Release Details

MONROVIA, Calif., Jun 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ending April 30, 2010.

"In the fourth quarter we produced record revenue and profitability while transitioning to full rate production of digital small unmanned aircraft systems. This strong performance enabled us to achieve our revised revenue guidance for fiscal 2010 and exceed our revised operating income guidance," said Tim Conver, AV chairman and chief executive officer. "During the year we made great progress on development programs such as Global Observer, Switchblade and EV Solutions. As a result, we see fiscal 2011 as a year of transition that will lay the foundation for significant long-term growth."

FISCAL 2010 FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $99.4 million, up 31% over fourth quarter fiscal 2009 revenue of $76.0 million. The increase in revenue resulted from increased sales in our Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) segment of $26.7 million offset by decreased sales in our Efficient Energy Systems (EES) segment of $3.3 million.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $23.5 million, up 161% from fourth quarter fiscal 2009 income from operations of $9.0 million. The increase in income from operations resulted from higher gross margin of $16.6 million offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense of $1.3 million and higher research and development (R&D) expense of $0.9 million.

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $15.6 million, up 167% from fourth quarter fiscal 2009 net income of $5.8 million.

Earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $0.71, up from fourth quarter fiscal 2009 earnings per diluted share of $0.27.

FISCAL 2010 FULL YEAR RESULTS

Revenue for fiscal year 2010 was $249.5 million, up 1% over fiscal year 2009 revenue of $247.7 million. The increase in revenue resulted from increased sales in our UAS segment of $12.8 million offset by decreased sales in our EES segment of $11.0 million.

Income from operations for fiscal year 2010 was $29.9 million, down 8% from fiscal year 2009 income from operations of $32.6 million. The decrease in income from operations was caused by higher SG&A expense of $8.2 million and higher R&D expense of $2.7 million, offset by increased gross margin of $8.2 million.

Net income for fiscal year 2010 was $20.7 million, down 15% from fiscal year 2009 net income of $24.2 million.

Earnings per diluted share for fiscal year 2010 was $0.94, down 15% from fiscal 2009 earnings per diluted share of $1.11.

BACKLOG

As of April 30, 2010, funded backlog (unfilled firm orders for which funding is currently appropriated to us under a customer contract) was $72.3 million compared to $114.8 million as of April 30, 2009.

FISCAL 2011 -- OUTLOOK FOR THE FULL YEAR

For fiscal year 2011, the Company expects to achieve revenue growth of 10% to 15% over fiscal year 2010, with an operating income margin between 12% and 14%.

The foregoing estimates are forward looking and reflect management's view of current and future market conditions, including certain assumptions with respect to our ability to obtain and retain government contracts, changes in the demand for our products and services, activities of competitors and changes in the regulatory environment, and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Investors are reminded that actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

CONFERENCE CALL

In conjunction with this release, AeroVironment, Inc. will host a conference call today, Thursday, June 24, 2010, at 1:30 pm Pacific Time that will be broadcast live over the Internet. Timothy E. Conver, chairman and chief executive officer, Jikun Kim, chief financial officer, and Steven A. Gitlin, vice president of investor relations, will host the call.

4:30 PM ET

3:30 PM CT

2:30 PM MT

1:30 PM PT

Investors may dial into the call at (877) 561-2749 (U.S.) or (678) 809-1029 (international) five to ten minutes prior to the start time to allow for registration.

Investors with access to the Internet may access the conference call live over the Internet at the Investor Relations section of the AeroVironment, Inc. website, http://investor.avinc.com. Please allow fifteen minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An audio replay of the event will be archived on the Investor Relations page of the company's web site, at http://investor.avinc.com.

A digital replay of the call will be available on Thursday, June 24, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time through Thursday, July 1, at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Dial (800) 642-1687 and enter the passcode 78344003. International callers should dial (706) 645-9291 and enter the same passcode number to access the digital replay.

ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC. (AV)

AV is a technology company that designs, develops, produces and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's battery-powered, hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. AV's clean transportation solutions include electric vehicle (EV) home charging, public charging and fast charging systems for consumers, automakers, utilities and government agencies, power cycling and test systems for EV developers and industrial electric vehicle charging systems for commercial fleets. More information about AV is available at www.avinc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, reliance on sales to the U.S. government; changes in the supply and/or demand and/or prices for our products; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; changes in significant operating expenses, including components and raw materials; failure to develop new products; changes in the regulatory environment; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE: AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
ir@avinc.com

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