AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Given New $350.00 Price Target at Citizens Jmp

Key Points

• Citizens Jmp cut its price target on AeroVironment to $350 (from $400) while keeping a "market outperform" rating, a target that implies roughly 57.96% upside from the prior close.
• AeroVironment missed Q3 forecasts (EPS $0.64 vs. $0.72; revenue $408.1M vs. $487.9M), trimmed FY‑2026 guidance to $2.75–$3.10 in adjusted EPS, and faces potential loss/uncertainty around a ~$1.7B Space Force SCAR contract—factors driving negative sentiment and analyst downgrades.
• Despite near‑term headwinds, the sell‑side consensus is a "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $341.39, and institutional investors hold about 86.38% of the stock (including increased positions by ARK).

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) had its target price cut by research analysts at Citizens Jmp from $400.00 to $350.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "market outperform" rating on the aerospace company's stock. Citizens Jmp's price target indicates a potential upside of 57.96% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on AVAV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $320.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on AeroVironment from $260.00 to $235.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup restated a "market outperform" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on AeroVironment from $391.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on AeroVironment in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $355.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AeroVironment has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $341.39.

AeroVironment Stock Down 2.5%

NASDAQ AVAV opened at $221.57 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 4.29, a current ratio of 5.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. AeroVironment has a fifty-two week low of $102.25 and a fifty-two week high of $417.86. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $283.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $293.28. The stock has a market cap of $11.06 billion, a PE ratio of -177.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 1.26.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The aerospace company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.72 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $408.05 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $487.94 million. AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 3.42% and a negative net margin of 5.08%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 143.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.30 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.750-3.100 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AeroVironment will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment

In other news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $75,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 50,001 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,000,300. The trade was a 0.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 200 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.92, for a total value of $50,184.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 5,994 shares in the company, valued at $1,504,014.48. This trade represents a 3.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 4,078 shares of company stock worth $1,301,482 over the last quarter. 0.81% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of AeroVironment

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State of Michigan Retirement System bought a new position in AeroVironment in the 3rd quarter worth about $2,393,000. ARK Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 28.9% during the third quarter. ARK Investment Management LLC now owns 400,457 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $126,100,000 after buying an additional 89,697 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of AeroVironment by 550.7% during the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 178,204 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $56,115,000 after buying an additional 150,819 shares during the period. Keystone Investors PTE Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment during the third quarter worth approximately $2,355,000. Finally, Rheos Capital Works Inc. bought a new position in AeroVironment in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,787,000. Institutional investors own 86.38% of the company's stock.

Key AeroVironment News

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Revenue jumped year‑over‑year and management highlighted strategic progress in product lines (counter‑drone, AI sensing). These fundamentals support long‑term demand as militaries increase drone/C‑UAS spending. How Is AeroVironment Expanding Its Counter-Drone Defense Capabilities?
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released the full Q3 presentation and earnings call materials — useful for parsing management commentary on order timing, backlog and SCAR next steps. Q3 Slide Deck / Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Q3 results: adjusted EPS of $0.64 and revenue of $408.1M missed Wall Street estimates (EPS and revenue). Management cited timing issues that delayed orders — the shortfall and miss vs. consensus drove the initial selloff. AeroVironment Misses Q4 Sales Expectations
• Negative Sentiment: FY26 guidance was cut to $2.75–$3.10 in adjusted EPS (previously $3.40–$3.55) and revenue guidance centered ~ $1.9–$2.0B, both below Street expectations — a clear near‑term negative for sentiment and valuation. AeroVironment Cuts Guidance, Says Timing Issues Hurt Results
• Negative Sentiment: Contract uncertainty: reports cite potential termination or loss of a ~$1.7B Space Force SCAR contract, amplifying revenue visibility concerns and driving downside risk. AVAV Stock Plunges on Q3 Miss and $1.7B Contract Uncertainty
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst reaction: at least one sell‑side rating was cut from strong‑buy to hold after the “reality check,” adding selling pressure. Rating Downgrade Article
• Negative Sentiment: Investor/litigation risk: a law firm (Pomerantz) has opened an investigation, which can increase headline volatility and legal overhangs. Pomerantz Law Firm Investigation

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.

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