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L. B. Foster Company (FSTR)
NASDAQ:FSTR
Earnings Data
Report Date
May 12, 2026Before Open (Confirmed)
Period Ending
2026 (Q1)Consensus EPS Forecast
-0.22Last Year’s EPS
-0.2Same Quarter Last Year
Based on 1 Analysts Ratings
Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call highlights a strong finish to 2025 with robust Q4 revenue (+25.1%), substantial adjusted EBITDA growth (+89% Q4), solid cash generation and meaningful leverage reduction to ~1.0x. Infrastructure and Friction Management showed notable product and order momentum, and management provided constructive 2026 guidance (mid-single digit sales growth, double-digit EBITDA expansion, continued free cash flow). Offsetting these positives are margin pressure in Rail (notably the UK), restructuring and exit charges (~$3.6M of noted UK-related costs), a Summit order cancellation impacting Infrastructure backlog, and some near-term precast start‑up costs and tax impacts. On balance, the positive operational and financial improvements, stronger backlog/bookings, and clearer 2026 growth plan outweigh the headwinds from UK restructuring and select contract cancellations.Company Guidance
Strong Q4 Revenue Growth
Net sales of $160.4M in Q4, up 25.1% YoY — the highest fourth quarter sales since 2018; Rail revenue +23.7% and Infrastructure revenue +27.3% in Q4.
Material EBITDA and Margin Leverage in Q4
Adjusted EBITDA of $13.7M in Q4, up $6.4M or 89% YoY driven by higher volumes and SG&A leverage; SG&A dollar reduction of $1.3M (‑5.2%) and SG&A as % of sales improved 470 bps to 14.4%.
Strong Cash Generation and Balance Sheet Improvement
Q4 operating cash flow of $22.2M; deployed $2.4M CapEx and $3.3M in stock repurchases; net debt reduced by $16.9M to $38.4M and gross leverage improved to ~1.0x (from 1.6x start of quarter).
Full-Year Profitability and Cash Flow Progress
2025 adjusted EBITDA $39.1M, up $5.5M YoY; operating cash flow $35.6M (+$13.0M YoY); free cash flow $25.2M; CapEx $10.4M (1.9% of sales).
Backlog, Orders and Book-to-Bill Momentum
Net new orders of $540.9M (+6.8% YoY) and year-end backlog $189.3M (+1.8% YoY). Trailing twelve-month book-to-bill ~1.0; Rail TTM book-to-bill ~1.11 driven by strong Q4 bookings.
Rail and Friction Management Recovery
Rail backlog up materially (Rail backlog up $34.5M YoY); Friction Management orders +58.4% in Q4 and full-year Friction Management sales +19% (all organic), supporting stronger 2026 Rail outlook.
Infrastructure Product Strength
Q4 steel product sales +58.2% with protective coatings up 206.5% in Q4 (and protective coatings +42.7% for full year 2025); precast concrete Q4 sales +18.7% and full-year precast growth 19.9% (organic).
Share Repurchases and Capital Allocation
2025 buybacks of $14.4M reduced shares by ~5.4%; repurchased ~121k shares for $3.3M in Q4; $28.7M remaining on the buyback authorization as of Feb 2025.
2026 Guidance Reflects Continued Improvement
Management guided to ~3.7% sales growth for 2026, adjusted EBITDA growth in the low double-digits (midpoint ~10–11%), FCF midpoint ~$20M, and higher targeted CapEx of ~2.7% of sales to support growth programs.
FSTR Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed
FSTR Earnings-Related Price Changes
Report Date | Price 1 Day Before | Price 1 Day After | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Mar 03, 2026 | $32.19 | $31.66 | -1.65% |
Nov 03, 2025 | $27.40 | $26.94 | -1.68% |
Aug 11, 2025 | $22.08 | $22.25 | +0.77% |
May 06, 2025 | $20.48 | $19.66 | -4.00% |
Earnings announcements can affect a stock’s price. This table shows the stock's price the day before and the day after recent earnings reports, including the percentage change.
FAQ
When does L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) report earnings?
L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) is schdueled to report earning on May 12, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
What is L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) earnings time?
L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) earnings time is at May 12, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
Where can I see when companies are reporting earnings?
You can see which companies are reporting today on our designated earnings calendar.
What companies are reporting earnings today?
You can see a list of the companies which are reporting today on TipRanks earnings calendar.
What is FSTR EPS forecast?
FSTR EPS forecast for the fiscal quarter 2026 (Q1) is -0.22.