Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies(WAB) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales in Q3 2025 were $2.9 billion, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year, driven by growth in both freight and transit segments [3][10] - Adjusted EPS rose by 16%, attributed to increased sales and margin expansion [3][11] - Total cash flow from operations for the quarter was $367 million, reflecting a decrease year-over-year due to higher tariffs and increased working capital [20][21] - The 12-month backlog reached $8.3 billion, up 8.4%, while the multi-year backlog hit an all-time high [3][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Equipment sales increased by 32% year-over-year, driven by higher new locomotive deliveries [12][14] - Digital intelligence sales surged by 45.6%, primarily due to the acquisition of Inspection Technologies [14] - Services revenue declined by 11.6% from the previous year, expected to continue decreasing in Q4 due to lower modernization deliveries [12][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American traffic rose by 1.4%, although Wabtec's active locomotive fleets were slightly down compared to last year [4][5] - The North American railcar build forecast was reduced to approximately 28,000 cars, a 34% decrease from the previous year [5] - Internationally, strong activity was noted in markets such as Asia, India, Brazil, and CIS, with significant investments in infrastructure [5][6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing competitiveness and driving innovation through integration initiatives and portfolio optimization [9][10] - Wabtec aims to maintain leadership positions in segments with clear differentiation, targeting long-term success [9] - The strategy includes disciplined capital allocation to maximize shareholder returns while pursuing bolt-on acquisitions [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution in navigating a volatile economic landscape while remaining optimistic about the underlying business momentum [4][22] - The company raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to between $8.85 and $9.05, reflecting confidence in continued profitable growth [22][23] - Management highlighted a strong pipeline of opportunities and a commitment to product innovation and cost management [22][23] Other Important Information - The company secured a historic $4.2 billion order with Kazakhstan's National Railway, marking the largest single rail order in history [6][7] - The integration of Inspection Technologies is progressing positively, with expectations for cross-selling opportunities [66] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about organic growth being in low single digits - Management noted that the 12-month backlog growth has outpaced last year, indicating stronger coverage for 2026 and a positive pipeline of opportunities, particularly in international markets [28][30] Question: Insights on services and modernization expectations - Management expects core services to grow in the 5% to 7% range, with variations tied to capital expenditure allocations between new locomotives and modernization [31] Question: Backlog and upcoming acquisitions - Management confirmed that the backlog is stronger for 2026 than the previous year, with acquisitions expected to provide inorganic growth [34][36] Question: Impact of tariffs on cash flow and P&L - Management explained that tariffs impact cash flow first, with a lag before affecting the P&L, and outlined a four-pronged approach to mitigate tariff impacts [41][43] Question: Digital product penetration and international growth - Management indicated that there are opportunities for digital product penetration in international markets, particularly in Kazakhstan and CIS countries [83]