RBC vs. WAB: RBC Bearings vs. Wabtec Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB) both belong to the Machinery industry, though RBC is classified under Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components while WAB falls under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment.

Company profile comparison for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Profile Item	RBC	WAB
Name	RBC Bearings Incorporated	Wabtec Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization	15.02 billion USD	47.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 10, 2005	June 16, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RBC

WAB

GSPC

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Total Return (1Y)	13.77%	44.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	30.63%	39.37%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.68%	25.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RBC

WAB

GSPC

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	29.69%	27.53%
Beta (5Y)	1.34	0.91
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.92%	-23.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)	309.06K	890.96K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

RBC and WAB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.32	1.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.45	2.34

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 10.51% and Wabtec (WAB) at 12.24% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

10.51%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
RBC: 10.51%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

12.24%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
WAB: 12.24%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 17.51% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Wabtec (WAB) at 11.20%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

17.51%

Max: 27.47%
RBC: 17.51%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

11.20%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
WAB: 11.20%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 24.97% and Wabtec (WAB) at 20.22% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

24.97%

Max: 36.60%
RBC: 24.97%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

20.22%

Max: 36.60%
WAB: 20.22%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
ROE (TTM)	10.51%	12.24%
ROA (TTM)	6.06%	6.28%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.51%	11.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.97%	20.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	45.61%	36.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 14.34% and Wabtec (WAB) at 7.51% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 18.05% and Wabtec (WAB) at 13.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	14.34%	7.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.39%	10.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.05%	13.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.54%	25.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 3.13 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Wabtec (WAB) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

3.13

Max: 5.22
RBC: 3.13
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

1.10

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
WAB: 1.10
Min: 0.36

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 0.22 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Wabtec (WAB) at 0.60 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.22

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
RBC: 0.22
Min: 0.00

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

0.60

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
WAB: 0.60
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.13	1.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.22	0.60
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.09	2.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Wabtec (WAB) reports a yield of 0.42%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

0.42%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WAB: 0.42%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Wabtec (WAB) reports a payout of 14.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

14.66%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WAB: 14.66%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	14.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Wabtec (WAB) at 35.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 42.44 sits in the richer quartile — RBC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

42.44

Max: 59.38
RBC: 42.44
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

35.23

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WAB: 35.23
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 7.42 and Wabtec (WAB) at 3.90 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

7.42

Max: 7.54
RBC: 7.42
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

3.90

Max: 7.54
WAB: 3.90
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 4.21 and Wabtec (WAB) at 4.20 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

4.21

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
RBC: 4.21
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

4.20

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
WAB: 4.20
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Wabtec (WAB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	RBC	WAB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	42.44	35.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	7.42	3.90
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.21	4.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.22%	2.60%