Senator Investment Group LP Has $95.12 Million Position in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Senator Investment Group LP trimmed its stake in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) by 1.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 223,591 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 2,947 shares during the period. Woodward makes up about 3.5% of Senator Investment Group LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Senator Investment Group LP owned approximately 0.38% of Woodward worth $95,125,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Woodline Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Woodward in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,039,000. Focus Partners Wealth raised its position in Woodward by 35.5% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,390 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $436,000 after purchasing an additional 626 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Woodward by 684.3% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,043 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $920,000 after buying an additional 4,400 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in Woodward by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 4,030 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $988,000 after buying an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in Woodward by 11.9% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 506 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $124,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. 81.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Woodward

In other news, Director Daniel G. Korte sold 14,700 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 4th. The stock was 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. This represents a 76.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 2,150 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.82, for a total transaction of $767,163.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 3,098 shares in the company, valued at $1,105,428.36. This represents a 40.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Woodward Price Performance

WWD opened at $341.81 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $387.62 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $379.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.18 billion, a PE ratio of 38.02, a P/E/G 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. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.65.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.76 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 21.2% on a year-over-year basis. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.300-9.500 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Woodward, Inc. will post 9.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Woodward Announces Dividend

The business 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 presently 14.24%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Susquehanna began coverage on Woodward in a research note on Tuesday, May 26th. They issued a “positive” rating and a $423.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial raised their price target on Woodward from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Zacks Research lowered Woodward from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Woodward from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Woodward has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $419.00.

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.