Wabtec Reports Strong Third Quarter 2022 Results

• Sales Growth of 9.1% to $2.08 Billion; Sales Up 14.3% Excluding Impacts of Foreign Currency Exchange
• Operating Margin of 12.5%, Up 1.1 Percentage Points; Strong Third Quarter Adjusted Operating Margin of 16.4%
• Third Quarter Reported GAAP Earnings Per Share of $0.88; Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $1.22
• Total Backlog of $22.61 Billion, Up $ 0.77 Billion and Up $1.52 Billion Year-Over-Year on Constant Currency Basis; Provides Strong Multi-Year Momentum

PITTSBURGH, November 1, 2022 – Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) today reported third quarter 2022 GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.88, up 27.5% versus the third quarter of 2021. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $1.22, up 7.0% versus the same quarter a year ago. Third quarter sales were $2.08 billion, and cash from operations was $204 million.

“The Wabtec team delivered a strong quarterly performance as evidenced by the growth in sales and earnings,” said Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s President and CEO. “The team’s disciplined execution and the strength of the underlying business enabled us to navigate a volatile and dynamic environment that included significant headwinds from negative foreign currency exchange, supply chain constraints, and high input costs.   

“Looking forward, Wabtec is well-positioned to drive long-term profitable growth as the team continues to deliver for our customers and execute against our value creation framework. Our technologically differentiated portfolio of products and solutions, combined with our global installed base and multi-year backlog will allow us to capitalize on growth opportunities while remaining highly resilient.”

2022 Third Quarter Consolidated Results

• Sales increased 9.1% compared to the year-ago quarter driven by significantly higher Freight segment sales, partially offset by lower Transit segment sales. On a constant currency basis, consolidated sales were up 14.3%.
• GAAP operating margin was up 1.1 percentage points behind lower restructuring and transaction costs. Adjusted operating margin was lower due to a less rich mix of sales from significantly higher locomotive sales in the quarter.
• GAAP and adjusted EPS increased from the year-ago quarter primarily due to higher sales and disciplined cost management. GAAP EPS further benefited from lower restructuring and transaction costs.

2022 Third Quarter Freight Segment Results

• Freight segment sales for the third quarter were up across all product groups, with very strong growth in Equipment, Digital Electronics, and Services. On a constant currency basis sales were up 19.8%.
• GAAP operating margins were nearly flat to prior year and adjusted operating margin was lower as a result of significantly higher sales of locomotives during the quarter, partially offset by operational efficiencies and disciplined cost management.

2022 Third Quarter Transit Segment Results

• Transit segment sales for the third quarter were down versus last year due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange and the carryover effects from the previously announced cyber incident in the second quarter. On a constant currency basis sales were up 2.6%.
• GAAP operating margin was up significantly as a result of lower restructuring and transaction costs, while adjusted operating margin was down as a result of costs associated with the cyber incident.      

Backlog

At September 30, 2022 the multi-year backlog was $0.77 billion higher than September 30, 2021. Excluding unfavorable foreign currency exchange, the multi-year backlog was up $1.52 billion, up 7.0%.

Cash Flow and Liquidity Summary

• During the third quarter, the Company generated cash from operations of $204 million versus $244 million in the year ago period. Cash from operations was lower driven by higher inventories, partially offset by increased net income.
• At the end of the quarter, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $514 million and total debt of $4.08 billion. At September 30, 2022 the Company’s total available liquidity was $2.14 billion, which includes cash and cash equivalents plus $1.63 billion available under current credit facilities. 

2022 Financial Guidance  

• Wabtec updated its 2022 financial guidance with sales expected to be in a range of $8.15 billion to $8.35 billion versus previous guidance of $8.3 billion to $8.6 billion. The reduction reflects the expected impacts from unfavorable foreign currency exchange in the second half of the year. Adjusted earnings per diluted share is expected to be in a range of $4.75 to $4.95 versus previous guidance of $4.70 to $5.00.
• For full year 2022, Wabtec expects strong cash flow generation with operating cash flow conversion greater than 90 percent. 

Conference Call Information

Wabtec will host a call with analysts and investors at 8:30 a.m., ET, today. To listen via webcast, go to Wabtec’s new website at www.WabtecCorp.com and click on “Events & Presentations” in the “Investor Relations” section.  Also, an audio replay of the call will be available by calling 1-877-344-7529 or 1-412-317-0088 (access code: 2053871).

About Wabtec Corporation 

Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is focused on creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The Company is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets. Wabtec has been a leader in the rail industry for over 150 years and has a vision to achieve a zero-emission rail system in the U.S. and worldwide. Visit Wabtec’s website at: www.WabtecCorp.com 

Information about non-GAAP Financial Information and Forward-Looking Statements

Wabtec’s earnings release and 2022 financial guidance mentions certain non-GAAP financial performance measures, including adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted income from operations, adjusted interest and other expense, adjusted earnings per diluted share and operating cash flow conversion. Wabtec is not presenting a quantitative reconciliation of our forecasted GAAP earnings per diluted share to forecasted adjusted earnings per diluted share as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact and timing of restructuring-related and other charges, including acquisition-related expenses and the outcome of certain regulatory, legal and tax matters. The financial impact of these items is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Wabtec defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Wabtec defines operating cash flow conversion as net cash provided by operating activities divided by net income plus depreciation and amortization including deferred debt cost amortization. While Wabtec believes these are useful supplemental measures for investors, they are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Investors should not consider non-GAAP measures in isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flows from operations, or any other items calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release have inherent material limitations as performance measures because they add back certain expenses incurred by the Company to GAAP financial measures, resulting in those expenses not being taken into account in the applicable non-GAAP financial measure. Because not all companies use identical calculations, Wabtec’s presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.  Included in this release are reconciliation tables that provide details about how adjusted results relate to GAAP results.

This communication contains “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the impact of acquisitions by Wabtec, statements regarding Wabtec’s expectations about future sales and earnings, and statements about the impact of evolving global conditions on Wabtec’s business. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding synergies and other expected benefits from acquisitions; statements regarding Wabtec’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; and statements regarding macro-economic conditions and evolving production and demand conditions; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts and are sometimes identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “target” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions, including the impacts of tax and tariff programs, inflation, supply chain disruptions, foreign currency exchange, and industry consolidation; (2) changes in the financial condition or operating strategies of Wabtec’s customers; (3) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from acquisitions and potential failure to realize synergies and other anticipated benefits of acquisitions, including as a result of integrating acquired targets into Wabtec;  (4) inability to retain and hire key personnel; (5) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes;  (6) changes in the expected timing of projects; (7) a decrease in freight or passenger rail traffic; (8) an increase in manufacturing costs; (9) actions by third parties, including government agencies; (10) the severity and duration of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the global economy and, in particular, our customers, suppliers and end-markets, (11) potential disruptions, instability, and volatility in global markets from the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia resulting from the invasion of Ukraine; (12) cybersecurity and data protection risks and (13) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Wabtec’s reports filed with the SEC, including Wabtec’s annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication. Wabtec does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.