UBS Group Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) Stock

Woodward (NASDAQ:WWD) had its price target raised by UBS Group from $209.00 to $228.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the technology company’s stock.

WWD has been the subject of several other research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Woodward from $158.00 to $162.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Woodward from $228.00 to $201.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised Woodward from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised 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 target price (down previously from $186.00) on shares of Woodward in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Woodward from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Woodward presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $184.67.

Woodward Price Performance

Shares of WWD opened at $179.05 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.38. 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 one year low of $129.46 and a one year high of $201.64. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $168.88 and its 200-day moving average is $171.00.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st will be paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related 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 value of $1,745,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 11,511 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,008,669.50. This trade represents a 46.49 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 27,913 shares of company stock valued at $4,907,304. 1.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Woodward

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WWD. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Woodward during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC purchased a new position in Woodward during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Woodward during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Woodward during the 3rd quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Woodward by 101.6% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 246 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.