With AeroVironment Stock Sliding, Have You Assessed The Risk?

AVAV: AeroVironment logo
AVAV
AeroVironment

AeroVironment (AVAV) stock is down 15.8% in a day. The recent slide reflects renewed concerns around delays in its SCAR program and revised profitability guidance, but sharp drops like this often raise a tougher question: is the weakness temporary, or a sign of deeper cracks in the story?

Before judging its downturn reslience, let’s look at where AeroVironment stands today.

  • Size: AeroVironment is a $16 Bil company with $1.4 Bil in revenue currently trading at $330.89.
  • Fundamentals: Last 12 month revenue growth of 79.9% and operating margin of -5.1%.
  • Liquidity: Has Debt to Equity ratio of 0.05 and Cash to Assets ratio of 0.1
  • Valuation: AeroVironment stock is currently trading at P/E multiple of -236.5 and P/EBIT multiple of -193.3
  • Has returned (median) 41.5% within a year following sharp dips since 2010. See AVAV Dip Buy Analysis.

These metrics point to a Moderate operational performance, alongside Very High valuation – making the stock Unattractive. For details, see Buy or Sell AVAV Stock

That brings us to the key consideration for investors worried about this fall: how resilient is AVAV stock if markets turn south? This is where our downturn resilience framework comes in. Suppose AVAV stock falls another 20-30% to $232 – can investors comfortably hold on? Turns out, the stock has fared worse than the S&P 500 index during various economic downturns, based on (a) how much the stock fell and, (b) how quickly it recovered. Below, we dive deeper into each such downturn.

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2022 Inflation Shock

  • AVAV stock fell 61.0% from a high of $137.94 on 9 February 2021 to $53.78 on 28 January 2022 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 25.4% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 1 December 2023
  • Since then, the stock increased to a high of $409.83 on 13 October 2025 , and currently trades at $330.89

  AVAV S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -61.0% -25.4%
Time to Full Recovery 672 days 464 days

 
2020 Covid Pandemic

  • AVAV stock fell 35.3% from a high of $72.16 on 5 February 2020 to $46.72 on 12 March 2020 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 33.9% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 3 June 2020

  AVAV S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -35.3% -33.9%
Time to Full Recovery 83 days 148 days

 
2018 Correction

  • AVAV stock fell 58.7% from a high of $119.83 on 18 September 2018 to $49.54 on 27 August 2019 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 19.8% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 14 January 2021

  AVAV S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -58.7% -19.8%
Time to Full Recovery 506 days 120 days

 
2008 Global Financial Crisis

  • AVAV stock fell 51.9% from a high of $40.03 on 13 February 2009 to $19.27 on 18 March 2009 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 56.8% for the S&P 500.
  • However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 24 March 2014

  AVAV S&P 500
% Change from Pre-Recession Peak -51.9% -56.8%
Time to Full Recovery 1,832 days 1,480 days

 
Feeling jittery about AVAV stock? Consider portfolio approach.

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