What to Know About Curtiss-Wright EVP Disposing of $641,000 in Stock
Key Points
Sold 1,035 shares for a total transaction value of ~$641,000 on Aug. 27, 2026.
The transaction involved shares equal to 27% of the equity stake held before the filing.
The disposition was executed as a direct contribution of common stock to an exchange fund.
The officer maintains a direct position of 2,736 shares following the exchange's completion.
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John C. Watts, EVP & Chief Growth Officer, disposed of 1,035 shares of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) at $619.46 per share on Aug. 27, 2026. SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares sold | 1,035 |
| Transaction value | $641,141 |
| Post-transaction shares (directly held) | 2,736 |
| Post-transaction value | $1.66 million |
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($619.46); post-transaction value based on Aug. 27, 2026, market close ($605.49).
Key questions
- What was the structural nature of this disposition?
The reporting person contributed common stock to an exchange fund in exchange for shares of that fund rather than executing an open-market sale. This arrangement allows for portfolio diversification while the transaction was valued at the Aug. 26, 2026, closing price of $619.46. - How does the transaction price compare to recent market performance?
The shares were valued at $619.46 for the purposes of the exchange, reflecting a 24% total return for the stock over the 12 months ending on the transaction date. The market closed at $605.49 on the day the transaction was finalized, Aug. 27, 2026. - What is the current scale of the insider's remaining direct equity exposure?
Following this transaction, the officer holds 2,736 shares directly. This equity position is valued at $1.66 million as of the Aug. 27, 2026, market close, representing the officer's continuing stake in the company's operations across the aerospace, defense, and power generation sectors.
Company Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Share Price (as of market close 2026-08-26) | $619.46 |
| Market Capitalization | $22.9 billion |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.7 billion |
| Net Income (TTM) | $541.2 million |
Company Snapshot
- Curtiss-Wright Corporation manufactures highly engineered products and components for the aerospace, defense, general industrial, and power generation sectors, generating revenue through the sale of specialized components, integrated systems, and comprehensive solutions to a global customer base.
- The company operates through three primary business divisions -- Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power -- which collectively form the foundation of a diversified revenue model that capitalizes on long-term demand across multiple end markets.
- The company's primary customers include commercial and military aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, industrial equipment producers, and power generation operators, positioning Curtiss-Wright as a critical supplier for highly regulated, mission-critical applications.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with a $22.9 billion market capitalization and approximately 9,100 employees, generating $3.7 billion in TTM revenue with net income of $541.2 million. The company's strategic positioning across aerospace, defense, and industrial markets provides exposure to secular growth drivers, including military modernization, commercial aviation recovery, and industrial automation. With a one-year stock appreciation of 23.94%, Curtiss-Wright demonstrates strong investor confidence in its operational execution and market fundamentals.
What this transaction means for investors
As is often the case with executive and insider sales, I don't believe this transaction is anything for investors to focus on. It looks like pretty typical trading that helps executives diversify their holdings a bit and/or increase their overall liquidity. Because of the nature of these types of sales, they shouldn't be viewed as a bullish or bearish stance on the stock itself.
As for Curtiss-Wright's actual operations, the company is finally taking a bit of a breather after its share price soared from $200 to $800 within three years. CW's most recent earnings underwhelmed the market -- especially after its P/E ratio rose from 20 to 55 -- prompting the stock's recent sell-off back to $620. Sales growth slowed to 5% in Q2, but management still expects revenue and EPS to grow by 8.5% and 15% in 2026.
Ultimately, I still have Curtiss-Wright stock on my short list, as its nuclear operations are very promising, including an array of nuclear components for which it has a near monopoly. As the data center build-out races on at full speed ahead still, and small modular reactors seem like a promising solution to power them, I think CW stock's future remains bright, even if it has to grow into its valuation. That said, with the stock trading at 40 times forward earnings, investors should take their time with this stock and buy in small batches over time -- especially after last quarter's growth slowdown.
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Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Curtiss-Wright. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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