Deutsche Bank AG Makes New $39.76 Million Investment in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new stake in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm acquired 93,455 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $39,759,000.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of WWD. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Woodward by 550.0% during the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Woodward in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Woodward by 82.5% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 115 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Persistent Asset Partners Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Woodward during the 2nd quarter valued at $65,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Woodward during the second quarter worth $73,000. 81.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on WWD shares. Zacks Research downgraded Woodward from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Woodward from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Woodward from $427.00 to $429.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Woodward in a report on Friday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Woodward has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $419.00.

Woodward Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of WWD stock opened at $343.26 on Friday. Woodward, Inc. has a 52-week low of $233.31 and a 52-week high of $450.92. 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 company has a market capitalization of $20.27 billion, a PE ratio of 38.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.88. The business’s fifty day moving average is $395.86 and its 200 day moving average is $380.66.

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

Woodward Announces Dividend

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

Woodward News Roundup

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.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

About Woodward

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.