AeroVironment (AVAV.NASDAQ) AI OPINIONS & ADVISOR ANALYSIS
Read and compare the 14 individual AI Advisor deep-dive reports, including their forecast paths, ratings, price targets, and reasoning.
Updated on 18 September 2026Deep analysis 20 September 2026
Superintelligence AI
Price-adjusted rating
Buy
5-Year Return Est.
+149.2%
AVAV.NASDAQ does not currently pay dividends
1. Investment Thesis — Base Case
AeroVironment is executing a classic post-megamerger digestion, transitioning from a niche tactical UAS vendor into a scaled tier-one autonomous defense contractor. The market has excessively punished the temporary collapse in gross marginsgross marginsThe percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the direct costs of producing goods sold.View full glossary entry from 39.4% to 25.3% and FY2026 GAAP net losses of -$265M. As non-cash purchase amortization burns off and production yields at acquired manufacturing sites normalize, operational leverage will assert itself against a $2.0B revenue run-rate. Insatiable global demand for attritable loitering munitions provides multi-year top-line security while software autonomy integration drives steady margin expansionmargin expansionAn increase in profit as a percentage of revenue.View full glossary entry.
- Revenue scales past $2.5B by FY2028 with gross marginsThe percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the direct costs of producing goods sold. recovering structurally toward 34% as manufacturing consolidates.
- Normalized operating marginoperating marginsOperating profit as a percentage of revenue after operating expenses, before interest and taxes.View full glossary entry expands to 11%, supporting $250M+ in annual operating cash flowoperating cash flowCash generated or consumed by a company's core business operations.View full glossary entry within three years.
- EV/EBITDAearnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortizationEarnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) measures operating performance before financing, tax, and certain accounting charges.View full glossary entry multiple contracts from peak noise to a defensible 18x, driving steady equity valuation compounding.
Historical prices and published forecast
- Observed price
- Published advisor forecast
View chart values
| Series | Date | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Observed price | 2021-09-15 | 88.1 |
| Observed price | 2021-09-23 | 84.0 |
| Observed price | 2021-10-09 | 87.1 |
| Observed price | 2021-10-21 | 91.7 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-06 | 94.7 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-22 | 86.5 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-26 | 83.2 |
| Observed price | 2021-12-08 | 61.5 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-01 | 62.4 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-05 | 63.2 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-13 | 61.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-29 | 55.5 |
| Observed price | 2022-02-22 | 57.4 |
| Observed price | 2022-02-26 | 64.7 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-02 | 72.5 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-22 | 95.2 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-30 | 93.5 |
| Observed price | 2022-04-15 | 108 |
| Observed price | 2022-04-19 | 104 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-09 | 75.8 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-13 | 80.2 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-29 | 94.0 |
| Observed price | 2022-06-06 | 93.8 |
| Observed price | 2022-06-26 | 82.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-07-08 | 84.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-07-12 | 78.6 |
| Observed price | 2022-07-24 | 82.9 |
| Observed price | 2022-08-13 | 99.2 |
| Observed price | 2022-08-17 | 103 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-02 | 84.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-10 | 101 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-30 | 83.4 |
| Observed price | 2022-10-04 | 87.0 |
| Observed price | 2022-10-12 | 77.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-11-09 | 81.5 |
| Observed price | 2022-11-13 | 93.3 |
| Observed price | 2022-11-21 | 92.7 |
| Observed price | 2022-12-07 | 83.7 |
| Observed price | 2022-12-15 | 85.0 |
| Observed price | 2022-12-19 | 82.4 |
| Observed price | 2023-01-12 | 89.0 |
| Observed price | 2023-01-20 | 82.9 |
| Observed price | 2023-02-05 | 91.6 |
| Observed price | 2023-02-21 | 85.7 |
| Observed price | 2023-02-25 | 85.3 |
| Observed price | 2023-03-09 | 92.1 |
| Observed price | 2023-03-25 | 90.1 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-10 | 107 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-18 | 106 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-26 | 99.6 |
| Observed price | 2023-05-20 | 109 |
| Observed price | 2023-05-28 | 92.8 |
| Observed price | 2023-06-05 | 98.8 |
| Observed price | 2023-06-17 | 94.5 |
| Observed price | 2023-06-25 | 90.6 |
| Observed price | 2023-07-03 | 101 |
| Observed price | 2023-07-19 | 93.2 |
| Observed price | 2023-08-08 | 97.6 |
| Observed price | 2023-08-16 | 93.4 |
| Observed price | 2023-09-01 | 96.7 |
| Observed price | 2023-09-05 | 95.3 |
| Observed price | 2023-09-09 | 113 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-03 | 107 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-19 | 117 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-27 | 114 |
| Observed price | 2023-11-12 | 125 |
| Observed price | 2023-11-16 | 126 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-02 | 140 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-10 | 123 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-18 | 129 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-07 | 121 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-11 | 124 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-31 | 121 |
| Observed price | 2024-02-12 | 126 |
| Observed price | 2024-02-24 | 124 |
| Observed price | 2024-03-07 | 174 |
| Observed price | 2024-03-15 | 155 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-04 | 146 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-12 | 147 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-28 | 159 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-02 | 166 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-22 | 196 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-26 | 199 |
