Core Insights - Harbor Mid Cap Fund reported a 4.19% return in Q3 2025, underperforming the Midcap Index which returned 8.53% due to momentum trading [1] - The fund focuses on mid-sized U.S. companies, particularly in equity securities [1] Company Highlights - Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) is a key holding in the Harbor Mid Cap Fund, with a one-month return of 5.27% and a 52-week gain of 83.79% [2] - As of December 24, 2025, Woodward, Inc. had a market capitalization of $18.831 billion, with shares closing at $313.87 [2] Performance Analysis - Woodward, Inc. contributed positively to the fund's performance, reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenue, along with improved margins [3] - The aerospace segment showed strong demand for defense equipment and increased maintenance activity for legacy aircraft, indicating a recovery in the commercial aerospace manufacturing industry [3] - Woodward's transition from a component supplier to a systems supplier has led to share gains and margin expansion, with future earnings visibility linked to the rebound in commercial airline manufacturing [3]

Core Insights - Woodward's Q4 fiscal 2025 adjusted net earnings per share (EPS) surged 48% year-over-year to $2.09, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.2% [3] - Quarterly net sales increased 16% year-over-year to $995 million, driven by market tailwinds in Aerospace and Industrial sectors, and also beating the consensus estimate by 6.4% [4] Financial Performance - For the full fiscal year, Woodward reported net sales of $3.6 billion, a 7% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EPS rising 13% to $6.89 [4] - Gross margin improved by 360 basis points year-over-year to 27.9%, while total costs and expenses rose 11% to $835.5 million [10] Segment Results - Aerospace segment net sales reached $661 million, up 19.6% year-over-year, with defense OEM and services sales increasing by 27% and 80% respectively [6] - Industrial segment net sales totaled $334 million, a 10.6% increase year-over-year, driven by power generation and oil & gas markets [7] Strategic Developments - The company completed the acquisition of Safran's North American Electromechanical Actuation business, enhancing its technology portfolio [5] - Woodward launched a new three-year, $1.8 billion share repurchase program and divested its combustion product line to focus on high-growth verticals [5] Cash Flow and Liquidity - As of September 30, 2025, Woodward had $327.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $457 million in long-term debt [11] - The company generated $471 million of net cash from operating activities, an increase from $439 million in the prior year [12] Fiscal 2026 Guidance - Management anticipates consolidated net sales to rise by 7% to 12% in fiscal 2026, with Aerospace projected to grow by 9% to 15% and Industrial by 5% to 9% [15] - Adjusted free cash flow is expected to be between $300 million and $350 million, with EPS projected between $7.5 and $8 [16] Market Sentiment - Estimates for Woodward have trended upward, with a consensus estimate shift of 6.17% in the past month [17] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating expectations for above-average returns in the coming months [19]

Company Performance - ATI has returned 111.1% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the Aerospace sector, which has returned an average of 35% [4] - Woodward (WWD) is another Aerospace stock that has outperformed the sector, with a year-to-date increase of 90% [4] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATI's full-year earnings has increased by 4.7% over the past quarter, indicating improving analyst sentiment [3] - Woodward's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has risen by 3.8% over the past three months [5] Industry Ranking - ATI belongs to the Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry, which includes 37 stocks and currently ranks 101 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry has gained an average of 33.6% year-to-date, with ATI performing better than this average [6] Sector Ranking - ATI is part of the Aerospace group, which consists of 63 companies and currently holds the 10 position in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and revisions, currently gives ATI a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3]

Core Insights - Woodward (WWD) reported net sales of $3.6 billion for Q4 fiscal 2025, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase, and annual per-share earnings of $7.19, up from $6.01 the previous year [1] - The company returned over $238 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, contributing to a 90% increase in WWD shares this year [1] - Institutional investor demand has been strong, indicating significant support for WWD stock, as evidenced by unusual trading volumes [2][3] Financial Performance - WWD has demonstrated robust sales and earnings growth, with a 3-year sales growth rate of 14.6% and a 3-year EPS growth rate of 39.5% [5] - EPS is projected to increase by 17% this year, further attracting investor interest [3] Market Dynamics - The stock has been recognized as a top-rated investment by MoneyFlows, indicating unusual buy pressure and strong fundamentals [4] - WWD has made the Outlier 20 report 17 times since 2001, with 12 occurrences in the past seven months, highlighting its strong market performance [6] Investment Outlook - Given the historical gains and strong fundamentals, WWD is considered a potential candidate for a diversified investment portfolio [7]

A strong stock as of late has been Woodward (WWD) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 20.7% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $316.56 in the previous session. Woodward has gained 89.4% since the start of the year compared to the 34.9% move for the Zacks Aerospace sector and the 33.1% return for the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our e ...

Key Takeaways WWD stock up 85% in a year, far outperforming aerospace peers, the broader sector and the S&P 500.WWD expects 7-12% revenue growth for FY2026, led by aerospace & solid industrial demand outlook.WWD authorized a $1.8B buyback plan and plans to return $650-$700M to shareholders in fiscal 2026.Woodward, Inc. (WWD) stock has climbed 85% over the past year, outpacing the Aerospace -Defense Equipment industry’s rise of 30.3%. It has also surpassed the Zacks Aerospace sector and the S&P 500 composite ...

