Woodward Reports Record Sales & Earnings for Fiscal Year 2024

Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ: WWD) today reported financial results for its fiscal year 2024 and fourth quarter ending September 30, 2024.

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.


Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Overview

	Fourth Quarter 2024	Fiscal Year 2024
Net sales	$855M, +10%	$3.3B, +14%
Earnings per share (EPS)	$1.36, +2%	$6.01, +59%
Adjusted EPS1	$1.41, +6%	$6.11, +45%
Cash from operations	$142M, -7%	$439M, +42%
Free cash flow1	$118M, -12%	$343M, +48%

"We delivered record sales in fiscal 2024 with Woodward revenue exceeding $3 billion for the first time. Robust end market demand along with contributions from operational excellence fueled significant sales growth and earnings expansion,” said Chip Blankenship, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In Aerospace, both commercial and defense OEM sales increased due to capacity improvements to meet customer demand, and commercial and defense aftermarket sales increased due to continued high aircraft utilization. Our Industrial business benefitted from increased sales in power generation and transportation. Our performance over the last year reflects the hard work and dedication of Woodward members to deliver on our value proposition and fulfill our purpose.

We enter fiscal 2025 with strong momentum. In Aerospace, we anticipate increasing revenue and margin expansion driven by continued strength in commercial markets and increased defense activity. In Industrial, we expect broad-based market strength in power generation and marine transportation, offset by a significant decline in sales related to China on-highway natural gas trucks. We remain focused on growth, operational excellence and innovation to drive shareholder value.”

Fiscal 2024 Key Highlights

Completed $55 million, multi-year transformation of Aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Loves Park, Illinois, to prepare for aftermarket growth
Signed three MRO agreements:
- To continue servicing Woodward-manufactured components for Lufthansa Technik
- To be exclusive Thrust Reverser Actuation System (TRAS) MRO contractor for CF34-10E powered fleet for Australia-based Alliance Airlines
- For Turkish Technic to join Woodward’s global licensed asset management provider network, in support of the growing LEAP fleet
Expanded participation in next generation aircraft development and demonstrator projects:
- Selected as rotary actuation technology provider for the NASA and Boeing Transonic Truss-braced Wing X-66A aircraft demonstrator
- Selected to provide Trim Control Module for JetZero Blended Wing Body Demonstrator
Broke ground on Glatten, Germany, expansion to add capacity to support power generation and transportation growth
Continued progress in automation and operational excellence through the installation of additional industrial robots and cobots


Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Company Results

Total Company Results

	Three Months Ended September 30,									Year Ended September 30,
Dollars in millions, except per share amounts	2024			2023			Year over Year			2024			2023			Year over Year
Income Statement
Total Sales	$	855		$	777			10	%	$	3,324		$	2,915			14	%
Net Earnings		83			83			1	%		373			232			61	%
Adjusted Net Earnings1		86			83			5	%		379			259			47	%
EPS	$	1.36		$	1.33			2	%	$	6.01		$	3.78			59	%
Adjusted EPS1	$	1.41		$	1.33			6	%	$	6.11		$	4.21			45	%
EBIT1		113			108			4	%		495			321			54	%
Adjusted EBIT1		117			108			8	%		504			356			42	%
Effective Tax Rate		18.0	%		15.7	%	230		bps		17.8	%		15.7	%	210		bps
Adjusted Effective Tax Rate1		18.4	%		15.7	%	270		bps		18.0	%		16.8	%	120		bps

Cash Flow and Financial Position
Cash from operating activities	$	142		$	153			-7	%	$	439		$	309			42	%
Free cash flow		118			134			-12	%		343			232			48	%
Adjusted free cash flow1		118			135			-13	%		348			238			46	%

Dividends Paid		15			13			12	%		58			51			14	%
Share Repurchases		86			100			-14			391			126			209	%
Total Debt											872			722			21	%
Debt to EBITDA1 Leverage										1.4x			1.5x

Segment Results

Aerospace
	Three Months Ended September 30,									Year Ended September 30,
Dollars in millions	2024			2023			Year over Year			2024			2023			Year over Year
Commercial OEM	$	194		$	167			16	%	$	738		$	651			13	%
Commercial Aftermarket		174			142			22	%		641			548			17	%
Defense OEM		126			90			40	%		407			369			10	%
Defense Aftermarket		59			56			7	%		243			201			21	%

Revenue		553			455			22	%		2,029			1,768			15	%
Segment Earnings		106			78			35	%		385			290			33	%
Segment Margin %		19.2	%		17.2	%	200		bps		19.0	%		16.4	%	260		bps

The increase in segment earnings in the fourth quarter was primarily a result of price realization and higher volume, partially offset by inflation. The increase in segment earnings for the year was a result of price realization and higher volume, partially offset by inflation.

