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

Shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $206.33.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed 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. Bank of America upped their price objective on Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from $225.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd.

Insider Transactions at Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

In related news, CEO Rafael Santana sold 886 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 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. This represents a 0.50 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. iA Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,613 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,383,000 after buying an additional 3,288 shares in the last quarter. Longboard Asset Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at about $252,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 5.2% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 278,729 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $50,665,000 after acquiring an additional 13,683 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 88.8% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 31,811 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $6,031,000 after purchasing an additional 14,959 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new stake in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $61,474,000. 91.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Trading Down 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE:WAB opened at $181.52 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.69. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies has a 1 year low of $143.22 and a 1 year high of $210.88. The company has a market cap of $31.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.10, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.31. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $191.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $191.39.

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

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.25 dividend. This is a boost from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.55%. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 16.58%.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Company Profile

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.