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Retirement Benefits | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract] |
Retirement Benefits | Note 20. Retirement benefits Woodward provides various retirement benefits to eligible members of the Company, including contributions to various defined contribution plans, pension benefits associated with defined benefit plans, postretirement medical benefits, and postretirement life insurance benefits. Eligibility requirements and benefit levels vary depending on employee location. Defined contribution plans Most of the Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the U.S. defined contribution plan. The U.S. defined contribution plan allows employees to defer part of their annual income for income tax purposes into their personal 401(k) accounts. The Company makes matching contributions to eligible employee accounts, which are also deferred for employee personal income tax purposes. Certain non-U.S. employees are also eligible to participate in similar non-U.S. plans. Most of Woodward's U.S. employees receive an annual contribution of Woodward stock, equal to 5% of their eligible prior year wages, to their personal Woodward Retirement Savings Plan accounts. In the second quarters of fiscal years 2024, 2023, and 2022, Woodward fulfilled its annual Woodward stock contribution obligation using shares held in treasury stock by issuing a total of 159 shares of common stock for a value of $21,889 in fiscal year 2024, 188 total shares of common stock for a value of $19,466 in fiscal year 2023, and 150 shares of common stock for a value of $17,132 in fiscal year 2022. The Woodward Retirement Savings Plan (the “WRS Plan”) held 2,222 shares of Woodward stock as of September 30, 2024 and 2,441 shares as of September 30, 2023. The shares held in the WRS Plan participate in dividends and are considered issued and outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share. Accrued liabilities included obligations to contribute shares of Woodward common stock to the WRS Plan in the amount of $19,532 as of September 30, 2024 and $16,634 as of September 30, 2023. The amount of expense associated with defined contribution plans was as follows:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Company costs |  | $ | 51,148 |  |  | $ | 44,202 |  |  | $ | 40,898 |
Defined benefit plans Woodward has defined benefit plans that provide pension benefits for certain retired employees in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. Woodward also provides other postretirement benefits to its employees including postretirement medical benefits and life insurance benefits. Postretirement medical benefits are provided to certain current and retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries in the United States and the United Kingdom. Life insurance benefits are provided to certain retirees in the United States under frozen plans, which are no longer available to current employees. A September 30 measurement date is utilized to value plan assets and obligations for all of Woodward’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Excluding the Woodward HRT Plan, which is only partially frozen to salaried participants, the defined benefit plans in the United States were frozen in fiscal year 2007; no additional employees may participate in the U.S. plans, and no additional service costs will be incurred. Pension Plans The actuarial assumptions used in measuring the net periodic benefit cost and plan obligations of retirement pension benefits were as follows:
|  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
United States: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  | 5.05 | % |  |  | 6.20 | % |  |  | 5.70 | %
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  | 6.20 |  |  |  | 5.70 |  |  |  | 3.05 |
Long-term rate of return on plan assets |  |  | 6.03 |  |  |  | 5.53 |  |  |  | 5.00 |
The discount rate assumption is intended to reflect the rate at which the retirement benefits could be effectively settled based upon the assumed timing of the benefit payments. In the United States, Woodward uses a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding to determine the benefit obligations at year end.
