Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Sells 7,382 Shares of Woodward, Inc. $WWD

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its stake in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) by 28.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 18,306 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 7,382 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Woodward were worth $4,627,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Woodward during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its position in shares of Woodward by 1,766.7% in the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 112 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. Financial Perspectives Inc bought a new position in shares of Woodward during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Kilter Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Woodward during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Woodward by 627.3% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 160 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.18% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Woodward

In other news, Director Gregg C. Sengstack sold 7,000 shares of Woodward stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.76, for a total transaction of $2,105,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 9,610 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,890,303.60. This trade represents a 42.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director John D. Cohn sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $296.33, for a total value of $888,990.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 21,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,393,319.75. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 42,250 shares of company stock valued at $12,739,855. Corporate insiders own 0.71% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Woodward from $350.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Woodward from $350.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. UBS Group raised their price target on Woodward from $378.00 to $417.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Woodward from $362.00 to $408.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Woodward from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. One 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Woodward has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $342.80.

Woodward Price Performance

Shares of WWD stock opened at $388.50 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $23.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.93, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 1.00. The business’s fifty day moving average is $318.61 and its 200 day moving average is $276.93. Woodward, Inc. has a twelve month low of $146.82 and a twelve month high of $392.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

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

Woodward declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Woodward Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 19th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. This is a boost from Woodward’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 19th. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio is currently 14.11%.

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.