price target on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on AeroVironment from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. William Blair restated an “outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. 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 research report on Wednesday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised AeroVironment from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, July 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $238.89.

Key Headlines Impacting AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AeroVironment reported fiscal first-quarter revenue of approximately $480.5 million, up about 6% year over year, and earnings of $0.59 per share versus the $0.22 consensus estimate. Management maintained fiscal 2027 EPS guidance of $3.02–$3.34, reinforcing the earnings-recovery case. AeroVironment Earnings Call Highlights Growth Path
• Positive Sentiment: Funded backlog increased to approximately $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion at the prior quarter-end. Because these are firm, funded orders, backlog conversion could provide revenue visibility and support future guidance. AeroVironment Has $1.5 Billion in Funded Backlog
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary points to AeroVironment becoming a broader defense-technology platform spanning autonomous systems, counter-drone products and directed energy. A wider product portfolio could increase contract opportunities and reduce reliance on individual programs. Is AeroVironment Becoming a Broader Defense Technology Platform?
• Neutral Sentiment: Director Stephen Page and Chief Accounting Officer Brian Shackley sold a combined 350 shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions were small compared with their remaining holdings, so they offer limited evidence of changing insider conviction. AeroVironment Insider Sale
• Negative Sentiment: An earnings analysis highlighted cancellation of the SCAR program and a material weakness in internal controls. These issues raise questions about contract execution, reporting reliability and the timing of future growth, even though the company has shown resilience. AeroVironment Earnings Analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concerns that the market is pricing in too much acquisition risk may limit valuation upside. Potential integration challenges, financing requirements and execution risk could overshadow the company’s improving operating outlook. AeroVironment Acquisition Risk Analysis

AeroVironment Trading Down 2.1%

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 has a market capitalization of $8.13 billion, a PE ratio of -68.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.33 and a beta of 1.41. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $157.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $175.38.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. The business had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $451.95 million. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 5.77% and a positive return on equity of 4.04%. The business’s revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.32 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AeroVironment

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its position in shares of AeroVironment by 90.0% during the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 133 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in AeroVironment during the first quarter worth $25,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, MidFirst Bank purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the fourth quarter valued at about $40,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.