AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV Stock Acquired by Assenagon Asset Management S.A.

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management increased its AeroVironment stake by 140.4% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 44,481 shares valued at approximately $6.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 86.38% of AVAV.
• AeroVironment reported quarterly revenue of $480.5 million and EPS of $0.59, beating analyst expectations of $452.0 million and $0.22, respectively. Revenue increased 5.7% year over year, while the company set fiscal 2027 EPS guidance of $3.02–$3.34.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $225.80, although Citizens JMP recently cut its target to $170 amid budget and election uncertainty. AVAV opened at $117.63, near its 52-week low of $116.30.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Free Report) by 140.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,481 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 25,975 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.09% of AeroVironment worth $6,326,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its holdings in AeroVironment by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 3,583 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $509,000 after acquiring an additional 423 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in AeroVironment by 457.7% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 290 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AeroVironment by 19.0% during the 3rd quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC now owns 671 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. ProCore Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $240,000. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment in the third quarter valued at approximately $327,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at AeroVironment

In other news, Director Stephen Page sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total transaction of $38,067.50. Following the sale, the director owned 48,253 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,347,484.31. This represents a 0.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, 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 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 sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares in the company, valued at $1,592,271.68. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 805 shares of company stock worth $142,671. 0.79% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Trending Headlines about AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Australian manufacturing expansion: AeroVironment partnered with NIOA Australia to explore local production, co-production and sustainment of one-way attack systems. The arrangement could improve AVAV’s access to Australian and broader Indo-Pacific defense markets, while supporting local supply chains and recurring sustainment revenue. AeroVironment Expands Australian Defense Manufacturing Through NIOA
• Positive Sentiment: Favorable sector outlook: Macquarie Research initiated coverage of AeroVironment with an Outperform rating, identifying the company as a beneficiary of a projected multiyear aerospace and defense investment cycle. The firm cited rising sovereign defense spending and demand for autonomous systems, drone warfare and space technologies. Top Aerospace & Defense Stocks According to Macquarie Research
• Neutral Sentiment: Peer-sector activity: AeroVironment shares edged higher alongside Kratos as Red Cat Holdings’ proposed acquisition of Steyr Motors drew attention to drone propulsion and defense technology. The move offered limited company-specific information for AVAV. Red Cat Jumps 8% on Cash Offer for Steyr Motors; AeroVironment and Kratos Edge Higher
• Negative Sentiment: Price-target reduction: Citizens JMP lowered its AVAV target to $170 from $230 while retaining a Market Outperform rating. The cut reflects budget and election uncertainty and may weigh on sentiment, although the revised target still implies substantial upside from recent trading levels. AeroVironment Price Target Lowered at Citizens

AeroVironment Stock Down 0.2%

NASDAQ:AVAV opened at $117.63 on Wednesday. The stock's fifty day moving average is $149.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $164.40. AeroVironment, Inc. has a 52 week low of $116.30 and a 52 week high of $408.25. The company has a quick ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 4.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -50.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.36.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 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 positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%. AeroVironment's revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $225.00 price objective on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $225.00 to $185.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $248.00 to $235.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $225.80.

AeroVironment Company 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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