William Blair Increases AeroVironment's Q4 EPS Estimates

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is gaining positive attention from analysts, particularly from William Blair. In a recent research note published on March 5, 2025, analyst L. Dipalma raised his estimates for the company's earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The new EPS estimate stands at $1.39, a significant increase from the prior forecast of $1.05. As a result, William Blair has maintained an “Outperform” rating for the stock. Currently, the consensus estimate for AeroVironment’s full-year earnings is $3.38 per share, and the firm has also projected earnings for the fiscal year 2026 to reach $4.37 per share.

Analysts' Perspectives

AeroVironment has been under the lens of several other equity research analysts as well. Jefferies Financial Group announced a reduction in their price target for AeroVironment from $230.00 to $190.00 while maintaining a “buy” rating. Meanwhile, Robert W. Baird adjusted their price target from $220.00 down to $146.00, also rating the stock as “outperform.”

Overall, equity research analysts display a favorable view of AeroVironment’s stock. One analyst has assigned a hold rating, while six analysts rated the stock as a buy and one gave it a strong buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the average rating stands at “Buy,” with an average target price of $202.40.

AeroVironment's Stock Performance

As of Monday, AeroVironment's stock traded at $132.33. The company has a solid financial profile, with a quick ratio of 3.36 and a current ratio of 4.61, demonstrating strong liquidity. It also has a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

The stock has experienced considerable fluctuations, achieving a 52-week low of $110.07 and a high of $236.60. For the last fifty days, the moving average price for the stock has been $163.37, and the two-hundred day moving average price is $183.22. Presently, AeroVironment has a market capitalization of $3.73 billion and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 76.05, alongside a beta value of 0.42, indicating lower volatility compared to the market.

Institutional Investment Trends

Recent trading activity shows that many institutional investors have been adjusting their stakes in AeroVironment. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position worth approximately $4,872,000 during the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake by 5.5%, now owning 1,601 shares valued at $246,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares.

Likewise, AWM Investment Company Inc. raised its position by 15.4%, holding 121,633 shares valued at $18,718,000 after purchasing 16,199 shares last quarter. Washington Harbour Partners LP and Vident Advisory LLC also made increases in their holdings. Overall, institutional ownership makes up about 86.38% of the stock.

AeroVironment Overview

AeroVironment, Inc. specializes in designing, developing, and producing a diverse range of robotic systems and services aimed at government agencies and businesses both in the United States and globally. The company operates across several segments, including Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS), Tactical Missile System (TMS), Medium Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MUAS), and High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite Systems (HAPS).

AeroVironment, Earnings, Analysts