Baird Financial Group Inc. Boosts Stake in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Key Points

• Baird Financial Group increased its Woodward stake by 5.8% in the second quarter, bringing its holdings to 80,479 shares valued at approximately $34.2 million. Institutional investors collectively own 81.18% of the company.
• Woodward reported a quarterly earnings beat, with EPS of $2.52 versus the $2.44 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 21.2% year over year to $1.11 billion. The company provided fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $9.30–$9.50.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $419. Shares opened at $332.76, down 1.5%, while Woodward also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share.

Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report) by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 80,479 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 4,395 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.14% of Woodward worth $34,239,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WWD. Bard Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Woodward during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Woodward in the second quarter worth $33,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in Woodward in the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 550.0% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the technology company's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 82.5% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 115 shares of the technology company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.18% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Woodward news, EVP Shawn McLevige sold 2,150 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, July 31st. The stock was 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. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on WWD. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Woodward from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Susquehanna began coverage on shares of Woodward in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. They set a "positive" rating and a $423.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of 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 lowered their price objective on shares of Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Woodward from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $419.00.

Woodward Stock Down 1.5%

NASDAQ:WWD opened at $332.76 on Friday. Woodward, Inc. has a 1-year low of $233.31 and a 1-year high of $450.92. The company has a 50-day moving average of $371.89 and a 200 day moving average of $376.64. The firm has a market cap of $19.65 billion, a PE ratio of 37.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.08. Woodward had a net margin of 13.17% and a return on equity of 21.89%. The business had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.76 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter 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, research analysts anticipate that Woodward, Inc. will post 9.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th were paid a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 20th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Woodward's payout ratio is 14.24%.

About Woodward

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.

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 reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.