AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Trading 4.2% Higher – Here’s Why

Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) rose 4.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $235.98 and last traded at $229.80. Approximately 2,106,103 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 11% from the average daily volume of 1,904,910 shares. The stock had previously closed at $220.56.

AeroVironment News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: A $97.4 million U.S. Army contract and expansion of New Mexico manufacturing bolster near-term revenue visibility and production capacity, supporting upside to orders and execution. AeroVironment Bags $97.4 Million Army Contract
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple industry write-ups highlight AVAV as a direct beneficiary of rising defense spending and the shift to unmanned systems (Switchblade, Puma, Raven), reinforcing a structural growth narrative for the company. Unmanned Profits: The New Kings of the Modern Battlefield
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage previews cite stronger demand for Switchblade systems and growth from the BlueHalo acquisition—factors that could help AVAV meet raised revenue expectations if margins and supply chains hold. AeroVironment Q3 Earnings Loom: What Should Investors Do Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will present at the J.P. Morgan Industrials conference (March 18), which provides an opportunity for updated guidance and investor Q&A but is unlikely to move the stock materially before the March 10 earnings release. AeroVironment, Inc. to Present at J.P. Morgan 2026 Industrials Conference
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks downgraded AVAV to “strong sell” and several brokers (RBC, Robert W. Baird, Piper Sandler) have reduced targets or voiced caution—selling pressure and lower analyst sentiment can weigh on the stock absent corroborating operational beats. Zacks.com
• Negative Sentiment: A Pomerantz LLP investor investigation notice raises legal/recall risk and can spur short-term volatility and headline-driven selling. INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of AeroVironment, Inc. – AVAV
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings previews (Seeking Alpha, Zacks) flag a “1.4B problem,” supply-chain and cost pressures and highlight downside risk to margins — meaning the upcoming March 10 results and guidance are the biggest near-term risk. AeroVironment Q4 Preview: The $1.4B Problem (Downgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analyst downgrades, price-target cuts and a notable short-term share pullback have amplified downside momentum; if earnings or guidance disappoint, selling could accelerate. AeroVironment (AVAV) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AVAV has been the subject of a number of research reports. BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $355.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on AeroVironment from $375.00 to $325.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on AeroVironment from $350.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $335.00 to $315.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $320.00 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $348.33.

AeroVironment Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $11.47 billion, a PE ratio of -183.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a quick ratio of 4.29, a current ratio of 5.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $284.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $292.75.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.43). The firm had revenue of $472.51 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $466.16 million. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 5.08% and a positive return on equity of 3.42%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 150.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.47 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.400-3.550 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $377.62, for a total transaction of $377,620.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 51,001 shares in the company, valued at $19,258,997.62. The trade was a 1.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.92, for a total value of $50,184.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 5,994 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,504,014.48. This represents a 3.23% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 4,589 shares of company stock worth $1,428,910 in the last ninety days. 0.81% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AeroVironment

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 60.0% during the 3rd quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC now owns 80 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Tema Etfs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its holdings in AeroVironment by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 80 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.38% of the company’s stock.

AeroVironment Company Profile

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.