Woodward Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results

~Results in Line with Expectations, on Track to Deliver Full-Year Guidance~

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ: WWD) today reported financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

All amounts are presented on an as reported (U.S. GAAP) basis unless otherwise indicated. All per share amounts are presented on a fully diluted basis. All comparisons are made to the same period of the prior year unless otherwise stated. All references to years are references to the Company’s fiscal year unless otherwise stated.

First Quarter Overview

  First Quarter 2025
Net sales $773M, -2%
Net earnings $87M, -3%
Adjusted net earnings¹ $83M, -8%
Earnings per share (EPS) $1.42, -3%
Adjusted EPS¹ $1.35, -7%
Cash from operations $35M, -26%
Free cash flow¹ $1M, -81%


“We’re pleased with our strong start to 2025, as our first quarter results were in line with our expectations. Our Aerospace segment performed well with growth in both sales and margin despite a pause in deliveries for some Boeing product lines and a reduced delivery rate in others,” said Chip Blankenship, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “High aircraft utilization continued to drive both commercial and defense aftermarket demand. As anticipated, increased smart defense demand contributed to strong sales in the quarter. In Industrial, broad-based strength in power generation, oil & gas, and marine transportation was offset by an expected decline in sales related to China on-highway natural gas trucks.

“First quarter results reflect the effective execution of our strategy, reinforcing our confidence in our ability to achieve our full-year guidance. We remain committed to operational excellence, innovation and delivering profitable growth to build a stronger, more focused Woodward.”

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Company Results

Total Company Results
                   
    Three Months Ended December 31,
Dollars in millions, except per share amounts   2024   2023   Year over Year


Income Statement                  
Total Sales   $ 773     $ 787       -2 %
Net Earnings     87       90       -3 %
Adjusted Net Earnings     83       90       -8 %
EPS   $ 1.42     $ 1.46       -3 %
Adjusted EPS   $ 1.35     $ 1.45       -7 %
EBIT     113       120       -6 %
Adjusted EBIT¹     107       119       -10 %
Effective Tax Rate     14.5 %     17.9 %   -340 bps
Adjusted Effective Tax Rate¹     14.0 %     17.7 %   -370 bps
                   
                   
Cash Flow and Financial Position                  
Cash from operating activities   $ 35     $ 47       -26 %
Free cash flow     1       5       -81 %
                   
Dividends Paid   $ 15     $ 13       12 %
Share Repurchases     35             100 %
Total Debt   902     719     25 %
EBITDA Leverage   1.5x     1.3x        



Segment Results

Aerospace
    Three Months Ended December 31,
Dollars in millions   2024   2023   Year over Year
Commercial OEM   $ 154     $ 171       -10 %
Commercial Aftermarket     164       138       19 %
Defense OEM     113       93       21 %
Defense Aftermarket     63       58       8 %
                   
Revenue     494       461       7 %
Segment Earnings     95       79       20 %
Segment Margin %     19.2 %     17.2 %   200 bps


The increase in Aerospace segment earnings in the first quarter was primarily a result of price realization, partially offset by inflation, unfavorable mix, and lower volumes.

Industrial
    Three Months Ended December 31,
Dollars in millions   2024   2023   Year over Year
Transportation   $ 117     $ 174       -33 %
Power generation     105       98       7 %
Oil and gas     57       53       7 %
                   
Revenue     279       326       -15 %
Segment Earnings     40       67       -40 %
Segment Margin %     14.4 %     20.5 %   -610 bps


The decrease in Industrial segment earnings in the first quarter was primarily a result of lower volume and unfavorable mix, partially offset by price realization and favorable foreign currency exchange rates.

