Should You Buy Astronics Corp (ATRO) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.
Conclusion
Hold
Latest Price
76.590
1 Day change
-2.37%
52 Week Range
79.990
Analysis Updated At
2026/01/28
Not a good buy right now for a beginner long-term investor deploying $50k–$100k, given the stock is technically overextended (RSI ~88) and trading above recent analyst price targets while insiders are aggressively selling. Long-term aerospace demand is a real tailwind, but the current entry point is poor; I would hold off on buying at today’s pre-market level (~$78.66).
Technical Analysis
Trend is clearly bullish: SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200 and MACD histogram is positive (0.801), confirming upside momentum. However, momentum is cooling (MACD is positively contracting) and RSI_6 at 87.8 signals an overbought/extended condition where pullbacks are common. Price is also pressing into resistance: R1 ~78.86 (very close to pre-market ~78.66) with the next upside level R2 ~82.33; support is notably lower at pivot ~73.25. Net: strong uptrend, but near-term risk/reward for a fresh buy is unfavorable at this level.
**Intellectia Proprietary Trading Signals**
- [AI Stock Picker](module://ai_stock_pick): No signal on given stock today.
- [SwingMax](module://swingmax): No signal on given stock today.
Options Data
Bullish
Open Interest Put-Call Ratio
Bullish
Option Volume Put-Call Ratio
Options positioning and flow skew bullish (both open-interest and volume put/call ratios are low, favoring calls). Implied volatility (30D) is elevated (~50%) versus historical (~38%), suggesting the market is pricing more movement than usual; IV percentile ~52 is mid-range (not extreme). Today’s volume vs 30-day average is elevated (~114%) and open interest is also elevated (~132%), indicating active participation. Overall: sentiment is risk-on/bullish, but the stock already looks stretched technically.
Technical Summary
Sell
5
Buy
8
Positive Catalysts
- Aerospace & Defense backdrop remains constructive for 2026 per analysts: rising aircraft production and sustained aftermarket demand.
- Company is a leader in aircraft in-seat power systems (supports a durable niche).
- Options market positioning is call-skewed, reinforcing bullish sentiment.
Neutral/Negative Catalysts
- Insiders are selling, with selling amount up ~1103% over the last month (meaningful negative signal vs. buying now).
- Technicals are overbought (RSI ~88) and price is sitting at/near first resistance (R1 ~78.86), increasing odds of a near-term pullback.
- No fresh news catalysts in the last week to justify chasing strength.
- Current price (~$78.6) is above the most recent published analyst targets ($75 and $65), implying less near-term upside based on those targets.
Financial Performance
Latest reported quarter: 2025/Q3. Revenue rose to ~$211.4M (+3.8% YoY), but profitability weakened: net income was -$11.1M (down ~5.45% YoY), EPS -$0.31 (down ~8.82% YoY), and gross margin fell to ~30.51 (down ~8.24%). Growth is present on the top line, but margins and earnings are moving the wrong direction, which makes paying up after a sharp run less attractive for a long-term entry.
Growth
Profitability
Efficiency
Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends
Recent analyst trend is positive (bullish coverage and raised targets):
- 2026-01-09: Truist raised PT to $75 from $58, reiterated Buy.
- 2025-11-26: TD Cowen initiated Buy with $65 PT.
Wall Street pros: strong industry cycle tailwinds (aircraft production/aftermarket), niche leadership, and expectation of solid earnings growth in 2026–2027.
Wall Street cons (based on targets vs price): despite Buy ratings, both cited price targets are below the current pre-market price (~$78.66), suggesting the stock has already run ahead of published upside.
Politicians/Congress: No recent congress trading data available in the last 90 days.
Wall Street analysts forecast ATRO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ATRO is 73.33 USD with a low forecast of 65 USD and a high forecast of 80 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
3 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast ATRO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ATRO is 73.33 USD with a low forecast of 65 USD and a high forecast of 80 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 78.450
Low
65
Averages
73.33
High
80
Current: 78.450
Low
65
Averages
73.33
High
80
Truist
Buy
upgrade
$58 -> $75
AI Analysis
2026-01-09
Reason
Truist
Price Target
$58 -> $75
AI Analysis
2026-01-09
upgrade
Buy
Reason
Truist raised the firm's price target on Astronics to $75 from $58 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Despite a strong 2025, the Aerospace & Defense sector remains broadly bullish for 2026, with rising aircraft production and sustained aftermarket demand supporting both OE and AM segments, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Defense may see fewer catalysts, but recapitalization, geopolitical tensions, and replenishment needs should sustain demand, making stock selection critical amid elevated valuations, particularly for SMID defense tech names, the firm adds.
TD Cowen
NULL -> Buy
initiated
$65
2025-11-26
Reason
TD Cowen
Price Target
$65
2025-11-26
initiated
NULL -> Buy
Reason
TD Cowen initiated coverage of Astronics with a Buy rating and $65 price target. The firm says Astronics is a market share leader in aircraft in-seat power systems. The company should post 30% earnings growth in 2026 and 10% growth in 2027 on over 7% sales growth, the analyst tells investors in a research note. TD believes "investor awareness of the stock is low and can expand."
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