AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• AeroVironment currently has a consensus analyst rating of “Moderate Buy”, based on coverage from 23 research firms. The average 12-month price target is about $305.33.
• Several analysts recently cut price targets on AVAV, including KeyCorp, Jefferies, BTIG, and Canaccord Genuity, even though most still maintain buy or overweight ratings. One firm, Wall Street Zen, downgraded the stock to sell.
• Shares were trading around $137.95, near the lower end of their 52-week range, while the article also notes insider selling and a major overhang from a pending class-action lawsuit.

Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-three research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation, seventeen have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $305.3333.

Several research firms have recently commented on AVAV. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $295.00 to $220.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $390.00 to $305.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of AeroVironment from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday. BTIG Research dropped their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $330.00 to $205.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $330.00 to $300.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 12th.

Insider Activity at AeroVironment

In other news, 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 transaction of $43,602.50. Following the sale, the director owned 49,001 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,546,264.41. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 750 shares of company stock worth $133,503. 0.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of AeroVironment

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in AeroVironment in the 1st quarter valued at about $225,000. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the second quarter valued at about $285,000. American Century Companies Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the second quarter valued at about $633,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in AeroVironment by 5,200.0% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 159 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in AeroVironment by 0.4% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 24,188 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $6,892,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. 86.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AeroVironment Trading Up 0.9%

NASDAQ:AVAV opened at $137.95 on Friday. AeroVironment has a 12 month low of $135.20 and a 12 month high of $417.86. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $226.60. The company has a current ratio of 5.51, a quick ratio of 4.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a P/E ratio of -31.79, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.35.

More AeroVironment News

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AeroVironment appointed former Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III to its Board of Directors, a move that could strengthen governance and deepen defense-industry credibility. AV Appoints William J. Lynn III to Board of Directors
• Positive Sentiment: Piper Sandler maintained an overweight rating on AVAV even after cutting its price target, suggesting the firm still sees meaningful upside from current levels. AeroVironment price target lowered by Piper Sandler
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and market-commentary pieces highlighted AeroVironment as a defense stock with strong backlog and revenue-growth potential, but these were more comparative/overview articles than new company-specific catalysts. 2 Space and Defense Stocks Turning Backlogs Into Revenue Growth
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms announced or reminded investors about a pending class-action lawsuit alleging securities fraud, with a lead-plaintiff deadline in late July; this cluster of legal updates is the biggest negative overhang on AVAV today. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges AeroVironment, Inc. Investors to Act
• Negative Sentiment: BTIG sharply reduced its price target on AVAV, and other reports noted the stock has fallen more steeply than the broader market, reinforcing concerns about near-term valuation and momentum. BTIG Slashes Price Target on AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) by $125

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.

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