Stock Buyback Program Initiated by Wabtec (NYSE:WAB) Board of Directors

Wabtec (NYSE:WAB) announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, February 11th, RTT News reports. The company plans to buyback $1.20 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the transportation company to buy up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Wabtec Stock Performance

WAB opened at $254.29 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 1.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.96, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.01. Wabtec has a fifty-two week low of $151.81 and a fifty-two week high of $260.59. The company has a fifty day moving average of $224.73 and a 200 day moving average of $206.45.

Wabtec (NYSE:WAB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The transportation company reported $2.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.08 by $0.02. Wabtec had a net margin of 10.94% and a return on equity of 13.84%. The firm had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.68 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Wabtec has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.050-10.450 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Wabtec will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wabtec Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. This is a positive change from Wabtec’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th. Wabtec’s payout ratio is 14.53%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on WAB. Wolfe Research raised Wabtec from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $245.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Wabtec from $228.00 to $233.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Wabtec from $221.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Wabtec in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Wabtec from $215.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $241.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Wabtec news, VP David L. Deninno sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $214.62, for a total value of $1,073,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 50,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,827,579. This trade represents a 9.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Michael Fetsko sold 5,058 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.72, for a total value of $1,091,111.76. Following the sale, the insider owned 36,882 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,956,185.04. This trade represents a 12.06% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 13,875 shares of company stock worth $2,978,789 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Wabtec

Here are the key news stories impacting Wabtec this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations (EPS $2.10 vs ~$2.08 est.; revenue ~ $2.96–2.97B) and management raised full‑year 2026 guidance while reporting a record $27B backlog — the core reasons the stock moved up. Wabtec shares rise 3% as record backlog and strong earnings drive optimistic outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Company emphasized Freight strength and acquisition-driven growth; Zacks and other coverage note ~25% EPS jump y/y and ~15% revenue growth, underpinning the bullish outlook. Wabtec Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Both Increase Y/Y
• Positive Sentiment: Wabtec completed the ~$960M acquisition of Dellner Couplers, expanding its passenger-transit product set and global footprint (13 countries) — a strategic bolt‑on that should lift transit revenue and cross‑sell opportunities. Wabtec Finalizes Acquisition of Dellner Couplers
• Positive Sentiment: Wabtec announced large locomotive/orders (roughly $2.5B in deals across major railroads, including a $670M CSX modernization order), supporting near‑term revenue visibility and backlog conversion. Wabtec signs $2.5 billion in locomotive deals. Will there be new Erie jobs?
• Positive Sentiment: Management launched the EVO modernization program and is guiding 2026 sales growth (~+10.5%), reiterating confidence in aftermarket/upgrades as a recurring revenue driver. Wabtec expects 2026 sales up 10.5% and launches EVO modernization amid record $27B backlog
• Neutral Sentiment: Short interest has declined recently (~14% drop in January), reducing one potential headwind but not a major directional driver on its own.

Wabtec Company Profile

Wabtec Corporation (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) is a global provider of equipment, systems and services for the rail industry. The company supplies products and solutions to freight railroads, transit agencies and other industrial operators, focusing on technologies that improve the performance, safety and efficiency of locomotives and rail networks. Wabtec’s business spans new equipment manufacturing, aftermarket parts and services, and digital and control systems for rail operations.

Product and service offerings include locomotive systems and components, braking and air systems, propulsion and traction equipment, signaling and control technologies, and a range of aftermarket services such as maintenance, remanufacturing, parts distribution and fleet modernization.