Nonsegment
    Three Months Ended December 31,
Dollars in millions   2024   2023   Year over Year
Nonsegment Expense   $ (22 )   $ (26 )     -16 %
Adjusted Nonsegment Expenses     (28 )     (27 )     4 %



Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance

Woodward reaffirms its 2025 guidance with the exception of adjusted effective tax rate and adjusted earnings per share. Based on the favorable tax rate in the first quarter, the adjusted effective tax rate is now expected to be approximately 19 percent. As a result, the Company narrowed its adjusted earnings per share range to $5.85-6.25. 


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Revised Guidance
(In millions, except per share amount and percentages)
 
    Prior   Revised
    FY25 Guidance issued on   FY25 Guidance issued on
    November 25, 2024   February 3, 2025
Total Company        
Sales   $3,300 – $3,500   No change
Adjusted Effective Tax Rate   ~20%   ~19%
Free Cash Flow   $350 – $400   No change
Capital Expenditures   ~$115   No change
Shares   ~61.5   No change
Adjusted EPS   $5.75 – $6.25   $5.85 – $6.25
         
Segment Data        
Aerospace        
Sales Growth   Up 6% to 13%   No change
Segment Earnings (% of Sales)   20% – 21%   No change
Industrial        
Sales Growth   Down 7% to 11%   No change
Segment Earnings (% of Sales)   13% – 14%   No change



Conference Call

Woodward will hold an investor conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET, February 3, 2025, to provide an overview of the financial performance for its first quarter of fiscal year 2025 ending December 31, 2024, business highlights, and guidance for fiscal 2025. You are invited to listen to the live webcast of our conference call, or a recording, and view or download accompanying presentation slides at our website, www.woodward.com².

You may also listen to the call by dialing 1-800-715-9871 (domestic) or 1-646-307-1963 (international). Participants should call prior to the start time to allow for registration; the Conference ID is 4675940. The call and presentation will be available on the website by selecting “Investors/Events & Presentations” from the menu and will remain accessible on the company’s website for one year.

About Woodward, Inc.

Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Our purpose is to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit our website at www.woodward.com.

Cautionary Statement

Information in this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our focus on and commitment to growth, operational excellence and innovation, including whether such focus ultimately leads to profitable growth and long-term term success, and statements regarding our business, expectations and guidance for fiscal year 2025, including our guidance for sales, segment sales as compared to the prior fiscal year, adjusted earnings per share, segment earnings margin, adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow, capital expenditures, and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as well as our assumptions regarding our guidance and our progress toward achieving it, and anticipated trends in our business and markets. 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; (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) Woodward’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (11) changes in the estimates of fair value of reporting units or of long-lived assets; (12) environmental risks; (13) Woodward’s continued access to a stable workforce and favorable labor relations with its employees; (14) Woodward’s ability to manage various regulatory and legal matters; (15) risks from operating internationally; (16) cybersecurity 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, 2024, as well as its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which we expect to file shortly, and 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.


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited – in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net sales   $ 772,725     $ 786,730  
Costs and expenses:            
Cost of goods sold     583,091       582,381  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     69,696       74,511  
Research and development costs     30,207       30,794  
Interest expense     12,341       11,436  
Interest income     (1,377 )     (1,473 )
Other (income) expense, net     (23,087 )     (20,639 )
Total costs and expenses     670,871       677,010  
Earnings before income taxes     101,854       109,720  
Income taxes     14,763       19,676  
Net earnings   $ 87,091     $ 90,044  
             
Earnings per share amounts:            
Basic earnings per share   $ 1.47     $ 1.50  
Diluted earnings per share   $ 1.42     $ 1.46  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:            
Basic     59,216       60,021  
Diluted     61,141       61,846  
             
Cash dividends paid per share   $ 0.25     $ 0.22  


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited – in thousands)
             
    December 31,


  September 30,


    2024


  2024


Assets            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 283,726     $ 282,270  
Accounts receivable     692,599       770,066  
Inventories     632,002       609,092  
Assets held for sale     32,047        
Income taxes receivable     16,268       22,016  
Other current assets     67,954       60,167  
Total current assets     1,724,596       1,743,611  
Property, plant, and equipment, net     925,471       940,715  
Goodwill     781,928       806,643  
Intangible assets, net     404,417       440,419  
Deferred income tax assets     87,488       84,392  
Other assets     357,482       353,135  
Total assets   $ 4,281,382     $ 4,368,915  
             
