Avior Wealth Management LLC Lowers Stock Position in Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Avior Wealth Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) by 41.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,250 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 1,585 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Woodward were worth $680,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Argent Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Woodward during the 4th quarter worth $3,208,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Woodward by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,864 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $2,982,000 after acquiring an additional 306 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in Woodward by 27.9% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 463 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $117,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in Woodward by 4.2% during the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,036 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd lifted its stake in Woodward by 80.0% during the third quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 2,769 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $700,000 after purchasing an additional 1,231 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.18% of the company’s stock.

Woodward Price Performance

Shares of Woodward stock opened at $353.35 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 1.36. Woodward, Inc. has a one year low of $146.82 and a one year high of $403.31. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $364.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $304.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.96.

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

Woodward Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Eileen P. Paterson sold 5,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $378.15, for a total transaction of $1,966,380.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,538 shares in the company, valued at $959,744.70. The trade was a 67.20% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director John D. Cohn sold 2,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $369.62, for a total value of $831,645.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 21,575 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,974,551.50. The trade was a 9.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 26,925 shares of company stock worth $10,203,160 over the last ninety days. 0.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Woodward in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen upgraded Woodward from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Woodward from $366.00 to $404.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $450.00 price target on shares of Woodward in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of Woodward from $430.00 to $445.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Woodward has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $354.80.

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.