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Wabtec Reports Strong Fourth Quarter 2023 Results; Issues 2024 Full-Year Guidance

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  GAAP Earnings Per Share of $1.20, Up 39.5%; Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $1.54, Up 18.5% Behind Sales Growth of 9.5%
  
  


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  GAAP Operating Margin at 12.2%; Adjusted Operating Margin Up 1.7 pts to 17.0%
  
  


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  Fourth Quarter Operating Cash Flow of $686 Million; Full-Year Cash Flow from Operations up 15.7% to $1.20 Billion
  
  


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  Announced $1.0 Billion Share Buyback Authorization and 17.6% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
  
  


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  Issues 2024 Financial Guidance of Adjusted EPS Between $6.50 to $6.90; Up 13.2% at the Mid-Point
  
  

"We remain committed to our capital deployment strategy to maximize shareholder returns. We invested for future growth, executed on two strategic acquisitions and returned over $530 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. And based on our strong performance in 2023 and confidence in the future, our Board of Directors recently reauthorized our stock buyback program to refresh the amount available to $1.0 billion and approved a 17.6% increase in our quarterly dividend.

"Looking ahead, with robust international activity and a strong order pipeline, Wabtec is well-positioned to drive profitable growth in 2024 and beyond. Our differentiated portfolio is aligned to solving our customers' most pressing needs and making rail the safest and most efficient way to move people and goods across land. Wabtec's products and technologies will enable us to capitalize on these trends and drive profitable growth and increase long-term shareholder value."

2023 Fourth Quarter Consolidated Results

• Sales increased 9.5% compared to the year-ago quarter driven by increased sales across the Freight and Transit segments.
• GAAP gross margin was higher than prior year at 30.3% and adjusted gross margin was higher than the prior year at 30.8%. Both GAAP and adjusted gross margin benefited from higher sales, improved price/mix and productivity.
• GAAP operating margin was higher than the prior year at 12.2% and adjusted operating margin was higher than the prior year at 17.0%. Both GAAP and adjusted operating margins benefited from higher gross margin and lower SG&A and Engineering expenses as a percentage of sales.
• GAAP EPS and adjusted EPS increased from the year-ago quarter primarily due to higher sales and margin expansion, partially offset by increased interest expense. GAAP EPS also benefited from a gain resulting from a change of ownership interest of an assembly joint venture.

2023 Fourth Quarter Freight Segment Results

• Freight segment sales for the fourth quarter were up 7.7%, driven by double-digit growth in Services and Components.
• GAAP operating margin and adjusted operating margin benefited from strong gross margin gains and lower SG&A and Engineering expenses as a percent of sales.

2023 Fourth Quarter Transit Segment Results

• Transit segment sales for the fourth quarter were up 14.3% due to strong OE and aftermarket sales.
• GAAP and adjusted operating margins were up as a result of higher sales and savings related to Integration 2.0, partially offset by unfavorable product mix. GAAP operating margin also benefited from lower year-over-year restructuring expense.

Backlog

The Company's 12-month and multi-year backlogs continue to provide strong visibility. At the end of the fourth quarter, the 12-month backlog was $697 million higher than the prior year. And at December 31, 2023, the multi-year backlog was $442 million lower than the same time a year ago and excluding foreign currency exchange, the multi-year backlog decreased $645 million, down 2.9%.

Cash Flow and Liquidity Summary

• During the fourth quarter, the Company generated cash from operations of $686 million versus $410 million in the year ago period. Cash flow from operations benefited from higher earnings and improved working capital management.
• At the end of the quarter, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $620 million and total debt of $4.07 billion. At December 31, 2023 the Company's total available liquidity was $2.12 billion, which includes cash and cash equivalents plus $1.50 billion available under current credit facilities.
• The Company repurchased $157 million of Wabtec shares in the fourth quarter, bringing the full year total to $409 million.
• During the fourth quarter, Wabtec acquired the remaining 50% of the Company's joint venture, Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty (LKZ), for $81 million, net of cash received.
• Wabtec's Board of Directors reauthorized the Company's stock buyback program to refresh the amount available to $1.0 billion. The Board of Directors also increased the quarterly dividend by 17.6% and declared a regular quarterly common dividend of 20 cents per share, payable on March 8, 2024 to holders of record on February 23, 2024.

2024 Financial Guidance

• Wabtec issues 2024 financial guidance with sales expected to be in a range of $10.05 billion to $10.35 billion and adjusted earnings per diluted share to be in a range of $6.50 to $6.90.
• For full year 2024, Wabtec expects strong cash flow generation with operating cash flow conversion of greater than 90 percent.

Forecasted GAAP Earnings Reconciliation

Wabtec is not presenting a quantitative reconciliation of our forecasted GAAP earnings per diluted share to forecasted adjusted earnings per diluted share in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exemption provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. Wabtec is 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.

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 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: 4474477).

About Wabtec

Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is revolutionizing the way the world moves for future generations. 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 2024 financial guidance mentions certain non-GAAP financial performance measures, including adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating margin, adjusted gross margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted income from operations, adjusted interest and other expense, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share and operating cash flow conversion. Wabtec defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is further adjusted for restructuring costs. 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. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding Wabtec's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; Wabtec's expectations about future sales, earnings and cash conversion 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 impacts of epidemics, pandemics, or similar public health crises on the global economy and, in particular, our customers, suppliers and end-markets, (11) potential disruptions, instability, and volatility in global markets as a result of global military action, acts of terrorism or armed conflict, including 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.