Industrial
	Three Months Ended September 30,									Year Ended September 30,
Dollars in millions	2024			2023			Year over Year			2024			2023			Year over Year
Transportation	$	131		$	162			-19	%	$	642		$	527			22	%
Power generation		109			106			4	%		424			383			11	%
Oil and gas		62			55			12	%		230			236			-3	%

Revenue		302			322			-6	%		1,296			1,146			13	%
Segment Earnings		38			54			-30	%		230			162			42	%
Segment Margin %		12.6	%		16.9	%	-430		bps		17.7	%		14.1	%	360		bps

The decrease in segment earnings in the fourth quarter was primarily a result of lower volume and unfavorable mix, partially offset by price realization. The increase in segment earnings for the year was a result of price realization and higher volume, partially offset by unfavorable mix.

Nonsegment
	Three Months Ended September 30,									Year Ended September 30,
Dollars in millions	2024			2023			Year over Year			2024			2023			Year over Year
Nonsegment Expenses	$	(31	)	$	(24	)		28	%	$	(120	)	$	(131	)		-8	%
Adjusted Nonsegment Expenses		(27	)		(24	)		10	%		(112	)		(96	)		16	%

Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance

Woodward’s fiscal 2025 guidance includes a continued strong demand environment and improving operational performance throughout the year. The Aerospace segment guidance includes increasing revenue and margin expansion driven by continued strength in commercial markets and increased defense activity. The Industrial segment guidance includes broad-based market strength in power generation and marine transportation, offset by a significant decline in sales related to China on-highway natural gas trucks. Our fiscal year 2025 guidance includes $40 million in sales related to China on-highway natural gas trucks, which would be a year-over-year decline of approximately $175 million.

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries


Total Company
Sales	$3.30 billion - $3.50 billion
Effective Tax Rate	~20%
Capital Expenditures	~$115 million
EPS	$5.75 - $6.25
Free Cash Flow	$350 million - $400 million
Diluted shares outstanding	~61.5 million

Segment Data
Aerospace
Sales	up 6% - 13%
Segment Earnings (% of Sales)	20% - 21%
Industrial
Sales	down 7% - 11%
Segment Earnings (% of Sales)	13% - 14%

Conference Call

Woodward will hold an investor conference call at 5:00 p.m. EST, November 25, 2024, to provide an overview of the financial performance for its fiscal year 2024 and fourth quarter ending September 30, 2024, business highlights, and outlook 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, anticipated continued strong demand, continued improvements in our operational performance, the results of our ongoing focus on growth, operational excellence and innovation, including whether such focus ultimately leads to long-term term success and enhanced shareholder value, and statements regarding our business and guidance for fiscal year 2025, including our guidance for sales, segment sales as compared to the prior fiscal year, earnings per share, segment earnings margin, effective tax rate, free cash flow, capital expenditures, and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as well as our assumptions regarding our guidance, anticipated trends in our business and markets, including increased revenue and margin expansion in our Aerospace segment, strength in commercial aerospace markets, defense activity in our Aerospace segment, broad-based market strength in power generation and marine transportation in our Industrial segment, anticipated weakness in the China on-highway natural gas truck market, including our assumptions regarding sales and demand in fiscal 2025. 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, 2023, any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024, 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 September 30,						Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023

Net sales	$	854,488		$	777,070		$	3,324,249		$	2,914,566
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold		646,733			587,510			2,447,770			2,236,983
Selling, general and administrative expenses		77,729			65,944			307,499			269,692
Research and development costs		34,689			32,061			140,676			132,095
Restructuring charges		-			-			-			5,172
Interest expense		13,477			11,736			47,959			47,898
Interest income		(1,964	)		(1,361	)		(6,458	)		(2,751	)
Other (income) expense, net		(17,707	)		(16,860	)		(67,168	)		(50,291	)
Total costs and expenses		752,957			679,030			2,870,278			2,638,798
Earnings before income taxes		101,531			98,040			453,971			275,768
Income taxes		18,235			15,388			81,000			43,400
Net earnings	$	83,296		$	82,652		$	372,971		$	232,368

Earnings per share amounts:
Basic earnings per share	$	1.40		$	1.38		$	6.21		$	3.88
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.36		$	1.33		$	6.01		$	3.78
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		59,437			60,103			60,076			59,908
Diluted		61,385			62,039			62,084			61,482

Cash dividends paid per share	$	0.2500		$	0.2200		$	0.9700		$	0.8500

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	September 30,		September 30,
	2024		2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	282,270	$	137,447
Accounts receivable		770,066		749,859
Inventories		609,092		517,843
Income taxes receivable	22,016			14,120
Other current assets		60,167		50,183
Total current assets		1,743,611		1,469,452
Property, plant, and equipment, net		940,715		913,094
Goodwill		806,643		791,468
Intangible assets, net		440,419		452,363
Deferred income tax assets		84,392		58,550
Other assets		353,135		325,276
Total assets	$	4,368,915	$	4,010,203

