Drone Stocks Are Back In Play: Why RCAT, AVAV, KTOS, UMAC Stocks Are Climbing

• The U.S. conducted a third night of attacks, using sea drones for the first time.
• President Donald Trump said renewed strikes on Iran were aimed at protecting U.S. security interests.
• Red Cat, AeroVironment, Kratos and Unusual Machines are gaining attention amid rising demand for unmanned drones.

Red Cat Holdings (RCAT),  AeroVironment (AVAV), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) and Unusual Machines (UMAC) stocks gained overnight as investors believe a prolonged U.S.-Iran military confrontation could become the latest real-world test case for autonomous warfare, boosting demand for drones, loitering munitions, counter-drone systems and AI-enabled defense platforms. 

The drone stocks gained between 0.2% and 0.8% overnight, heading into Tuesday.

Trump Defends Renewed Iran Strikes As National Security Measure 

President Donald Trump on Monday said the strikes against Iran were resumed to protect U.S. interests and national security. He argued that previous diplomatic efforts failed after Iran allegedly violated commitments, leading his administration to resume military pressure.

The U.S. carried out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensified. The attacks, directed by Trump, targeted Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.  

Trump said Iran would not be allowed to build a nuclear weapon and claimed U.S. strikes have badly weakened Iran’s military, including its weapons, aircraft and leadership. 

The U.S. military used sea drones in combat for the first time, targeting a submarine and ship maintenance site, with the Pentagon saying the strike reduced Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.

The unmanned boats, known as Corsairs, are part of a growing shift toward drone-based warfare.

Defense Demand Fuels Drone Industry Growth 

The ongoing focus on drone warfare is changing how investors view the defense sector, with smaller technology-focused companies competing alongside traditional contractors. The increased use of autonomous systems could create long-term opportunities for firms developing battlefield drones, electronic warfare tools and related technologies.

Red Cat is moving beyond small aerial drones by building broader autonomous systems that integrate air and sea drones for challenging battlefield conditions. 

AeroVironment’s growing contract pipeline has grabbed attention as the company reported better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results, with revenue rising 133% year over year to $641.6 million.

CEO Wahid Nawabi said demand remains strong, supported by defense spending, a $1.2 billion-funded backlog, and growth in drones, precision strike systems, and directed-energy weapons. Autonomous systems accounted for 76% of quarterly revenue, while new opportunities include Switchblade systems and the LOCUST laser weapon platform.

Kratos Defense & Security on Monday received a roughly $100 million contract to produce a ground-based space monitoring system. The project will support national security operations and will be completed at Kratos’ secure facilities. 

Unusual Machines is a smaller player focused on domestic drone components and manufacturing. The company has been focusing on U.S.-based production capabilities as supply chain security becomes a increasing consideration in defense procurement.

Investors also expect government financial support for domestic drone makers as part of a push to expand defense manufacturing. 

So far this year, RCAT and UMAC stocks have gained 5% and 35%, respectively, while AVAV and KTOS stocks have cratered by 41% and 38%, respectively. 

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