Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) have earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $156.18.

WAB has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $156.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $135.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Stephens increased their price objective on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th.

Insider Activity at Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

In other news, insider Pascal Schweitzer sold 6,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.74, for a total value of $976,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,633 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,730,414.42. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Albert J. Neupaver sold 29,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.63, for a total transaction of $4,703,433.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 595,412 shares in the company, valued at $96,236,441.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Pascal Schweitzer sold 6,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.74, for a total value of $976,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,633 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,730,414.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 109,794 shares of company stock valued at $16,338,817 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WAB. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $204,000. First Hawaiian Bank lifted its holdings in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 49.1% in the fourth quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 3,542 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $449,000 after acquiring an additional 1,167 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trust boosted its position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 3,201 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $466,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $498,000. Finally, Handelsinvest Investeringsforvaltning purchased a new position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,030,000. 91.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Price Performance

Shares of WAB opened at $164.59 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $147.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $131.83. The stock has a market cap of $29.03 billion, a PE ratio of 32.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.36. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies has a 1-year low of $91.89 and a 1-year high of $167.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (NYSE:WAB) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The transportation company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.40 billion. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies had a return on equity of 11.25% and a net margin of 9.20%. The firm’s revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.28 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies will post 7.34 EPS for the current year.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This is an increase from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 15.63%.

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.