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Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Both full-year ranges raised: Management raised the full-year revenue range and the adjusted EPS range; the figures are set out under guidance. Source
  • Sales rose 17.5% on acquisitions: Net sales were $3,179 million, up $473 million. Acquisitions added $232 million, organic growth $229 million, and foreign exchange $24 million; divestitures and exits took off $12 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 21.6%: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.33, up 18.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.76, up 21.6% from $2.27, which management linked to higher sales and operating margin expansion. Source
  • Operating margin up on both measures: GAAP operating margin was 18.9% against 17.4%. Adjusted operating margin was 21.9% against 21.1%. Source
  • Multi-year backlog up 41%: Multi-year backlog was $9.10 billion above the prior year, or $9.02 billion excluding foreign currency, up 41.3%. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $441M: Cash from operations was $441 million against $209 million, and operating cash flow conversion was 82% against 46%. Source

“The strength of our performance reflects the resilience of our portfolio, the impact of our innovative solutions and the disciplined execution from our teams.”

Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$12.30 billion to $12.60 billionRaised from $12.19 billion to 12.49 billion
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$10.60 - $10.90Raised from $10.25 - $10.65

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue range moved up from $12.19 billion to 12.49 billion to $12.30 billion to $12.60 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS range moved up from $10.25 - $10.65 to $10.60 - $10.90. Source

Sales and earnings growth

  • Both full-year ranges raised: Management raised the full-year revenue range and the adjusted EPS range; the figures are set out under guidance. Source
  • Sales rose 17.5% on acquisitions: Net sales were $3,179 million, up $473 million. Acquisitions added $232 million, organic growth $229 million, and foreign exchange $24 million; divestitures and exits took off $12 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 21.6%: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.33, up 18.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.76, up 21.6% from $2.27, which management linked to higher sales and operating margin expansion. Source
  • First-half adjusted EPS up 20%: First-half net sales were $6,129 million, up 15.3%. GAAP diluted EPS was $4.44; adjusted diluted EPS was $5.46, up 20.0%. Source

Freight and Transit segment sales

  • Freight sales up 16.9%: Freight sales were $2,243 million. Equipment rose 35.0% on higher locomotive deliveries, and digital rose 88.5% on the Inspection Technologies and Frauscher acquisitions. Source
  • Transit sales up 18.9%: Transit sales were $936 million, up 17.7% at constant currency. Drivers were the Dellner Couplers acquisition, higher OE and aftermarket sales, and favorable currency. Source
  • Services down on modernization timing: Services sales fell 4.2% because modernization deliveries were lower, which management described as expected. Source

“With a strong foundation, a talented global team, and significant opportunities ahead, we are well positioned to deliver profitable growth and continue to compound shareholder value.”

Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s Chairman and CEO

Product line sales

  • Equipment and digital sales rose: Freight equipment sales were $737 million against $546 million. Digital Intelligence sales were $360 million against $191 million. Source
  • Services and components slightly lower: Freight services sales were $748 million against $781 million. Components sales were $398 million against $401 million. Source
  • Transit OE and aftermarket both rose: Transit original equipment sales were $411 million against $353 million. Aftermarket sales were $525 million against $434 million. Source

Margins and operating costs

  • Gross margin rose to 36.5%: GAAP gross margin was 36.5% against 34.7%. Adjusted gross margin was 36.7% against 34.8%. Source
  • Operating margin up on both measures: GAAP operating margin was 18.9% against 17.4%. Adjusted operating margin was 21.9% against 21.1%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose in dollars: Total operating expenses were $561 million against $466 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $400 million against $347 million. Source
  • Tax rate lower, interest higher: The effective tax rate was 23.4% against 24.8%. Net interest expense was $80 million against $46 million. Source
  • Segment adjusted margins rose: Freight adjusted operating margin was 25.8% against 25.0%. Transit adjusted operating margin was 17.7% against 15.2%. Source

Backlog and order book

  • Multi-year backlog up 41%: Multi-year backlog was $9.10 billion above the prior year, or $9.02 billion excluding foreign currency, up 41.3%. Source
  • Freight and transit backlog split: Freight total backlog was $25,332 million against $17,136 million a year earlier. Transit total backlog was $5,600 million against $4,692 million. Source
  • Backlog cited as giving visibility: Management says the multi-year backlog provides visibility for the company. Source

Cash flow, liquidity and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $441M: Cash from operations was $441 million against $209 million, and operating cash flow conversion was 82% against 46%. Source
  • Quarter-end cash, debt and liquidity: Cash, equivalents and restricted cash were $0.67 billion. Total debt was $6.57 billion, and total liquidity was $2.02 billion, including $1.36 billion available under credit facilities. Source
  • Share buybacks and dividends paid: The company repurchased $215 million of Wabtec shares and paid $53 million in dividends during the quarter. Source
  • Six-month investing outflow and financing: Net cash used for investing was $1,160 million in the six months against $98 million. Long-term debt was $4,915 million at June 30, against $4,291 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and leadership

  • Awards and integrations cited: Management cites strategic commercial awards and the integration of recent acquisitions as building momentum in the quarter. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles increased: Goodwill was $10,603 million at June 30, 2026, against $10,216 million at December 31, 2025. Other intangible assets were $4,122 million against $3,838 million. Source
  • Acquisition-related charges were small: The quarter carried a $5 million inventory purchase accounting charge and $1 million of transaction costs; restructuring costs were nil. Source
  • CEO title now Chairman and CEO: The release names Rafael Santana as Chairman and CEO; the first-quarter release named him President and CEO. Source

Adjusted EBITDA and adjustments

  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA up: Second-quarter EBITDA was $740 million; adjusted EBITDA was $746 million against $608 million in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • Six-month adjusted EBITDA rose: Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $1,462 million against $1,216 million a year earlier, with EBITDA of $1,417 million. Source
  • Non-cash amortization added back: Adjusted EPS of $2.76 adds back $0.41 per share of non-cash amortization and $0.02 for the inventory purchase accounting charge. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$30.93 billion
12-month backlog Source$9.14 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Higher operating expenses as a share of revenue partly offset the gross margin gains in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first-quarter release said integration plans for recent acquisitions were executed; the second-quarter release describes the integrations as successful.

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.