Stock of the Day

June 1, 2020

Wabtec (WAB)

$286.46
-$1.30 (-0.5%)
Market Cap: $48.61B

About Wabtec

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides technology-based locomotives, equipment, systems, and services for the freight rail and passenger transit industries worldwide. It offers diesel-electric, battery, and liquid natural gas-powered locomotives; engines, electric motors, and propulsion systems; and marine and mining products. The company also offers positive train control equipment; pneumatic braking products; railway electronics; signal design and engineering services; distributed locomotive power, train cruise controls, and train remote controls; industrial/mobile Internet of Things hardware and software, edge-to-cloud, on and off-board analytics and rules, and asset performance management solutions; rail and shipper transportation management, and port visibility and optimization solutions; and network optimization solutions. In addition, it provides freight car trucks, braking equipment, and related components; air compressors and dryers; heat transfer components and systems; track and switch products; new commuter and switcher locomotives; and turbochargers. Further, the company offers freight locomotive overhauls, modernizations, and refurbishment services; locomotive and car maintenance; transit locomotive and car overhaul; unit exchange of locomotive components; and maintenance of way equipment and services. Additionally, it provides railway and freight braking equipment and related components; friction products, such as brake shoes, discs, and pads; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; access and platform screen doors; pantographs; auxiliary power converter and battery chargers; passenger information systems and closed-circuit television; signaling and railway electric relays; and doors, window assemblies, accessibility lifts, ramps, and electric charging solutions for buses. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Wabtec Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co.:

  • Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. recently secured a significant contract worth over $700 million to service iron-ore trains in Guinea, which demonstrates the company's ability to win large-scale international deals and supports its expanding services business.
  • The company reported strong second-quarter results with revenue of $3.18 billion, beating analyst expectations of $3.07 billion, and earnings per share of $2.76, which exceeded the consensus estimate of $2.60, indicating robust operational performance and demand for its rail equipment.
  • Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. has established a $2 billion commercial paper program, which provides the company with flexible access to capital markets and supports its liquidity and financial strategy for ongoing operations and growth initiatives.
  • Analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating with an average price target of $313.82, which is higher than the current stock price of $285.93, suggesting that the market believes the stock has room for further appreciation based on its fundamental strengths.
  • The company is leveraging additive manufacturing technology to address spare parts challenges for aging fleets in Europe, which positions Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. as an innovator in maintenance solutions and could drive future revenue from its services segment.

Wabtec Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. for these reasons:

  • CEO Rafael Santana has been consistently selling shares under a pre-arranged trading plan, including a recent sale of 1,087 shares at an average price of $291.79, which may signal insider caution or a desire to diversify holdings despite the company's strong performance.
  • Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. trades at a premium valuation with a P/E ratio of 28.86, which is higher than the broader market average, meaning investors are paying a high price for earnings and may face downside risk if growth slows or expectations are not met.
  • Short interest in the stock has increased in recent months, with shares shorted rising to 3,538,216 as of September 30, 2026, indicating that some market participants are betting against the stock's future performance or hedging their positions.
  • The company's dividend yield is relatively low at 0.43%, which may not be attractive to income-focused investors seeking higher cash returns, especially when compared to other industrial or transportation sector peers.
  • Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, which, while manageable, indicates a moderate level of leverage that could become a concern if interest rates rise or if the company faces unexpected operational challenges or capital expenditure needs.

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