FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Cromwell Thomas G, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Woodward , Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD), recently reported significant stock transactions involving the company’s shares. According to a recent SEC filing, Cromwell executed sales totaling approximately $1.78 million. The transactions took place on November 11, 2024, with sales prices ranging from $177.33 to $179.19 per share.
Additionally, Cromwell exercised stock options to acquire 10,000 shares at a price of $104.77 each, a move valued at $1,047,700. Following these transactions, Cromwell now holds 11,511 shares directly.
These sales were conducted under a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, adopted earlier this year on May 17, 2024. This plan allows corporate insiders to set up a trading schedule for selling stocks, ensuring compliance with insider trading laws.
In other recent news, Woodward Inc. has seen a mixture of financial developments and analyst adjustments. The company reported a 6% increase in net sales in its third-quarter fiscal year 2024 earnings call, leading to a revision of its full-year sales guidance to between $3.25 billion and $3.3 billion. Additionally, Woodward declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, reflecting its financial stability.
TD Cowen revised Woodward's status from Buy to Hold and adjusted the price target from $186.00 to $160.00, citing potential challenges including China operational hurdles and a possible de-stocking in the aerospace original equipment sector. Truist Securities, on the other hand, upgraded Woodward from Hold to Buy, raising the price target to $187. UBS maintained its Buy rating on Woodward with a steady stock target.
In other company news, Woodward engaged with investors and analysts in a recent webcast, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and ongoing dialogue with the investment community. These are recent developments that provide a clearer picture of Woodward's financial outlook.
InvestingPro Insights
To provide additional context to Cromwell Thomas G's recent stock transactions, let's examine some key financial metrics and insights from InvestingPro for Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD).
Woodward's market capitalization stands at $10.46 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the aerospace and industrial control systems market. The company's P/E ratio of 28.3 suggests that investors are willing to pay a premium for its earnings, possibly due to its growth prospects or market position.
One notable InvestingPro Tip highlights that Woodward has maintained dividend payments for an impressive 52 consecutive years. This long-standing commitment to shareholder returns aligns with the company's current dividend yield of 0.57% and a robust dividend growth rate of 13.64% over the last twelve months. Such consistency in dividend payments may provide some context for why executives like Cromwell might engage in planned stock transactions while maintaining a significant stake in the company.
Another relevant InvestingPro Tip indicates that Woodward operates with a moderate level of debt. This financial prudence could be reassuring to investors, especially in light of the recent insider stock sales. It suggests that the company maintains a balanced approach to capital structure, which can be crucial for long-term stability and growth.
Woodward's revenue growth of 16.9% over the last twelve months and an EBITDA growth of 59.62% during the same period demonstrate strong financial performance. These figures may help explain the company's attractive PEG ratio of 0.35, indicating that the stock could be undervalued relative to its earnings growth potential.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights. In fact, there are 7 more InvestingPro Tips available for Woodward, Inc., which could provide further depth to understanding the company's financial health and market position.
As Woodward approaches its next earnings date on November 25, 2024, these financial metrics and insider activities will likely be of interest to investors evaluating the company's performance and future prospects.
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