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity            
Current liabilities:            
Short-term debt   $ 258,000     $ 217,000  
Current portion of long-term debt     160,975       85,719  
Accounts payable     224,035       287,457  
Income taxes payable     38,742       40,692  
Liabilities held for sale     4,322        
Accrued liabilities     228,748       292,642  
Total current liabilities     914,822       923,510  
Long-term debt, less current portion     483,199       569,751  
Deferred income tax liabilities     115,984       121,858  
Other liabilities     558,956       577,380  
Total liabilities     2,072,961       2,192,499  
Stockholders’ equity     2,208,421       2,176,416  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 4,281,382     $ 4,368,915  


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries





CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS



(Unaudited – in thousands)





             
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 34,516     $ 46,789  
             
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment     (33,574 )     (41,812 )
Proceeds from sale of assets and short-term investments     36       36  
Proceeds from business divestiture     1,438        
Net cash used in investing activities     (32,100 )     (41,776 )
             
Cash flows from financing activities:            
Cash dividends paid     (14,781 )     (13,209 )
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock     28,876       15,267  
Payments for repurchases of common stock     (35,473 )      
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings     668,300       728,600  
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings     (627,300 )     (663,500 )
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations     (236 )     (75,249 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     19,386       (8,091 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (20,346 )     9,979  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents     1,456       6,901  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     282,270       137,447  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 283,726     $ 144,348  


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
SEGMENT NET SALES AND NET EARNINGS

(Unaudited – in thousands)
             
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net sales:            
Aerospace   $ 493,882     $ 460,756  
Industrial     278,843       325,974  
Total consolidated net sales   $ 772,725     $ 786,730  
Segment earnings*:            
Aerospace   $ 94,725     $ 79,002  
As a percent of segment net sales     19.2 %     17.2 %
Industrial     40,197       66,881  
As a percent of segment net sales     14.4 %     20.5 %
Total segment earnings     134,922       145,883  
Nonsegment expenses     (22,104 )     (26,200 )
EBIT     112,818       119,683  
Interest expense, net     (10,964 )     (9,963 )
Consolidated earnings before income taxes   $ 101,854     $ 109,720  
             

*This schedule reconciles segment earnings, which exclude certain costs, to consolidated earnings before taxes.
             
Payments for property, plant and equipment   $ 33,574     $ 41,812  
Depreciation expense   $ 20,962     $ 20,226  


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS TO ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS

1
 

(Unaudited – in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
    Net Earnings   Earnings Per Share   Net Earnings   Earnings Per Share
Net earnings (U.S. GAAP)   $ 87,091     $ 1.42     $ 90,044     $ 1.46  
Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments:                        
Product rationalizationa     (9,361 )     (0.15 )            
Business development activitiesb     3,518       0.06       4,238       0.07  
Non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisitiona                 (4,803 )     (0.09 )
Tax effect of Non-U.S. GAAP net earnings adjustments     1,319       0.02       332       0.01  
Total non-U.S. GAAP adjustments     (4,524 )     (0.07 )     (233 )     (0.01 )
Adjusted net earnings (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ 82,567     $ 1.35     $ 89,811     $ 1.45  
 
a. Presented in the line item “Other (income) expense, net” in Woodward’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.
b. Presented in item “Selling, general and administrative” expenses in Woodward’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF INCOME TAX EXPENSE TO ADJUSTED INCOME TAX EXPENSE¹

(Unaudited – in thousands)
             
