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

Shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Co. (NYSE:WAB) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the six research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $206.33.

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America increased their price target 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. StockNews.com downgraded Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, 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.

Insider Transactions at Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

In other news, CEO Rafael Santana sold 886 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total value of $161,553.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 176,295 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $32,145,630.30. This trade represents a 0.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WAB. Camden National Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the third quarter worth $222,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd raised its position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 10.4% in the third quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,820 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position 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 buying an additional 13,683 shares in the last quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH purchased a new stake in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies in the third quarter worth $61,474,000. Finally, iA Global Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies by 21.5% in the third quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,613 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,383,000 after buying an additional 3,288 shares in the last quarter. 91.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies stock opened at $184.88 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $31.59 billion, a PE ratio of 30.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.31. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies has a 52 week low of $141.85 and a 52 week high of $210.88. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $192.77 and a 200-day moving average price of $190.56. 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 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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%. Equities analysts anticipate that Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a $0.25 dividend. This is a positive change from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.