5 best drone maker stocks poised to fly according to WarrenAI

Investing.com -- Famed technologist and billionaire Elon Musk said that in the future, the front lines of all wars will be fought with drones. In June, President Trump signed an executive order to speed up U.S. drone production. As the Ukraine/Russia conflict has shown, the drone business is big business. The industry continues to attract investor attention despite mixed signals from analysts about valuation concerns. While some stocks have soared to impressive heights, questions remain about whether current prices reflect realistic expectations for these aerial innovators.

Below, Investing.com’s powerful stock research assistant, WarrenAI, dives into the sector and pinpoints five top drone stocks to consider buying and ranks them based on Investing Pro’s Fair Value, Pro score, and analyst price target.

1. Kratos Defense (NASDAQ:KTOS): Leading the pack is Kratos Defense, which has garnered significant analyst enthusiasm with multiple price target increases—some reaching as high as $78. Truist Securities projects impressive annual revenue growth of 20-30% through 2030, highlighting the company’s strong position in the defense drone sector. However, this optimism is tempered by Fair Value assessments indicating a potential 44.1% downside, suggesting the stock may be significantly overvalued. With a price-to-earnings ratio of 462x, even supporters acknowledge Kratos trades at premium multiples that may be difficult to sustain.

In recent news, Kratos Defense & Security partnered with Airbus to deliver a Valkyrie-based drone to the German Air Force. Following this development, both Stifel and Citizens JMP raised their price targets on the company’s stock.

2. EHang Holdings: Chinese drone maker EHang Holdings presents a fascinating case of extreme analyst optimism. The company recently achieved an important cargo drone milestone in China, bolstering its commercial credentials. Interestingly, Fair Value calculations show the stock is almost perfectly valued (+1.8% potential upside), indicating that analyst enthusiasm is banking on future transformation rather than current fundamentals. In its first quarter, the company recorded a revenue decline, primarily due to the timing of customer procurement plans aligning with the issuance of the first Operator Certificates at the end of March. Despite the miss, analysts at BofA Securities see upside to $24 as they expect a strong sales rebound in the second quarter, citing strong orders after the company obtained the Operator Certificates in late March. They expect the company to benefit significantly from the rapid development of the eVTOL industry in China from 2025 onward.

EHang Holdings has secured multiple purchase orders, including 50 pilotless aircraft for Guizhou Tourism and 41 units for Jilin province, and also formed a strategic partnership with Reignwood Aviation to expand its eVTOL tourism services.

3. AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV): This established drone manufacturer has benefited from strong financial performance and positive headlines surrounding its Mars helicopter technology. Despite these achievements, with the stock having surged more than 56% over the past year, Fair Value metrics suggest a potential 33.4% downside from current levels. While pro scoring remains solid, valuation concerns dominate the conversation around AeroVironment’s stock prospects. AeroVironment received a new Buy rating and $325 price target from Citizens JMP earlier this week. The analyst sees strong fundamentals, including: the U.S. government’s strategic priorities, budget allocations, and new procurement mindset serve as tailwinds; AeroVironment and BlueHalo represent a true “better together” story; Strong international business is a source of growth and opportunity for cross-sell; Model benefits and a valuation where they still see upside.

AeroVironment recently completed a sale of additional shares, raising approximately $126.3 million in net proceeds.

4. Red Cat: Perhaps the most dramatic performer in the sector, Red Cat has delivered an extraordinary 421% return this year. However, fundamental metrics tell a concerning story, with an EBITDA margin of -501% suggesting significant operational challenges. Fair Value calculations indicate a 29.3% downside potential, suggesting that investors arriving now may be late to a party that could be winding down.

Red Cat Holdings closed a registered direct offering with institutional investors, raising approximately $46.75 million in gross proceeds. The company plans to use the funds for general corporate purposes, including its unmanned surface vessel division.

5. AIRO Group: As a recent IPO, AIRO Group has shown impressive 101% revenue growth, capturing investor interest in the early-stage drone market. Nevertheless, the company continues to report negative earnings per share, and there’s no clear analyst consensus on upside potential. Fair Value assessments closely match the current price, suggesting the market may have efficiently priced this newcomer. Cantor Fitzgerald rates the company an Overweight rating and a price target of $35, saying: "[a]t a high level, we think of AIRO’s equity story as a case of medium-term drone profits being invested in longer-term EVTOL prospects. Starting with drone dynamics, we think continued RQ-35 orders from NATO partners, DoD Blue UAS certification, and accelerating non-NATO demand can combine to support a robust multi-year growth trajectory."

AIRO Group announced plans to establish a new U.S. manufacturing facility to increase production of its RQ-35 drone. The company is also developing a new middle-mile cargo drone and expanding operations into Quebec.

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