AeroVironment, Inc.

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Item 6.

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Reserved.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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Introduction

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The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein as Item 8. This discussion contains forward-looking statements. Refer to Part I, “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 2 and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14, for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. The disclosures and references in Item 7 of this Annual Report, including the description of our business, financial data, management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations do not include the BlueHalo acquisition which closed on May 1, 2025, unless otherwise specifically noted. The assets, liabilities and results of operations of BlueHalo have not been consolidated into our results as of and for the period ended April 30, 2025 or any of the historical periods presented.

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Overview

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We design, develop, produce, deliver and support a technologically advanced portfolio of intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems and related services for government agencies and businesses. We supply uncrewed aircraft and ground robot systems, loitering munitions systems and related services primarily to organizations within or supplying the U.S. DoD, other federal agencies and to international allied governments. We derive the majority of our revenue from these business areas, and we believe that the markets for these solutions offer the potential for significant long-term growth. In addition, we believe that some of the innovative potential products, services and technologies in our research and development pipeline will emerge as new growth platforms in the future, creating additional market opportunities.

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The success of our current product and service offerings stems from our investments in R&D to invent and deliver advanced solutions, utilizing proprietary and commercially available technologies, and in acquiring leading businesses that help our customers achieve their desired outcomes. We develop and acquire these highly innovative solutions by working closely with our key customers to solve their most important challenges related to our areas of expertise. Our core technological capabilities, developed over more than 50 years of innovation or acquired through acquisitions, include robotics and robotics systems autonomy; modular open systems architecture, sensor design, development, miniaturization and integration; embedded software and firmware; miniature, low power, secure wireless digital communications and networks; lightweight aerostructures; high-altitude systems design, integration and operations; machine vision, machine learning and autonomy; land, maritime and air deployment of munitions and aircraft systems; design and qualification for robotics in extreme terrestrial and space environments; munitions systems warhead integration; low SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) system design and integration; collaborative multi-robotic crewed and uncrewed mission operation; power electronics and electric propulsion systems; efficient electric power conversion, storage systems and high density energy packaging; controls and systems integration; vertical takeoff and landing for fixed wing and hybrid aircraft and rotocraft systems; image stabilization and target tracking; advanced flight control systems; fluid dynamics; human-machine interface development; modular dismounted, networked multi-domain robotic control interfaces and analytic processing architecture; and integrated mission solutions for austere environments.

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Our business focuses primarily on the design, development, production, marketing, support and operation of innovative UxS and LMS products that provide situational awareness, remote sensing, multi band communications, force protection and other information and mission effects to increase the safety and effectiveness of our customers’ operations.

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Revenue

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We generate our revenue primarily from the sale, support, design and operation of our UxS, LMS and HAPS products. Support for our SUAS, MUAS and LMS customers includes training, spare parts, product repair and product replacement. Under ISR services contracts we deliver the information our MUAS produce to our customers, who use that information to support their missions. We refer to these support activities, in conjunction with customer-funded R&D, as our services operation. We derive most of our SUAS, MUAS, LMS and HAPS revenue from fixed-price and cost-plus-fee contracts with the majority from U.S. government and allied foreign governments for SUAS, MUAS, and LMS.

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Cost of Sales

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Cost of sales consists of direct costs and allocated indirect costs. Direct costs include labor, materials, travel, subcontracts and other costs directly related to the execution of a specific contract. Indirect costs include overhead expenses, fringe benefits, depreciation of in-service ISR assets, amortization of acquired intangible assets and other costs that are not directly charged to a specific contract.

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Gross Margin

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Gross margin is equal to revenue minus cost of sales. We use gross margin as a financial metric to help us understand trends in our direct costs and allocated indirect costs when compared to the revenue we generate.

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Selling, General and Administrative

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Our selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”), include salaries, fringe benefits, and other expenses related to selling, marketing and proposal activities, and other administrative costs and amortization of acquired intangible assets. Some SG&A expenses relate to marketing, commissions on certain direct commercial sales to international customers and business development activities that support both ongoing business areas as well as new and emerging market areas. These activities can be directly associated with developing requirements for and applications of capabilities created in our R&D activities. SG&A is an important financial metric that we analyze to help us evaluate the contribution of our selling, marketing and proposal activities to revenue generation.

