AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) Stock Price Down 3.4% After Insider Selling

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)’s stock price traded down 3.4% on Thursday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $233.78 and last traded at $235.12. 1,180,633 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 31% from the average session volume of 1,699,969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $243.42.

Specifically, CFO Kevin Patrick Mcdonnell sold 879 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $267.60, for a total value of $235,220.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 16,422 shares in the company, valued at $4,394,527.20. This represents a 5.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $355.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their target price on AeroVironment from $335.00 to $315.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $390.00 price target on shares of AeroVironment in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $378.06.

Key AeroVironment News

Here are the key news stories impacting AeroVironment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: U.S. Army deployed AVAV’s LOCUST counter‑drone laser near El Paso, triggering a temporary seven‑hour airspace shutdown — strong product validation and a high‑profile fielding by a major customer that can support future contract wins and revenue visibility. Exclusive: AeroVironment’s LOCUST counter-drone laser used by US Army near El Paso airport, sources say
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a “market outperform” view and put a $400 price target on AVAV — a sizable upside that can attract buyers and help underpin the rally if follow‑through on defense program wins continues. Benzinga / TickerReport note on analyst reaffirmation
• Neutral Sentiment: Short‑interest filings for mid‑February show “0” shorted shares and a 0.0 days‑to‑cover figure — this appears to be a reporting anomaly rather than a meaningful change in short positions and should not be interpreted as a shift in short‑seller sentiment. (No reliable source link available)
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CFO Kevin McDonnell sold 879 shares (~5% reduction in his disclosed holding), a transaction disclosed to the SEC. Media coverage tied the sale to a near‑term price pullback (some outlets reported ~7.5% weakness after the sale), which can amplify short‑term selling pressure and investor caution. AeroVironment Stock Price Down 7.5% Following Insider Selling SEC Form 4 (CFO sale)

AeroVironment Stock Up 3.7%

The company has a quick ratio of 4.29, a current ratio of 5.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $284.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $293.59. The company has a market cap of $12.18 billion, a PE ratio of -195.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.23.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, December 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.43). AeroVironment had a positive return on equity of 3.42% and a negative net margin of 5.08%.The business had revenue of $472.51 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $466.16 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.47 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 150.7% compared to the same quarter last year. AeroVironment has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.400-3.550 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that AeroVironment, Inc. will post 3.38 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of AeroVironment

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of AeroVironment by 60.0% in the third quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC now owns 80 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Tema Etfs LLC purchased a new position in shares of AeroVironment in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in AeroVironment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its position in AeroVironment by 100.0% during 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.38% of the company’s stock.

About AeroVironment

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.