Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $206.33.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com cut Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $220.00 price objective on shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $225.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Trading Down 2.0 %

Shares of WAB opened at $181.57 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $195.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $189.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.27. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies has a 12-month low of $139.12 and a 12-month high of $210.88.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (NYSE:WAB) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The transportation company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.74 by ($0.06). Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies had a return on equity of 12.78% and a net margin of 10.17%. As a group, research analysts predict that Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. This is a boost from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 16.58%.

Insider Activity at Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

In other Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies news, CEO Rafael Santana sold 886 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total transaction of $161,553.24. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 176,295 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $32,145,630.30. The trade was a 0.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WAB. Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth about $61,474,000. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth about $24,630,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 4th quarter worth about $22,509,000. AGF Management Ltd. bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 4th quarter worth about $10,566,000. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth about $7,128,000. 91.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

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.