1,744 Shares in Woodward, Inc. $WWD Purchased by Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc.

Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 1,744 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $742,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 550.0% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in Woodward in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Woodward by 82.5% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 115 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Persistent Asset Partners Ltd acquired a new position in Woodward during the 2nd quarter worth $65,000. Finally, Kilter Group LLC bought a new position in Woodward in the 2nd quarter valued at $68,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.18% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WWD has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial upped their price target on Woodward from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Woodward in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Susquehanna initiated coverage on Woodward in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. They set a “positive” rating and a $423.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on shares of Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Woodward from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $419.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Woodward news, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 2,150 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.82, for a total value of $767,163.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 3,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,105,428.36. This represents a 40.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Daniel G. Korte sold 14,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.05, for a total transaction of $5,233,935.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,434 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,578,725.70. This trade represents a 76.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.71% of the company’s stock.

Woodward Stock Performance

Shares of Woodward stock opened at $343.26 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $395.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $380.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.18, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.88. Woodward, Inc. has a 52 week low of $233.31 and a 52 week high of $450.92.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.08. Woodward had a return on equity of 21.89% and a net margin of 13.17%.The business had revenue of $1.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.76 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 21.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.300-9.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Woodward, Inc. will post 9.46 EPS for the current year.

Woodward Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 20th. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 14.24%.

Key Headlines Impacting Woodward

Here are the key news stories impacting Woodward this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Higher long-term earnings forecasts: Zacks Research raised its FY2026 EPS estimate to $9.46 from $9.18, FY2027 to $10.35 from $10.30, and FY2028 to $12.00 from $11.55. The firm also increased estimates for several individual quarters, supporting the view that Woodward’s earnings growth may remain strong. Zacks nevertheless maintains a “Hold” rating. Woodward analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Recent operating momentum provides support: Woodward’s latest quarterly results exceeded EPS expectations, with adjusted earnings of $2.52 versus the $2.44 consensus estimate. Revenue reached approximately $1.11 billion and increased 21.2% year over year, while full-year FY2026 guidance remains $9.30 to $9.50 in EPS.
• Neutral Sentiment: $450 million private debt placement: On August 19, Woodward entered an agreement to privately place $450 million of senior unsecured notes. The financing may provide capital for corporate purposes and maintain financial flexibility, but the announcement did not disclose a specific use of proceeds. Woodward privately places senior unsecured notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some quarterly estimates were reduced: Zacks trimmed its Q3 2027 EPS forecast to $2.77 from $2.82 and its Q4 2027 forecast to $2.77 from $2.86. The reductions are modest, but they temper the otherwise favorable revisions.
• Negative Sentiment: Additional interest obligations: The new senior unsecured notes will increase Woodward’s debt and future interest expense. Although the company has relatively moderate leverage, investors may view the financing as a risk if the proceeds do not generate sufficient returns.

Woodward Profile

Woodward, Inc (NASDAQ: WWD) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and service of control systems and components for the aerospace and industrial markets. Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company specializes in motion control, fuel systems, actuation, and digital control solutions. Its offerings enable precision management of flow, pressure and motion in critical applications ranging from aircraft engines and power turbines to hydraulic systems.

Woodward’s product portfolio is organized into two primary segments: Aerospace and Industrial.