Axon Stock Price Drops - (NYSE:AXON) Trading at $754 Despite Strong Q2 Growth and Raised Guidance

Axon Stock Price Drops - (NYSE:AXON) Trading at $754 Despite Strong Q2 Growth and Raised Guidance

Q2 revenue up 32.8% to $668M, software subscriptions surge 39%, but valuation ratios push AXON into Hold territory | That's TradingNEWS

TradingNEWS Archive 8/29/2025 4:03:17 PM
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NYSE:AXON Stock Falls but Growth Remains Strong

Axon Enterprise (NYSE:AXON) is trading around $754, down 3.57% intraday, as investors weigh premium valuation against another quarter of exceptional earnings. The stock has rallied over 114% in the past 52 weeks, hitting a high of $885.92 and a low of $346.71, underscoring its volatility. At a market cap above $61 billion, AXON is no longer a niche Taser and body camera supplier but a dominant player in public safety technology with a fast-expanding subscription model that continues to redefine its revenue profile.

Revenue and Earnings Momentum Support the Rally

Second-quarter 2025 revenue reached $668.5 million, up 32.8% year-over-year, well above analyst estimates of $641 million. Software and Services grew 39% YoY to $292 million, while Connected Devices, including TASER 10 and Axon Body 4 cameras, surged 29% YoY to $376 million. Net revenue retention remained above 120% for the 20th straight quarter, signaling consistent upselling and customer loyalty. Adjusted EBITDA margin hit 25.7%, generating $176.5 million in free cash flow, while GAAP EPS printed $0.44, beating expectations by nearly 50%.

Long-Term Growth Supported by Product Ecosystem

Axon’s transition from hardware sales to recurring subscriptions continues to drive investor enthusiasm. The AI Era Plan, launched in late 2024, is bundled into its Officer Safety Plan 10 Premium, combining drones, AI, and productivity software with hardware deployments. Management expects more than 75% of contract revenue under these plans to shift toward software and AI subscriptions over a five-year period. With a total addressable market of $129 billion, Axon’s trailing 12-month revenue of $2.39 billion leaves substantial runway for expansion.

Guidance and Analyst Outlook

For full-year 2025, Axon raised revenue guidance to $2.65–$2.73 billion and adjusted EBITDA to $665–$685 million, with analysts aligning at $2.71 billion revenue and $6.66 EPS at the midpoint. Growth estimates show +12.9% EPS expansion in 2025 and +17.9% in 2026, though quarterly momentum may fluctuate due to lumpier international contracts. Analysts remain bullish, with the average price target at $868.94 and some high-end projections calling for $1,000 per share, implying nearly 33% upside from current levels.

Valuation Concerns Remain Elevated

Despite impressive growth, Axon trades at stretched multiples. Its forward P/E sits at 109.9 compared to the industrials sector median of 25, while its P/S ratio of 26.4 is well above peers such as Motorola Solutions (MSI) at 6.6 and Textron (TXT) below 1.0. Price-to-free cash flow exceeds 350, reflecting heavy growth expectations. The forward PEG ratio of 9.4 also signals overvaluation against its projected 12% growth rate. If AXON were valued at sector medians, its share price could fall by more than 50%. Still, investors continue paying a premium for leadership in an expanding public safety tech market, particularly as AI integration strengthens its moat.

Balance Sheet and Debt Structure

Axon ended Q2 with $2.23 billion in cash and $2.05 billion in long-term debt, giving it a current ratio of 2.95. The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75 is manageable, but the company’s debt-to-EBITDA above 70x highlights risk if growth slows. Moody’s and S&P rated its latest bond issuance at Ba3/BB+, just below investment grade. Execution risks tied to tariffs, AI regulation, and counter-drone adoption remain important watchpoints.

Insider and Institutional Activity

Institutional ownership of AXON remains high at 83.3%, with short interest relatively low at 2.5% of float. Insider ownership stands at 4.2%, and recent transactions can be tracked directly through Axon Insider Transactions. Over the last year, executives have sold portions of their holdings as shares reached record highs, but activity remains consistent with compensation cycles rather than large-scale exits.

Verdict on NYSE:AXON

Axon Enterprise is delivering 30%+ revenue growth, scaling a subscription ecosystem that could lock in long-term profitability. However, its valuation places it at the extreme end of premium multiples across industrial tech. At $754 per share, the company reflects both its dominance and investor willingness to pay for exposure to AI-enabled public safety technology. Given the combination of strong fundamentals, raised guidance, and valuation risks, NYSE:AXON is a Hold. Current investors are rewarded by staying long, but new entrants face limited upside unless shares retreat closer to normalized multiples.

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