| Observed price | 2024-06-15 | 216 |
| Observed price | 2024-06-19 | 209 |
| Observed price | 2024-07-05 | 170 |
| Observed price | 2024-07-17 | 167 |
| Observed price | 2024-07-29 | 174 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-06 | 166 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-18 | 189 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-30 | 201 |
| Observed price | 2024-09-19 | 180 |
| Observed price | 2024-09-27 | 199 |
| Observed price | 2024-10-13 | 215 |
| Observed price | 2024-10-25 | 221 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-02 | 215 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-10 | 223 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-30 | 194 |
| Observed price | 2024-12-04 | 179 |
| Observed price | 2024-12-12 | 155 |
| Observed price | 2025-01-01 | 156 |
| Observed price | 2025-01-17 | 169 |
| Observed price | 2025-02-02 | 173 |
| Observed price | 2025-02-06 | 181 |
| Observed price | 2025-02-14 | 160 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-06 | 135 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-14 | 129 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-30 | 121 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-07 | 113 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-23 | 150 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-27 | 150 |
| Observed price | 2025-05-09 | 168 |
| Observed price | 2025-05-21 | 168 |
| Observed price | 2025-06-06 | 191 |
| Observed price | 2025-06-14 | 188 |
| Observed price | 2025-06-30 | 259 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-08 | 237 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-24 | 271 |
| Observed price | 2025-08-05 | 265 |
| Observed price | 2025-08-21 | 235 |
| Observed price | 2025-09-06 | 227 |
| Observed price | 2025-09-14 | 249 |
| Observed price | 2025-09-18 | 275 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-08 | 397 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-12 | 407 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-16 | 368 |
| Observed price | 2025-11-05 | 347 |
| Observed price | 2025-11-21 | 275 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-07 | 280 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-15 | 235 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-31 | 248 |
| Observed price | 2026-01-12 | 371 |
| Observed price | 2026-01-16 | 393 |
| Observed price | 2026-02-05 | 257 |
| Observed price | 2026-02-21 | 272 |
| Observed price | 2026-03-01 | 240 |
| Observed price | 2026-03-09 | 227 |
| Observed price | 2026-03-25 | 199 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-10 | 182 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-14 | 196 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-22 | 206 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-12 | 164 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-16 | 159 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-28 | 214 |
| Observed price | 2026-06-13 | 178 |
| Observed price | 2026-06-25 | 140 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-03 | 187 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-15 | 141 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-31 | 149 |
| Observed price | 2026-08-12 | 194 |
| Observed price | 2026-08-20 | 160 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-09 | 141 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-13 | 151 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-17 | 163 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-21 | 161 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2026-09-18 | 160 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2026-12-18 | 170 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-03-18 | 173 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-06-18 | 187 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-09-18 | 205 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-12-18 | 220 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-03-18 | 231 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-06-18 | 252 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-09-18 | 267 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-12-18 | 259 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-03-18 | 272 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-06-18 | 291 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-09-18 | 308 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-12-18 | 320 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-03-18 | 336 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-06-18 | 357 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-09-18 | 367 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-12-18 | 382 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-03-18 | 374 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-06-18 | 389 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-09-18 | 401 |
2. Scenarios & Signals
Bull case
Accelerated deployment of autonomous swarm munitions across Indo-Pacific theaters triggers emergency Pentagon procurement supplements, propelling revenue growth above 30% annually. Concurrently, rapid supply chainsupply chainThe network of suppliers, producers, logistics providers, distributors, and customers involved in creating and delivering a product or service.View full glossary entry harmonization drives gross marginsThe percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the direct costs of producing goods sold. back toward 40%, generating massive operating leverageoperating leverageThe sensitivity of operating profit to changes in revenue caused by the mix of fixed and variable costs.View full glossary entry. Free cash flowfree cash flowFree cash flow (FCF) is cash generated after operating expenses and capital expenditures that remains available for debt reduction, reinvestment, or shareholder returns.View full glossary entry surges past $350M annually as international allied sales clear export hurdles, forcing a violent valuation reratingvaluation reratingA change in the valuation multiple assigned to a business or asset after expectations about growth, quality, or risk change.View full glossary entry toward 6x EV/Sales and driving the stock past 300 USD.
