AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) Stock Has Average Price Target of $231.89

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is moderately bullish: Twenty-four analysts give AeroVironment a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating, with 18 buys and 2 strong buys. The average 12-month price target is $231.89.
• Recent results exceeded expectations: AeroVironment reported quarterly EPS of $0.59 versus the $0.22 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $480.49 million, up 5.7% year over year and above forecasts.
• The stock has fallen sharply from its yearly high: Shares opened at $140.82, compared with a 52-week range of $135.20 to $417.86. Institutional investors own 86.38% of the company, while insiders sold 805 shares worth about $142,671 over the past three months.

Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-four analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation, eighteen have given a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $231.89.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised AeroVironment from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, July 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on AeroVironment from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. UBS Group increased their price objective on AeroVironment from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on AeroVironment from $229.00 to $204.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Wedbush started coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock.

AeroVironment Stock Performance

Shares of AVAV opened at $140.82 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $7.16 billion, a PE ratio of -60.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.36. AeroVironment has a one year low of $135.20 and a one year high of $417.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 4.26 and a quick ratio of 3.33. The company's fifty day moving average price is $158.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $170.15.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $451.95 million. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 5.77% and a positive return on equity of 4.04%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.32 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that AeroVironment will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total transaction of $38,067.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 48,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,347,484.31. The trade was a 0.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total transaction of $41,381.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 7,888 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders sold 805 shares of company stock valued at $142,671. Insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AeroVironment

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $574,566,000. Heard Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 48.4% during the 4th quarter. Heard Capital LLC now owns 722,150 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $174,681,000 after purchasing an additional 235,685 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 18.8% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 490,426 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $89,772,000 after purchasing an additional 77,619 shares in the last quarter. American Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the second quarter valued at approximately $69,745,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the second quarter valued at $67,549,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AeroVironment Company Profile

AeroVironment, Inc is a defense technology company that develops and supplies autonomous systems, uncrewed aircraft, loitering munitions and counter-uncrewed-aircraft systems. Its portfolio includes small unmanned aircraft systems such as Raven, Puma and Wasp, as well as larger platforms including JUMP 20 and Quantix Recon.

The company is also known for its Switchblade family of loitering munitions, which combine surveillance, target identification and precision strike capabilities. AeroVironment provides related ground control systems, sensors, software, communications equipment, training and support services for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Founded in 1971 by aerospace engineer Paul B.

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