Woodward Recognized on Forbes’ 2026 List of Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies
Rhea-AI Summary
Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD) was named to Forbes’ 2026 List of America’s Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies, a ranking based on five‑year earnings growth, sales growth, return on equity, and total stock return. Woodward reported $3.6 billion in net sales for fiscal 2025 and said momentum continued in Q1 FY2026.
The recognition follows Woodward’s prior placement on Forbes’ 2024 mid‑cap list and its inclusion on Forbes’ 2026 Best Companies list, underscoring recurring third‑party acknowledgement of the company’s growth, operational execution, and shareholder focus.
Positive
- Forbes Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies recognition (2026)
- Net sales of $3.6 billion in fiscal 2025
- Repeat Forbes mid‑cap listing (also listed in 2024)
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
WWD slipped 0.49% while peers moved mixed: TXT up 1%, BWXT, ERJ, AVAV, and CW down between 0.54% and 9.07%, suggesting a stock-specific reaction to this recognition news.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 02 | Q1 2026 earnings | Positive | +3.0% | Strong Q1 2026 sales, earnings growth and raised full-year guidance. |
| Feb 02 | Dividend increase | Positive | +3.0% | Quarterly dividend lifted 14%, signaling confidence and shareholder returns. |
| Jan 20 | Earnings call setup | Neutral | -1.5% | Announcement of timing and access details for Q1 2026 earnings call. |
| Jan 15 | China exit plan | Neutral | -0.9% | Plan to wind down China on‑highway natural gas truck business and facility. |
| Dec 22 | FY2025 report | Positive | +0.3% | Annual report with record FY2025 sales, earnings and strategic milestones. |
Recent fundamental positives (earnings beat, dividend increase, record FY2025 results) have generally seen modest positive or stable price reactions, with no major divergences.
Over the past few months, Woodward has reported record fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.6 billion and strong Q1 FY2026 results with higher sales, earnings, and cash flow. It also raised FY2026 guidance and increased its quarterly dividend by 14%. Strategic actions include winding down a non-core China on‑highway business and completing an electromechanical actuation acquisition. Today’s Forbes mid‑cap recognition follows this sequence of solid execution and capital returns, reinforcing an already strong operating narrative.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Woodward’s inclusion on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies, reflecting metrics like earnings growth, sales growth, return on equity, and total stock return over five years. It follows record fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.6 billion and strong early fiscal 2026 performance. Investors may track how sustained growth, dividend policy, and any portfolio reshaping, such as exiting lower‑contributing businesses, influence future rankings and fundamentals.
Key Terms
return on equity financial
total stock return financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
FORT COLLINS, Colo., Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ: WWD), a global leader in energy control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets, has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies for 2026. The annual ranking, developed using data from FactSet, evaluates companies on earnings growth, sales growth, return on equity, and total stock return over the past five years.
This is the most recent honor in a list of business and finance accolades that Woodward has received, including the 2024 Forbes list of America’s Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies and the 2026 Forbes Best Companies List, among others.
“We’re proud to be recognized once again on the Forbes list of America’s Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies,” said Chip Blankenship, Chair and CEO of Woodward. “It reflects disciplined execution by our global team members and their ongoing dedication to serving our customers while creating value for our shareholders. Our focus on our value drivers of growth, operational excellence, and innovation continues to advance our strategy for long-term success and our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.”
Woodward delivered strong financial performance in fiscal year 2025, with net sales reaching
The Forbes list for 2026 can be found here: America's Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies 2026
About Woodward, Inc.
Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD) is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. The company’s purpose is to design and deliver energy control solutions its partners count on to power a clean future. Woodward’s innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion, and motion control systems operate in some of the world’s most demanding environments. Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, Woodward serves customers worldwide. Visit www.woodward.com.
Cautionary Statement
Information in this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of our ongoing focus on growth, operational excellence, and innovation, including whether such focus ultimately leads to long-term success and enhanced shareholder value. Factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) global economic uncertainty and instability, including in the financial markets that affect Woodward, its customers, and its supply chain; (2) risks related to constraints and disruptions in the global supply chain and labor markets; (3) Woodward’s long sales cycle; (4) risks related to Woodward’s concentration of revenue among a relatively small number of customers; (5) Woodward’s ability to implement and realize the intended effects of any restructuring efforts; (6) Woodward’s ability to successfully manage competitive factors including expenses and fluctuations in sales, as well as innovation and new product development; (7) changes and consolidations in the aerospace market; (8) Woodward’s financial obligations including debt obligations and tax expenses and exposures; (9) risks related to Woodward’s U.S. government contracting activities including potential changes in government spending patterns; (10) volatility with respect to the China on-highway natural gas truck market; (11) Woodward’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (12) changes in the estimates of fair value of reporting units or of long-lived assets; (13) environmental risks; (14) Woodward’s continued access to a stable workforce and favorable labor relations with its employees, including its ability to retain key personnel or attract and retain new qualified personnel; (15) Woodward’s ability to manage various regulatory and legal matters; (16) risks from operating internationally; (17) cybersecurity, data privacy, and other technological risks; and other risk factors and risks described in Woodward's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as other risks described in Woodward’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Woodward assumes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by applicable law.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Regina
970-559-8840
jennifer.regina@woodward.com
FAQ
Why was Woodward (WWD) named to Forbes’ 2026 Most Successful Mid‑Cap Companies?
What fiscal 2025 financial metric did Woodward (WWD) report in the Forbes announcement?
Does the Forbes recognition indicate continued momentum for Woodward (WWD) in 2026?
How does the Forbes 2026 listing compare to Woodward’s prior recognitions for WWD?
What metrics did Forbes use that benefited Woodward (WWD) in the 2026 ranking?
How might Woodward’s (WWD) Forbes recognition affect investor perception in 2026?
