Zacks Research Increases Earnings Estimates for Woodward

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised Woodward’s FY2026 EPS estimate to $9.46 from $9.18, while projecting $10.35 for FY2027 and $12.00 for FY2028. Despite the higher forecasts, Zacks maintained a “Hold” rating.
• Woodward reported quarterly EPS of $2.52, beating estimates by $0.08, while revenue rose 21.2% year over year to $1.11 billion. The company reaffirmed FY2026 guidance of $9.30–$9.50 EPS.
• The stock was trading near $359.95, down 1.7%, with a consensus analyst rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $419.00. Woodward also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share, yielding about 0.4%.

Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research raised their FY2026 earnings estimates for shares of Woodward in a report issued on Wednesday, August 19th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the technology company will post earnings of $9.46 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $9.18. Zacks Research currently has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Woodward's current full-year earnings is $9.46 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Woodward's Q4 2026 earnings at $2.50 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.20 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.61 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.77 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.77 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $10.35 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.52 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $3.01 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $3.24 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $12.00 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Woodward in a report on Friday, July 17th. UBS Group raised their target price on Woodward from $427.00 to $429.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Woodward from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on Woodward from $450.00 to $430.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "buy" rating and set a $470.00 price objective on shares of Woodward in a report on Friday, May 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $419.00.

Woodward Trading Down 1.7%

NASDAQ:WWD opened at $359.95 on Thursday. Woodward has a 12 month low of $233.31 and a 12 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. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.04, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $397.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $380.75.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.11 billion for 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%. Woodward's quarterly revenue was up 21.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.76 EPS. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.300-9.500 EPS.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity

In other Woodward news, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 2,150 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owned 3,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,105,428.36. The trade was a 40.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Daniel G. Korte sold 14,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.05, for a total value of $5,233,935.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,434 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,578,725.70. This trade represents a 76.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Woodward

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WWD. Accel Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Woodward by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 963 shares of the technology company's stock worth $410,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Woodward by 1.5% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,059 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $737,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Woodward by 3.1% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,116 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $399,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 5.4% during the first quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 758 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 1.5% during the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,327 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $841,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. 81.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Woodward News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Woodward this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks increased 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. Estimates were also raised for Q4 2026, Q1 and Q2 2027, and Q1 and Q2 2028, signaling improved expectations for Woodward’s longer-term earnings growth. Woodward analyst estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks kept a “Hold” rating on Woodward. The current full-year consensus EPS estimate remains $9.46, suggesting the estimate increases have not yet translated into a stronger overall analyst stance. Woodward analyst rating
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced its Q3 2027 EPS estimate to $2.77 from $2.82, its Q4 2027 estimate to $2.77 from $2.86, and its Q3 2028 estimate to $3.24 from $3.27. These quarterly cuts may be weighing on sentiment, particularly with the stock trading at a relatively elevated valuation of about 40 times earnings. Woodward revised quarterly estimates

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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