15,606 AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV Shares Acquired by Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc.

Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. increased its position in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) by 37.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 56,811 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,606 shares during the period. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. owned about 0.11% of AeroVironment worth $8,080,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in AeroVironment in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Balance Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. DecisionPoint Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at AeroVironment

In other AeroVironment news, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.27, for a total transaction 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. The trade was a 0.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at 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 business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total transaction of $41,381.30. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 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 valued at $142,671. 0.79% of the stock is owned by insiders.

AeroVironment Stock Down 9.8%

Shares of AVAV stock opened at $102.08 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $138.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $182.04. AeroVironment, Inc. has a twelve month low of $101.07 and a twelve month high of $408.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 3.33 and a current ratio of 4.26. The company has a market capitalization of $5.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.62, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.42.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, September 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.37. The firm 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%. The company’s revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.32 earnings per share. AeroVironment has set its FY 2027 guidance at 3.020-3.340 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.26 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on AeroVironment from $229.00 to $204.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of AeroVironment from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $210.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $285.00 price objective on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Thursday, September 17th. Citizens Jmp reduced their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $230.00 to $170.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of AeroVironment from $248.00 to $235.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $223.86.

Key Stories Impacting AeroVironment

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Heard Capital increased its AeroVironment position by 25% in the quarter ended June 30, according to its latest 13F filing. The disclosed purchase may support sentiment, though it reflects an earlier investment period. A $2.4 Billion Fund Bought These 3 Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: A market forecast through 2035 identifies AeroVironment among companies positioned to benefit from growth in UAV payloads and subsystems, including demand for AI, radar and flight-control systems. This is a broad industry outlook, not a company-specific contract announcement. Global UAV Payload and Subsystems Market Forecast to 2035
• Neutral Sentiment: AeroVironment amended its revolving credit facility. The report provides limited detail on the amendment’s terms, so the effect on the company’s financial flexibility is unclear. AeroVironment Expands Revolving Credit Facility Through Amendment
• Negative Sentiment: One valuation analysis says AVAV could be about 19% overvalued after the U.S. Space Force halted work on a BlueHalo-related contract worth roughly $1.7 billion and reopened bidding to other suppliers. The uncertainty may weigh on expectations for contract opportunities and valuation. AeroVironment Could Be 19% Overvalued After Contract Bid Reopened
• Negative Sentiment: Recent commentary cites defense-funding risks as analysts reassess AVAV’s fair value. A separate valuation piece argues the stock may still be expensive despite its steep decline, keeping pressure on investor expectations. AeroVironment Fair Value Edges Lower AeroVironment Stock May Be Expensive
• Negative Sentiment: KeyCorp cut its price target on AeroVironment, adding to concerns about near-term upside. AeroVironment Stock Price Target Cut by KeyCorp

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.