Core Insights - Woodward, Inc. reported record performance for fiscal year 2025, with net sales of $3.6 billion, a 7% increase year over year, and net earnings of $442 million, reflecting a 19% growth [1][2] - Diluted earnings per share reached $7.19, marking a 20% rise from the previous year [1] Strategic Milestones - The company completed the acquisition of an industry-leading electromechanical actuation business [2] - Woodward was awarded contracts for certain spoiler actuation systems on the Airbus A350, marking its first primary flight control system application on a commercial aircraft [2] - Progress was made on the new advanced manufacturing facility located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina [2] Company Overview - Woodward, Inc. is a global leader in energy control solutions for aerospace and industrial markets, focusing on designing and delivering energy control solutions for a clean future [3] - The company is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, and specializes in fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion, and motion control systems [3]

Woodward (WWD) shares ended the last trading session 4.3% higher at $305.97. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 13.4% gain over the past four weeks.Woodward shares climbed 4.3%, driven by a combination of positive factors rather than any single catalyst. Investors appear to be responding to the company’s strong underlying momentum across its aerospace and core industrial (power generation, oil & gas an ...

Core Insights - Google is focusing on its AI strategy, particularly through the Gemini app, to compete with rivals like OpenAI, which has significantly influenced consumer behavior towards AI-powered applications [2][3][4] - Josh Woodward, who has been with Google since 2009, is leading the Gemini app and is recognized for his ability to navigate challenges and execute quickly within the company [4][12] - The Gemini app has seen substantial growth, with monthly active users increasing from 350 million in March to 650 million in October 2025, and it has surpassed OpenAI's ChatGPT in popularity on Apple's App Store [11] Company Strategy - Google is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with capital expenditures projected to reach between $91 billion and $93 billion for the year, up from a previous forecast of $85 billion [10] - The launch of the Nano Banana feature within the Gemini app has been a significant success, leading to infrastructure overload due to its popularity [8][9] - The introduction of Gemini 3 has generated excitement in the tech sector, indicating a strong commitment to innovation and product development [12] Competitive Landscape - Alphabet's stock has rebounded significantly, up 62% in 2025, outperforming major competitors like Meta, which is up 13% [11] - The competitive pressure from AI rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic is prompting Google to balance rapid development with ethical considerations in AI deployment [13][16] User Engagement - Woodward's approach includes direct engagement with users through platforms like X and Reddit, which helps in addressing user feedback effectively [34] - The company has implemented systems like "block" and "Papercuts" to streamline processes and resolve minor issues that hinder product development [31][33] Future Outlook - Expectations are high for Google to continue delivering innovative AI features in 2026, with CEO Sundar Pichai noting the impressive momentum in product development [37][38]

Core Insights - Axon Enterprise, Inc. and Woodward, Inc. are key players in the aerospace and defense equipment industry, benefiting from increased demand due to rising terrorism and criminal activities, as well as U.S. budgetary policies [2] Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON) - Axon is experiencing strong growth in its Connected Devices segment, with a 26% year-over-year revenue increase in the first nine months of 2025, driven by demand for TASER 10 products and the Axon Body 4 camera [3] - Revenues from the TASER product line rose 18% year over year, while Personal Sensors surged 24%, and Platform Solutions revenues soared 69% [4] - The Software & Services segment saw a 39.6% revenue increase in the first nine months of 2025, following a 33.4% jump in 2024 [5] - Axon is focusing on strategic collaborations, such as its partnership with TYTAN to enhance its Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems capabilities [6] - However, rising costs are a concern, with cost of sales and SG&A expenses increasing 28.4% and 39.7% year over year, respectively, leading to total operating expenses climbing 47% to $1.21 billion [7] - The company is facing increased debt levels, with long-term notes payable reaching $1.73 billion by the end of Q3 2025, up from zero at the end of 2024 [8] Woodward, Inc. (WWD) - Woodward's Aerospace business is gaining momentum, with a 19.6% year-over-year increase in net sales for Q4 fiscal 2025, driven by strength in commercial services and defense OEM [9] - The Industrial business segment is also performing well, benefiting from demand for power generation and data center support, with consolidated net sales expected to rise 7-12% in fiscal 2026 [11] - Woodward is committed to disciplined capital deployment, focusing on growth reinvestment, shareholder returns, and strategic acquisitions, including a new facility for the Airbus A350 program and the acquisition of Safran's Electronics & Defense business [12] - The company returned $238 million to shareholders in fiscal 2025 and announced a new three-year authorization for up to $1.8 billion in stock repurchases [13][14] - Woodward's shares have outperformed, with a projected EPS growth of 13.5% for 2025 and an increase in EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 [18][20] Valuation Comparison - Woodward is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.42X, while Axon's ratio is significantly higher at 73.29X, indicating a more attractive valuation for Woodward [20] Final Assessment - Axon's growth is hindered by rising costs and high debt levels, which may impact margins and performance, while Woodward's strong market position and growth prospects make it a more favorable investment option [22][23][24]