Cathie Wood's ARK Makes $18 Million Defense Bet; Woodward Spikes On Q4 Trounce | Investor's Business DailyBREAKING: [Tech Futures Lead Gains As Teradyne, Palantir Surge]---Woodward stock soared early Tuesday, set to breakout on earnings and a major price target hike. Cathie Wood and her ARK Invest firm loaded up on nearly $18 million worth of defense stocks Monday, including heavyweights Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and AeroVironment. Woodward (WWD), a maker of fuel controls, ignition systems and airframes for ...

Core Viewpoint - Astronics Corporation's stock price has increased by 100% year-to-date, driven by strong business performance and the resolution of legacy patent disputes [1][2] Company Performance - The company supplies parts and components to the aerospace industry, experiencing thriving business conditions with a shift towards profitability and sustained double-digit revenue growth [2] - Q1 2025 highlights include a 700 basis points top-line outperformance, with gross and operating margins expanding by over 500 basis points, leading to adjusted earnings increasing by over 400% [3] Financial Guidance - Astronics reaffirmed its 2025 outlook, projecting approximately 6% revenue growth at the midpoint range, with expectations for improved guidance in subsequent quarters [4] Balance Sheet Strength - The balance sheet shows increased cash and assets, reduced debt, and improved shareholder equity by over 4% in Q1, indicating robust operational capacity [5][6] Market Activity - Institutional investors own about 57% of the stock and are actively buying, with buying activity outpacing selling by more than four times [6][7] - Short interest was nearly 10% at the end of April, which could amplify the positive market impact from institutional buying [7] Stock Price Forecast - The 12-month stock price forecast is set at $21.00, indicating a potential downside of 33.80% from the current price [8][9] Upcoming Catalysts - The next significant event is the Q2 earnings release scheduled for early August, with analysts forecasting about 5% sequential growth and margin strength [10]