Algert Global LLC Sells 4,990 Shares of Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Key Points

• Algert Global LLC reduced its holdings in Woodward, Inc. by 22.6%, selling 4,990 shares and retaining a total of 17,108 shares valued at approximately $3.12 million.
• CEO Charles P. Blankenship sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock for around $1.08 million, decreasing his ownership by 6.40% to 73,117 shares.
• Woodward recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share, which will be paid on September 4th, representing a 0.5% yield on an annualized basis.

Algert Global LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report) by 22.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,108 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 4,990 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Woodward were worth $3,122,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WWD. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Woodward by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,704 shares of the technology company's stock worth $616,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in Woodward by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 1,340 shares of the technology company's stock worth $223,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its holdings in Woodward by 38.2% in the 4th quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 1,959 shares of the technology company's stock worth $326,000 after purchasing an additional 542 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in Woodward in the 4th quarter worth about $429,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in Woodward in the 4th quarter worth about $416,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.18% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WWD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research cut Woodward from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Woodward from $267.00 to $294.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. Alembic Global Advisors raised Woodward from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $281.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Northcoast Research raised Woodward to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Woodward from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $253.11.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Randall Hobbs sold 846 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $211,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 48,981 shares in the company, valued at $12,245,250. The trade was a 1.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Charles P. Blankenship sold 2,450 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.85, for a total value of $565,582.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 64,739 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,944,998.15. This represents a 3.65% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 24,296 shares of company stock worth $5,544,333 over the last quarter. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Woodward Trading Up 2.6%

NASDAQ WWD traded up $6.29 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $252.29. 552,819 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 546,694. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $250.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $212.68. Woodward, Inc. has a 1-year low of $146.82 and a 1-year high of $267.45. The firm has a market cap of $15.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.92, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The technology company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.14. Woodward had a return on equity of 16.57% and a net margin of 11.32%.The business had revenue of $915.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $884.98 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.63 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Woodward has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.500-6.750 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Woodward, Inc. will post 6.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 21st will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 21st. Woodward's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.72%.

Woodward Profile

Woodward, Inc designs, manufactures, and services control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Aerospace and Industrial. The Aerospace segment provides fuel pumps, metering units, actuators, air valves, specialty valves, fuel nozzles, and thrust reverser actuation systems for turbine engines and nacelles, and flight deck controls, actuators, servocontrols, motors, and sensors for aircraft.