AeroVironment Inc logo

AeroVironment Inc(AVAV)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$126.73
10/27/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for AVAV

10/27/2026: AVAV (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

AeroVironment is an established defense technology provider primarily known for its portfolio of tactical unmanned aircraft and loitering munitions. The company has a leading position in small, battle-proven drone technology, which serves as a core strength for securing recurring government contracts. Its primary investment story centers on the global transition toward autonomous systems and precision strike capabilities. Risks include significant customer concentration within the Department of Defense, execution challenges in scaling production, and competition from agile defense-tech firms. As a pure-play growth company, AeroVironment is better suited for investors comfortable with high volatility, as it does not pay dividends.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitAeroVironment operates in a high-growth sector with consistent demand for modern defense drone technology.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveStrong price action often accompanies high-profile defense contract wins or geopolitical escalations.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock often trades at a premium valuation due to growth expectations, which may limit appeal for traditional value seekers.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not currently pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh volatility inherent in small-to-mid cap defense stocks makes this a risky choice for conservative investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is susceptible to significant price swings based on contract announcements and broader defense sector news.
Valuation riskMedium / highHigh P/E multiples often price in aggressive growth, leaving the stock vulnerable if quarterly results miss expectations.
Competition risk (Defense tech)MediumEmerging competition from well-funded, non-traditional defense firms could erode long-term market share.
Business qualityMediumWhile technology is high-quality, business health depends heavily on the consistency of government spending cycles.
Dividend incomeLow / noneNo dividend payments are provided to shareholders.
Execution riskMediumScaling manufacturing to meet rapid, large-scale order requirements remains an operational challenge.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 42.57%
Avg. Invested days 34
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/27/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
AVAV receives a 3-star rating, supported by strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft quantitative characteristics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
AVAV has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong revenue growth (+140.9%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-707.8%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -8.3%), weak profitability (net margin -13.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
AVAV's financial health is supported by moderate liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 25.4%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is AVAV's strongest growth driver at +140.9% FY2026 versus FY2025 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-707.8%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-582.1%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 88.5% and approximately 74.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.90%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 6.85%
State Street Corp 4.31%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.24%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 3.05%
Baillie Gifford & Co Limited. 1.90%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
AVAV generates approximately $253 of gross profit, $-36 of operating income, and $-83 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Operating losses and cash burn explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 7.54%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
AVAV has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 6.38B USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 213.07
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 213.07
Volume (30-day avg) 1.4M shares
Beta 1.36
52 Weeks Range 113.15 - 408.25
Updated Date 10/26/2026
52 Weeks Range 113.15 - 408.25
Updated Date 10/26/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -4.05

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)Small tactical drones like Raven and Puma for reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance.This is the core business providing steady revenue through government contracts for field-ready drones.
Loitering MunitionsSwitchblade missile systems that combine drone technology with precision strike capabilities.These represent high-growth, high-value products essential for modern, precision-focused military operations.
Services and OtherTraining, maintenance, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and support for global fleet operators.A growing segment that generates recurring revenue beyond initial product hardware sales.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 45.45
Enterprise Value 6.53B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.18
Enterprise Value 6.53B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.18
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.26
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 69.62
Shares Outstanding 50.82M
Shares Floating 38.07M
Shares Outstanding 50.82M
Shares Floating 38.07M
Percent Insiders 0.9
Percent Institutions 88.45

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.