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Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew 8.1 percent to $3.12 billion: Net sales were $3.12 billion, up from $2,886 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher Freight and Transit sales, including acquisitions. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 22 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.83, up 22.0% from $2.32. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.42, up 33.7% from $1.81. Management cited currency fluctuations as a non-operational benefit. Source
  • Operating margin expanded to 20.0 percent: GAAP operating margin was 20.0%, up 3.0 points. Adjusted operating margin was 22.9%, up 1.9 points. The company cited sales growth and improved gross margins. Source
  • Multi-year backlog up $5.86 billion: Multi-year backlog was $5.86 billion higher than a year earlier. Excluding currency, it was $5.46 billion higher, up 21.4%. Source
  • Quarterly cash from operations $455 million: Cash from operations was $455 million versus $367 million, with 82% cash conversion. The company attributed the increase to higher net income. Source
  • Share buybacks and dividends: Wabtec repurchased $305 million of its shares in the quarter and paid $52 million in dividends. Source

“Wabtec delivered another strong quarter, evidenced by sales growth, margin expansion and a 22% increase in adjusted EPS”

Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$10.85 - $11.05Raised from $10.60 - $10.90
Net sales Sourcefull year 2026$12.30 billion to $12.60 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance raised to $10.85 - $11.05 from $10.60 - $10.90, with the range narrowed. Revenue guidance was not changed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew 8.1 percent to $3.12 billion: Net sales were $3.12 billion, up from $2,886 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher Freight and Transit sales, including acquisitions. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 22 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.83, up 22.0% from $2.32. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.42, up 33.7% from $1.81. Management cited currency fluctuations as a non-operational benefit. Source
  • Nine-month sales and EPS higher: Nine-month net sales were $9,249 million versus $8,202 million. Nine-month GAAP diluted EPS was $6.86 versus $5.64, and adjusted diluted EPS was $8.29. Source

Freight and Transit segment results

  • Freight sales up 6.9 percent: Freight net sales were $2,237 million, up from $2,093 million. Freight income from operations was $515 million, up from $414 million. Source
  • Freight margin rose on gross margin: Freight GAAP operating margin was 23.0% and adjusted operating margin 26.4%, up 3.2 and 1.9 points. The company cited gross margin gains and lower operating expenses as a share of revenue. Source
  • Transit sales up 11.3 percent: Transit net sales were $883 million, up 11.3%, or 12.5% on a constant currency basis. Transit income from operations was $145 million, up from $115 million. Source
  • Transit margins rose on gross margin: Transit GAAP operating margin was 16.4% and adjusted operating margin 18.1%, up 1.9 and 2.6 points. Higher operating expenses as a share of revenue partly offset the gross margin gains. Source

“Our teams continue to translate healthy customer demand into profitable growth while investing in technologies that will advance the future of transportation.”

Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s Chairman and CEO

Products, services and customers

  • Freight services up 6.7 percent: Freight services sales rose 6.7% on core services demand and higher modernization deliveries. Services sales were $794 million versus $744 million a year earlier. Source
  • Equipment sales nearly flat: Equipment sales were $679 million versus $677 million. Higher mining sales were partly offset by fewer locomotive deliveries. Source
  • Digital sales up 24.2 percent: Digital Intelligence sales reached $369 million, up from $297 million. The company cited the Frauscher acquisition and core digital demand. Source
  • Components sales up 5.3 percent: Components sales rose 5.3% to $395 million, from $375 million, on industrial, maintenance of way and international demand. Source
  • Transit OE and aftermarket sales up: Transit original equipment sales were $408 million versus $367 million. Transit aftermarket sales were $475 million versus $426 million. Source

Margins and costs

  • Operating margin expanded to 20.0 percent: GAAP operating margin was 20.0%, up 3.0 points. Adjusted operating margin was 22.9%, up 1.9 points. The company cited sales growth and improved gross margins. Source
  • Gross margin expanded 2.6 points: GAAP gross margin was 37.3%, against 34.7% a year earlier. Adjusted gross margin was 37.4%, against 35.6%. Source
  • Operating expenses fell as share of sales: Operating expenses were 17.3% of net sales, against 17.7% a year earlier. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $383 million from $375 million. Source

“The Company’s multi-year backlog continues to provide strong visibility.”

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp., press release

Backlog and order book

  • Multi-year backlog up $5.86 billion: Multi-year backlog was $5.86 billion higher than a year earlier. Excluding currency, it was $5.46 billion higher, up 21.4%. Source
  • Segment backlog rose in quarter: Freight total backlog was $25,765 million, up from $25,332 million at June 30, 2026. Transit total backlog was $5,670 million, up from $5,600 million. Source

Cash, liquidity and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly cash from operations $455 million: Cash from operations was $455 million versus $367 million, with 82% cash conversion. The company attributed the increase to higher net income. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow higher: Nine-month operating cash flow was $1,095 million versus $767 million. Nine-month cash conversion was 69%, against 57% a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $0.49 billion and total debt was $6.38 billion. Total available liquidity was $2.09 billion. Source
  • Investing cash outflow narrowed: Net cash used for investing activities was $1,243 million for the nine months, against $1,887 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share buybacks and dividends: Wabtec repurchased $305 million of its shares in the quarter and paid $52 million in dividends. Source

Acquisitions and portfolio changes

  • Acquisitions added $114 million of sales: Quarterly acquisitions added $49 million in Freight and $65 million in Transit. Portfolio optimization exits reduced sales by $12 million. Source
  • Nine-month acquisition sales contribution: Acquisitions contributed $571 million of nine-month sales, and portfolio optimization exits reduced sales by $37 million. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments and EBITDA

  • Non-cash amortization excluded from adjusted results: Non-cash amortization of $89 million was excluded from adjusted results, adding $0.39 per diluted share. Restructuring and portfolio optimization costs added $0.02. Source
  • Adjusted net income reconciliation: Adjusted net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders was $478 million, against $398 million a year earlier, with adjusted diluted EPS of $2.83. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $782 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $782 million for the quarter, versus $658 million a year earlier, per the company's EBITDA reconciliation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
12-month backlog Source$8,992 million
Total backlog Source$31,435 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Unfavorable foreign currency exchange partly offset Transit sales growth in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower North America rail build and portfolio optimization efforts offset part of Components demand in the quarter. 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.