Virtus Advisers LLC Makes New $922,000 Investment in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Virtus Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 2,167 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $922,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of WWD. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Woodward during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Woodward by 550.0% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in Woodward by 82.5% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 115 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Woodward during the fourth quarter valued at about $61,000. Finally, Persistent Asset Partners Ltd bought a new stake in Woodward during the second quarter valued at about $65,000. 81.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Woodward

Here are the key news stories impacting Woodward this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its FY2026 EPS estimate to $9.46 from $9.18, lifted FY2027 EPS to $10.35 from $10.30, and increased FY2028 EPS to $12.00 from $11.55. The firm also raised estimates for Q4 2026, Q1 and Q2 2027, and Q1 and Q2 2028, signaling improved longer-term earnings expectations. Woodward stock information
• Neutral Sentiment: The FY2026 estimate of $9.46 matches the broader consensus, while Zacks continues to rate WWD “Hold.” This suggests the estimate increases are constructive but not strong enough to trigger a more bullish analyst view. Woodward analyst information
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced its Q3 2027 EPS forecast to $2.77 from $2.82 and cut its Q4 2027 estimate to $2.77 from $2.86. It also lowered Q3 2028 EPS to $3.24 from $3.27, indicating some moderation in projected earnings growth. Woodward research information

Insider Transactions at Woodward

In related news, 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 transaction 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 approximately $1,578,725.70. This represents a 76.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 2,150 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.82, for a total value of $767,163.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,105,428.36. This represents a 40.97% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Woodward Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WWD opened at $342.20 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $20.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.88. Woodward, Inc. has a 52-week low of $233.31 and a 52-week high of $450.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.65. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $396.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $380.92.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The technology company reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.76 EPS. The business’s revenue 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, analysts anticipate that Woodward, Inc. will post 9.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given 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 payout ratio is currently 14.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on WWD. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Woodward from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. UBS Group increased their target price on Woodward from $427.00 to $429.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Zacks Research downgraded Woodward from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Woodward in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and issued a $470.00 price target on shares of Woodward in a research note on Friday, May 1st. One 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, Woodward currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $419.00.

Woodward 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.