Why Woodward (WWD) is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term

Group 1: Zacks Premium Overview - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1][2] - The service includes Zacks Style Scores, which are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] Group 2: Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores categorize stocks into ratings of A, B, C, D, or F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating a better chance of stock outperformance [3][4] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score identifies trends in stock price or earnings outlook, helping investors time their positions based on recent price changes and earnings estimate adjustments [4] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing strategies [5] Group 3: Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to assist in portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [6][7] - Investors are encouraged to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 that also have Style Scores of A or B for optimal investment success [9][10] Group 4: Company Spotlight - Woodward, Inc. - Woodward, Inc., based in Fort Collins, CO, is an independent designer and manufacturer of energy control solutions for aerospace and industrial markets [11] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and has a VGM Score of B, indicating potential for growth [11] - Woodward is projected to experience a year-over-year earnings growth of 40.6% for the current fiscal year, supported by a Growth Style Score of B [12] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2024 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.01 to $5.92 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of 18.5% [12]