Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on WWD. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Woodward from $158.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $160.00 price objective (down previously from $186.00) on shares of Woodward in a report on Friday, October 4th. Truist Financial upgraded Woodward from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $152.00 to $187.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Woodward from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $170.00 to $190.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Woodward from $228.00 to $201.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Woodward presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $174.67.

Woodward Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WWD opened at $169.54 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.96. Woodward has a fifty-two week low of $126.31 and a fifty-two week high of $188.35. The firm has a market cap of $10.11 billion, a PE ratio of 28.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.38. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $167.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.89.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.59%. Woodward’s payout ratio is currently 16.72%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Woodward

In other news, COO Thomas G. Cromwell sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.50, for a total transaction of $1,745,000.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 11,511 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,008,669.50. This trade represents a 46.49 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In the last three months, insiders have sold 27,913 shares of company stock worth $4,907,304. Insiders own 1.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Woodward

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its position in Woodward by 3.2% in the first quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,173 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $489,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in Woodward by 290.9% during the first quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 7,946 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,225,000 after purchasing an additional 5,913 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in Woodward by 222.7% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 23,990 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $3,716,000 after purchasing an additional 16,557 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in shares of Woodward by 6.7% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 28,741 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $4,430,000 after buying an additional 1,793 shares during the period. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lifted its position in shares of Woodward by 16.3% during the 1st quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 81,286 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $12,528,000 after buying an additional 11,418 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.18% of the company’s stock.

Woodward Company Profile

Woodward, Inc designs, manufactures, and services control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Aerospace and Industrial. The Aerospace segment provides fuel pumps, metering units, actuators, air valves, specialty valves, fuel nozzles, and thrust reverser actuation systems for turbine engines and nacelles, and flight deck controls, actuators, servocontrols, motors, and sensors for aircraft.