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Income tax expense (U.S. GAAP)   $ 14,763     $ 19,676  
Tax effect of Non-U.S. GAAP net income adjustments     (1,319 )     (332 )
Adjusted income tax expense (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ 13,444     $ 19,344  
Adjusted effective tax rate (Non-U.S. GAAP)     14.0 %     17.7 %


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS TO EBIT¹
AND ADJUSTED EBIT¹

(Unaudited – in thousands)
       
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net earnings (U.S. GAAP)   $ 87,091     $ 90,044  
Income tax expense     14,763       19,676  
Interest expense     12,341       11,436  
Interest income     (1,377 )     (1,473 )
EBIT (Non-U.S. GAAP)     112,818       119,683  
Total non-U.S. GAAP adjustments*     (5,843 )     (565 )
Adjusted EBIT (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ 106,975     $ 119,118  
             
*See Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings¹ table above for the list of Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments made in the applicable periods.


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS TO EBITDA

1

AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

1

(Unaudited – in thousands)
       
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net earnings (U.S. GAAP)   $ 87,091     $ 90,044  
Income tax expense     14,763       19,676  
Interest expense     12,341       11,436  
Interest income     (1,377 )     (1,473 )
Amortization of intangible assets     6,914       8,599  
Depreciation expense     20,962       20,226  
EBITDA (Non-U.S. GAAP)     140,694       148,508  
Total non-U.S. GAAP adjustments*     (5,843 )     (565 )
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ 134,851     $ 147,943  
             
*See Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings¹ table above for the list of Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments made in the applicable periods.


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF NONSEGMENT EXPENSES TO ADJUSTED NONSEGMENT EXPENSES¹

(Unaudited – in thousands)
 
    Three-Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Nonsegment expenses (U.S. GAAP)   $ (22,104 )   $ (26,200 )
Product rationalization   (9,361 )      
Business development activities   3,518       4,238  
Non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisition         (4,803 )
Adjusted nonsegment expenses (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ (27,947 )   $ (26,765 )


Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW¹

(Unaudited – in thousands)
             
    Three Months Ended December 31,
    2024   2023
Net cash provided by operating activities (U.S. GAAP)   $ 34,516     $ 46,789  
Payments for property, plant, and equipment     (33,574 )     (41,812 )
Free cash flow (Non-U.S. GAAP)   $ 942     $ 4,977  


¹Adjusted and Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures: Adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, and adjusted nonsegment expenses exclude, as applicable, (i) a non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisition, (ii) costs related to business development activities, and (iii) gains related to product rationalization activities. The product rationalization adjustment pertains to gains related to the elimination of certain product lines. The Company believes that these excluded items are short‐term in nature, not directly related to the ongoing operations of the business, and therefore, the exclusion of them illustrates more clearly how the underlying business of Woodward is performing.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), free cash flow, adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, and adjusted nonsegment expenses are financial measures not prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Management uses EBIT and adjusted EBIT to evaluate Woodward’s operating performance without the impacts of financing and tax related considerations. Management uses EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA in evaluating Woodward’s operating performance, making business decisions, including developing budgets, managing expenditures, forecasting future periods, and evaluating capital structure impacts of various strategic scenarios. Management also uses free cash flow, which is derived from net cash provided by or used in operating activities less payments for property, plant, and equipment, in reviewing the financial performance of Woodward’s various business segments and evaluating cash generation levels. Securities analysts, investors, and others frequently use EBIT, EBITDA, free cash flow, in their evaluation of companies, particularly those with significant property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets that are subject to amortization. The use of any of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, EBIT, EBITDA, adjusted EBIT, and adjusted EBITDA exclude certain financial information compared with net earnings, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, users of this financial information should consider the information that is excluded. Free cash flow do not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Woodward’s calculations of EBIT, EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted nonsegment expenses, and free cash flow may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

²Website, Facebook, X: Woodward has used, and intends to continue to use, its Investor Relations website, LinkedIn page, Facebook page, and X handle as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Contact: Dan Provaznik
Director, Investor Relations
970-498-3849
[email protected]