|  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
United Kingdom: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  | 5.28 | % |  |  | 5.85 | % |  |  | 5.35 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 3.40 |  |  |  | 3.60 |  |  |  | 4.00 |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate - service cost |  |  | 5.91 |  |  |  | 4.99 |  |  |  | 2.15 |
Discount rate - interest cost |  |  | 5.84 |  |  |  | 5.71 |  |  |  | 1.83 |
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 3.60 |  |  |  | 4.00 |  |  |  | 4.00 |
Long-term rate of return on plan assets |  |  | 4.90 |  |  |  | 4.80 |  |  |  | 3.80 |
|  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Japan: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  | 1.92 | % |  |  | 2.01 | % |  |  | 1.60 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 3.00 |  |  |  | 2.00 |  |  |  | 2.00 |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate - service cost |  |  | 2.20 |  |  |  | 1.78 |  |  |  | 1.13 |
Discount rate - interest cost |  |  | 1.58 |  |  |  | 1.17 |  |  |  | 0.65 |
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 2.00 |  |  |  | 2.00 |  |  |  | 2.25 |
Long-term rate of return on plan assets |  |  | 3.25 |  |  |  | 2.75 |  |  |  | 2.00 |
|  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Germany: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  | 3.58 | % |  |  | 4.27 | % |  |  | 3.97 | %
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 2.50 |  |  |  | 2.50 |  |  |  | 2.50 |
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate - service cost |  |  | 4.23 |  |  |  | 3.95 |  |  |  | 1.54 |
Discount rate - interest cost |  |  | 4.29 |  |  |  | 3.91 |  |  |  | 1.06 |
Rate of compensation increase |  |  | 2.50 |  |  |  | 2.50 |  |  |  | 2.50 |
In the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan, Woodward uses a high-quality corporate bond yield curve matched with separate cash flows to develop a single rate to determine the single rate equivalent to settle the entire benefit obligations in each jurisdiction. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the discount rate used to determine periodic service cost and interest cost components of the overall benefit costs was based on spot rates derived from the same high-quality corporate bond yield curve used to determine the September 30, 2023 and 2022 benefit obligation, respectively, matched with separate cash flows for each future year. Compensation increase assumptions, where applicable, are based upon historical experience and anticipated future management actions. In determining the long-term rate of return on plan assets, Woodward assumes that the historical long-term compound growth rates of equity and fixed-income securities will predict the future returns of similar investments in the plan portfolio. Investment management and other fees paid out of the plan assets are factored into the determination of asset return assumptions. Mortality assumptions are based on published mortality studies developed primarily based on past experience of the broad population and modified for projected longevity trends. The projected benefit obligations in the United States as of September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 were based on the Society of Actuaries (“SOA”) Pri-2012 Mortality Tables Report using the SOA’s Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2019 (“MP-2019”) and projected forward using a custom projection scale based on MP-2019 with a 5-year convergence period and a long-term rate of 0.75%. As of September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, mortality assumptions in Japan were based on the Standard rates 2020, and mortality assumptions for the United Kingdom pension scheme were based on the self-administered pension scheme (“SAPS”) S3 “all” tables with a projected 1.5% annual improvement rate. As of September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, mortality assumptions in Germany were based on the Heubeck 2018 G mortality tables. Net periodic benefit costs consist of the following components reflected as expense in Woodward’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Service cost |  | $ | 775 |  |  | $ | 893 |  |  | $ | 1,554 |  |  | $ | 1,244 |  |  | $ | 1,333 |  |  | $ | 2,339 |  |  | $ | 2,019 |  |  | $ | 2,226 |  |  | $ | 3,893 |
Interest cost |  |  | 7,598 |  |  |  | 7,297 |  |  |  | 5,281 |  |  |  | 3,213 |  |  |  | 3,137 |  |  |  | 1,612 |  |  |  | 10,811 |  |  |  | 10,434 |  |  |  | 6,893 |
