<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2026-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108312</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Woodward, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WWD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001857038</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lacey William F.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1081 WOODWARD WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT COLLINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80524</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Woodward, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2043</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16585</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Woodward, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>332</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>391.53</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16253</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Woodward, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Woodward Retirement Savings Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted an award of Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;). RSUs vest at a rate of 34% of the award on February 10, 2027 and 33% each one-year anniversary thereafter. Upon vesting, the reporting person will receive one share of Woodward, Inc. Common Stock per RSU granted, as well as certain additional shares to be issued in connection with the dividend reinvestment provisions of the Issuer's RSU awards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total includes 65 additional shares and units issued in connection with the dividend reinvestment provisions of the Issuer's RSU awards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares reported as disposed of were withheld by the Issuer in order to cover withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of RSUs granted to the reporting person in a previous year. These shares were not issued to or sold by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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 February 9, 2026.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rebecca L. Dees, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