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Short term borrowings		217,000		-
Current portion of long term debt		85,719		75,817
Accounts payable		287,457		234,328
Income taxes payable		40,692		44,435
Accrued liabilities		292,642		262,616
Total current liabilities		923,510		617,196
Long-term debt, less current portion		569,751		645,709
Deferred income tax liabilities		121,858		132,819
Other liabilities		577,380		543,490
Total liabilities		2,192,499		1,939,214
Stockholders’ equity		2,176,416		2,070,989
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,368,915	$	4,010,203

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	For the Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	439,089		$	308,543

Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment		(96,280	)		(76,500	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		2,292			488
Proceeds from business divestiture		1,800			-
Payments for business acquisition, net of cash acquired		-			878
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments		9,738			7,692
Payments for purchases of short-term investments		(6,767	)		(6,109	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(89,217	)		(73,551	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid		(58,286	)		(51,027	)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock		89,875			50,749
Payments for repurchases of common stock		(390,819	)		(126,380	)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings		2,962,800			2,323,500
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings		(2,745,800	)		(2,390,300	)
Payments of debt financing costs		-			(2,236	)
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations		(75,817	)		(779	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(218,047	)		(196,473	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		12,998			(8,916	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		144,823			29,603
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		137,447			107,844
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	282,270		$	137,447

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
SEGMENT NET SALES AND EARNINGS
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales:
Aerospace	$	552,790		$	454,870		$	2,028,618		$	1,768,103
Industrial		301,698			322,200			1,295,631			1,146,463
Total consolidated net sales	$	854,488		$	777,070		$	3,324,249		$	2,914,566
*Segment earnings:**
Aerospace	$	106,065		$	78,281		$	385,360		$	290,104
As a percent of segment net sales		19.2	%		17.2	%		19.0	%		16.4	%
Industrial		38,015			54,451			229,857			161,622
As a percent of segment net sales		12.6	%		16.9	%		17.7	%		14.1	%
Total segment earnings		144,080			132,732			615,217			451,726
Nonsegment expenses		(31,036	)		(24,317	)		(119,745	)		(130,811	)
EBIT		113,044			108,415			495,472			320,915
Interest expense, net		(11,513	)		(10,375	)		(41,501	)		(45,147	)
Consolidated earnings before income taxes	$	101,531		$	98,040		$	453,971		$	275,768

*This schedule reconciles segment earnings, which exclude certain costs, to consolidated earnings before taxes.

Payments for property, plant and equipment	$	24,087		$	19,358		$	96,280		$	76,500
Depreciation expense	$	21,084		$	20,942		$	82,578		$	82,154

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS TO ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS1
(Unaudited - in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2024						Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Before Income Tax		Net of Income Tax		Per Share, Net of Income Tax		Before Income Tax		Net of Income Tax		Per Share, Net of Income Tax
Net Earnings (U.S. GAAP)	$	101,531	$	83,296	$	1.36	$	98,040	$	82,652	$	1.33
Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments:
Non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisition		-		-		-		-		-		-
Business development activities		-		-		-		-		-		-
Non-recurring charge related to a previous acquisition		4,378		3,129		0.05		-		-		-
Certain non-restructuring separation costs		-		-		-		-		-		-
Specific charge for excess and obsolete inventory		-		-		-		-		-		-
Product rationalization		-		-		-		-		-		-
Non-recurring charge related to customer collections		-		-		-		-		-		-
Restructuring charges		-		-		-		-		-		-
Total non-U.S. GAAP adjustments		4,378		3,129		0.05		-		-		-
Adjusted net earnings (Non-U.S. GAAP)	$	105,909	$	86,425	$	1.41	$	98,040	$	82,652	$	1.33

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS TO ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS1
(Unaudited - in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Year Ended September 30, 2024									Year Ended September 30, 2023
	Before Income Tax			Net of Income Tax			Per Share, Net of Income Tax			Before Income Tax		Net of Income Tax		Per Share, Net of Income Tax
Net Earnings (U.S. GAAP)	$	453,971		$	372,971		$	6.01		$	275,768	$	232,368	$	3.78
Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments:
Non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisition		(4,803	)		(3,433	)		(0.06	)		-		-		-
Business development activities		5,902			4,456			0.07			-		-		-
Non-recurring charge related to a previous acquisition		4,378			3,129			0.05			-		-		-
Certain non-restructuring separation costs		2,666			2,013			0.04			2,208		1,661		0.03
Specific charge for excess and obsolete inventory		-			-			-			11,995		9,016		0.15
Product rationalization		-			-			-			10,504		7,896		0.13
Non-recurring charge related to customer collections		-			-			-			4,997		3,761		0.06
Restructuring charges		-			-			-			5,172		3,874		0.06
Total non-U.S. GAAP adjustments		8,143			6,165			0.10			34,876		26,208		0.43
Adjusted net earnings (Non-U.S. GAAP)	$	462,114		$	379,136		$	6.11		$	310,644	$	258,576	$	4.21

