Bank of Nova Scotia Takes $36.90 Million Position in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Key Points

• Bank of Nova Scotia acquired 86,729 Woodward shares worth approximately $36.9 million, representing a 0.15% stake. Institutional investors collectively own 81.18% of the company.
• Woodward reported adjusted quarterly EPS of $2.52, beating expectations of $2.44, while revenue rose 21.2% year over year to about $1.11 billion. The company reaffirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of $9.30–$9.50.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $419. Woodward also plans to issue $450 million of senior unsecured notes, increasing financial flexibility but adding future interest obligations.

Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 86,729 shares of the technology company's stock, valued at approximately $36,898,000. Bank of Nova Scotia owned 0.15% of Woodward as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Woodline Partners LP bought a new position in Woodward in the 1st quarter worth $2,039,000. Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in Woodward by 35.5% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,390 shares of the technology company's stock worth $436,000 after buying an additional 626 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in Woodward by 684.3% in the first 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. increased its position in Woodward by 7.0% in the second 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. raised its stake in shares of Woodward by 11.9% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 506 shares of the technology company's stock worth $124,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the period. 81.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Woodward

Here are the key news stories impacting Woodward this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Higher long-term earnings forecasts: Zacks Research raised its FY2026 EPS estimate to $9.46 from $9.18, FY2027 to $10.35 from $10.30, and FY2028 to $12.00 from $11.55. The firm also increased estimates for several individual quarters, supporting the view that Woodward’s earnings growth may remain strong. Zacks nevertheless maintains a “Hold” rating. Woodward analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Recent operating momentum provides support: Woodward’s latest quarterly results exceeded EPS expectations, with adjusted earnings of $2.52 versus the $2.44 consensus estimate. Revenue reached approximately $1.11 billion and increased 21.2% year over year, while full-year FY2026 guidance remains $9.30 to $9.50 in EPS.
• Neutral Sentiment: $450 million private debt placement: On August 19, Woodward entered an agreement to privately place $450 million of senior unsecured notes. The financing may provide capital for corporate purposes and maintain financial flexibility, but the announcement did not disclose a specific use of proceeds. Woodward privately places senior unsecured notes
• Negative Sentiment: Some quarterly estimates were reduced: Zacks trimmed its Q3 2027 EPS forecast to $2.77 from $2.82 and its Q4 2027 forecast to $2.77 from $2.86. The reductions are modest, but they temper the otherwise favorable revisions.
• Negative Sentiment: Additional interest obligations: The new senior unsecured notes will increase Woodward’s debt and future interest expense. Although the company has relatively moderate leverage, investors may view the financing as a risk if the proceeds do not generate sufficient returns.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on WWD. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $470.00 price objective on shares of Woodward in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Woodward from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Woodward from $415.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Woodward in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Woodward from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Woodward has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $419.00.

Woodward Stock Performance

NASDAQ WWD opened at $343.26 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.27 billion, a PE ratio of 38.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $395.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $381.03. 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, Inc. has a 1-year low of $233.31 and a 1-year high of $450.92.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.11 billion. Woodward had a return on equity of 21.89% and a net margin of 13.17%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 21.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.76 EPS. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.300-9.500 EPS. On average, research analysts predict 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 will be paid on Thursday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 20th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Woodward's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.24%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Woodward news, Director Daniel G. Korte sold 14,700 shares of Woodward stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.05, for a total value of $5,233,935.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 4,434 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,578,725.70. This trade represents a 76.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 2,150 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $1,105,428.36. This trade represents a 40.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.71% of the company's stock.

Woodward Company 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.

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