Woodward, Inc. (WWD) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?

Company Performance - Woodward (WWD) shares have increased by 20.7% over the past month, reaching a new 52-week high of $316.56, and have gained 89.4% since the start of the year, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace sector (34.9%) and the Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry (33.1%) [1] - The company has consistently exceeded earnings expectations, reporting an EPS of $2.09 against a consensus estimate of $1.83 in its last earnings report [2] Earnings Projections - For the current fiscal year, Woodward is projected to achieve earnings of $7.82 per share on revenues of $3.96 billion, reflecting a 13.5% increase in EPS and an 11.08% increase in revenues [3] - In the next fiscal year, earnings are expected to rise to $9.13 per share on revenues of $4.25 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of 16.72% in EPS and 7.3% in revenues [3] Valuation Metrics - Woodward's current trading metrics show a P/E ratio of 40.3X for the current fiscal year, which is above the peer industry average of 37.9X, and a trailing cash flow basis P/E of 35.2X compared to the peer group's average of 30.1X [7] - The stock has a PEG ratio of 2.65, which does not place it among the top value stocks [7] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - Woodward holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) due to a favorable earnings estimate revision trend, making it a suitable choice for investors looking for stocks with strong potential [8] - The company has a Value Score of D, while its Growth and Momentum Scores are both A, resulting in a VGM Score of B [6] Industry Comparison - Astronics Corporation (ATRO), a peer in the industry, has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and has also shown strong earnings performance, beating consensus estimates by 16.67% [9][10] - The Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry is currently positioned in the top 36% of all industries, suggesting favorable conditions for both Woodward and Astronics [11]