Aliens or simply drones? With the recent sightings in New Jersey (USA), analysts have returned to talk about drones. What are the main stocks that make up this market?
In recent weeks, New Jersey has become the center of a curious wave of aircraft sightings. Many residents initially believed that the sightings were of alleged "aliens," but a closer look revealed that the sightings were actually advanced drones.
This phenomenon has put the spotlight on the growing importance of drone technology, leading to a significant increase in public and commercial interest, which has directly impacted the financial markets.
What are the major publicly traded companies active in the drone market?
The Future of Drones
The military drone sector is a topic of great interest. Elon Musk recently stated that drones are making manned fighter jets obsolete, due to their affordability, flexibility, and safety without human pilots. Networked drone swarms are seen as the future of military operations, with unprecedented strategic potential.
The commercial sector also continues to innovate. Walmart and Walgreens, for example, are testing the delivery of products and medicines via drones, demonstrating that the market is ready for large-scale deployment.
In short, the drone sightings in New Jersey have helped ignite a real spark in the market, transforming a media phenomenon into a possible trend in the financial markets.
AeroVironment: a rising leader
One of the leading companies in the sector is AeroVironment, active in the production of drones for military and commercial applications. AeroVironment has seen strong growth, driven by increased demand for its advanced systems, such as Puma, Raven and Switchblade. These drones are used in surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as targeted strikes, and are considered essential tools by militaries around the world. AVAV shares have a high P/E of over 45x, but EPS is expected to grow 15% in 2024 and positive according to compliance for years to come.
Other Big Players in the Market
There are other major players in the drone market, but they cannot always be traced back to a single-listed company like AeroVironment (AVAV). For example, Lockheed Martin, a giant in the aerospace and defense sector, is gradually directing part of its business towards the development of military drones, given the significant growth prospects in this area. Among its best-known solutions are the high-altitude Stalker drone and the versatile Indago, designed for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
On the commercial front, Google, through its Wing division, is one of the most active players. Although Wing is not an independently listed company (it is part of Alphabet), it is pursuing innovative initiatives, such as autonomous drone deliveries, which are transforming the logistics sector.
Looking at the European panorama, Parrot is a reference company for commercial drones, specializing in small and medium-scale solutions. However, compared to the American giants, Parrot is significantly smaller and has a less solid financial situation, highlighted by negative earnings per share (EPS). Despite this, the company continues to carve out a niche for itself thanks to its specialization and the quality of its products, used in applications ranging from aerial photography to precision agriculture.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-12-30 15:22:56. Original title: Tutti pazzi per i droni. Ecco i titoli delle società migliori che operano nel settore
