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 reduced its holdings in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report) by 22.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund 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 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its stake in Woodward by 191.2% in the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 166 shares of the technology company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Woodward by 2,314.3% during the first quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 169 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Woodward by 189.8% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 171 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC increased its holdings in shares of Woodward by 116.7% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 182 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Berbice Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Woodward by 50.0% in the 1st quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC now owns 300 shares of the technology company's stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.18% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Woodward

In other Woodward news, CEO Charles P. Blankenship sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.98, for a total value of $1,079,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 73,117 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,791,809.66. This trade represents a 6.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Randall Hobbs sold 846 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $211,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 48,981 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,245,250. The trade was a 1.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 29,296 shares of company stock worth $6,611,283. 0.82% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WWD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research downgraded Woodward from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Woodward from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $291.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Alembic Global Advisors raised Woodward from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $281.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group upped their price objective on Woodward from $283.00 to $299.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Woodward from $229.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $253.11.

Woodward Trading Up 0.5%

Woodward stock opened at $246.25 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $249.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $210.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 2.04. Woodward, Inc. has a one year low of $146.82 and a one year high of $267.45. The stock has a market cap of $14.77 billion, a PE ratio of 38.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 1.30.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 28th. The technology company reported $1.76 earnings per share (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 firm had revenue of $915.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $884.98 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.63 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Woodward has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.500-6.750 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Woodward, Inc. will post 6.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 21st. Woodward's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.72%.

About Woodward

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WWD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.