WWD
Woodward Inc. Industrials - Aerospace Components Investor Relations →
Woodward Inc. (WWD) closed at $362.99 as of 2026-05-01, trading 107.6% above its 200-week moving average of $174.85. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 110.4% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 58, indicating neutral momentum.
A big spike in selling this week — 2.1x the usual volume, and the price dropped. Sometimes this kind of heavy selling marks the end of a decline. The idea is that the last reluctant holders have finally sold, leaving fewer sellers left to push the price lower.
Over the past 1625 weeks of data, WWD has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times. On average, these episodes lasted 11 weeks. Historically, investors who bought WWD at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +40.2%.
With a market cap of $21.6 billion, WWD is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 0.9%. Return on equity stands at 21.1%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 8.4x book value.
WWD passes our Buffett quality screen: high return on equity, low debt, and positive free cash flow.
Over the past 31.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in WWD would have grown to $21526, compared to $2477 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 18.8% vs 10.8% for the index — confirming WWD as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 34.2% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: WWD vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After WWD Crosses Below the Line?
Across 24 historical episodes, buying WWD when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +44.6% after 12 months (median +43.0%), compared to +21.5% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 96% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +94.7% vs +28.0% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment WWD crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
WWD has crossed below its 200-week MA 24 times with an average 1-year return of +40.2% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | Dec 1995 | 39 | 18.7% | +47.8% | +21820.7% |
| Aug 1998 | Nov 1998 | 12 | 13.2% | +18.1% | +13558.3% |
| Dec 1998 | Apr 1999 | 18 | 12.8% | +24.3% | +12968.8% |
| May 1999 | May 1999 | 1 | 1.8% | +0.4% | +12173.1% |
| Jul 1999 | Aug 1999 | 3 | 2.5% | +34.5% | +11932.5% |
| Sep 1999 | Oct 1999 | 4 | 3.2% | +73.6% | +11520.0% |
| Nov 1999 | Nov 1999 | 1 | 1.5% | +67.5% | +11461.9% |
| Jan 2000 | Jun 2000 | 23 | 13.5% | +104.7% | +12096.7% |
| Oct 2002 | Nov 2002 | 5 | 12.4% | +20.3% | +6967.6% |
| Jan 2003 | Aug 2003 | 32 | 20.5% | +37.7% | +6377.8% |
| Sep 2003 | Oct 2003 | 5 | 3.1% | +48.9% | +5824.6% |
| Nov 2008 | Oct 2009 | 46 | 61.6% | +31.5% | +2213.6% |
| Oct 2009 | Nov 2009 | 1 | 1.7% | +34.5% | +1635.9% |
| Nov 2009 | Nov 2009 | 2 | 3.6% | +39.9% | +1659.3% |
| Jun 2010 | Jul 2010 | 1 | 4.6% | +45.2% | +1535.2% |
| Aug 2011 | Aug 2011 | 1 | 8.1% | +43.2% | +1422.3% |
| Sep 2011 | Oct 2011 | 4 | 4.2% | +33.2% | +1333.6% |
| Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | 2 | 5.2% | +53.2% | +863.4% |
| Mar 2020 | Aug 2020 | 24 | 36.9% | +54.8% | +380.0% |
| Sep 2020 | Oct 2020 | 4 | 8.3% | +47.7% | +356.3% |
| Oct 2020 | Nov 2020 | 1 | 4.5% | +42.7% | +371.8% |
| May 2022 | May 2022 | 2 | 5.5% | +8.4% | +272.6% |
| Jun 2022 | Jan 2023 | 31 | 21.5% | +17.1% | +285.7% |
| Feb 2023 | May 2023 | 12 | 13.1% | +35.3% | +260.5% |
| Average | 11 | — | +40.2% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WWD below its 200-week moving average?
No. Woodward Inc. (WWD) is currently 107.6% above its 200-week moving average of $174.85. It would need to fall to $174.85 to cross below the line.
What is WWD's 200-week moving average price?
Woodward Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $174.85 as of 2026-05-01. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when WWD drops below its 200-week moving average?
WWD has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +40.2%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 11 weeks on average.
Is WWD a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about WWD as of 2026-05-01: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 58. Free cash flow yield is 0.9%. Return on equity is 21.1%. Price-to-book is 8.4x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does WWD compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 31.2 years, $100 invested in WWD would have grown to $21526, compared to $2477 for the S&P 500. That's 18.8% annualized vs 10.8% for the index. WWD has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does WWD pay a dividend?
Yes. Woodward Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 35.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-05-01