AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Trading Up 1.8% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• AeroVironment shares rose 1.8% to $171.12, although trading volume was 37% below the average session level.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $266.68. Ratings range from a $180 target from RBC to $250 from Wedbush.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $1.84 in EPS versus $1.47 expected and $641.62 million in revenue, up 133.3% year over year; however, it posted a negative 9% net margin.

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) shares traded up 1.8% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $174.79 and last traded at $171.12. 1,039,667 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 1,643,212 shares. The stock had previously closed at $168.06.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on AVAV shares. Royal Bank Of Canada cut AeroVironment from an "outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $210.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating and set a $205.00 price target on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Thursday, July 9th. William Blair reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d)" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Finally, Wedbush assumed coverage on AeroVironment in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, AeroVironment currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $266.68.

AeroVironment Stock Up 1.8%

The company has a market capitalization of $8.66 billion, a P/E ratio of -46.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.75 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50-day moving average of $164.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $201.62. The company has a quick ratio of 3.59, a current ratio of 4.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $555.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.61 EPS. The company's revenue was up 133.3% compared to the same quarter last year. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at AeroVironment

In related news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total value of $43,602.50. Following the sale, the director owned 49,001 shares in the company, valued at $8,546,264.41. This represents a 0.51% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AeroVironment

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Family Legacy Inc. bought a new position in AeroVironment in the 2nd quarter worth about $778,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the second quarter worth about $248,000. Tema ETFs LLC lifted its stake in shares of AeroVironment by 140.0% in the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 648 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $107,000 after buying an additional 378 shares in the last quarter. Canvas Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 47.4% during the second quarter. Canvas Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,392 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,211,000 after buying an additional 4,309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vista Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in AeroVironment by 22.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 16,451 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $2,716,000 after acquiring an additional 2,996 shares during the last quarter. 86.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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