Woodward, Inc. (WWD)

Woodward, Inc.'s stock price has increased significantly in the past six months, driven by strong financial performance and strategic initiatives. The company consistently surpassed analyst expectations for earnings and revenue, reporting adjusted EPS of $2.09 and revenue of $995 million in Q4 2025, leading to a stock jump. Fiscal year 2025 marked a record year with net sales reaching $3.6 billion, a 7% increase, primarily driven by the Aerospace segment. Woodward provided optimistic guidance for fiscal year 2026, projecting total sales growth between 7% and 12%. The acquisition of Safran's North American Electromechanical Actuation business enhanced Woodward's aerospace portfolio. The company announced a new three-year $1.8 billion share repurchase program and was selected by Airbus to supply actuation systems for the A350. The Industrial segment faced headwinds from lower China on-highway natural gas truck sales, leading to a full-year sales decline of 3.2% in fiscal 2025.

Demand for Woodward, Inc.'s products and services is influenced by the cyclical nature of its primary markets. The Aerospace segment's demand is heavily influenced by aircraft production rates and aftermarket services, with increased air travel and defense spending typically driving demand. The Industrial segment's demand is tied to global energy demand, infrastructure spending, and industrial automation trends. The core industrial business has seen broad-based strength in power generation, oil & gas, and marine transportation, but has experienced headwinds from lower sales in the China on-highway natural gas truck market. The company's diverse market exposure helps mitigate risk, and revenue from aftermarket services provides a stable revenue stream, particularly in the Aerospace segment.

Woodward, Inc. is a global leader in energy control and optimization solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets, operating primarily within these sectors. In Aerospace, Woodward provides advanced energy control systems and components for commercial, military, and business aviation, including fuel, flight control, and propulsion systems, as well as aftermarket services. The Industrial segment serves markets like power generation, transportation, and process industries, offering turbomachinery, engine, and renewable energy solutions, along with industrial automation control systems and military devices.

Woodward, Inc. has a global presence with operations and manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company manages plants in the United States, Poland, Germany, and China.

Woodward, Inc. has maintained a strong brand reputation over the past year, being named to Forbes' "America's Best Companies for 2026" list and included in TIME's "World's Best Companies 2025" and "America's Best Midsize Companies 2025" lists. Woodward was also a finalist for the Manufacturing Institute's 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Operational Excellence and earned continued recognition as a Great Place to Work. The company achieved a CMMI Level 3 appraisal for Military Marine Solutions. No significant negative events impacting Woodward, Inc.'s brand reputation in the past year were found in the search results.

Woodward, Inc. is predominantly owned by institutional shareholders, who hold approximately 89.49% of the company's stock. Major institutional owners include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Eagle Capital Management Llc, State Street Corp, Newport Trust Co, Capital Research Global Investors, and Fmr Llc. Insiders own about 7.02% of the company, with retail investors holding the remaining 3.49%. John A. Halbrook is the largest individual shareholder, owning 2.81 million shares, representing 4.69% of the company.