Oakmont Investment Advisors Inc. Acquires New Shares in AeroVironment, Inc. $AVAV

Oakmont Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 9,799 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,618,000. AeroVironment comprises about 1.1% of Oakmont Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AeroVironment during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in AeroVironment by 230.3% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 109 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in AeroVironment by 90.0% in the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 133 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in AeroVironment during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in AeroVironment during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.38% of the company’s stock.

AeroVironment Stock Performance

NASDAQ:AVAV opened at $144.65 on Friday. 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, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $135.20 and a fifty-two week high of $417.86. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $160.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $182.91. The company has a market capitalization of $7.35 billion, a PE ratio of -39.31, a P/E/G ratio of 5.09 and a beta of 1.41.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, June 29th. The aerospace company reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $555.97 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.61 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 133.3% on a year-over-year basis. 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 year.

Insider Activity

In other AeroVironment news, CAO Brian Shackley sold 205 shares of AeroVironment stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.86, for a total value of $41,381.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 7,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,592,271.68. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Stephen F. Page sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.98, for a total value of $47,995.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 48,503 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,311,605.94. This trade represents a 0.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 705 shares of company stock worth $132,979. 0.79% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

More AeroVironment News

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on AVAV shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of AeroVironment from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, July 5th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of AeroVironment from $305.00 to $229.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Citigroup reissued a “market outperform” rating on shares of AeroVironment in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Wolfe Research downgraded AeroVironment to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $225.00 target price on shares of AeroVironment in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.68.

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.