Expected return on plan assets |  |  | (9,084 | ) |  |  | (8,297 | ) |  |  | (10,853 | ) |  |  | (2,406 | ) |  |  | (2,300 | ) |  |  | (2,434 | ) |  |  | (11,490 | ) |  |  | (10,597 | ) |  |  | (13,287 | )
Amortization of: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss (gain) |  |  | 226 |  |  |  | 292 |  |  |  | 259 |  |  |  | (679 | ) |  |  | (620 | ) |  |  | 555 |  |  |  | (453 | ) |  |  | (328 | ) |  |  | 814 |
Net prior service cost |  |  | 698 |  |  |  | 698 |  |  |  | 981 |  |  |  | 23 |  |  |  | 22 |  |  |  | 23 |  |  |  | 721 |  |  |  | 720 |  |  |  | 1,004 |
Net periodic cost (benefit) |  | $ | 213 |  |  | $ | 883 |  |  | $ | (2,778 | ) |  | $ | 1,395 |  |  | $ | 1,572 |  |  | $ | 2,095 |  |  | $ | 1,608 |  |  | $ | 2,455 |  |  | $ | (683 | )
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the projected benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the defined benefit pension plans:
|  | At or for the Year Ended September 30, |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Changes in projected benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year |  | $ | 127,222 |  |  | $ | 132,444 |  |  | $ | 67,263 |  |  | $ | 65,477 |  |  | $ | 194,485 |  |  | $ | 197,921 |
Plan amendment |  |  | 1,121 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,121 |  |  |  | — |
Service cost |  |  | 775 |  |  |  | 893 |  |  |  | 1,244 |  |  |  | 1,333 |  |  |  | 2,019 |  |  |  | 2,226 |
Interest cost |  |  | 7,598 |  |  |  | 7,297 |  |  |  | 3,213 |  |  |  | 3,137 |  |  |  | 10,811 |  |  |  | 10,434 |
Net actuarial losses (gains) |  |  | 13,249 |  |  |  | (4,946 | ) |  |  | 4,128 |  |  |  | (4,442 | ) |  |  | 17,377 |  |  |  | (9,388 | )
Contribution by participants |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 11 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (9,010 | ) |  |  | (8,466 | ) |  |  | (3,647 | ) |  |  | (3,365 | ) |  |  | (12,657 | ) |  |  | (11,831 | )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5,134 |  |  |  | 5,112 |  |  |  | 5,134 |  |  |  | 5,112 |
Projected benefit obligation at end of year |  | $ | 140,955 |  |  | $ | 127,222 |  |  | $ | 77,347 |  |  | $ | 67,263 |  |  | $ | 218,302 |  |  | $ | 194,485 |
Changes in fair value of plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |  | $ | 155,370 |  |  | $ | 154,481 |  |  | $ | 50,775 |  |  | $ | 47,579 |  |  | $ | 206,145 |  |  | $ | 202,060 |
Actual return on plan assets |  |  | 33,382 |  |  |  | 9,355 |  |  |  | 3,866 |  |  |  | 573 |  |  |  | 37,248 |  |  |  | 9,928 |
Contributions by the Company |  |  | 175 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,863 |  |  |  | 2,322 |  |  |  | 2,038 |  |  |  | 2,322 |
Contributions by plan participants |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 11 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (9,010 | ) |  |  | (8,466 | ) |  |  | (3,647 | ) |  |  | (3,365 | ) |  |  | (12,657 | ) |  |  | (11,831 | )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,607 |  |  |  | 3,655 |  |  |  | 4,607 |  |  |  | 3,655 |
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |  | $ | 179,917 |  |  | $ | 155,370 |  |  | $ | 57,476 |  |  | $ | 50,775 |  |  | $ | 237,393 |  |  | $ | 206,145 |
Net over/(under) funded status at end of year |  | $ | 38,962 |  |  | $ | 28,148 |  |  | $ | (19,871 | ) |  | $ | (16,488 | ) |  | $ | 19,091 |  |  | $ | 11,660 |
At September 30, 2024, the Company’s defined benefit pension plans in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany represented $34,220, $6,747, and $36,380 of the total projected benefit obligation, respectively. At September 30, 2024, the United Kingdom and Japan pension plan assets represented $48,098 and $9,378 of the total fair value of all plan assets, respectively. The German pension plans are unfunded and have no plan assets. The largest contributor to the net actuarial losses affecting the funded status for the defined benefit pension plans in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany is due to a decrease in the discount rates. The accumulated benefit obligations of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans at September 30, 2024 was $140,955 in the United States, $33,766 in the United Kingdom, $5,958 in Japan, and $36,380 in Germany, and at September 30, 2023 was $127,222 in the United States, $30,067 in the United Kingdom, $5,790 in Japan, and $30,547 in Germany.