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Research and Development Expense

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R&D is an integral part of our business model. We normally conduct significant internally funded R&D. Our R&D activities focus specifically on creating capabilities that support our existing product portfolio as well as new solutions.

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Impairment of Goodwill

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As part of our annual goodwill impairment and identifiable asset test during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2025, we determined carrying value of the UGV reporting unit exceeded its fair value due to a decrease in forecasted results of the UGV reporting unit resulting from reduced probability and delays of obtaining certain opportunities as well as an increase in forecast expenditures to support operational decisions identified during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2025. These changes in estimates resulted in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge of $18.4 million during the three months ended April 30, 2025 in the UGV reporting unit.

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For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, we determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each of the other reporting units, other than UGV, was more than their carrying values as of the annual goodwill impairment test date, including the MUAS reporting unit which was no longer considered at an increased risk of failing future quantitative goodwill impairment tests due to an increase in the estimated fair value of the reporting unit from significant increases in forecasted results.
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Subsequent to the performance of our annual goodwill impairment test for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023, in May 2023, a trigger event was identified that indicated that the carrying value of the MUAS reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Specifically, we received notification that we were not down selected for a U.S. DoD program of record which resulted in a significant decrease in the projected future cash flows of the MUAS reporting unit. As a result, we updated our estimates of long-term future cash flows to reflect lower revenue and EBITDA growth rate expectations used in the valuation of the MUAS reporting unit. These changes in estimates, resulted in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge of $156.0 million recorded during the year ended April 30, 2023.

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Other (Loss) Income, net

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Other (loss) income, net includes unrealized losses associated with decreases in the fair market value for equity security investments, interest income, and interest expense.

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Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes

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Our effective tax rates for fiscal years 2025 and 2024 were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to tax benefits from the Foreign Derived Intangible Income deduction (“FDII”), excess benefits from stock-based compensation, the U.S. federal research tax credit.

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Equity Method Investment (Loss) Income, Net of Tax

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Equity method investment (loss) income, net of tax, includes equity method income or loss related to our investment in limited partnership funds for which we have concluded we have influence for holding more than a minor interest. Beginning October 14, 2022, equity method investment (loss) income, net of tax also includes our proportion of any gains or losses of our Turkish joint venture, Altoy Savunma Sanayi ve Havacilik Anonim Sirketi (“Altoy”), due to our share sale in which we decreased our ownership interest to 15% but concluded we retain the ability to exercise significant influence.

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Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

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Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests includes the 50% interest in the income or losses of Altoy, between May 1, 2022 and October 14, 2022. Subsequent to October 14, 2022, Altoy is no longer consolidated, and therefore, noncontrolling interest is no longer recorded.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

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This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. When we prepare these consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Some of our accounting policies require that we make subjective judgments, including estimates that involve matters that are inherently uncertain. Our most critical estimates include those related to revenue recognition, inventory reserves for excess and obsolescence, intangible assets acquired in a business combination, goodwill, and income taxes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

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We believe the following critical accounting estimates affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements. Please see Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements entitled “Organization and Significant Accounting Policies,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and

Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. There have been no material changes made to the critical accounting estimates during the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.

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Revenue Recognition

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Significant management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with the recognition of revenue in any accounting period. Material differences in the amount of revenue in any given period may result if these judgments or estimates prove to be incorrect or if management’s estimates change on the basis of development of the business or market conditions. Management judgments and estimates have been applied consistently and have been reliable historically. We believe that there are two key factors which impact the reliability of management’s estimates. The first of those key factors is that the terms of our contracts are typically less than six months. The short-term nature of such contracts reduces the risk that material changes in accounting estimates will occur on the basis of market conditions or other factors. The second key factor is that we have hundreds of contracts in any given accounting period, which reduces the risk that any one change in an accounting estimate on one or several contracts would have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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The substantial majority of our revenue is generated pursuant to written contractual arrangements to design, develop, manufacture and/or modify complex products, and to provide related engineering, technical and other services according to customer specifications. These contracts may be fixed price, cost-reimbursable, or time and materials. We account for all revenue contracts in accordance with ASC 606. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer distinct goods or services to a customer, and it is the unit of account in ASC 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized when each performance obligation under the terms of a contract is satisfied. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, we allocate the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using observable standalone selling prices for similar products and services. When the standalone selling price is not directly observable, we use our best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract using the cost plus reasonable margin approach.

