On Wednesday, KeyBanc Capital Markets adjusted its price target on shares of Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB), a leading technology provider for the freight rail and passenger transit industries. The firm raised its target from $185.00 to $193.00 while reiterating an Overweight rating on the stock.
The revision comes as Wabtec's shares have reached the previously set target of $185.00. KeyBanc's analysis now projects further growth, underpinned by Wabtec's strong global organic growth prospects, clear backlog visibility, and the potential for accretive mergers and acquisitions. These factors are expected to contribute to high single-digit revenue growth and mid-20% or better incremental margins.
KeyBanc anticipates that these financial improvements could lead to double-digit earnings per share (EPS) growth even before considering the impact of any potential share buybacks. The firm's updated price target reflects a forward-looking valuation, pegging Wabtec's shares at approximately 21 times KeyBanc's 2026 EPS estimates.
The firm's outlook suggests that Wabtec could achieve earnings power surpassing $10 per share, with a possible future share price reaching $200. This assessment hinges on the company continuing to trade at or near its recent earnings multiple. KeyBanc has decided to adjust the price target ahead of Wabtec's third-quarter 2024 update, maintaining confidence in the company's performance trajectory.
In other recent news, Wabtec Corporation demonstrated a strong performance in Q2 2024, recording a 10% sales increase to $2.6 billion, and a 39% rise in adjusted earnings per share (EPS). This was primarily driven by higher sales and expanded margins. The company's cash flow from operations reached $235 million, while its 12-month backlog climbed to $7.3 billion. Furthermore, Wabtec secured a significant multiyear order worth over $600 million for new locomotives.
In a recent development, the company revised its adjusted EPS guidance upward for 2024, projecting a range of $7.20 to $7.50, marking a 24.2% increase from the previous year's forecast. Wabtec also prioritizes mergers and acquisitions and share buybacks with excess cash.
Despite a 5.0% decrease in the Transit segment's backlog from the previous year, Wabtec is confident in capturing profitable growth with innovative technologies. The company also secured a 10-year servicing agreement in Brazil and sees international opportunities, especially in Pakistan, as significant growth drivers.
InvestingPro Insights
Wabtec Corporation's recent performance and KeyBanc's optimistic outlook are further supported by real-time data and insights from InvestingPro. The company's market capitalization stands at $31.72 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the rail technology sector. Wabtec has demonstrated strong financial performance, with a revenue of $10.22 billion in the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, representing a robust growth of 13.67%.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Wabtec's financial strength and market position. The company has maintained dividend payments for 30 consecutive years, showcasing its commitment to shareholder returns. This aligns with KeyBanc's positive outlook on Wabtec's growth prospects and potential for value creation. Additionally, Wabtec's stock has shown a strong return over the last year, with a remarkable 73.36% price total return.
The company's P/E ratio of 31.54 and PEG ratio of 0.6 suggest that while the stock may be trading at a high earnings multiple, it could still be undervalued relative to its growth potential. This supports KeyBanc's projection of double-digit EPS growth and the potential for the stock to reach $200.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips on Wabtec, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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