Bear case
Failure to integrate acquired assets results in catastrophic multi-hundred-million-dollar goodwill impairmentsgoodwill impairmentsAccounting write-downs occurring when the value of an acquired asset falls below its book value.View full glossary entry while commercial off-the-shelf FPV drone architectures cannibalize AeroVironment's Switchblade franchise. Persistent supply chain bottleneckssupply chain bottlenecksCapacity, material, labor, transport, or coordination constraints that slow the flow of goods and inputs.View full glossary entry in rare earths and specialized microelectronics cap deliveries, leaving gross marginsThe percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the direct costs of producing goods sold. trapped in the mid-20s. Cash burncash burnThe rate at which a company consumes its cash reserves to fund operations before achieving profitability.View full glossary entry resumes amid elevated interest rates, forcing further dilutive equitydilutive equityIssuance of new shares that reduces the ownership percentage and earnings per share for existing shareholders.View full glossary entry issuance and depressing the share price below 110 USD.
Current crowd narrative
Consensus treats AeroVironment as a bloated post-merger indigestion victim whose explosive top-line surge to $2.0B revenue was entirely cannibalized by collapsed gross marginsThe percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the direct costs of producing goods sold. and staggering intangible amortization. Sell-side lemmings anchor on Switchblade replenishment narratives while pricing in permanent operational dysfunction, assuming AVAV cannot convert its massive order backlogorder backlogOrder backlog is the value or volume of confirmed customer orders that have not yet been delivered, fulfilled, or recognized as revenue.View full glossary entry into positive GAAP net income under elevated interest rate conditions.
Alpha-gap assessment
The crowd overestimates the permanence of AeroVironment's GAAP accounting bleeding, conflating massive non-cash purchase-price amortization with fundamental economic insolvency. The blind spot lies in ignoring normalized cash conversion: trailing free cash flowFree cash flow (FCF) is cash generated after operating expenses and capital expenditures that remains available for debt reduction, reinvestment, or shareholder returns. has already inflected positive to $2.19M, while the expanded $5.72B asset base creates an unassailable manufacturing perimeter for Pentagon Replicator tranches. As integration friction subsides and higher-margin software-enabled loitering munitions scale, operating leverageThe sensitivity of operating profit to changes in revenue caused by the mix of fixed and variable costs. will trigger an explosive multiple rerating that consensus currently prices as impossible.
Convergence catalyst
First-half fiscal 2027 earnings will deliver decisive GAAP operating profitability and double-digit EBITDA marginsebitda marginsKey profitability metric measuring operational efficiency before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.View full glossary entry as acquisition purchase-price accounting noise dissipates. Concurrently, formal contract awards under DoD Replicator Phase 2 will confirm AeroVironment's unseatable prime contractor status, forcing short-covering and sharp institutional multiple expansionmultiple expansionAn increase in valuation ratios such as price-to-earnings or enterprise-value-to-sales.View full glossary entry.
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