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Our performance obligations are satisfied over time or at a point in time. Revenue for LMS product deliveries, customization of UGV transport vehicles and customer-funded R&D contracts is recognized over time as costs are incurred. Contract services revenue is composed of revenue recognized on contracts for the provision of services, including repairs and maintenance, training, engineering design, development and prototyping activities, and technical support services. Contract services revenue, including ISR services, is recognized over time as services are rendered. We elected the right to invoice practical expedient in which if an entity has a right to consideration from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the entity’s performance completed to date, such as flight hours for ISR services, the entity may recognize revenue in the amount to which the entity has a right to invoice. Training services are recognized over time using an output method based on days of training completed. For performance obligations satisfied over time, revenue is generally recognized using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress. Incurred costs represent work performed, which correspond with, and thereby best depict, transfer of control to the customer. Contract costs include labor, materials, subcontractors’ costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs applicable on government and commercial contracts.

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For performance obligations which are not satisfied over time per the aforementioned criteria above, revenue is recognized at the point in time in which each performance obligation is fully satisfied. Our UxS product sales revenue is primarily composed of revenue recognized on contracts for the delivery of UxS systems and spare parts, respectively. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when control transfers to the customer, which generally occurs when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

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We review cost performance, estimates to complete and variable consideration at least quarterly and in many cases more frequently. Adjustments to original estimates for a contract’s revenue, estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss are often required as work progresses under a contract, as experience is gained and as more information is obtained, even though the scope of work required under the contract may not change, or if contract modifications, including the finalization of undefinitized contract actions, occur. The impact of revisions in estimate of completion and variable consideration for all types of contracts are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made. Changes in variable consideration associated with the finalization of

undefinitized contract actions or unpriced change orders could result in cumulative catch up adjustments to revenue that could be material. During the fiscal years ended April 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023, changes in accounting estimates on contracts recognized using the over time method are presented below. Amounts representing contract change orders or claims are included in revenue if the order or claim meets the criteria of a contract or contract modification in accordance with ASC 606. Incentives or penalties and awards applicable to performance on contracts are considered in estimating revenue and profit rates, and are recorded when there is sufficient information to assess anticipated contract performance.

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For the years ended April 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023, favorable and unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments included in revenue were as follows (in thousands):

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For the year ended April 30, 2025, favorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $11.1 million were primarily due to favorable adjustments on eight contracts. Four LMS undefinitized contract actions were definitized during the year ended April 30, 2025, which resulted in cumulative catch-up revenue adjustments that increased revenue by approximately $9.9 million. The remaining adjustments individually were not material. For the same period, unfavorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $5.1 million were primarily related to unfavorable adjustments on 17 contracts for higher revised estimates of the total expected costs to complete the contract, including one LMS contract, which decreased revenue by approximately $2.9 million. The remaining adjustments individually were not material.

For the year ended April 30, 2024, favorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $7.4 million were primarily due to final cost adjustments on 17 contracts. During the year ended April 30, 2024, we revised our estimates of the total expected costs to complete two LMS contracts. The aggregate impact of these adjustments in contract estimates on revenue related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods was an increase to revenue of approximately $2.7 million. For the same period, unfavorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $2.0 million were primarily related to higher than expected costs on 11 contracts, which individually were not material.

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For the year ended April 30, 2023, favorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $2.9 million were primarily due to final cost adjustments on 23 contracts, which individually were not material. For the same period, unfavorable cumulative catch up adjustments of $3.8 million were primarily related to unfavorable adjustments on 5 contracts for higher revised estimates of the total expected costs to complete the contract, including one LMS variant contract, which decreased revenue by approximately $1.9 million. The remaining adjustments individually were not material.