|  | Plans with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets |  |  | Plans with accumulated benefit obligation less than plan assets |
|  | At September 30, |  |  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Projected benefit obligation |  | $ | (56,783 | ) |  | $ | (49,726 | ) |  | $ | (161,519 | ) |  | $ | (144,759 | )
Accumulated benefit obligation |  |  | (56,757 | ) |  |  | (49,711 | ) |  |  | (160,302 | ) |  |  | (143,914 | )
Fair value of plan assets |  |  | 20,053 |  |  |  | 18,047 |  |  |  | 217,340 |  |  |  | 188,098 |
The following tables provide the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses for the defined benefit pension plans:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other non-current assets |  | $ | 39,148 |  |  | $ | 29,172 |  |  | $ | 16,673 |  |  | $ | 14,167 |  |  | $ | 55,821 |  |  | $ | 43,339 |
Accrued liabilities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (1,166 | ) |  |  | (1,084 | ) |  |  | (1,166 | ) |  |  | (1,084 | )
Other non-current liabilities |  |  | (186 | ) |  |  | (1,024 | ) |  |  | (35,378 | ) |  |  | (29,571 | ) |  |  | (35,564 | ) |  |  | (30,595 | )
Net over/(under) funded status at end of year |  | $ | 38,962 |  |  | $ | 28,148 |  |  | $ | (19,871 | ) |  | $ | (16,488 | ) |  | $ | 19,091 |  |  | $ | 11,660 |
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses consist of: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized net prior service cost |  | $ | 3,200 |  |  | $ | 2,777 |  |  | $ | 509 |  |  | $ | 487 |  |  | $ | 3,709 |  |  | $ | 3,264 |
Unrecognized net losses (gains) |  |  | (2,749 | ) |  |  | 8,527 |  |  |  | (4,655 | ) |  |  | (7,847 | ) |  |  | (7,404 | ) |  |  | 680 |
Total amounts recognized |  |  | 451 |  |  |  | 11,304 |  |  |  | (4,146 | ) |  |  | (7,360 | ) |  |  | (3,695 | ) |  |  | 3,944 |
Deferred taxes |  |  | (3,499 | ) |  |  | (6,101 | ) |  |  | (191 | ) |  |  | 808 |  |  |  | (3,690 | ) |  |  | (5,293 | )
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses |  | $ | (3,048 | ) |  | $ | 5,203 |  |  | $ | (4,337 | ) |  | $ | (6,552 | ) |  | $ | (7,385 | ) |  | $ | (1,349 | )
The following table reconciles the changes in accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses for the defined benefit pension plans:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Beginning of year |  | $ | 11,304 |  |  | $ | 18,297 |  |  | $ | (7,360 | ) |  | $ | (4,997 | ) |  | $ | 3,944 |  |  | $ | 13,300 |
Net (gain) loss |  |  | (11,050 | ) |  |  | (6,003 | ) |  |  | 2,668 |  |  |  | (2,716 | ) |  |  | (8,382 | ) |  |  | (8,719 | )
Prior service cost |  |  | 1,121 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,121 |  |  |  | — |
Amortization of: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net (loss) gain |  |  | (226 | ) |  |  | (292 | ) |  |  | 679 |  |  |  | 620 |  |  |  | 453 |  |  |  | 328 |
Prior service cost |  |  | (698 | ) |  |  | (698 | ) |  |  | (23 | ) |  |  | (22 | ) |  |  | (721 | ) |  |  | (720 | )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (110 | ) |  |  | (245 | ) |  |  | (110 | ) |  |  | (245 | )
End of year |  | $ | 451 |  |  | $ | 11,304 |  |  | $ | (4,146 | ) |  | $ | (7,360 | ) |  | $ | (3,695 | ) |  | $ | 3,944 |
Pension benefit payments are made from the assets of the pension plans. The German pension plans are unfunded; therefore, benefit payments are made from Company contributions into these plans as required to meet the payment obligations. Using foreign exchange rates as of September 30, 2024 and expected future service assumptions, it is anticipated that the future benefit payments will be as follows:
Year Ending September 30, |  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
2025 |  | $ | 9,637 |  |  | $ | 3,553 |  |  | $ | 13,190 |
2026 |  |  | 9,997 |  |  |  | 3,656 |  |  |  | 13,653 |
2027 |  |  | 10,253 |  |  |  | 3,768 |  |  |  | 14,021 |
2028 |  |  | 10,481 |  |  |  | 4,047 |  |  |  | 14,528 |
2029 |  |  | 10,655 |  |  |  | 4,097 |  |  |  | 14,752 |
2030-2034 |  |  | 53,308 |  |  |  | 24,350 |  |  |  | 77,658 |
Woodward expects its pension plan contributions in fiscal year 2025 will be $277 in the United Kingdom, $147 in Japan, and $1,185 in Germany. Woodward expects to have no pension plan contributions in fiscal year 2025 in the United States. Pension plan assets The overall investment objective of the pension plan assets is to earn a rate of return over time which, when combined with Company contributions, satisfies the benefit obligations of the pension plans and maintains sufficient liquidity to pay benefits. As the timing and nature of the plan obligations varies for each Company sponsored pension plan, investment strategies have been individually designed for each pension plan with a common focus on maintaining diversified investment portfolios that provide for long-term growth while minimizing the risk to principal associated with short-term market behavior. The strategy for each of the plans balances the requirements to generate returns, using investments expected to produce higher returns, such as equity securities, with the need to control risk within the pension plans using less volatile investment assets, such as debt securities. A strategy of more equity-oriented allocation is adopted for those plans which have a longer-term investment plan based on the timing of the associated benefit obligations. Risks associated with the plan