Bank of America Corp DE Invests $67.55 Million in AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV

Key Points

• Bank of America acquired a new $67.55 million stake in AeroVironment, buying 409,215 shares and owning approximately 0.81% of the company. Institutional investors collectively own 86.38% of AVAV.
• AeroVironment reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with revenue up 5.7% year over year to $480.5 million and EPS of $0.59 versus the $0.22 consensus estimate. Funded backlog also rose to approximately $1.5 billion, while fiscal 2027 EPS guidance was maintained at $3.02–$3.34.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $238.89, but concerns include the cancellation of the SCAR program, internal-control weaknesses, acquisition execution and elevated valuation.

Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 409,215 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $67,549,000. Bank of America Corp DE owned about 0.81% of AeroVironment at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AVAV. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the 4th quarter worth about $94,655,000. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in AeroVironment in the second quarter worth approximately $574,566,000. GW&K Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in AeroVironment by 289.9% in the fourth quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 222,055 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $53,714,000 after buying an additional 165,106 shares during the period. MYDA Advisors LLC acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $3,628,000. Finally, Korea Investment CORP bought a new position in shares of AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $54,901,000. 86.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at AeroVironment

In other AeroVironment news, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of the business'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 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total value of $38,067.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 48,253 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,347,484.31. This trade represents a 0.52% 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. In the last three months, insiders have sold 805 shares of company stock worth $142,671. Insiders own 0.79% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AeroVironment’s fiscal first-quarter results exceeded expectations, with revenue rising 5.7% year over year to $480.5 million and earnings of $0.59 per share versus the $0.22 consensus estimate. Management maintained fiscal 2027 EPS guidance of $3.02–$3.34. AeroVironment Earnings Call Highlights Growth Path
• Positive Sentiment: Funded backlog increased to approximately $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion at the end of April. Because these are firm, funded orders, the backlog offers revenue visibility and could support future guidance if converted on schedule. AeroVironment Has $1.5 Billion in Funded Backlog
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive on AVAV’s expansion into a broader defense-technology platform spanning autonomous systems, counter-drone products and directed-energy technologies. The broader portfolio could increase contract opportunities and diversify growth. Broader Defense Technology Platform
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary is broadly bullish, but the positive outlook appears balanced against the stock’s elevated valuation and execution requirements. The market is also assessing whether AeroVironment can successfully integrate acquisitions and realize expected synergies. Analysts Are Bullish on AeroVironment
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis highlights the cancellation of the SCAR program and a material weakness in internal controls. These issues raise concerns about program execution, reporting reliability and the durability of the earnings outlook.
• Negative Sentiment: Director Stephen Page and Chief Accounting Officer Brian Shackley sold a combined 350 shares at $152.27 under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The sales were small relative to their remaining holdings, but may add modest pressure to sentiment. AeroVironment Insider Sales

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on AVAV shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of AeroVironment from $229.00 to $204.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $248.00 to $235.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $285.00 target price on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday. William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of AeroVironment from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, July 5th. Two equities research 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 given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $238.89.

AeroVironment Stock Performance

Shares of AeroVironment stock opened at $159.95 on Friday. AeroVironment, Inc. has a 52 week low of $135.20 and a 52 week high of $417.86. 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 business has a 50 day moving average price of $157.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $175.28. The company has a market cap of $8.13 billion, a PE ratio of -68.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.45 and a beta of 1.41.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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. AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 4.04% and a negative net margin of 5.77%.The business had revenue of $480.49 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $451.95 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.32 EPS. AeroVironment's quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About AeroVironment

AeroVironment, Inc is a defense technology company that develops and produces unmanned aircraft systems, loitering munitions, counter-unmanned aircraft systems and related robotic technologies. Its products are designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision strike, force protection and tactical communications applications.

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

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