Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Analysts

Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Hold" from the nine ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $174.67.

Several research analysts have weighed in on WWD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of Woodward from $228.00 to $201.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Woodward from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. TD Cowen reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $160.00 price objective (down previously from $186.00) on shares of Woodward in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Woodward from $158.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Woodward from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Woodward

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Woodward

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in Woodward by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 1,758 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of Woodward by 2.4% in the second quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 3,277 shares of the technology company's stock worth $571,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its position in Woodward by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,268 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Commerce Bank boosted its holdings in Woodward by 2.1% in the third quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 4,624 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $793,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its position in shares of Woodward by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 870 shares of the technology company's stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.18% of the company's stock.

Woodward Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WWD traded up $1.32 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $172.17. The stock had a trading volume of 813,117 shares, compared to its average volume of 421,893. The stock has a market cap of $10.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.38. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $167.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $170.93. Woodward has a 12-month low of $128.52 and a 12-month high of $188.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. Woodward's payout ratio is 16.72%.

About Woodward

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.