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AeroVironment Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fiscal year revenue more than doubled: Fiscal year revenue was $1,976.8 million against $820.6 million. The net loss of $(265.1) million, or $(5.40) per diluted share, includes a $240.7 million goodwill impairment. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 ranges set for four measures: Management set fiscal 2027 ranges for revenue, net income, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and diluted EPS, detailed in the guidance list. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 32%: Gross margin was $202.6 million, up 102%, and 32% of revenue against 36% a year earlier. Source
  • Purchase accounting charges rose sharply: Intangible amortization and other non-cash purchase accounting charges were $51.4 million within operating income, against $9.0 million. Of this, $18.4 million sat in gross margin. Source
  • Share sale and debt funded the year: Stock issuance net of costs raised $968.5 million. Convertible notes added $726.9 million and long-term debt $693.2 million, while the term loan was reduced by $700.0 million. Source

“Fiscal 2026 marked a transformational year for AV, which included the completion of our largest acquisition”

Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment chairman, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2027$2.125 billion to $2.225 billionNew
Net income SourceFiscal 2027$8 million to $24 millionNew
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027$305 million to $325 millionNew
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$0.16 to $0.48New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$3.02 to $3.34New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year fiscal 2027 guidance issued for revenue, net income, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and diluted EPS. Source
  • Ended: The March guidance for fiscal 2026 covered the year now reported. This release gives actual fiscal 2026 results instead.
  • New: Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. acquisition closed March 16, 2026, after the March release. Source
  • New: The non-GAAP EPS definition changed. The March version also excluded goodwill impairment and equity investment items, which the fiscal 2027 definition does not list.

Results and growth drivers

  • Fiscal year revenue more than doubled: Fiscal year revenue was $1,976.8 million against $820.6 million. The net loss of $(265.1) million, or $(5.40) per diluted share, includes a $240.7 million goodwill impairment. Source
  • Quarterly net income rose to $63.2 million: Net income was $63.2 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, against $16.7 million, or $0.59, a year earlier. Operating income was $56.9 million against $13.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS rose: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $140.1 million against $61.6 million, and non-GAAP EPS was $1.84 against $1.61. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 ranges set for four measures: Management set fiscal 2027 ranges for revenue, net income, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and diluted EPS, detailed in the guidance list. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Autonomous Systems carried the quarter: AxS revenue was $492.4 million against $275.1 million a year earlier, and AxS segment adjusted EBITDA was $138.7 million. Source
  • Space, cyber and directed energy added revenue: SCDE revenue was $149.2 million with segment adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 million. The prior-year quarter shows no SCDE revenue. Source
  • Product sales and services both grew: Product sales were $499.0 million against $242.2 million. Contract services were $142.7 million against $32.8 million. Source

“We remain focused on executing with excellence and strengthening our supply chain to accelerate the commercialization of our platforms.”

Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment chairman, president and chief executive officer

Costs and gross margin

  • Gross margin fell to 32%: Gross margin was $202.6 million, up 102%, and 32% of revenue against 36% a year earlier. Source
  • Service margin turned negative: Service gross margin was $(9.2) million against $8.9 million. Product gross margin was $211.8 million against $91.5 million. Source
  • Purchase accounting charges rose sharply: Intangible amortization and other non-cash purchase accounting charges were $51.4 million within operating income, against $9.0 million. Of this, $18.4 million sat in gross margin. Source
  • SG&A and R&D rose with BlueHalo: SG&A was $114.2 million against $43.3 million, up $71.0 million with BlueHalo headcount and amortization. R&D was $31.5 million against $24.9 million. Source
  • Income tax provision rose: The tax provision was $16.0 million against $0.2 million, following the pretax loss in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Prior-year goodwill charge did not recur: No goodwill impairment was recorded this quarter, against $18.4 million in the prior-year quarter tied to UGV. Source

Demand, receivables and inventory

  • Unbilled receivables and inventory rose: Unbilled receivables and retentions were $570.4 million against $290.0 million, and inventories, net were $312.9 million against $144.1 million. Source
  • Customer advances rose: Customer advances were $79.6 million against $16.0 million at April 30, 2026. Source
  • Accounts receivable increased: Accounts receivable, net, were $316.2 million against $102.0 million. Source

“AV is well-positioned to capture the rising global demand across lethal and non-lethal drones, counter-UAS, space and advanced technologies and deliver long-term shareholder value.”

Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment chairman, president and chief executive officer

Cash, debt and financing

  • Share sale and debt funded the year: Stock issuance net of costs raised $968.5 million. Convertible notes added $726.9 million and long-term debt $693.2 million, while the term loan was reduced by $700.0 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $377.3 million against $40.9 million, with short-term investments of $255.0 million and long-term investments of $81.1 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was $(78.4) million against $(1.3) million, with $62.5 million of property and equipment purchases. Source
  • Interest income rose on balances: Other income rose with interest income, which the company ties to higher cash and investment balances and lower interest bearing debt balances. Source

Acquisitions and balance sheet

  • Goodwill and intangibles rose: Goodwill was $2,493.7 million against $256.8 million, and intangibles, net were $929.8 million against $48.7 million. Source
  • Stock issued for an acquisition: Common stock issued for the business acquisition was $2,782.6 million, lifting shares outstanding to 50.6 million from 28.3 million. Source
  • Acquisition cash outlay: Business acquisitions used $871.5 million of cash, net of cash acquired, in fiscal 2026, with no such outlay in fiscal 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Funded backlog Source$1.2 billion at April 30, 2026, against $726.6 million at April 30, 2025
Book-to-bill Source1.4 for the fiscal year, on bookings of $2.7 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management says intangible amortization will recur until the acquired intangible assets are fully amortized. Source
  • Operational: SG&A rose $71.0 million, including acquired headcount and intangible amortization, which management cites as a cost driver. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The prior release tied order flow and funded backlog growth to record fourth quarter revenue. The current release reports record fourth quarter revenue.
  • Not stated: The prior release said manufacturing was being scaled ahead of demand. The current release does not restate this.

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.