Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) Given New $429.00 Price Target at UBS Group

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) had its price objective upped by UBS Group from $427.00 to $429.00 in a report published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the technology company’s stock.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on WWD. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Woodward in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $450.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Woodward from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Woodward in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $440.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Woodward in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $450.00 price objective on shares of Woodward in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $387.00.

Woodward Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WWD opened at $362.99 on Thursday. 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 has a fifty-two week low of $188.79 and a fifty-two week high of $407.00. The stock has a market cap of $21.64 billion, a PE ratio of 43.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.98. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $376.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $329.97.

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The technology company reported $2.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.17. Woodward had a net margin of 12.85% and a return on equity of 20.09%. The business had revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.01 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.69 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.4% on a year-over-year basis. Woodward has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.150-9.450 EPS. Analysts expect that Woodward will post 8.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio is 16.12%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Shawn M. Mclevige sold 1,850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $384.37, for a total transaction of $711,084.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 3,095 shares in the company, valued at $1,189,625.15. This represents a 37.41% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Charles P. Blankenship sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $367.40, for a total transaction of $1,837,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 65,854 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,194,759.60. The trade was a 7.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 26,925 shares of company stock valued at $10,203,160 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Woodward during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Woodward during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Woodward by 1,766.7% during the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 112 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Woodward during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Financial Perspectives Inc purchased a new position in shares of Woodward during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. 81.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Woodward News

Here are the key news stories impacting Woodward this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 results beat and company-updated guidance — Woodward reported stronger-than-expected Q2 results (EPS and revenue) and raised FY2026 guidance (EPS 9.150–9.450; revenue $4.3–4.4B), signaling healthy Aerospace and Industrial demand. Woodward Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade/price-target bump from UBS — UBS raised its price target to $429 and maintained a Buy, giving additional near-term upside on the name and supporting outperformance. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Broader buy-side analyst momentum — Multiple sell‑side firms show Buy ratings and elevated targets (several targets well above current levels), reinforcing positive expectations for growth and valuation support. Woodward Inc. (WWD) stock rises on Q2 2026 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Index-fund / Nasdaq buzz — Commentary points to potential index-related flows (Nasdaq-linked funds) that can add mechanical demand following the strong quarter. Woodward Earnings Momentum Builds Amid Nasdaq Index Fund Buzz
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed institutional positioning — 310 institutions added while 275 trimmed positions last quarter; some large asset managers significantly reduced exposure, indicating rebalancing and divergent views among big holders. Woodward Inc. (WWD) stock rises on Q2 2026 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Significant insider selling — Multiple executives have sold shares in recent months (no insider buys reported), which may concern some investors about near-term insider conviction. Woodward Inc. (WWD) stock rises on Q2 2026 Earnings

Woodward Company 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.