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AVAV

AeroVironmentAVAV

$171.12
Updated Aug 6, 2026
Quality Score
4.4
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Why AeroVironment stock moved?

Updated Aug 6 at 2:02pm ET.

$171.12
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What's happening with the stock

AeroVironment rose about 2 percent today, extending a week-long rally that has seen the stock climb 15 percent. We think this is mostly a recovery from a rough July, fueled by recent news of a $117 million Army contract and a new software partnership.

Our view

The company is successfully turning its drone technology into a larger defense business, and its record $1.2 billion backlog shows that demand from global militaries is real. If you already own it, there is nothing to do here but sit tight and let those contracts turn into revenue over the coming years.

Read full thesis on AeroVironment

Latest AeroVironment updates

Follow AeroVironment to never miss an important update.

AVAV
ProductPositive
Jul 29

New software partnership for military drones

The company has signed a strategic deal to integrate Applied Intuition's software into its Mayhem uncrewed systems. This software helps drones better identify targets and work together in teams without constant human input.

This is a key step in the company's move toward more intelligent, autonomous weapons. By pairing its hardware with specialized AI software, AeroVironment makes its systems more useful for the U.S. military and harder for rivals to replace.

Source: Business Wire

AVAV
FilingFor the record
Jul 29

Board member Stephen Page to retire

Stephen Page has announced his planned retirement from the company's board of directors. This is a routine leadership transition and does not signal a change in the company's strategy or day-to-day operations. While board changes can sometimes hint at deeper shifts, this appears to be a standard retirement for a long-serving member.

Source: 8-K filing

AVAV
LegalFor the record
Jul 27

Deadline passes for lead plaintiff in shareholder lawsuit

A July 27 deadline has passed for shareholders to apply as lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the company. The suit claims leadership made misleading statements about the business between mid-2025 and early 2026, specifically regarding a large Space Force contract. These types of lawsuits are common after a stock price drops and often take years to resolve. While they can be a distraction for management, they rarely change the long-term path of the business unless they reveal deep systemic fraud, which has not been proven here.

Source: Business Wire

AVAV
Company newsPositive
Jul 20

U.S. Army awards $117 million contract for P550 drones

AeroVironment won a $117.3 million contract to supply its P550 electric vertical take-off and landing drones to the U.S. Army. These systems allow soldiers to launch and land drones without a runway, making them easier to use in rugged combat zones. The deal supports the Army's Long Range Reconnaissance program.

This win is a clear example of the company's ability to turn its research into large, multi-year government programs. It adds to a backlog of orders that has already reached record levels. For long-term owners, this contract reinforces the idea that the company is becoming a primary supplier for the next generation of robotic warfare rather than just a niche hardware maker.

Source: Business Wire

AVAV
LegalFor the record
Jul 17

Law firms file class action over past contract disclosures

A series of law firms have filed a class action lawsuit against AeroVironment and its executives. The suit claims the company failed to properly disclose risks that it would face competition for its work on the Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource program. This follows a period where the company recorded a $151 million impairment, which is a write-down in the value of an asset on the balance sheet. These types of lawsuits are very common after a stock price drops or a company reports a one-time accounting charge. While they sound serious, they rarely result in major financial hits that change the long-term path of the business. Unless the case reveals a fundamental flaw in how the company reports its numbers, this is likely a routine legal hurdle to watch rather than a reason to change your view on the stock.

Source: Business Wire

AeroVironment analyst price targets

Average target$216.36+26%vs $171.12 today
TodayAvg price
Low $166High $250
Buy28 analysts
0Bearish
12Neutral
16Bullish
FirmRatingPrice TargetDate
Raymond James
Outperform
$210
7/16/2026
Canaccord Genuity
Buy
$280→$240
7/10/2026
Piper Sandler
Overweight
$248→$235
7/9/2026
RBC Capital
Sector Perform
$180
7/9/2026
Jefferies
Buy
$305→$229
7/1/2026
Canaccord Genuity
Buy
$300→$280
7/1/2026
Wedbush
Outperform
$250
6/30/2026
Needham
Buy
$225
6/30/2026
UBS
Neutral
$172→$166
6/30/2026
Stifel Nicolaus
Buy
$315→$220
6/30/2026
RBC Capital
Sector Perform
$250→$210
6/30/2026
KeyBanc
Overweight
$295→$220
6/26/2026

AeroVironment earnings

The company has a history of lumpy results, often missing analyst targets as it integrates large acquisitions, even while its total revenue grows rapidly.

Earnings history
EstimateBeatMiss
$0.23$1.05$1.88Sep '24Dec '24Mar '25Jun '25Sep '25Dec '25Mar '26Jun '26nextSep '26

AeroVironment past earnings results

ExpectedActualSurprise
EPS$1.46$1.84+26.0%
Revenue$556M$642M+15.4%

Key highlights

  • Revenue more than doubled: Total revenue soared 133% to $641.6 million this quarter, driven by higher drone sales and the $282.3 million contribution from newly acquired businesses BlueHalo and Empirical Systems Aerospace.
  • Profit margins narrowing: Gross margin as a percentage of revenue fell to 32% from 36% a year ago, because the company is doing more service-based work and paying $18.4 million in expenses related to its recent acquisitions.
  • Backlog reaching new highs: The company ended the year with $1.2 billion in funded backlog, which is money set aside by customers for firm orders, up from $726.6 million at the end of last year.
  • Expansion into new tech: The new Space, Cyber and Directed Energy division brought in $149.2 million this quarter, representing nearly a quarter of total sales as the business moves beyond its traditional small drone roots.
  • Steady growth outlook: For the upcoming fiscal year 2027, management expects revenue between $2.125 billion and $2.225 billion, which would be a 10% increase at the midpoint compared to the $2.0 billion earned this year.

Our take: This was a transformational quarter that proved AeroVironment can successfully integrate massive acquisitions while maintaining its growth streak. The 133% revenue jump and record backlog show the company is meeting the global demand for advanced defense tech. This performance reinforces our belief that the business is scaling into a much more capable, diversified player.

AeroVironment’s next earnings date

Q1 2027
SEP
8
Expectation
EPS$0.27
Revenue$458M

Metrics we are tracking

Metric
Expectations
Status
Funded Backlog
Staying above $1.0 billion through the end of FY2027
$1.2B as of Q4 FY2026
Book-to-Bill Ratio
Maintaining a ratio above 1.2 for consecutive quarters
1.4 for full year FY2026
Autonomous Systems Margin
Gross margins returning to above 30% as manufacturing scales
32% in Q4 FY2026
International Revenue Growth
Growing above 20% annually as global allies modernize
Not separately broken out this quarter

More AeroVironment coverage from around the web

AeroVironment: The Most Misunderstood Drone Stock

Seeking Alpha · Opinion · Aug 5

AEROVIRONMENT, INC. (NASDAQ: AVAV) SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION ALERT: Bernstein Liebhard Investigates Potential Breaches of Fiduciary Duty

GlobeNewsWire · Press release · Aug 4

AeroVironment Is Growing Rapidly But A Large Part Of Its Success Is Already Priced In

Seeking Alpha · Opinion · Aug 4

AeroVironment Announces Planned Retirement of Stephen F. Page from Board of Directors

Business Wire · Press release · Jul 29

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges AeroVironment, Inc. Investors to Act: Class Action Filed Alleging Investor Harm

Newsfile Corp · Jul 27

AVAV FINAL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Reminds AeroVironment (AVAV) Investors of Securities Class Action Lawsuit Deadline on July 27, 2026

Business Wire · Press release · Jul 27

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