Drone stocks entered 2026 with rising defense demand for autonomous systems, counter-drone protection and domestic supply chains behind them, yet the best-known names in the group have spent the year moving backward.

AeroVironment is experiencing a structural revenue inflection, driven by explosive demand for its Switchblade TMS platform, with the last five quarters averaging over 135% YoY revenue growth. However, this scaling phase is currently characterized by a severe p...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue has surged to over $640M in a single quarter, but this growth is accompanied by extreme gross margin volatility (ranging from 17.1% to 39.6%) and operating losses that indicate the company has not yet achieved operating leverage at scale.
The rising strategic importance of drones amid escalating geopolitical tensions and expanding UAV adoption by global militaries.
The company's leadership in the expanding global drone market positions it for growth.
AVAV's trailing and forward P/E ratios indicate strong financial performance and investor confidence.
Trailing total returns as of 10/3/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Sep 9, 2026 | $0.59+165.4% vs $0.22 | $480M+6.3% vs $452M |
Q3 2026 Jun 29, 2026 | $1.84+26.0% vs $1.46 | $642M+15.4% vs $556M |
Q2 2026 Mar 10, 2026 | $0.64-5.6% vs $0.68 | $408M-14.2% vs $476M |
Q4 2025 Dec 9, 2025 | $0.44-43.3% vs $0.78 | $473M+0.6% vs $470M |
Drone stocks entered 2026 with rising defense demand for autonomous systems, counter-drone protection and domestic supply chains behind them, yet the best-known names in the group have spent the year moving backward.

The Pentagon handed drone suppliers the autonomous warfare announcement they craved, yet one stock with a 75% year-to-date gain is tumbling while its rivals barely flinch. The gap between winners and losers inside the drone sector reveals something the policy headlines are not saying outright.
AeroVironment and RTX compete across advanced defense markets, with contrasting growth, valuation, ROE and recent share-price trends.
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Litigation Partner Brandon Walker Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Aerovironment (AVAV) To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
Benchmark AVAV against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $140.82 | $7.13B | -26.08 | 140.89% | -13.41% | -10.03% | — | |
| $43.07 | $8.08B | 331.31 | 18.52% | 2.03% | 1.14% | — | |
| $6.40 | $773.41M | -10.67 | 459.81% | -189.21% | -34.19% | — | |
| $5.95 | $5.85B | -5.27 | 39183.09% | -755.11% | -58.25% | — | |
| $4.89 | $3.71B | -4.94 | — | -11589.86% | -40.74% | — | |
| $236.60 | $44.08B | 27.74 | 2.53% | 8.17% | 9.41% | — |
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Sep 9, 2026·SEC
Jun 29, 2026·SEC
Jun 25, 2026·SEC
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AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) reported $2.00B in revenue for fiscal year 2026. This represents a 1804% increase from $105.2M in 2005.
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) grew revenue by 140.9% over the past year. This is strong growth.
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) reported a net loss of $202.8M for fiscal year 2026.
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) has a return on equity (ROE) of -10.0%. Negative ROE indicates the company is unprofitable.
AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) generated $2.2M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2026. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.