BTIG analyst Andre Madrid maintained a Buy rating on AeroVironment and lowered the price target from $330 to $205. The revision comes as the company prepares to release its fourth quarter earnings. Analysts expect the Arlington, Virginia-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.47 per share, a decrease from $1.61 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for revenue stands at $559.1 million, compared to $275.05 million reported last year.

The company recently disclosed it restated its quarterly filings for 10-Q after incorrectly calculating goodwill impairment. Shares of AeroVironment fell 10.8% to close at $151.33 on Monday.

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Changes

Several analysts have revised their ratings and price targets for AeroVironment in the weeks leading up to the earnings announcement.

Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale upgraded the stock from Underperform to Market Perform on March 23, 2026. Canaccord Genuity analyst Austin Moeller maintained a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $330 to $300 on March 12, 2026. BTIG analyst Andre Madrid maintained a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $415 to $205 on March 12, 2026. UBS analyst Gavin Parsons maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $259 to $236 on March 11, 2026. Stifel analyst Jonathan Siegmann maintained a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $389 to $315 on March 11, 2026.

AeroVironment Inc shares fell 9.82% to $152.96 on Monday, hitting a new 52-week low. The decline follows progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks and new Chinese export restrictions targeting U.S. defense suppliers. The stock is testing lower boundaries as broader defense sector weakness emerges.

Peace Talks Advance

Defense stocks are broadly weaker as the U.S.-Iran peace process remains intact after the first round of discussions in Burgenstock, Switzerland. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the United States will lift its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the conclusion of the Lake Lucerne Summit. The plan includes waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical shipments, the release of some frozen Iranian assets and the launch of a large reconstruction and development initiative for Iran.

A joint statement from Pakistani and Qatari mediators outlined the creation of a political oversight committee and a conflict unit for Lebanon to prevent military escalation. Negotiations will continue throughout the week with a goal of reaching a final agreement within 60 days.

The talks moved forward despite tension earlier in the week when President Donald Trump threatened to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz and launch new strikes against Iran. Maritime traffic through the strait dropped sharply after Iran announced the waterway’s closure, though conditions later stabilized.

Chinese Export Restrictions

China announced export controls Monday on ten U.S. industrial and defense-related companies. The restrictions block the export of dual-use goods from China to those firms. The list includes rare earth producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, and drone makers Teal Drones and Jaia Robotics.

China’s Finance Ministry also barred 46 U.S. companies, most of them defense contractors, from participating in Chinese government procurement programs. The Ministry of Commerce said the measures respond to harmful actions by the U.S. government and are intended to protect national security.