Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) CEO Rafael Santana Sells 886 Shares

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) CEO Rafael Santana sold 886 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total value of $161,553.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 176,295 shares in the company, valued at $32,145,630.30. The trade was a 0.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Stock Up 1.9 %

WAB stock traded up $3.38 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $184.57. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 784,800 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,151,528. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $196.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $188.22. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. has a 12 month low of $139.12 and a 12 month high of $210.88. The company has a market capitalization of $31.53 billion, a PE ratio of 30.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (NYSE:WAB) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is a positive change from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.58%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on WAB shares. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $225.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $220.00 target price on shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $206.33.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $110,000. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC acquired a new position in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $204,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new position in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the 4th quarter worth $205,000. Finally, Camden National Bank bought a new position in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth $222,000. 91.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.