Jain Global LLC Increases Stake in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Jain Global LLC grew its stake in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 78,974 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 8,571 shares during the period. Jain Global LLC owned 0.13% of Woodward worth $19,958,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Gotham Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Woodward during the third quarter worth $2,577,000. Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in Woodward by 27.9% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,756 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $696,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its stake in Woodward by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,403,551 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $354,691,000 after purchasing an additional 8,307 shares in the last quarter. Candelo Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Woodward by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter. Candelo Capital Management LP now owns 17,300 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $4,372,000 after purchasing an additional 1,133 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Woodward by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 110,033 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $27,806,000 after purchasing an additional 6,111 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.18% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director John D. Cohn sold 2,250 shares of Woodward stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $369.62, for a total value of $831,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 21,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,974,551.50. The trade was a 9.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Charles P. Blankenship sold 2,625 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $384.80, for a total value of $1,010,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 65,854 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,340,619.20. This represents a 3.83% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 26,925 shares of company stock valued at $10,203,160 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.71% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WWD. Wall Street Zen upgraded Woodward from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $450.00 target price on shares of Woodward in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Woodward from $362.00 to $408.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Truist Financial raised their price target on Woodward from $366.00 to $404.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Melius Research raised Woodward from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $354.80.

Woodward Stock Performance

Woodward stock opened at $356.80 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $360.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $300.60. Woodward, Inc. has a twelve month low of $146.82 and a twelve month high of $403.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a market cap of $21.27 billion, a PE ratio of 44.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.96.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The technology company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.52. The firm had revenue of $996.45 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $901.92 million. Woodward had a net margin of 12.89% and a return on equity of 19.07%. The business’s revenue was up 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.35 EPS. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.200-8.600 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Woodward, Inc. will post 6.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, November 20th that permits the company to repurchase $1.80 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the technology company to buy up to 11.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Woodward Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 19th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. This is a boost from Woodward’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 19th. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.12%.

About Woodward

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.