assets include interest rate fluctuation risk, market fluctuation risk, risk of default by debt issuers, and liquidity risk. To manage these risks, the assets are managed by established, professional investment firms and performance is evaluated regularly by the Company’s investment committee against specific benchmarks and each plan’s investment objectives. Liability management and asset class diversification are central to the Company’s risk management approach and overall investment strategy. The assets of the U.S. plans are invested in actively managed mutual funds. The assets of the plans in the United Kingdom and Japan are invested in actively managed pooled investment funds. Each individual mutual fund or pooled investment fund has been selected based on the investment strategy of the related plan, which mirrors a specific asset class within the associated target allocation. The plans in Germany are unfunded and have no plan assets. Pension plan assets at September 30, 2024 and 2023 do not include any direct investment in Woodward’s common stock. The asset allocations are monitored and rebalanced regularly by investment managers assigned to the individual pension plans. The actual allocations of pension plan assets and target allocation ranges by asset class, are as follows:
|  | At September 30,
|  | 2024 |  | 2023
|  | Percentage of Plan Assets |  | Target Allocation Ranges |  | Percentage of Plan Assets |  | Target Allocation Ranges
United States: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Class |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Securities |  | 30.5% |  | 2.3% |  |  | — |  |  | 51.1% |  | 31.9% |  | 2.3% |  |  | — |  |  | 51.2%
Debt Securities |  | 67.6% |  | 58.9% |  |  | — |  |  | 96.7% |  | 66.6% |  | 58.8% |  |  | — |  |  | 96.5%
Other |  | 1.9% |  | 0.0% |  | 1.5% |  | 0.0%
|  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United Kingdom: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Class |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Securities |  | 0.0% |  | 0.0% |  | 20.7% |  | 10.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 30.0%
Debt Securities |  | 95.8% |  | 90.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 100.0% |  | 79.2% |  | 70.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 90.0%
Other |  | 4.2% |  | 0.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 10.0% |  | 0.1% |  | 0.0%
|  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Japan: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Class |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Securities |  | 39.7% |  | 36.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 44.0% |  | 40.0% |  | 36.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 44.0%
Debt Securities |  | 59.4% |  | 55.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 63.0% |  | 60.0% |  | 55.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 63.0%
Other |  | 0.9% |  | 0.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 2.0% |  | 0.0% |  | 0.0% |  |  | — |  |  | 2.0%
|  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.0% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Actual allocations to each asset class can vary from target allocations due to periodic market value fluctuations, investment strategy changes, and the timing of benefit payments and contributions. The following tables present Woodward’s pension plan assets using the fair value hierarchy established by U.S. GAAP:
|  | At September 30, 2024 |
|  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  |  |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
Asset Category: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 3,370 |  |  | $ | 2,130 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,500 |
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. corporate bond fund |  |  | 121,581 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 121,581 |
U.S. equity large cap fund |  |  | 33,454 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 33,454 |
International equity large cap growth fund |  |  | 21,512 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 21,512 |
Pooled funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Japanese equity securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,939 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,939 |
International equity securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,786 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,786 |
Japanese fixed income securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,157 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,157 |
International fixed income securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,409 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,409 |
Index linked U.K. corporate bonds fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 17,085 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 17,085 |
Index linked U.K. government securities fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12,049 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12,049 |
Index linked U.K. long-term government securities fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,924 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,924 |
Index U.K long-term government securities fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,997 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,997 |
