Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Sells 18,340 Shares of AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV

Key Points

• Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group reduced its stake in AeroVironment by 8.3%, selling 18,340 shares and now holds 203,162 shares (about 0.41% of the company) valued at roughly $49.1 million.
• AeroVironment posted strong 143% year‑over‑year revenue growth but missed quarterly EPS ( $0.64 vs. $0.68 consensus) and set FY26 EPS guidance of $2.75–$3.10 versus analyst estimates near $3.38, even as it won a US$95.9M Freedom Eagle counter‑drone contract, introduced the MAYHEM 10 system and scored a NASA Artemis II tech validation that has bolstered investor interest.
• The company faces investor scrutiny — Pomerantz LLP has opened an investigation — while institutional ownership is high (86.38%) and analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" consensus with an average price target of about $318.78.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. decreased its stake in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV - Free Report) by 8.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 203,162 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 18,340 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned approximately 0.41% of AeroVironment worth $49,143,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AVAV. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in AeroVironment by 60.0% during the 3rd quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC now owns 80 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC bought a new stake in AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Tema Etfs LLC purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its holdings in AeroVironment by 100.0% in the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 80 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 86.38% of the company's stock.

AeroVironment Stock Up 2.0%

AVAV opened at $198.42 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 4.54, a current ratio of 5.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $220.27 and a 200-day moving average price of $281.78. AeroVironment, Inc. has a twelve month low of $138.00 and a twelve month high of $417.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -45.72, a PEG ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.38.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 10th. The aerospace company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.68 by ($0.04). AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 13.93% and a positive return on equity of 3.26%. The company had revenue of $408.05 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $487.94 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.30 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 143.4% on a year-over-year basis. AeroVironment has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.750-3.100 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Trending Headlines about AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Large government counter‑drone contract and renewed defense spending focus — AVAV won a US$95.9 million Freedom Eagle counter‑drone award and appears to be benefiting from broader increases in autonomous/counter‑UAS budgets, refocusing valuation discussion and boosting investor interest. A Look At AeroVironment (AVAV) Valuation After New Government Counterdrone Contracts
• Positive Sentiment: New product announcement — AV introduced MAYHEM 10, a multi‑role launched effects system for air, ground and maritime deployment; this expands AVAV’s addressable defense product set and could drive near‑ and mid‑term contract opportunities. AV Introduces MAYHEM 10: Multi-Role Launched Effects System at AAAA 2026
• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile tech win — AV’s precision pointing hardware was used on NASA’s Artemis II Orion optical communications system, giving the company visible validation in space/laser‑communications tech and potential follow‑on commercial and government opportunities. AV's Precision Hardware Points Artemis II Laser Link to Earth
• Positive Sentiment: Market reaction — reports note several defense names, including AVAV, jumped after contract news, signaling short‑term buying interest from investors rotating into defense/space plays. AeroVironment, Kratos, and Mercury Systems Shares Skyrocket, What You Need To Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Fundamentals and guidance — AVAV’s most recent quarter showed strong year‑over‑year revenue growth but an EPS miss versus consensus; management set FY26 EPS guidance of $2.75–$3.10, while analysts model higher consensus (~$3.38), leaving room for execution risk. (Background market filing and earnings reports)
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/investment pieces — some retail/investment articles highlight AVAV as a way to play Artemis II and space tech, which can attract episodic retail flows but are not formal upgrades. Looking to Profit From the Artemis II Mission? Buy RocketLab and AeroVironment Stocks.
• Negative Sentiment: Investor litigation risk — Pomerantz LLP has opened an investigation into AVAV on behalf of investors, a development that can lengthen uncertainty and add legal expenses if it becomes a formal suit. INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of AeroVironment, Inc. - AVAV

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.95, for a total transaction of $127,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 50,501 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,875,229.95. The trade was a 0.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Brian Charles Shackley sold 200 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.52, for a total transaction of $42,504.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 5,794 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,231,340.88. The trade was a 3.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 2,725 shares of company stock valued at $691,001 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. KeyCorp decreased their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $330.00 to $295.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $389.00 to $315.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Zacks Research cut shares of AeroVironment from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $320.00 target price for the company. Finally, Raymond James Financial raised shares of AeroVironment from an "underperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Monday, March 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $318.78.

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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