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AeroVironment Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 143% year over year: Revenue was $408.0 million against $167.6 million a year earlier, with product sales up $138.1 million and service revenue up $102.3 million. Nine-month revenue was $1.3 billion. Source
  • Net loss and loss per share: Net loss was $156.6 million, or $3.15 per diluted share, against $1.8 million, or $0.06 per share, a year earlier. Goodwill impairment of $2.95 per share and $0.70 of amortization and purchase accounting costs are cited as impacts. Source
  • Stop-work order on SCAR program: In January 2026 the company received a stop-work order on an Other Transaction Agreement for BADGER antenna systems supporting the Space Force SCAR program. Source
  • Space goodwill impairment recorded: The stop-work order was treated as a trigger event. Long-term Space cash flow estimates were revised for lower revenue and higher research and capital spending, producing an impairment charge. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 24%: Gross margin was $98.8 million, but 24% of revenue against 38% a year earlier. The company attributes the change to higher service mix from BlueHalo and higher amortization. Source
  • Nine-month bookings and book-to-bill: Bookings were $2.1 billion for the first nine months, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.6. The prior release showed a year-to-date book-to-bill of 1.84. Source
  • Funded backlog reached $1.1 billion: Funded backlog was $1.1 billion at January 31, 2026, against $726.6 million at April 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash used in nine months: Net cash used in operating activities was $173.9 million for the first nine months of the fiscal year, against $1.1 million a year earlier. Source

“While our third quarter results were impacted by revenue timing and adjustments in our Space business, demand for our unique solutions remains robust,”

Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$1.85 billion to $1.95 billionLowered from $1.95 billion to $2.0 billion
Net loss (GAAP) Sourcefiscal year 2026$(218) million to $(201) millionLowered from $(38) million to $(30) million
Loss per diluted share (GAAP) Sourcefiscal year 2026$(4.44) to $(4.10)Lowered from $(0.76) to $(0.61)
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026$265 million to $285 millionLowered from $300 million to $320 million
Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share Sourcefiscal year 2026$2.75 to $3.10Lowered from $3.40 to $3.55
Acquisition-related expenses Sourcefiscal year 2026$44 millionRaised from $37 million to $42 million
Stock-based compensation Sourcefiscal year 2026$42 millionRaised from approximately $38 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: The full-year revenue forecast was reduced from the prior release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The full-year non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA forecast was reduced, and the non-GAAP earnings per diluted share forecast was reduced as well. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The full-year GAAP net loss and loss per diluted share forecasts were widened from the prior release. Source
  • Guidance raised: Forecast acquisition-related expenses and stock-based compensation for fiscal 2026 were increased. Source
  • New: A stop-work order on the BADGER antenna contract for the SCAR program was received in January 2026, and the Space unit was tested for impairment. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 143% year over year: Revenue was $408.0 million against $167.6 million a year earlier, with product sales up $138.1 million and service revenue up $102.3 million. Nine-month revenue was $1.3 billion. Source
  • BlueHalo added $176.5 million: The BlueHalo acquisition, which closed May 1, 2025, contributed $85.1 million of product revenue and $91.4 million of service revenue in the quarter. Source
  • Net loss and loss per share: Net loss was $156.6 million, or $3.15 per diluted share, against $1.8 million, or $0.06 per share, a year earlier. Goodwill impairment of $2.95 per share and $0.70 of amortization and purchase accounting costs are cited as impacts. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBITDA and EPS rose: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $44.5 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share was $0.64, against $21.8 million and $0.30 a year earlier. Source

Segments and Space stop-work

  • Autonomous Systems revenue $278.7 million: AxS recorded $278.7 million of revenue and SCDE recorded $129.3 million. The prior-year table shows no SCDE revenue. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA split: AxS segment adjusted EBITDA was $46.2 million and SCDE was $(1.7) million, for total segment adjusted EBITDA of $44.5 million. Source
  • Stop-work order on SCAR program: In January 2026 the company received a stop-work order on an Other Transaction Agreement for BADGER antenna systems supporting the Space Force SCAR program. Source
  • Space goodwill impairment recorded: The stop-work order was treated as a trigger event. Long-term Space cash flow estimates were revised for lower revenue and higher research and capital spending, producing an impairment charge. Source

“setting the stage for record fourth quarter revenue and a solid start to fiscal year 2027”

Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Margins and operating costs

  • Gross margin fell to 24%: Gross margin was $98.8 million, but 24% of revenue against 38% a year earlier. The company attributes the change to higher service mix from BlueHalo and higher amortization. Source
  • Purchase accounting costs in gross margin: Gross margin absorbed $12.7 million of intangible amortization and related purchase accounting costs, against $3.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A rose with BlueHalo headcount: SG&A rose $55.6 million, including $30.1 million more intangible amortization and added headcount from BlueHalo. R&D rose $4.6 million. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $179.0 million: Loss from operations was $(179.0) million against $(3.1) million a year earlier. The goodwill impairment and $43.9 million of amortization and purchase accounting costs are cited as the main items. Source

Demand and order book

  • Nine-month bookings and book-to-bill: Bookings were $2.1 billion for the first nine months, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.6. The prior release showed a year-to-date book-to-bill of 1.84. Source
  • Funded backlog reached $1.1 billion: Funded backlog was $1.1 billion at January 31, 2026, against $726.6 million at April 30, 2025. Source
  • Timing cited for third quarter: Management attributes third-quarter results in part to revenue timing and adjustments in the Space business. Source

“We are executing with discipline, scaling manufacturing ahead of demand and accelerating the commercialization of our platforms to improve profitability and time to market.”

Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Cash, debt and share count

  • Operating cash used in nine months: Net cash used in operating activities was $173.9 million for the first nine months of the fiscal year, against $1.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $289.9 million and short-term investments were $297.3 million, against $40.9 million of cash at April 30, 2025. Source
  • Share and convertible proceeds raised: Share issuance netted $968.5 million and convertible debt netted $726.9 million. The term loan was reduced by $700.0 million during the nine months. Source
  • Shares outstanding rose with BlueHalo: Shares outstanding were 49.9 million at January 31, 2026, against 28.3 million at April 30, 2025. The company issued $2.64 billion of common stock for the business acquisition. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $727.9 million: Long-term debt was $727.9 million at January 31, 2026, against $30.0 million at April 30, 2025. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Space commercialization investment planned: Management expects higher research and development and capital investment to reach product commercialization, which it expects to improve long-term product margins. Source
  • Acquisition-related costs continue: Acquisition-related expenses were $6.9 million in the quarter, against $10.0 million a year earlier, and $38.9 million for nine months, against $13.7 million. Source
  • Capital spending and equity investments: Property and equipment purchases were $46.1 million for nine months, against $14.3 million a year earlier. Equity method contributions were $3.2 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog SourceFunded backlog $1.1 billion at January 31, 2026
Book-to-bill Source1.6 for the first nine months

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cites revenue timing and adjustments in the Space business as a factor in third-quarter results. Source
  • Financial: Reduced expected Space revenue from the stop-work order led to revised long-term cash flow estimates and a goodwill impairment. Source
  • Operational: A stop-work order halted delivery work on BADGER antenna systems for the SCAR program. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said manufacturing is being scaled ahead of demand. Source
  • Not stated: Higher research and development and capital investment is planned to reach Space product commercialization. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.