AeroVironment (AVAV) stock jumps nearly 6% as Iran headlines lift defense shares — what to watch next
NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 17:12 ET — Market closed AeroVironment shares rose 5.9% to $256.19 in Friday’s session, the first trading day of 2026. The stock finished near the top of its intraday range. The drone maker led a broader lift in defense shares after President Donald Trump warned the U.S. might intervene in Iran if authorities used lethal force against protesters, according to Investors.com. The timing matters because AeroVironment is coming off a December results and guidance reset that left investors focused on whether growth and profitability arrive on schedule in the second half of the fiscal year.