ONDS vs. DPRO: Which Drone Tech Stock Is the Better Pick Now?

Industry Overview - The global drone industry is experiencing significant growth, with a projected CAGR of 9.3% from 2026 to 2031, driven by adoption in commercial, government, and military sectors [1] - The integration of drones with AI, cloud computing, and edge processing is enhancing their adoption across various verticals [1] Ondas Inc. (ONDS) - Ondas's Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) is becoming a primary growth engine, benefiting from increased deployments of autonomous platforms and initial revenue from acquired businesses [3] - The company is focusing on strategic partnerships and compliance with U.S. production standards, which supports long-term growth, particularly in the C-UAS segment and ground robotics [4] - Ondas is actively pursuing M&A to enhance its portfolio, having acquired several companies, including Roboteam and Rotron Aero, to expand its capabilities [5] - Preliminary financial results for 2025 indicate expected revenues of $27 million to $29 million for Q4, a 51% increase from prior targets, with a backlog of $65.3 million, up 180% from previous estimates [6][10] - For 2026, Ondas raised its revenue outlook to $170-$180 million, a 25% increase from earlier projections, which includes contributions from recent acquisitions [7] - The company is investing heavily in infrastructure and team expansion, which may create short-term financial pressures despite strengthening its competitive position [9] Draganfly, Inc. (DPRO) - Draganfly is a Canadian drone solutions developer with a diverse product lineup, including military and public safety drones, and is expanding its U.S. capacity [11][12] - Recent contracts with the U.S. military, including a significant order for FPV drones, are key growth drivers for the company [12][13] - Draganfly's compliance with NDAA regulations provides a competitive advantage as the U.S. and NATO phase out non-compliant systems [14] - The company is collaborating with Drone Nerds to expand its customer reach and is in the process of establishing multiple manufacturing plants in the U.S. to significantly increase production capacity [15] - Draganfly achieved a 14.4% year-over-year revenue growth, supported by rising product sales, and has a strong cash position of $69.9 million with minimal debt [16][17] Financial Performance & Valuation - Over the past six months, ONDS and DPRO have seen stock gains of 110.1% and 84.8%, respectively [18] - ONDS has a forward price/sales ratio of 21.27X, significantly higher than DPRO's 2.44X, indicating a higher valuation relative to sales [20] - Analysts have revised earnings estimates down for ONDS by 3.6% over the past 60 days, while estimates for DPRO have been revised upwards [19][22] Investment Outlook - ONDS holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while DPRO has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting that DPRO is currently the more favorable investment option [23][24]