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Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew 8.4% to $2.89 billion: Freight and Transit both contributed to the increase; the Freight increase includes the Inspection Technologies acquisition. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 16.0% to $2.32: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.81, up 11.0%. Management attributed both measures to higher sales, operating margin expansion and prior quarter share repurchases. Source
  • Operating margin rose on gross margin: GAAP operating margin was 17.0%, up 0.7 points; adjusted operating margin was 21.0%, up 1.3 points. Operating expenses as a share of revenue partly offset the gain. Source
  • Equipment and Digital drove Freight growth: Equipment sales rose 32.0% on higher locomotive deliveries; Digital sales rose 45.6% on the Inspection Technologies acquisition. Source
  • Total backlog up 15.0% to $25.6 billion: Total backlog was $25,577 million at September 30, 2025, against $22,234 million a year earlier and $21,828 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined in quarter: Cash from operations was $367 million against $542 million a year earlier; operating cash flow conversion was 83%, against 129%. Source

“Our team’s commitment to product innovation, disciplined cost management, focused execution and partnership with our customers has been instrumental in driving our ongoing success.”

Rafael Santana, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$8.85 to $9.05Raised from $8.55 to $9.15
Adjusted EPS growth at midpoint Sourcefull year 2025up 18.4% at the midpointRaised
Revenue Sourcefull year 2025$10.925 billion - $11.225 billionKept
Operating cash flow conversion Sourcefull year 2025greater than 90 percentKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance range raised and narrowed to $8.85 to $9.05 from $8.55 to $9.15. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year revenue range was carried over from the second quarter release without change. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew 8.4% to $2.89 billion: Freight and Transit both contributed to the increase; the Freight increase includes the Inspection Technologies acquisition. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 16.0% to $2.32: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.81, up 11.0%. Management attributed both measures to higher sales, operating margin expansion and prior quarter share repurchases. Source
  • Operating margin rose on gross margin: GAAP operating margin was 17.0%, up 0.7 points; adjusted operating margin was 21.0%, up 1.3 points. Operating expenses as a share of revenue partly offset the gain. Source

Freight and Transit segments

  • Freight sales rose 8.4%: Freight segment sales were $2,093 million, against $1,930 million a year earlier. Source
  • Freight GAAP margin eased slightly: GAAP operating margin was 19.8% against 20.2%; improved gross margin was offset by higher operating expenses and Inspection Technologies purchase accounting adjustments. Source
  • Freight adjusted margin edged higher: Freight adjusted operating margin was 24.5% against 24.1%, with gross margin gains partly offset by higher operating expenses as a percentage of revenue. Source
  • Transit sales and margins rose: Transit segment sales were $793 million, up from $733 million. GAAP operating margin was 14.5% against 10.8%; adjusted operating margin was 15.5% against 12.8%. Source

“Our team’s dedication positions us to drive Wabtec’s success, even in a dynamic and uncertain economic environment.”

Rafael Santana, President and CEO

Freight product lines

  • Equipment and Digital drove Freight growth: Equipment sales rose 32.0% on higher locomotive deliveries; Digital sales rose 45.6% on the Inspection Technologies acquisition. Source
  • Services declined; Components edged up: Services sales were $744 million against $842 million, tied to modernization delivery timing; Components were $375 million against $371 million. Source
  • Transit OE and aftermarket both higher: Transit original equipment manufacturer sales were $367 million against $349 million; aftermarket sales were $426 million against $384 million. Source

Costs, margins and EBITDA

  • Gross margin up 1.7 points: GAAP gross margin was 34.7%, and adjusted gross margin was 35.6%, up 2.3 points from 33.3%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose to 17.7% of sales: Total operating expenses were $511 million against $447 million; selling, general and administrative expenses were $375 million against $318 million. Source
  • Adjustments excluded $116 million from operating income: Adjusted operating income was $607 million, after restructuring $6 million, inventory purchase accounting $24 million, transaction costs $9 million and non-cash amortization $77 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA compared with last year: Adjusted EBITDA was $658 million, against $567 million in the third quarter of 2024. Source

Backlog and order book

  • Total backlog up 15.0% to $25.6 billion: Total backlog was $25,577 million at September 30, 2025, against $22,234 million a year earlier and $21,828 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • 12-month backlog rose 8.4%: The 12-month backlog was $8,267 million, $643 million higher than the prior year period. Source
  • Multi-year backlog up 14.9% ex-currency: Reported multi-year backlog was $3.34 billion higher than a year earlier; excluding foreign currency, the increase was $3.30 billion. Source
  • Freight backlog grew; Transit eased: Freight backlog was $20,907 million, up from $17,136 million at June 30. Transit was $4,670 million, against $4,692 million at June 30 and $4,478 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, liquidity and returns

  • Operating cash flow declined in quarter: Cash from operations was $367 million against $542 million a year earlier; operating cash flow conversion was 83%, against 129%. Source
  • Quarter-end cash and debt: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $528 million, total debt $5.29 billion, and total available liquidity $2.75 billion. Source
  • Dividends paid in quarter: The company paid $43 million in dividends during the quarter; the release gives no share repurchase figure for the period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$25,577 million at September 30, 2025
12-month backlog Source$8,267 million at September 30, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management attributed part of the lower quarterly operating cash flow to increased tariffs and higher working capital. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the Services decline was as expected and tied it to modernization delivery timing; no status label was given. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to expect full-year 2025 revenue within the same range. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.