52,400 AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV Shares Acquired by B&D White Capital Company LLC

Key Points

• B&D White Capital increased its AeroVironment stake by 52,400 shares—a 759.4% rise—bringing its holdings to 59,300 shares, valued at about $8.4 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.38% of the company.
• AeroVironment reported quarterly EPS of $0.59, beating the $0.22 consensus, while revenue of $480.5 million also topped estimates and rose 5.7% year over year.
• The stock was reported down 9.8%, while analysts’ consensus rating remained “Moderate Buy” with a $223.86 price target; recent commentary also flagged valuation and contract-related risks.

B&D White Capital Company LLC increased its stake in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Free Report) by 759.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 59,300 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 52,400 shares during the period. B&D White Capital Company LLC owned about 0.12% of AeroVironment worth $8,434,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AVAV. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in AeroVironment during the second quarter worth $574,566,000. Congress Asset Management Co. lifted its stake in AeroVironment by 20.1% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 595,134 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $84,640,000 after purchasing an additional 99,494 shares during the last quarter. American Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in AeroVironment during the second quarter worth about $69,745,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in AeroVironment during the second quarter worth about $67,549,000. Finally, Korea Investment CORP acquired a new position in AeroVironment during the second quarter worth approximately $54,901,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AeroVironment news, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total value of $41,381.30. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,592,271.68. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Stephen Page sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total value of $38,067.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 48,253 shares in the company, valued at $7,347,484.31. The trade was a 0.52% 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 ninety days, insiders sold 805 shares of company stock worth $142,671. Insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

AeroVironment Trading Down 9.8%

Shares of AVAV stock opened at $102.08 on Friday. AeroVironment, Inc. has a 12-month low of $101.07 and a 12-month high of $408.25. The company has a market capitalization of $5.19 billion, a PE ratio of -43.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.42. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $138.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $182.04. The company has a quick ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 4.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $480.49 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $451.95 million. AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.32 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 earnings per share for the current year.

AeroVironment News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Heard Capital increased its AeroVironment position by 25% in the quarter ended June 30, according to its latest 13F filing. The disclosed purchase may support sentiment, though it reflects an earlier investment period. A $2.4 Billion Fund Bought These 3 Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: A market forecast through 2035 identifies AeroVironment among companies positioned to benefit from growth in UAV payloads and subsystems, including demand for AI, radar and flight-control systems. This is a broad industry outlook, not a company-specific contract announcement. Global UAV Payload and Subsystems Market Forecast to 2035
• Neutral Sentiment: AeroVironment amended its revolving credit facility. The report provides limited detail on the amendment’s terms, so the effect on the company’s financial flexibility is unclear. AeroVironment Expands Revolving Credit Facility Through Amendment
• Negative Sentiment: One valuation analysis says AVAV could be about 19% overvalued after the U.S. Space Force halted work on a BlueHalo-related contract worth roughly $1.7 billion and reopened bidding to other suppliers. The uncertainty may weigh on expectations for contract opportunities and valuation. AeroVironment Could Be 19% Overvalued After Contract Bid Reopened
• Negative Sentiment: Recent commentary cites defense-funding risks as analysts reassess AVAV’s fair value. A separate valuation piece argues the stock may still be expensive despite its steep decline, keeping pressure on investor expectations. AeroVironment Fair Value Edges Lower AeroVironment Stock May Be Expensive
• Negative Sentiment: KeyCorp cut its price target on AeroVironment, adding to concerns about near-term upside. AeroVironment Stock Price Target Cut by KeyCorp

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have issued reports on AVAV. Needham & Company LLC restated a "buy" rating and issued a $225.00 price objective on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $285.00 price objective on AeroVironment in a research report on Thursday, September 17th. Citigroup reiterated a "market outperform" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Monday. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their target price on AeroVironment from $280.00 to $240.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on AeroVironment in a report on Friday, October 9th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $237.00 price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $223.86.

AeroVironment Profile

AeroVironment, Inc is a defense technology company that develops and supplies uncrewed aircraft systems, loitering munitions, counter-uncrewed-aircraft systems, space systems and related autonomous technologies. Its products are designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision strike, tactical communications and other defense and security missions.

The company's portfolio includes the Raven, Puma and Quantix unmanned aircraft systems; the JUMP 20 vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft; and the Switchblade family of loitering munitions.

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