Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) Stock Now Rated "Moderate Buy" by Sell-Side Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts give Woodward a “Moderate Buy” consensus: Nine analysts rate the stock a buy, two a strong buy and three a hold, with an average 12-month price target of $415.17.
• Woodward’s latest quarterly results exceeded expectations, with adjusted EPS of $2.52 versus $2.44 estimated and revenue up 21.2% year over year to $1.11 billion. The company forecast fiscal 2026 EPS of $9.30–$9.50.
• The stock opened at $330.31, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while Woodward declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32, equivalent to an annualized yield of approximately 0.4%.

Shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the fourteen analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $415.17.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on WWD shares. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Woodward from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Melius Research downgraded Woodward from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $388.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, September 14th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Woodward from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Woodward from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th.

Insider Transactions at Woodward

In other Woodward news, EVP Shawn McLevige sold 2,150 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 transaction, 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. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Woodward

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bard Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Woodward in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Woodward in the second quarter worth $33,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Woodward by 550.0% in the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Woodward by 82.5% in the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 115 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Woodward during the 4th quarter worth $61,000. 81.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Woodward Price Performance

Shares of WWD opened at $330.31 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.74, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.87. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $354.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $371.81. Woodward has a twelve month low of $244.39 and a twelve month high of $450.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. Woodward had a net margin of 13.17% and a return on equity of 21.89%. The company's revenue was up 21.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.76 earnings per share. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.300-9.500 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Woodward will post 9.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, November 19th will be given a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 19th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Woodward's payout ratio is 14.24%.

Woodward Company Profile

Woodward, Inc NASDAQ: WWD designs and manufactures control systems and components for the aerospace and industrial markets. Its products help manage fuel, air, combustion, motion, actuation and electrical power in engines, turbines and other energy-conversion systems.

In aerospace, Woodward supplies systems and components for commercial aircraft, business aviation, military aircraft, helicopters and space applications. Its offerings include fuel metering and engine control systems, air-management products, actuators, electric power systems and other controls used in propulsion and aircraft subsystems.

Woodward also serves industrial customers with controls for power generation, gas and diesel engines, renewable-energy equipment, industrial turbines and other applications.

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