Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies(WAB) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a top-line growth of 7.5% for 2025, with adjusted EPS increasing by nearly 19% [4] - For Q4 2025, sales reached $3 billion, up 15%, and adjusted EPS rose by 25% compared to the same quarter last year [7] - The 12-month backlog closed at $8.2 billion, a 7% increase from the prior year, while the multi-year backlog surpassed $27 billion, up 23% [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Equipment sales for Q4 were up 33.5% year-over-year, while services sales were down 5% due to timing of modernization deliveries [19] - Digital Intelligence sales surged by 74.4% from last year, driven by acquisitions [21] - The freight segment saw sales increase by 18.3%, with adjusted operating income up 35.1% [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North America, carload traffic was flat, leading to fewer active locomotives, but those in service operated at higher intensity [8] - Internationally, carloads grew robustly in markets like Latin America, Africa, India, and Asia, supported by infrastructure investments [9] - The North American railcar build demand was down to approximately 31,000 cars for 2025, with an expected decline to 24,000 cars in 2026 [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for mid- to high-teens adjusted EPS growth for 2026, marking the sixth consecutive year of such growth [5] - Strategic acquisitions in 2025 are expected to unlock synergies and drive operational efficiencies [5] - The company is focused on fleet modernization, with over 25% of active locomotives being over 20 years old, creating a compelling case for modernization [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strong financial position and ability to deliver significant long-term value [6] - The company anticipates continued strong demand for its products and solutions, with a robust pipeline and backlog providing visibility for growth [30] - Management acknowledged challenges from tariffs but emphasized proactive measures to mitigate their impact [89] Other Important Information - The board approved a 24% increase in the quarterly dividend and raised the share buyback authorization to $1.2 billion [6][26] - Cash flow from operations for Q4 was $992 million, resulting in a total of $1.76 billion for the year, with a cash conversion rate of 104% [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Recent orders and pipeline opportunities - Management confirmed a strong pipeline of opportunities, particularly in international markets, and emphasized customer commitment to fleet investments [38] Question: Components business and offsets for railcar delivery declines - Management noted that all businesses are expected to drive profitable growth, with specific investments in the heat exchanger business providing offsets [42] Question: Cash conversion and guidance rationale - Management highlighted strong cash conversion performance and its importance in guiding the company's financial strategy [44][46] Question: Backlog and new orders - Management clarified that all recent orders are included in the backlog, and they feel confident about the overall guidance despite some headwinds [51][52] Question: EVO modernization product and its market potential - Management indicated that the EVO modernization program is expected to start this year, with significant opportunities due to the aging fleet [76] Question: Tariff impacts and mitigation strategies - Management discussed the growing financial impact of tariffs and outlined a four-pronged approach to mitigate these costs [89]