Total assets |  | $ | 179,917 |  |  | $ | 2,130 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 55,346 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 237,393 |
|  | At September 30, 2023 |
|  | Level 1 |  |  | Level 2 |  |  | Level 3 |  |  |  |
|  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | United States |  |  | Other Countries |  |  | Total |
Asset Category: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 2,385 |  |  | $ | 149 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,534 |
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. corporate bond fund |  |  | 103,401 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 103,401 |
U.S. equity large cap fund |  |  | 31,136 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 31,136 |
International equity large cap growth fund |  |  | 18,448 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 18,448 |
Pooled funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Japanese equity securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,830 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,830 |
International equity securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,600 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,600 |
Japanese fixed income securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3,785 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3,785 |
International fixed income securities |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,287 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,287 |
Global target return equity/bond fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 8,719 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 8,719 |
Index linked U.K. corporate bonds fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,319 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,319 |
Index linked U.K. government securities fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,601 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,601 |
Index linked U.K. long-term government securities fund |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,485 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,485 |
Total assets |  | $ | 155,370 |  |  | $ | 149 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 50,626 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 206,145 |
Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents held by the Company’s pension plans are held on deposit with creditworthy financial institutions. The fair value of the cash and cash equivalents are based on the quoted market price of the respective currency in which the cash is maintained. Pension assets invested in mutual funds: The assets of the Company’s U.S. pension plans are invested in various mutual funds which invest in both equity and debt securities. The fair value of the mutual funds is determined based on the quoted market price of each fund. Pension assets invested in pooled funds: The assets of the Company’s Japan and United Kingdom pension plans are invested in pooled investment funds, which include both equity and debt securities. The assets of the United Kingdom pension plan are invested in index-linked pooled funds which aim to replicate the movements of an underlying market index to which the fund is linked. Fair value of the pooled funds is based on the net asset value of shares held by the plan as reported by the fund sponsors. All pooled funds held by plans outside of the United States are considered to be invested in international equity and debt securities. Although the underlying securities may be largely domestic to the plan holding the investment assets, the underlying assets are considered international from the perspective of the Company. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 assets in fiscal years 2024 or 2023. Other postretirement benefit plans Woodward provides other postretirement benefits to its employees including postretirement medical benefits and life insurance benefits. Postretirement medical benefits are provided to certain current and retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries in the United States. Benefits include the option to elect company provided medical insurance coverage to age 65 and a Medicare supplemental plan after age 65. Life insurance benefits are also provided to certain retirees in the United States under frozen plans which are no longer available to current employees. A September 30 measurement date is utilized to value plan assets and obligations for Woodward’s other postretirement benefit plans. The postretirement medical benefit plans, other than the plan assumed in an acquisition in fiscal year 2009, were frozen in fiscal year 2006, and no additional employees may participate in the plans. Generally, employees who had attained age 55 and had rendered 10 or more years of service before the plans were frozen were eligible for these postretirement medical benefits. Certain participating retirees are required to contribute to the plans in order to maintain coverage. The plans provide postretirement medical benefits for approximately 3 retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries and may provide future benefits to 347 active employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries, upon retirement, if the employees elect to participate. All the postretirement medical plans are fully insured for retirees who have attained age 65. The actuarial assumptions used in measuring the net periodic benefit cost and plan obligations of postretirement benefits were as follows:
