AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) saw its shares increase by 5.8% during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching a high of $370.50 before settling at $364.99. Approximately 1,885,448 shares changed hands, which marks an 8% decline from the average daily trading volume of 2,060,485 shares. The stock’s previous close was $344.96, indicating a positive shift in market sentiment.
Analyst Ratings and Price Targets
Several equity analysts have recently provided insights that may have contributed to this stock performance. On December 10th, Citizens JMP reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a price objective of $400.00. Following closely, on October 2nd, Stifel Nicolaus raised its target from $295.00 to $389.00, also issuing a “buy” rating. Weiss Ratings, however, maintained a “sell (D+)” rating on December 29th, showing a mixed outlook among analysts.
New Street Research set a price target of $365.00 on October 1st, while Jefferies Financial Group affirmed a “buy” rating with a target of $390.00 on December 11th. Overall, the stock has garnered two “Strong Buy” ratings, nineteen “Buy” ratings, one “Hold,” and one “Sell,” leading to an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $375.41 according to data from MarketBeat.com.
Financial Performance and Future Guidance
AeroVironment, which has a market capitalization of $18.22 billion, recently released its quarterly earnings results on December 9th. The company reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.44, falling short of analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by $0.43. Despite this, AeroVironment saw a significant revenue increase to $472.51 million, exceeding the expected $466.16 million and reflecting a remarkable 150.7% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
The company has set its fiscal year 2026 guidance at $3.400-$3.550 EPS, while analysts predict an average EPS of $3.38 for the current year.
Insider trading activity has also been notable, with CFO Kevin Patrick McDonnell selling 513 shares on November 10th for a total value of $170,038.98. This transaction decreased his holdings by 2.65%. Additionally, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 200 shares on December 30th, valued at $50,184.00, which represented a 3.23% decrease in his position.
Institutional Investor Activity
Recent activity among large investors also indicates growing interest in AeroVironment. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC increased its stake by 60% in the third quarter, now holding 80 shares valued at approximately $25,000. Rothschild Investment LLC raised its holdings by 7.8%, bringing its total to 498 shares worth $157,000. In a noteworthy move, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. doubled its stake to 80 shares valued at $28,000.
Furthermore, institutional investors and hedge funds now own 86.38% of AeroVironment’s stock, highlighting the significant backing the company has from larger financial entities.
AeroVironment, based in Monrovia, California, specializes in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), tactical missiles, and electric vehicle charging solutions. The company’s product lines serve various markets, including defense and public safety, with systems such as the Raven, Puma, and Switchblade series.
As AeroVironment continues to navigate a fluctuating market landscape, the recent uptick in share value and analyst ratings may indicate a positive trajectory for investors and stakeholders alike.
