AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Stock Price Up 1.8% – Still a Buy?

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)’s stock price traded up 1.8% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $207.83 and last traded at $192.81. 1,536,728 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 6% from the average daily volume of 1,630,830 shares. The stock had previously closed at $189.43.

Key Headlines Impacting AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and critical components. The policy is intended to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains and could give U.S. manufacturers such as AeroVironment a competitive advantage, potentially increasing demand for domestic systems. Trump administration imposes sweeping tariffs on foreign drone imports
• Positive Sentiment: AVAV is participating in a wider rally among domestic drone and defense stocks, including Kratos, Red Cat and Ondas, as investors anticipate that tariff protection could shift business toward U.S.-based suppliers. AeroVironment, Ondas, and Kratos Rising as Trump Levies Tariffs on Drone Imports
• Positive Sentiment: Recent momentum has also been supported by strong defense demand, a reported $117.3 million Army contract and a new autonomous-systems partnership. These developments reinforce the view that AeroVironment could benefit from sustained military procurement. AVAV Outperforms Industry in the Past Month
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive, with Clear Street maintaining a Buy rating, but valuation models suggest the shares may be near fair value after substantial long-term gains. Investors may therefore require continued contract wins and execution to justify further appreciation. Clear Street Remains a Buy on AeroVironment
• Negative Sentiment: One updated valuation analysis lowered its implied fair value estimate from approximately $251.93 to $225.77 per share, citing execution risk, heavier investment needs and elevated valuation following sharply revised expectations. This could limit upside if tariff-related benefits take time to materialize. AeroVironment Stock Sees Fair Value Cut

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Clear Str upgraded AeroVironment to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded AeroVironment from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, July 5th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on AeroVironment from $280.00 to $240.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered AeroVironment to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. 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. According to MarketBeat, AeroVironment presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $266.68.

AeroVironment Stock Up 1.8%

The stock has a market cap of $9.76 billion, a P/E ratio of -52.39, a P/E/G ratio of 6.56 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a current ratio of 4.30, a quick ratio of 3.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $162.61 and its 200 day moving average is $195.05.

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

Insider Activity

In other AeroVironment news, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 205 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total value of $41,381.30. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 7,888 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,592,271.68. This trade represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through 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 firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total value of $43,602.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 49,001 shares in the company, valued at $8,546,264.41. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. 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. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AeroVironment

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AVAV. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the first quarter worth $225,000. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter valued at $285,000. American Century Companies Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter valued at $633,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in AeroVironment by 5,200.0% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 159 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in AeroVironment by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 24,188 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $6,892,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. 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.