AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV Holdings Lifted by UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) by 28.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 70,266 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,650 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC’s holdings in AeroVironment were worth $11,599,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the second quarter worth approximately $574,566,000. American Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter valued at $69,745,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter worth $67,549,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 4th quarter worth $94,655,000. Finally, Korea Investment CORP acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the 2nd quarter worth $54,901,000. 86.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on AVAV shares. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $225.00 price target on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Citigroup restated a “market outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of AeroVironment from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, July 5th. Finally, Wedbush started coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $266.68.

AeroVironment Stock Performance

AVAV stock opened at $144.65 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $160.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $182.48. AeroVironment, Inc. has a 52 week low of $135.20 and a 52 week high of $417.86. The stock has a market cap of $7.35 billion, a P/E ratio of -39.31, a P/E/G ratio of 5.00 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 3.59 and a current ratio of 4.30.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 29th. The aerospace company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.37. AeroVironment had a negative net margin of 9.00% and a positive return on equity of 3.71%. The firm had revenue of $641.62 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $555.97 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 133.3% compared to the same quarter last year. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment

In related news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.41, for a total transaction of $43,602.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 49,001 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,546,264.41. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible 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 AeroVironment stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% 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 90 days, insiders have sold 705 shares of company stock worth $132,979. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Landmark $464.8 million laser contract: The Army selected AeroVironment to deliver dozens of LOCUST X3 high-energy laser systems under its Enduring-High Energy Laser program. It is described as the first U.S. directed-energy weapon production award, moving the technology from testing toward field deployment and strengthening AVAV’s position in counter-drone defense. AV’s LOCUST Selected for Nearly $500 million Army Counter-UAS Contract
• Positive Sentiment: Improved revenue visibility and potential growth platform: The multiyear award could establish a new business line for directed-energy systems and expand AeroVironment’s broader counter-UAS opportunity. It may also support future technology development and additional defense orders. AeroVironment’s $465 Million Army Laser Win Expands Its Counter-Drone Opportunity
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains intact: BTIG maintained its Buy rating and $205 price target following the contract announcement, suggesting the award reinforces the long-term investment case. AeroVironment’s New $465M LOCUST Laser Contract Reinforces Buy Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Contract economics remain unclear: Investors still need evidence that the award will generate attractive margins and meaningful near-term earnings, rather than simply increasing backlog. Production ramp-up, delivery timing, and execution will be important factors. AeroVironment: The $465 Million LOCUST Win Needs Margin Proof
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution concerns are limiting the reaction: Commentary remains cautious about competition, limited near-term upside, and whether AeroVironment can translate the laser award into sustained margin expansion. Those concerns are contributing to the stock’s decline even after the headline contract win. Jim Cramer’s AeroVironment Comments

AeroVironment 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.