Aerovironment Stock Price, News & Analysis

AeroVironment (AVAV) has appointed René Carbone Bardorf as Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Bardorf, with her extensive experience in national security and strategic communications, will lead AV's global strategic marketing and corporate communications from the Arlington, Virginia headquarters. Her appointment aligns with AV's growth trajectory and aims to enhance the company's leadership team.

Bardorf's impressive career includes roles as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, SVP for Marketing and Communications at BENS, and Chief Communications Officer at NDIA. She has a strong track record in brand strategy development, stakeholder outreach, and national security media relations. CEO Wahid Nawabi expressed enthusiasm about Bardorf's addition to the team, highlighting her deep understanding of national security landscape and evolving global security challenges.

AeroVironment (AV) is strengthening its presence in Arlington, Virginia by establishing a new government relations team. Led by Senior VP Church Hutton, the team includes Rachel Lipsey, Bill Pennington, Chris Meyers, and Rocky Checca, all with extensive experience in national security and government roles. This move aims to broaden AV's reach within the executive branch and Capitol Hill, leveraging the team's combined decades of service and deep understanding of the national security landscape. The initiative underscores AV's commitment to maintaining its leadership in the uncrewed systems defense sector and effectively communicating its innovative contributions to national security stakeholders.

The U.S. Department of State has approved a foreign military sale of AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 loitering munition systems to Taiwan, valued at $60.2 million. This move aims to enhance Taiwan's defense capabilities and support U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The Switchblade 300, known for its precise long-range lethality and maneuverability, has been combat-proven in various conflicts, including Ukraine. The latest version, Switchblade 300 Block 20, features improved warheads, battery life, and flight endurance. This sale aligns with AeroVironment’s ongoing mission to support U.S. and ally defenses against modern threats.

AeroVironment reported record fiscal Q4 2024 revenue of $197 million, a 6% increase YoY, and full-year revenue of $716.7 million, up 33% YoY. The company achieved a Q4 net income of $6 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $22.2 million. For the fiscal year, net income reached $60 million with an adjusted EBITDA of $127.8 million. AeroVironment forecasts fiscal 2025 revenue between $790 million and $820 million, indicating nearly 12% top-line growth. The Loitering Munitions Segment significantly contributed to the revenue increase with 74% YoY growth. Gross margin increased to 38% due to higher service margins. However, funded backlog decreased to $400.2 million from $424.1 million YoY. The company projects fiscal 2025 net income between $74 million and $83 million, adjusted EBITDA between $143 million and $153 million, and non-GAAP EPS between $3.18 and $3.49 per diluted share.

AeroVironment (AV) has successfully tested its JUMP 20 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) with a heavy fuel engine. This upgrade enhances performance, fuel efficiency, and operational lifespan. The JUMP 20, a VTOL UAS, now offers 13+ hours of endurance and a range of 185 km, running on multiple fuels. The new engine requires less maintenance and features auto-start capability. Shane Hastings, VP and GM of Medium UAS, highlighted the system's suitability for land and sea domains, meeting heavy fuel compatibility requirements. AV plans to continue optimizing the JUMP 20 for extreme conditions.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is set to release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ending April 30, 2024, after market close on June 26, 2024. The company will also host a conference call and audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss these results.

The call will feature key executives including CEO Wahid Nawabi, CFO Kevin P. McDonnell, and Senior Director of Corporate Development Jonah Teeter-Balin. Interested investors can register for the conference call via a provided link or listen to the live webcast on the company's Investor Relations website. An audio replay will be available post-event.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) will host its 2024 Analyst and Investor Day in New York City on June 27. The event will provide stakeholders with an overview of the company’s portfolio and examine its long-term goals and overall business health.

Management presentations and discussions will start at 8:30 a.m. ET, featuring Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president, and CEO; Kevin P. McDonnell, senior VP and CFO; along with other executive management team members.

The event will be live webcast on AeroVironment's Investor Relations website, with a video replay available post-event.

AeroVironment (AVAV) was selected by DARPA for the development of the Wildcat Autonomous VTOL UAS as part of the ANCILLARY program. The Wildcat UAS is designed for ship-based operations in challenging maritime environments. It features a long-endurance, large-payload capacity, and uses SPOTR-Edge machine learning for enhanced mission effectiveness. The Wildcat meets DARPA's objectives with a 450 nmi mission radius, 12-hour endurance, and the ability to operate in high sea states and winds. Additionally, it offers modular payload capacity and requires minimal infrastructure for launch and recovery. AVAV will further develop Wildcat in collaboration with DARPA and the Office of Naval Research.

AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600, a loitering munition system, has been selected for Tranche 1 of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Replicator initiative. The initiative aims to accelerate autonomous systems to warfighters, prioritizing attritable capabilities to counter peer adversaries. Switchblade 600 is a battle-proven system with advanced sensors and precision flight control, offering quick deployment and engagement of non-line of sight targets.