$AVAV (-4,12%)

My dears, I too will remain invested.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV ) on Monday with a Buy rating and a $301 price target. The stock, which has risen 45% in the past week and is trading near its 52-week high of $285.99, has generated a lot of interest from analysts. According to data from InvestingPro, AVAV has a market capitalization of USD 12.66 billion.

The investment bank described the Ukraine conflict as a catalyst that has "structurally changed the way war is fought" and shown how low-cost commercial technology can be used effectively by armed forces with fewer resources.

Goldman Sachs highlighted AVAV's Switchblade ammunition and Puma (OTC: PMMAF ) unmanned reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems as products that have been widely deployed in Ukraine and represent a "proof of concept" that is now driving global demand.

The company pointed out that AVAV is well positioned to take advantage of upcoming, as yet unawarded, US Department of Defense programs as well as increased defense spending by international allies.

Goldman Sachs expects AeroVironment to outperform both the overall market and its peers in the defense industry. The resulting operating leverage will help the company achieve "higher profitability and cash generation".

AeroVironment also reported impressive results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with revenue reaching $275 million, beating both Stifel's estimate of $235 million and the consensus forecast of $243 million. The company's EBITDA also exceeded expectations, reaching USD 62 million compared to Stifel's forecast of USD 53 million. Following these results, Stifel reiterated its Buy rating and maintained its price target for AeroVironment shares at $240. Raymond James also raised its price target from USD 200 to USD 225, citing AeroVironment's strong fiscal 2025 finish and favorable positioning following the BlueHalo merger.

In addition, BTIG raised its price target for AeroVironment from USD 225 to USD 300 while maintaining its Buy recommendation. This underscores the company's attractive valuation relative to its peers. William Blair reiterated his Outperform rating and pointed to the reduced Ukraine risk and the strong growth prospects for AeroVironment. In product development, AeroVironment's Wildcat drone reached key milestones in its development for the DARPA Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration program and completed the transition from vertical takeoff to forward flight. These developments reflect AeroVironment's continued strategic evolution and market positioning in the defense technology space.

https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/goldman-sachs-initiates-aerovironment-stock-with-buy-rating-on-drone-demand-93CH-4116480

$AVAV (-4,12%)

Good morning, my dears,

I remain invested. The sector is growing rapidly. And AeroVironment is clearly the better investment for me. $DRO (+1,88%) .

AeroVironment is also developing drone defense systems, such as the sensor-to-shooter kit for the Switchblade, which enables more efficient target acquisition and engagement.

AEROVIRONMENT INC ( AVAV ) reported an increase in profits for the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year

The company's profit amounted to 16.66 million US dollars, or 0.59 US dollars per share. In the previous year, it amounted to USD 6.05 million or USD 0.22 per share.

Excluding special items, AEROVIRONMENT INC reported adjusted earnings of USD 0.43 per share for the period.

The company's turnover increased by 39.6 % in this period from USD 196.979 million in the previous year to USD 275.050 million.

AEROVIRONMENT INC's results at a glance (GAAP):

- Net income: USD 16.66 million compared to USD 6.05 million in the previous year.

- Earnings per share: USD 0.59 compared to USD 0.22 in the previous year.

- Sales: USD 275.050 million compared to USD 196.979 million in the previous year.

https://www.rttnews.com/3548526/aerovironment-inc-reports-rise-in-q4-profit.aspx

$AVAV (-4,12%)

AV's medium UAS JUMP 20 supports the US Navy's 4th Fleet during Operation Southern Spear

ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 12, 2025 - AeroVironment, Inc. ("AV") (NASDAQ: AVAV) provided company-owned and -operated (COCO) maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of the U.S. Navy's 4th Fleet as part of Operation Southern Spear. AV's JUMP® 20 medium-weight unmanned aircraft system was deployed in the Caribbean and Southern Atlantic, where it provided continuous ISR reconnaissance, actively pursuing potential illicit activity within the 4th Fleet's jurisdiction.

JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) MUAS designed for rapid deployment, with fully hands-free autonomous take-off and landing capabilities on moving vessels - even in challenging maritime conditions, including sea state 5 and wind speeds in excess of 20 knots.

"The continued development and refinement of the JUMP 20 maritime offering has been a key focus and investment for AV over the past 18 months," said Shane Hastings, vice president and general manager of medium UAS at AV. "This contract represents the culmination of that work and marks the first of hopefully many operational maritime deployments of the JUMP 20. What sets the JUMP 20 apart from other Group 3 UAS in its class is its superior payload capacity, unmatched modularity and exceptional endurance - all delivered without launch or recovery equipment, allowing for fully hands-free operations and maximum operational safety."

