Curtiss-Wright Volume Dips 40% as High-Volume Stocks Power 166% Strategy Return

Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW) declined 0.21% on August 8, with a trading volume of $0.22 billion, down 40.18% from the prior day. Institutional activity highlighted shifting ownership, as New Age Alpha Advisors LLC reduced its stake by 71.6% in Q1, while Whipplewood Advisors LLC and Private Trust Co. NA significantly increased holdings. Insider transactions also drew attention, with VP John C. Watts and Director Bruce D. Hoechner selling shares, reducing their positions by 8.32% and 29.58%, respectively.

Analysts adjusted price targets, reflecting mixed sentiment. Morgan Stanley raised its target to $550 from $405 with an "overweight" rating, while Truist Financial cut its target to $338 and "hold." The stock now carries an average "Moderate Buy" rating and a $467.14 price target. Curtiss-Wright also announced a dividend increase to $0.24 per share, up from $0.21, maintaining an 8.54% payout ratio. Institutional ownership remains strong at 82.71%, with major firms like Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and GAMMA Investing LLC expanding stakes.

A backtest of a strategy purchasing top 500 high-volume stocks and holding for one day showed a 166.71% return from 2022 to present, outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This highlights liquidity concentration’s role in short-term performance, particularly in volatile markets. High-volume stocks like Newmont and McKesson demonstrated amplified price movements, underscoring liquidity’s impact on momentum-driven strategies.