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS TO EBIT1 AND ADJUSTED EBIT1
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net earnings (U.S. GAAP)	$	83,296		$	82,652		$	372,971		$	232,368
Income taxes		18,235			15,388			81,000			43,400
Interest expense		13,477			11,736			47,959			47,898
Interest income		(1,964	)		(1,361	)		(6,458	)		(2,751	)
EBIT (Non-U.S. GAAP)		113,044			108,415			495,472			320,915
Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments*		4,378			-			8,143			34,876
Adjusted EBIT (Non-U.S. GAAP)	$	117,422		$	108,415		$	503,615		$	355,791

*See Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings1 tables above for the list of Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments made in the applicable periods.

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS TO EBITDA1 AND ADJUSTED EBITDA1
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net earnings (U.S. GAAP)	$	83,296		$	82,652		$	372,971		$	232,368
Income taxes		18,235			15,388			81,000			43,400
Interest expense		13,477			11,736			47,959			47,898
Interest income		(1,964	)		(1,361	)		(6,458	)		(2,751	)
Amortization of intangible assets		8,244			9,500			33,592			37,589
Depreciation expense		21,084			20,942			82,578			82,154
EBITDA (Non-U.S. GAAP)		142,372			138,857			611,642			440,658
Non-U.S. GAAP adjustments*		4,378			-			8,143			34,876
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-U.S. GAAP)	$	146,750		$	138,857		$	619,785		$	475,534

*See Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings1 tables 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 September 30,					Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023		2024			2023
Nonsegment expenses (U.S. GAAP)	$	31,036		$	24,317	$	119,745		$	130,811
Non-recurring gain related to a previous acquisition		-			-		4,803			-
Business development activities		-			-		(5,902	)		-
Non-recurring charge related to a previous acquisition		(4,378	)		-		(4,378	)		-
Certain non-restructuring separation costs		-			-		(2,666	)		(2,208	)
Specific charge for excess and obsolete inventory		-			-		-			(11,995	)
Product rationalization		-			-		-			(10,504	)
Restructuring charges		-			-		-			(5,172	)
Non-recurring charge related to customer collections		-			-		-			(4,997	)
Adjusted nonsegment expenses (Non-U.S. GAAP)	$	26,658		$	24,317	$	111,602		$	95,935

Woodward, Inc. and Subsidiaries
RECONCILATION OF CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW1 AND ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW1
(Unaudited - in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Year Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net cash provided by operating activities (U.S. GAAP)	$	141,760		$	152,913		$	439,089		$	308,543
Payments for property, plant and equipment		(24,087	)		(19,358	)		(96,280	)		(76,500	)
Free cash flow (Non-U.S. GAAP)		117,673			133,555			342,809			232,043
Cash received for a non-recurring matter related to a previous acquisition		-			-			(4,803	)		-
Cash paid for business development activities		-			-			5,902			-
Cash paid for non-recurring matter unrelated to the ongoing operations of the businesses		-			-			2,725			-
Cash paid for certain non-restructuring separation costs		-			-			985			977
Cash paid for restructuring charges		-			1,613			-			5,207
Adjusted free cash flow (Non-U.S. GAAP)		117,673			135,168			347,618			238,227

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, (iii) non-recurring charge related to a previous acquisition, (iv) certain non-restructuring separation costs, (v) a specific charge for excess and obsolete inventory, (vi) product rationalization, (vii) a non-recurring charge related to customer collections, and (viii) restructuring charges. The product rationalization adjustment pertains to a non-recurring write-off of inventory and assets related to the elimination of certain product lines. The specific charge for excess and obsolete inventory pertains to a non-recurring process change that resulted in the identification and write down of certain excess inventory unrelated to product rationalization. The non-recurring charge related to customer collections pertains to a discrete process issue that was identified and corrected. 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. Adjusted free cash flow is free cash flow (defined below) minus cash received for a non-recurring matter related to a previous acquisition, plus cash paid for (i) business development activities, (ii) a non-recurring matter unrelated to the ongoing operations of the business, (iii) certain non-restructuring separation costs and (iv) restructuring charges. Management believes these adjustments to free cash flow better portray Woodward’s operating performance.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), free cash flow, adjusted 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, as well as adjusted free cash flow (as described above), 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 and 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 and adjusted 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, free cash flow, and adjusted 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.