According to the Navy, "Operation Southern Spear was a successful operation to further the Navy's hybrid fleet campaign and operationalize robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) by manned and unmanned teams. In addition to accomplishing operational objectives, this operation led from short-term experiments to long-term deployments that supported the development of critical techniques and procedures to promote the global integration of RAS into the maritime environment. AV's JUMP 20 served as a key ISR asset and operated alongside joint and interagency systems in the area."

JUMP 20 has proven its reliability in over 130,000 land-based flight hours in combat operations for U.S. Special Operations Command. Expanding JUMP 20's missions to these shipboard environments further extends its reach and enables multi-mission, multi-domain capabilities on a global scale wherever and whenever they are needed.

AV's JUMP 20 was ship-based and deployed for approximately six months during Operation Southern Spear under the Surveillance, Analysis, Reconnaissance, Logistics, Intelligence and Network Services (MARLINS) contract as a subcontractor to the prime contractor, SMX.

https://www.avinc.com/resources/press-releases/view/avs-jump-20-medium-uas-supports-u.s-navys-4th-fleet-during-operation-southern-spear

Hello my dears,

AeroVironment is back at the Tenbagger depot. (200 days line has been exceeded).

You can read one of the reasons in the report under the link.

https://www.barchart.com/story/news/32814389/aerovironment-just-got-a-big-boost-from-this-palantir-ally-should-you-buy-the-drone-stock-no

AeroVironment acquires BlueHalo as part of a 4.1 billion dollar deal. $AVAV (-4,12%)

BlueHalo has a 1.4 billion dollar contract to overhaul the aging military satellite communications ground infrastructure.

WASHINGTON - AeroVironment, a defense contractor specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles, announced Nov. 19 that it plans to acquire BlueHalo, also a defense contractor, in a deal valued at about $4.1 billion.

AeroVironment has a small portfolio of civil space technology, so the BlueHalo deal represents a groundbreaking entry into satellite communications and space-based defense technologies. In 2023, AeroVironment was awarded a $10 million contract from NASA to design and build the flight systems for the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter. The company was also involved in the design of the Ingenuity helicopter carried by the Perseverance Mars rover to demonstrate the feasibility of robotic flight for planetary exploration.

The acquisition of BlueHalo, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval and the approval of AeroVironment's shareholders.

Both AeroVironment and BlueHalo are headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

BlueHalo, currently owned by private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners, brings expertise in space-based communications, energy guidance, electronic warfare and missile defense technology. A key advantage is the company's $1.4 billion contract with the US Space Force to modernize its satellite communications infrastructure.

The contract provides for the replacement of obsolete parabolic dishes with modern electronically steered phased array antennas that enable the simultaneous tracking of up to 20 satellites - a significant improvement over current systems that can only monitor one satellite at a time.

Following the acquisition, Arlington Capital Partners will retain a significant ownership interest in the combined company.

https://spacenews.com/aerovironment-to-acquire-bluehalo-in-4-1-billion-deal/

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/drone-maker-aerovironment-buy-bluehalo-41-bln-deal-2024-11-19/

Why AeroVironment shares are rising so sharply today

$AVAV (-4,12%)

The U.S. Army has ordered AeroVironment ( AVAV 11.89% ) to continue working to fulfill a $990 million contract despite ongoing protests over the award. Investors are cheering the move, sending AeroVironment shares up 11% at 2:30 p.m. ET.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/09/23/why-aerovironment-shares-are-flying-higher-today/

What's going on, can anyone say anything about it?

AeroVironment faces GAO protests over Army contract.

$AVAV (-4,12%)

AeroVironment Inc (NASDAQ: AVAV ), a manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems, is facing a protest over a major contract from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The protest, filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), challenges the Army's decision to award AeroVironment an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling value of $990 million for its switchblade systems as a sole-source supplier.

The contract in question was awarded on August 27, 2024, and the GAO's protest resulted in a stop work order issued by the U.S. Army. This stop work order is specific to the disputed contract and does not affect any other AeroVironment contracts or obligations, including those related to loitering munitions systems.

The GAO is expected to issue a decision on the protest by December 16, 2024. Until then, work related to the Switchblade systems contract will remain suspended. The Switchblade is a tactical missile system designed for use by armed forces and is a key product in AeroVironment's portfolio.

AeroVironment reported a strong first quarter for fiscal year 2025 and set a new revenue record of $189.5 million, a 24% increase over the same period last year. This growth was primarily due to the company's Loitering Munition Systems segment, which reported a 68% increase in revenue.

Despite a decline in sales compared to the first quarter of the previous year, the defense contractor was able to secure a significant IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) contract worth USD 1 billion with the US Army.

https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/aerovironment-faces-gao-protest-over-army-contract-93CH-3617995