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Inventories Reserves for Excess and Obsolescence

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Our policy for valuation of inventory, including the determination of obsolete or excess inventory, requires us to perform a detailed assessment of inventory at each balance sheet date, which includes a review of, among other factors, an estimate of future demand for products within specific time horizons, valuation of existing inventory, as well as product lifecycle and product development plans. Inventory reserves are also provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items. We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based on assumptions about future demand and market conditions and record to cost of sales. We may be required to record additional inventory write-downs if actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by our management.

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Intangible Assets – Acquired in Business Combinations

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We perform valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and allocate the purchase price of each acquired business to our respective net tangible and

intangible assets. Acquired intangible assets include: technology, backlog, in-process research and development, customer relationships, licenses, trademarks and tradenames, and non-compete agreements. We use valuation techniques to value these intangibles assets, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow analysis. A discounted cash flow analysis requires us to make various assumptions and estimates including projected revenue, gross margins, operating costs, growth rates, useful lives and discount rates. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of such assets are consumed. As part of our annual goodwill impairment and identifiable asset test, performed during the quarter ended April 30, 2025, a decrease in forecasted results for the UGV reporting unit resulting from reduced probability and delays of obtaining certain opportunities as well as an increase in forecast expenditures to support operational decisions identified during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2025 resulted in accelerated intangible amortization expenses of $4.3 million which were recorded during the three months ended April 30, 2025. Due to the closure of all of our MUAS COCO sites during the three months ended April 30, 2023, we revised the estimated useful life for MUAS customer relationships which resulted in accelerated intangible amortization expenses of $34.1 million during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023. Additionally, in conjunction with the goodwill impairment test performed during the year ended April 30, 2023, the remaining intangibles in the MUAS reporting unit were tested for recoverability. The asset recoverability test did not result in an impairment for the remaining intangibles in the MUAS reporting unit. Refer to Note 6—Goodwill for further details.

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Goodwill

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Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the acquired net assets. We test goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year or when events or circumstances change in a manner that indicates goodwill might be impaired. Events or circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business or political climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends or significant underperformance relative to projected future results of operations.

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Our evaluation of goodwill for impairment involves the comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. For the impairment test, we first assess qualitative factors, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, triggering events, cost factors, and overall financial performance, to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. Alternatively, we may bypass the qualitative assessment for some or all of its reporting units and apply the quantitative impairment test. If determined to be necessary, the quantitative impairment test shall be used to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of a goodwill impairment loss to be recognized (if any). For the quantitative impairment test we estimate the fair value by weighting the results from the income approach and the market approach. These valuation approaches consider a number of factors that include, but are not limited to, prospective financial information, growth rates, terminal value, discount rates, and comparable multiples from publicly traded companies in our industry and require us to make certain assumptions and estimates regarding industry economic factors and future profitability of its business.

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As part of our annual goodwill impairment and identifiable asset test during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2025, we determined the carrying value of the UGV reporting unit exceeded its fair value due to a decrease in forecasted results of the UGV reporting unit resulting from reduced probability and delays of obtaining certain opportunities as well as an increase in forecast expenditures to support operational decisions identified during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2025. These changes in estimates resulted in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge of $18.4 million during the three months ended April 30, 2025 in the UGV reporting unit. We determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of our other reporting units were more than their carrying values as of the annual goodwill impairment test date.

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Subsequent to the performance of our annual goodwill impairment test for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023, in May 2023, a trigger event was identified that indicated that the carrying value of the MUAS reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Specifically, we received notification that we were not down selected for a U.S. DoD program of record which resulted in a significant decrease in the projected future cash flows of the MUAS reporting unit. As a result, we updated our estimates of long-term future cash flows to reflect lower revenue and EBITDA growth rate expectations

used in the valuation of the MUAS reporting unit. These changes in estimates, resulted in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge of $156.0 million in the MUAS reporting unit recorded during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023.

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As of April 30, 2025, our MUAS reporting unit has a goodwill balance of $135.8 million. During the most recent annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, the estimated fair value of all reporting units, other than UGV, substantially exceeded their carrying value.