|  | At September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine benefit obligation |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 6.25 | % |  |  | 5.70 | %
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost |  |  | 6.25 |  |  |  | 5.70 |  |  |  | 2.80 |
The discount rate assumption is intended to reflect the rate at which the postretirement benefits could be effectively settled based upon the assumed timing of the benefit payments. Woodward used a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding to determine the benefit obligations at year end. Mortality assumptions are based on published mortality studies developed primarily based on past experience of the broad population and modified for projected longevity trends. The projected benefit obligations in the United States as of September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 were based on the SOA Pri-2012 Mortality Tables Report using the SOA’s MP-2019 and projected forward using a custom projection scale based on MP-2019 with a 5-year convergence period and a long-term rate of 0.75%. Assumed healthcare cost trend rates at September 30, were as follows:
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year |  |  | 6.00 | % |  |  | 6.00 | %
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline |  |  |  |  |  |
(the ultimate trend rate) |  |  | 5.00 | % |  |  | 5.00 | %
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate |  | 2030 |  |  | 2030 |
Net periodic benefit costs consist of the following components reflected as expense in Woodward’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Service cost |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 1 |
Interest cost |  |  | 902 |  |  |  | 904 |  |  |  | 577 |
Amortization of: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain |  |  | (555 | ) |  |  | (495 | ) |  |  | (94 | )
Net periodic cost |  | $ | 347 |  |  | $ | 410 |  |  | $ | 484 |
The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the postretirement benefits:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Changes in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at beginning of year |  | $ | 15,336 |  |  | $ | 16,797 |
Service cost |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1 |
Interest cost |  |  | 902 |  |  |  | 904 |
Premiums paid by plan participants |  |  | 834 |  |  |  | 873 |
Net actuarial loss (gain) |  |  | 597 |  |  |  | (682 | )
Benefits paid |  |  | (2,466 | ) |  |  | (2,557 | )
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at end of year |  | $ | 15,203 |  |  | $ | 15,336 |
Changes in fair value of plan assets: |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Contributions by the company |  |  | 1,632 |  |  |  | 1,684 |
Premiums paid by plan participants |  |  | 834 |  |  |  | 873 |
Benefits paid |  |  | (2,466 | ) |  |  | (2,557 | )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Funded status at end of year |  | $ | (15,203 | ) |  | $ | (15,336 | )
The following tables provide the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses for the postretirement plans:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of: |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities |  | $ | (1,668 | ) |  | $ | (1,739 | )
Other non-current liabilities |  |  | (13,535 | ) |  |  | (13,597 | )
Funded status at end of year |  | $ | (15,203 | ) |  | $ | (15,336 | )
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of: |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized net prior service cost (benefit) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Unrecognized net gains |  |  | (5,260 | ) |  |  | (6,412 | )
Total amounts recognized |  |  | (5,260 | ) |  |  | (6,412 | )
Deferred taxes |  |  | 1,009 |  |  |  | 1,292 |
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) |  | $ | (4,251 | ) |  | $ | (5,120 | )
Woodward pays plan benefits from its general funds; therefore, there are no segregated plan assets as of September 30, 2024 or September 30, 2023. The accumulated benefit obligations of the Company’s postretirement plans were $15,203 at September 30, 2024 and $15,336 at September 30, 2023. The largest contributor to the actuarial loss affecting the Company’s postretirement plans accumulated benefit obligations was a decrease in the discount rate. The following table reconciles the changes in accumulated other comprehensive (earnings) losses for the other postretirement benefit plans:
|  | Year Ended September 30, |
|  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Beginning of year |  | $ | (6,412 | ) |  | $ | (6,225 | )
Net loss (gain) |  |  | 597 |  |  |  | (682 | )
Amortization of: |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain |  |  | 555 |  |  |  | 495 |
End of year |  | $ | (5,260 | ) |  | $ | (6,412 | )
Using expected future service, it is anticipated that the future Company contributions to pay benefits for other postretirement benefit plans, excluding participate contributions, will be as follows:
Year Ending September 30, |  |  |
2025 |  | $ | 2,519 |
2026 |  |  | 2,447 |
2027 |  |  | 2,357 |
2028 |  |  | 2,267 |
2029 |  |  | 2,171 |
2030-2034 |  |  | 9,101 |

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