Blankenship Charles P 4
4 · Woodward, Inc. · Filed Mar 9, 2026
Research Summary
AI-generated summary of this filing
Woodward (WWD) CEO Charles Blankenship Exercises Options, Sells Shares
What Happened
Charles P. Blankenship, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Woodward, exercised a total of 10,000 stock options (transaction code M) and concurrently sold 10,000 shares in open-market transactions (transaction code S) on March 5–6, 2026. He exercised 2,625 options at a $98.34 strike (cost $258,143) and 7,375 options at an $83.24 strike (cost $613,895), for total exercise outlay of $872,038. The open-market sales generated aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $3,797,942. Because the exercised shares were immediately sold, this was effectively a cashless exercise followed by sale (net proceeds before taxes/fees ≈ $2.93M).
Key Details
- Dates: Exercises and sales occurred March 5 and March 6, 2026; Form 4 filed March 9, 2026 (timely).
- Exercise detail: 10,000 options exercised (2,625 @ $98.34; 7,375 @ $83.24).
- Sales: 10,000 shares sold in multiple open-market trades (aggregate proceeds ≈ $3,797,942). Sales on Mar 5 totaled ~5,000 shares; sales on Mar 6 totaled ~5,000 shares.
- Plan/footnotes: Sales were effected under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted Dec 2, 2025 (F1). Several footnotes (F2–F16) note that multiple same-day, same-way sales were aggregated and reported using weighted-average prices; detailed per-trade breakdowns are available on request.
- Options info: The filing includes option-series details/vesting schedules (see F18–F19).
- Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the excerpt provided here — see the Form 4 filing for the reporting person’s post-transaction holdings and plan balances (F7, F17).
- Filing timeliness: Form 4 was filed on 2026-03-09 for transactions on 2026-03-05 and 2026-03-06; the filing appears timely under Form 4 rules.
Context
- This was not a purchase signaling additional insider accumulation; it was an exercise of vested options with immediate/near-immediate sale (cashless exercise), a common way for insiders to realize option value and cover exercise tax/costs.
- The presence of a 10b5-1 plan means sales were pre-authorized and executed according to that plan, which can reduce concerns about opportunistic timing but does not imply company endorsement.
- For full details (exact post-transaction holdings, option grant IDs, per-trade sale prices, and any tax-withholding), consult the full SEC Form 4 (Accession 0001193125-26-098796).
Insider Transaction Report
Form 4
Blankenship Charles P
DirectorChairman of the Board and CEO
Transactions
- Exercise/Conversion
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
2026-03-05$98.34/sh+2,625$258,143→ 68,454 total - Exercise/Conversion
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
2026-03-05$83.24/sh+2,375$197,695→ 70,829 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F2]2026-03-05$382.05/sh−457$174,597→ 70,372 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F3]2026-03-05$383.45/sh−969$371,563→ 69,403 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F4]2026-03-05$384.76/sh−1,384$532,508→ 68,019 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F5]2026-03-05$385.28/sh−1,043$401,847→ 66,976 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F6]2026-03-05$386.42/sh−1,147$443,224→ 65,829 total - Exercise/Conversion
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F7]2026-03-06$83.24/sh+5,000$416,200→ 70,854 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F8]2026-03-06$369.27/sh−282$104,134→ 70,572 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F9]2026-03-06$370.49/sh−527$195,248→ 70,045 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F10]2026-03-06$371.87/sh−425$158,045→ 69,620 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F11]2026-03-06$372.95/sh−406$151,418→ 69,214 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F12]2026-03-06$373.46/sh−543$202,789→ 68,671 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F13]2026-03-06$374.74/sh−51$19,112→ 68,620 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F14]2026-03-06$376.14/sh−900$338,526→ 67,720 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F15]2026-03-06$377.16/sh−1,366$515,201→ 66,354 total - Sale
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F1][F16]2026-03-06$379.46/sh−500$189,730→ 65,854 total - Exercise/Conversion
Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)
[F18]2026-03-05−2,625→ 12,625 totalExercise: $98.34From: 2023-05-09Exp: 2032-05-09→ Woodward, Inc. Common Stock (2,625 underlying) - Exercise/Conversion
Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)
[F19]2026-03-05−2,375→ 69,091 totalExercise: $83.24From: 2023-10-03Exp: 2032-10-03→ Woodward, Inc. Common Stock (2,375 underlying) - Exercise/Conversion
Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)
[F19]2026-03-06−5,000→ 64,091 totalExercise: $83.24From: 2023-10-03Exp: 2032-10-03→ Woodward, Inc. Common Stock (5,000 underlying)
Holdings
- 407(indirect: By Woodward Retirement Savings Plan)
Woodward, Inc. Common Stock
[F17]
Footnotes (19)
- [F1]The sale reported by the reporting person was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that was adopted on December 2, 2025.
- [F10]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $371.22 to $372.01 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F11]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $372.25 to $373.24 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F12]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $373.27 to $373.83 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F13]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $374.54 to $375.11 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F14]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $375.68 to $376.39 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F15]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $376.87 to $377.57 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F16]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $378.99 to $379.60 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F17]The information in this report regarding the number of shares held by the reporting person in the Woodward Retirement Savings Plan is based on a calculation as of March 3, 2026.
- [F18]Options, which expire May 9, 2032, became exercisable as to 25% of the shares on May 9, 2023 and 25% each one-year anniversary thereafter.
- [F19]Options, which expire October 3, 2032, become exercisable as to 25% of the shares on October 3, 2023 and 25% each one-year anniversary thereafter.
- [F2]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $381.66 to $382.65 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F3]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $382.91 to $383.80 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F4]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $383.91 to $384.83 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F5]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $384.94 to $385.75 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F6]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $385.96 to $386.90 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F7]Total includes 25 additional shares and units issued in connection with the dividend reinvestment provisions of the Issuer's RSU awards.
- [F8]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $369.00 to $369.59 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F9]The reporting person executed a trade order through a broker-dealer which resulted in multiple same day, same way open market sales, with prices ranging from $370.17 to $371.09 per share. The reporting person has reported these sales on an aggregate basis using the weighted average price for the transactions. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Company or a security holder of the Company, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
Signature
Rebecca L. Dees, by Power of Attorney|2026-03-09