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The estimates and assumptions used to determine the fair value of our reporting units are highly subjective in nature. Actual results can be materially different from the estimates and assumptions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or by us, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the estimated fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets below the carrying amounts, we could recognize future impairment charges, the amount of which could be material.

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Income Taxes

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Our income tax provision and related income tax assets and liabilities are based on actual and expected future income, U.S. and foreign statutory income tax rates, and tax regulations and planning opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Significant judgment is required in interpreting tax regulations in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions, evaluating our worldwide uncertain tax positions, and assessing the likelihood of realizing certain tax benefits. Actual results could differ materially from those judgments, and changes in judgments could materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

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We are required to estimate our income taxes, which includes estimating our current income taxes as well as measuring the temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. We currently have significant deferred tax assets, which are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Realizing our deferred tax assets principally depends on our achieving projected future taxable income. We may change our judgments regarding future profitability due to future market conditions and other factors, which may result in recording a valuation allowance against those deferred tax assets. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, we believe expected future taxable income is not likely to support the use of a deduction or credit in that jurisdiction. We evaluate the level of our valuation allowances during the interim and annually.

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We record unrecognized tax benefits for U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax positions related primarily to tax credits claimed and tax nexus. For each reporting period, we apply a consistent methodology to measure unrecognized tax benefits and all unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed periodically and adjusted as circumstances warrant. Our measurement of our unrecognized tax benefits is based on our assessment of all relevant information, including prior audit experience, the status of audits, conclusions of tax audits, lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, identification of new issues, and any administrative guidance or developments. We recognize unrecognized tax benefits in the first financial reporting period in which information becomes available indicating that such benefits will more likely than not (a greater than 50% likelihood) be realized.

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We have various foreign subsidiaries to conduct or support our business outside the United States. We do not provide for U.S. income taxes on undistributed earnings for our foreign subsidiaries as we expect the foreign earnings will be indefinitely reinvested in such foreign jurisdictions.

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Fiscal Periods

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Our fiscal year ends on April 30. Due to our fixed year end date of April 30, our first and fourth quarters each consist of approximately 13 weeks. The second and third quarters each consist of exactly 13 weeks. Our first three quarters end on a Saturday.

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Results of Operations

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The following table sets forth certain historical consolidated income statement data expressed in dollars (in thousands) and as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated. Certain amounts may not sum due to rounding.

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We have the following reportable segments through its fiscal year ended April 30, 2025: Uncrewed Systems (“UxS”) segment, Loitering Munition Systems (“LMS”) segment; and the MacCready Works (“MW”) segment. The following table (in thousands) sets forth our revenue and segment adjusted gross margin generated by each reporting segment for the periods indicated. Segment adjusted gross margin is defined as gross margin before intangible amortization and amortization of other purchase accounting adjustments.

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Effective May 1, 2025 due to the acquisition of BlueHalo and our reorganization, reportable segments will be updated into the two reportable segments (i) Autonomous Systems and (ii) Space, Cyber and Directed Energy. Autonomous Systems will include the historical AeroVironment businesses (UxS, LMS and MW) as well as Unmanned Maritime, Radio Frequency and Kinetic C-UAS, Electronic Warfare Systems and Autonomous R&D. Space, Cyber and Directed Energy will include the remaining acquired BlueHalo businesses including Digital beamforming technology, Laser Communications, Space-Qualified Hardware, Phased Array Antenna Technology, Directed Energy, Cyber and Mission Systems. We will begin to report our segments in the new structure in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending July 26, 2025, the period in which the new organizational structure became effective.

Also effective May 1, 2025 due to the increased size and complexity of the businesses, the significant amount of debt to finance the acquisition and the related debt covenants, the Chief Operating Decision Maker’s (“CODM”) measure of profitability for the new reportable segments will be Segment Adjusted EBITDA, defined as income from operations before interest income, interest expense, income tax expense (benefit) and depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain other non-cash items, including goodwill impairment, amortization of implementation of cloud computing arrangements, stock-based compensation, other purchase accounting adjustments and cash items including acquisition related expenses.

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