Key Takeaways Wabtec raised its quarterly dividend to 31 cents per share from 25 cents.Wabtec has been consistently making efforts to reward its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.During 2025, WAB repurchased shares worth $223 million and paid $173 million in dividends.Early this month, Wabtec Corporation (WAB)  stated that its board of directors had announced an increase in its quarterly dividend payout, reflectingthe company’s commitment to boosting shareholder value, apart from underlining ...

Core Insights - United Parcel Service (UPS) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (WAB) have both announced dividend increases in 2025, reflecting their commitment to shareholder value despite economic uncertainty [1][2][3] Dividend Increases - Wabtec's board approved a 25% dividend increase in February 2025, raising its quarterly payout to $0.25 ($1.00 annually) from $0.20 per share ($0.80 annually) [2] - UPS raised its dividend to $1.64 ($6.56 annually) from $1.63 per share ($6.52 annually) during the same month [3] Dividend Sustainability - UPS faces concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of its dividend due to a high payout ratio, which indicates a significant portion of earnings is distributed as dividends [4] - In the first nine months of 2025, UPS generated $2.7 billion in free cash flow while paying over $4 billion in dividends, raising questions about its financial flexibility [6] Stock Performance - Wabtec's stock has performed well in 2025, gaining in double digits, while UPS has experienced a double-digit decline [7][9] - UPS's weak stock performance is attributed to revenue pressures from geopolitical uncertainty and inflation, which have negatively impacted consumer sentiment and shipping volumes [10] Company Strategies - Wabtec's stock strength is driven by its focus on advanced technologies, safety improvements, and cost-reduction initiatives, alongside a recovering global rail supply market [11][12] - Wabtec has introduced significant new products and is optimizing its portfolio to enhance profitability and customer retention [12] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Wabtec's revenue growth of 6.4% in 2025 and 7% in 2026, with an 18.4% increase in EPS for 2025 [13] - In contrast, UPS is expected to see a 3.4% decline in sales for 2025 and a 10.5% drop in EPS [15] Valuation Comparison - Wabtec trades at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 3.19X, above its five-year median of 2.1X, while UPS trades at a lower multiple of 1.02X, below its five-year median of 1.46 [18] Conclusion - Wabtec's lower payout ratio and stronger stock performance suggest it is a more attractive investment compared to UPS, which faces sustainability concerns regarding its dividend [20][21]

Valuation and Performance - Wabtec Corporation (WAB) appears expensive from a valuation perspective, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio (P/S-F12M) of 3.03X, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.15X over the past five years [1][2] - The company's P/S-F12M ratio also exceeds the median level of 2.08X during the same period, indicating an unattractive valuation [2] - WAB's stock has gained 10.6% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry's 8.3% increase, but underperforming compared to Ryder Corporation [10] Operational Challenges - Wabtec faces ongoing supply chain disruptions, high commodity costs, and labor shortages, which are major headwinds affecting its operations [6][9] - Total operating expenses rose by 9.7% year-over-year in 2023, with a projected increase of 4.8% in 2024, primarily due to higher selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs [6] - In the first nine months of 2025, total operating expenses increased by 8.4% year-over-year to $1.40 billion [6] Strategic Initiatives - Wabtec is focusing on new technologies to enhance safety, cost efficiency, and reliability in railroads, including the introduction of significant new products like PTC equipment [13] - The company is implementing cost-cutting measures and optimizing its product portfolio to exit low-margin offerings, aiming to improve profitability [14] - Strong free cash flow generation supports consistent dividend payments and share buybacks, which are expected to boost investor confidence [15] Earnings Outlook - Positive sentiment around WAB is reflected in upward revisions of earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 over the past 60 days [16] - The consensus estimate for first-quarter 2026 earnings has also been projected higher, indicating optimism about future performance [16][17] Investment Recommendations - Despite the unattractive valuation and operational challenges, it is advised not to sell WAB stock at this time due to positive developments in technology focus and cost management [18] - Investors are encouraged to wait for a better entry point, while those already holding the stock should remain invested [19]

Core Insights - FedEx Corporation (FDX) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (WAB) have both announced dividend increases this year, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns despite economic uncertainties [1][10]. Dividend Increases - Wabtec's board approved a 25% dividend hike, raising its quarterly cash dividend to $0.25 per share ($1.00 annualized) from $0.20 ($0.80 annualized) [3]. - FedEx's board approved a dividend increase, raising its quarterly cash dividend to $1.45 per share ($5.80 annualized) from $1.38 ($5.52 annualized) [3]. Price Performance Comparison - WAB has achieved a 2.4% year-to-date gain, while FDX has experienced a double-digit decline [5]. - FDX's poor performance is attributed to revenue weakness due to geopolitical uncertainty and high inflation affecting consumer sentiment and growth expectations [8]. - WAB's strength is linked to its focus on new technologies, restructuring actions, and cost-cutting initiatives [9]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WAB's 2025 and 2026 sales indicates year-over-year increases of 6.7% and 5.8%, respectively, with EPS estimates trending upward [13]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FDX's current year sales implies a 4.4% year-over-year increase, but EPS estimates have been trending downward [14]. Valuation Comparison - WAB is trading at a forward sales multiple of 2.85, above its 5-year median of 2.07, indicating a higher valuation [15]. - FDX has a forward sales multiple of 0.58, below its 5-year median of 0.69, and carries a Value Score of A, while WAB has a Value Score of D [15]. Conclusion - WAB's better price performance and upward earnings estimate revisions suggest a stronger position compared to FDX, which is currently ranked lower [17][18].

Core Viewpoint - Wabtec Corporation (WAB) appears to be overvalued based on its forward price-to-sales ratio, trading at a premium compared to the industry average [1][2]. Valuation Metrics - WAB has a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio (P/S-F12M) of 2.95X, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.07X over the past five years [2]. - The company's P/S-F12M ratio exceeds the median level of 2.06X during the same period, indicating an unattractive valuation [2]. Stock Performance - Wabtec's shares have increased by 10.6% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry's decline of 13.6% [9]. - However, WAB's performance is less favorable compared to Ryder Corporation (R) within the same timeframe [9]. Operational Challenges - The company faces ongoing supply-chain disruptions, high commodity costs, and labor shortages, which are impacting its operating expenses [5][8]. - Total operating expenses rose by 9.7% year-over-year in 2023, with a further increase of 4.8% projected for 2024 [5]. - In the first half of 2025, total operating expenses increased by 5.3% year-over-year to $892 million [5]. International Exposure - Wabtec has significant operations outside the United States, making it vulnerable to foreign exchange volatility and economic uncertainties [6]. Positive Developments - Wabtec is focusing on new technologies to enhance safety, cost efficiency, and reliability in railroads, which supports the modernization of global rail fleets [12]. - The company is implementing cost-cutting measures and optimizing its product portfolio to improve profitability [13]. - Strong free cash flow generation enables consistent dividend payments and share buybacks, which are expected to boost investor confidence [14]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WAB's earnings has been revised upward for the remaining quarters of 2025 and for full-year 2025 and 2026 [15]. - The current estimates for Q1 and Q2 of 2025 are $2.27 and $2.06, respectively, with full-year estimates of $8.89 and $10.01 for 2025 and 2026 [15]. Investment Outlook - The combination of new technology focus, restructuring actions, and shareholder-friendly initiatives has led to WAB's premium valuations, as investors anticipate strong future performance [16]. - The positives surrounding WAB outweigh concerns related to economic and political uncertainties, suggesting that investors may consider adding WAB stock to their portfolios for potential returns [17].