Insider Trading February 10, 2026 12:13 AM

Woodward Director Disposes of $1.96M in Stock After Option Exercise

Eileen P. Paterson sells 5,200 shares and exercises options the same day as Woodward posts stronger-than-expected Q1 fiscal 2026 results

By Priya Menon WWD
Woodward Director Disposes of $1.96M in Stock After Option Exercise
WWD

Woodward director Eileen P. Paterson sold 5,200 shares of the company on February 5, 2026, for roughly $1.96 million and exercised options to acquire the same number of shares at $79.81. The moves coincided with the company reporting fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings and revenues that surpassed analyst forecasts, and with shareholder approval of three director elections.

Key Points

  • Director Eileen P. Paterson sold 5,200 Woodward shares on February 5, 2026, for about $1.96 million at prices between $377.93 and $378.31.
  • Paterson exercised options for 5,200 shares at $79.81 the same day, recorded with a total value of 415012; her direct holdings after these moves are 2,538 shares.
  • Woodward reported Q1 fiscal 2026 EPS of $2.17 and revenue of $996 million, both above the cited expectations; UBS raised its price target to $417 and maintained a Buy rating.
  • Sectors impacted include industrials and machinery markets, with potential implications for suppliers and investors focused on capital goods and aerospace-related equipment.

Director Eileen P. Paterson of Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ: WWD) executed a sale of 5,200 shares of company stock on February 5, 2026, generating approximately $1.96 million in proceeds. The sales were completed at prices ranging from $377.93 to $378.31 per share.

On that same date Paterson exercised options to acquire 5,200 shares of Woodward common stock at an exercise price of $79.81 per share, for a stated aggregate value of 415012. After these transactions were recorded, Paterson's direct ownership in Woodward stood at 2,538 shares.

Separately, Woodward released first-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded market expectations. The company reported earnings per share of $2.17, versus a consensus forecast of $1.66. Revenue for the quarter reached $996 million, topping the anticipated $890.37 million.

Following the quarterly report, UBS raised its price target for Woodward to $417 while maintaining a Buy rating, even as the company conveyed a conservative outlook for the approaching quarters. In corporate governance developments, Woodward shareholders approved the election of three directors to the board: David Hess, Mary Petryszyn, and Tana Utley, each to serve a three-year term.


Context and notable items

  • Paterson's sale of 5,200 shares produced about $1.96 million, with execution prices between $377.93 and $378.31.
  • That same day she exercised options to acquire 5,200 shares at $79.81, listed with a total value of 415012.
  • Post-transaction, Paterson directly holds 2,538 shares of Woodward common stock.
  • Woodward reported Q1 fiscal 2026 EPS of $2.17 and revenue of $996 million, both above the referenced expectations.
  • UBS increased its price target to $417 and kept a Buy rating while the company signaled a conservative near-term outlook.
  • Shareholders elected David Hess, Mary Petryszyn, and Tana Utley to three-year terms on the board.

The details above are drawn from company-reported filings and public disclosures on the transactions and quarterly results.

Risks

  • The company provided a conservative outlook for upcoming quarters, creating uncertainty about near-term performance and revenue trajectories in the industrials sector.
  • Paterson's sale reduced her direct shareholding to 2,538 shares, a change in insider ownership that may prompt investor scrutiny of insider liquidity or portfolio rebalancing.
  • Although UBS raised its price target and maintained a Buy rating, forward expectations remain contingent on Woodward meeting or exceeding its own conservative guidance.

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