Oppenheimer has singled out a group of industrial AI-linked companies it views as well placed to grow as defense spending increases and domestic manufacturing receives greater emphasis. The analyst firm pointed to opportunities spanning battery manufacturing, sensor systems and intelligent transportation use cases, and provided ratings and price targets for four names in the sector.
Amprius Technologies (AMPX)
Oppenheimer assigns an Outperform rating to Amprius Technologies with a $17 price target. The firm expects Amprius to scale domestic manufacturing capacity to support drone applications, and specifically cites the DoW's drone dominance program, which emphasizes supply chain security, as a tailwind to such moves. Oppenheimer projects AMPX will benefit from the Trump Administration's budget request calling for a 60% increase in DoW spending to $1.5 trillion.
The analysts also note potential upside outside defense, stating that investors may be underestimating demand for Amprius' technology in non-defense segments such as light-duty vehicles, premium motorcycles and scooters. On the revenue front, Oppenheimer models first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $25.7 million and maintains full-year 2026 guidance of at least $125 million.
Electrovaya (ELVA)
Electrovaya is rated Outperform with a $14 price target by Oppenheimer. The firm says the company's Jamestown, New York, manufacturing site is progressing as planned, a development that it believes enables sales into domestic defense programs that require close supply chain visibility.
Oppenheimer reports that Electrovaya is actively collaborating with three defense contractors on autonomous and marine applications. The firm anticipates data center product pilots in calendar 2026, with a projected revenue ramp occurring in calendar 2028. However, Oppenheimer lowered its second quarter fiscal 2026 revenue estimate for ELVA to $15.8 million from $18.0 million, attributing the revision to supply chain disruptions affecting components sourced from India.
Aeva Technologies (AEVA)
Oppenheimer gives Aeva Technologies an Outperform rating and sets a $33 price target. The firm highlights Aeva's frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) Lidar capability, noting that it is undetectable to night vision sensors and could therefore displace incumbent sensors in certain military applications.
On the commercial side, Oppenheimer points to the company's CityOS software and its deployment in Atlanta, Georgia, as an example of demonstrated commercial viability in intelligent transportation systems. The analysts view Aeva's fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $30 million to $36 million as achievable through a combination of sampling, non-recurring engineering work and select commercial rollouts.
Ouster (OUST)
Oppenheimer rates Ouster Outperform with a $39 price target, noting the company doubled software-attached bookings in fiscal 2025. The firm reports that Ouster has expanded Gemini and BlueCity deployments to more than 1,200 sites worldwide, and lists municipal and state transportation wins including Nashville, Chattanooga, the Utah Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Oppenheimer also expects the company's acquisition of StereoLabs to contribute more meaningfully to revenue over time by providing earlier entry points in customer development cycles. For Ouster's first quarter, the firm projects revenue of $45.7 million, which sits within guidance of $45 million to $48 million.
Across these four companies, Oppenheimer's analysis ties potential near-term revenue and commercial traction to a mix of defense-driven procurement and demonstrable commercial deployments. The firm quantified revenue expectations and revised specific estimates where supply chain dynamics warranted adjustments, while also flagging software and acquisition-related pathways to incremental growth.