Avala Global LP Boosts Stock Holdings in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD)

Avala Global LP increased its position in Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) by 10.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 280,100 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 26,500 shares during the period. Woodward comprises approximately 3.2% of Avala Global LP’s holdings, making the stock its 13th largest position. Avala Global LP owned approximately 0.47% of Woodward worth $48,040,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Woodward in the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Circle Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Woodward by 14.7% during the third quarter. Circle Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,315 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $397,000 after buying an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC increased its holdings in Woodward by 15.9% in the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 17,989 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $3,085,000 after buying an additional 2,468 shares in the last quarter. Isthmus Partners LLC purchased a new position in Woodward in the 3rd quarter worth about $278,000. Finally, PEAK6 Investments LLC bought a new position in Woodward during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,448,000. 81.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Woodward Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WWD opened at $180.32 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.89. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $169.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $171.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.66 billion, a PE ratio of 30.00, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.38. Woodward, Inc. has a 52-week low of $129.96 and a 52-week high of $201.64.

Woodward Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 21st. Woodward’s dividend payout ratio is 16.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Woodward

In other Woodward news, COO Thomas G. Cromwell sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 11,511 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,008,669.50. This represents a 46.49 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 27,913 shares of company stock valued at $4,907,304 over the last 90 days. 1.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WWD. StockNews.com lowered shares of Woodward from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Woodward from $209.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $226.00 target price (up from $187.00) on shares of Woodward in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Woodward from $158.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $160.00 price objective (down previously from $186.00) on shares of Woodward in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $184.67.

Woodward 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.