NEW YORK, Jan 8, 2026, 11:27 AM EST — Regular session
- AeroVironment shares rose in late morning trade as U.S. defense stocks rebounded on fresh budget talk.
- Trump’s policy mix has jolted the group this week, swinging sentiment from payout limits to higher spending.
- A U.S. drone import carve-out added another layer for investors watching regulation and supply chains.
AeroVironment, Inc. shares climbed 8.8% to $346.45 in late morning trading on Thursday, after earlier touching $371.20. The stock was last up $27.97 from Wednesday’s close.
The move underlined how quickly Washington headlines are moving defense names this week. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring defense contractors from paying dividends or buying back stock — meaning companies repurchasing their own shares — until they speed up weapons production. 1
Defense stocks then snapped back after Trump said the 2027 U.S. military budget should be $1.5 trillion, versus $901 billion approved for 2026. RBC Capital Markets analysts led by Ken Herbert wrote “there is significant uncertainty associated with a final defense budget,” even as the spending push helped steady sentiment, and AeroVironment rose alongside peers such as Kratos Defense. “Geopolitics is the inescapable story of 2026 thus far,” Saxo Bank strategist Neil Wilson said. 2
Separate policy news also hit the tape for the drone sector. The Federal Communications Commission said it will exempt imports of some new models of foreign-made drones and critical components from a sweeping import ban adopted in December, following a Pentagon recommendation, through the end of 2026. The FCC’s “Covered List” is the agency’s national-security list that can block approvals needed to sell new models in the United States. 3
For AeroVironment, which investors often treat as a read-through on small-drone demand, the mix matters. Bigger spending talk can lift expectations for orders and training outlays, while shifting import rules and supplier access can reshape costs and timing.
But the policy backdrop cuts both ways. A larger topline budget does not guarantee faster awards, and the administration’s tougher stance on contractor performance and shareholder payouts could keep trading choppy, especially for stocks that have already run hard.
