Woodward (WWD) Up 7.7% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?

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]