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L. B. Foster Company (FSTR)
NASDAQ:FSTR

L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) AI Stock Analysis

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FSTR

L. B. Foster Company

(NASDAQ:FSTR)

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Neutral 57 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$27.00
▲(0.19% Upside)
L.B. Foster's stock score is primarily influenced by its financial performance, which shows recovery signs but is hindered by weakened profitability margins and increased leverage. Technical analysis indicates a neutral trend, while valuation suggests potential overvaluation. The earnings call highlights growth potential in the infrastructure segment, despite challenges in the rail segment.
Positive Factors
Strong Cash Generation
Strong cash generation enhances financial flexibility, allowing the company to reduce debt and invest in growth opportunities, supporting long-term stability.
Increased Orders and Backlog
Rising orders and backlog indicate strong demand and future revenue potential, providing a solid foundation for sustained growth.
Sales Growth in Infrastructure Segment
Growth in the infrastructure segment reflects robust market demand and strengthens the company's position in a key business area, supporting long-term revenue expansion.
Negative Factors
Decreased Profitability
Decreased profitability can hinder reinvestment in the business and affect long-term competitive positioning, requiring strategic focus on cost management.
Higher Production Costs
Rising production costs reduce profit margins, potentially impacting the company's ability to maintain competitive pricing and invest in growth.
Decline in Rail Revenues
A decline in rail revenues suggests challenges in a key segment, which may affect overall growth and require strategic adjustments to regain momentum.

L. B. Foster Company (FSTR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

L. B. Foster Company Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionL. B. Foster Company (FSTR) is a leading provider of products and services for the rail, construction, and energy sectors. Founded in 1902, the company specializes in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of infrastructure solutions, including rail and transit products, precast concrete structures, and energy-related services. With a focus on innovation and quality, L. B. Foster serves both domestic and international markets, providing essential materials and technology that support the development and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
How the Company Makes MoneyL. B. Foster generates revenue primarily through the sale of its manufactured products and services in several key sectors, including rail, construction, and energy. The company has established multiple revenue streams, including the sale of rail track and accessories, precast concrete products, and energy-related solutions. Additionally, L. B. Foster engages in service contracts that provide ongoing maintenance and support for its infrastructure products. Strategic partnerships with various industry stakeholders, such as rail operators and construction firms, further enhance its revenue opportunities. The company also benefits from long-term contracts and a diverse customer base, which provide stability and predictability in its earnings.

L. B. Foster Company Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 03, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed outlook with notable growth in the infrastructure segment and strong cash flow, offset by challenges in the rail segment and decreased profitability. Despite setbacks, the company shows potential for future growth with increased orders and backlog.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Sales Growth in Infrastructure Segment
The Infrastructure segment posted a 4.4% sales growth, with steel products up 12.7%.
Strong Cash Generation
Cash provided by operations totaled $29.2 million, reducing net debt to $55.3 million, with gross leverage improving from 1.9x to 1.6x.
Increased Orders and Backlog
Orders increased 19.6% year-over-year, and backlog at quarter end was $247.4 million, up 18.4% over last year.
Total Track Monitoring Sales Surge
Total track monitoring sales increased by approximately 135%.
Rail Segment Order Growth
Rail segment orders increased 63.9%, with backlog improving 58.2% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Decline in Rail Revenues
Rail revenues declined 2.2% from last year due to planned downsizing in the U.K. and timing of rail distribution sales.
Decreased Profitability
Adjusted EBITDA was down $1 million with lower margins in both rail and infrastructure. Net income declined to $4.4 million from $35.9 million last year.
Order Cancellation in Infrastructure
Infrastructure orders declined due to a $19 million cancellation in the Summit Protective coating order.
Higher Production Costs
Gross profit declined with margins down 260 basis points in infrastructure due to unfavorable sales mix and higher production costs.
Company Guidance
In L.B. Foster's third quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported modest sales growth of 0.6% year-over-year, driven by a 4.4% increase in their Infrastructure segment, notably with a 12.7% rise in steel products sales. However, rail revenues fell by 2.2%, primarily due to the downsizing of the U.K. business and the timing of rail distribution sales. The quarter saw adjusted EBITDA decline by $1 million, despite a reduction in SG&A costs to 16% of sales. Net income dropped to $4.4 million from $35.9 million the previous year, which had benefited from a $30 million tax valuation release. A highlight was the robust cash generation of $29.2 million from operations, allowing net debt to be reduced to $55.3 million. The company also repurchased 184,000 shares, equating to 1.7% of outstanding shares. With a trailing 12-month book-to-bill ratio of 1.08:1 and a backlog increase of 18.4% to $247.4 million, L.B. Foster anticipates a strong Q4, projecting approximately 25% sales growth.

L. B. Foster Company Financial Statement Overview

Summary
L. B. Foster Company demonstrates a solid recovery in revenue and cash flow growth, with stable gross margins. While profitability remains a challenge, the company maintains a balanced debt profile and strong equity position. Continued focus on improving net margins and returns on equity could enhance overall financial performance.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The company shows a positive trend in revenue growth with a 16.2% increase in TTM, recovering from a decline in the previous year. Gross profit margin is stable at around 21.8%, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin is relatively low at 0.96%, suggesting limited profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved but remain modest, reflecting operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, indicating a balanced approach to leveraging. Return on equity is low at 2.78%, suggesting limited returns for shareholders. The equity ratio stands at 52.3%, showing a strong equity base relative to total assets, which enhances financial stability.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
The company exhibits strong free cash flow growth of 55.4% in TTM, indicating improved cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.54, showing adequate cash flow relative to earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 0.95, reflecting efficient cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue507.82M530.76M543.74M497.50M513.62M497.41M
Gross Profit110.73M118.06M112.04M89.61M86.30M95.01M
EBITDA29.03M33.52M21.73M9.12M21.43M31.32M
Net Income4.89M42.95M1.46M-45.56M3.63M7.58M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets333.89M334.55M312.40M365.31M342.60M370.39M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.51M2.45M2.56M2.88M10.37M7.56M
Total Debt84.43M61.65M67.14M106.04M43.53M58.54M
Total Liabilities158.29M155.54M169.57M227.71M158.99M193.56M
Stockholders Equity174.80M178.32M142.11M137.18M183.09M176.83M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow27.72M12.84M32.44M-18.21M-5.68M7.74M
Operating Cash Flow37.73M22.63M36.96M-10.58M-1.06M16.92M
Investing Cash Flow-10.36M-6.31M2.49M-56.42M17.82M-8.04M
Financing Cash Flow-27.28M-16.23M-39.30M60.24M-13.90M-15.30M

L. B. Foster Company Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price26.95
Price Trends
50DMA
27.04
Positive
100DMA
26.29
Positive
200DMA
23.47
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.44
Negative
RSI
55.83
Neutral
STOCH
61.88
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FSTR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 26.95 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 27.36, below the 50-day MA of 27.04, and above the 200-day MA of 23.47, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.44 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.83 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 61.88 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FSTR.

L. B. Foster Company Risk Analysis

L. B. Foster Company disclosed 27 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. L. B. Foster Company reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

L. B. Foster Company Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$37.90B31.9111.07%0.46%4.40%14.60%
69
Neutral
$1.44B7.3314.03%2.71%-8.66%27.14%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
62
Neutral
$2.27B24.3810.04%4.34%-33.03%-44.18%
60
Neutral
$172.48M4.38-6.18%
57
Neutral
$293.08M63.522.74%-5.51%-88.11%
42
Neutral
$17.19M-0.83-74.03%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FSTR
L. B. Foster Company
28.14
0.81
2.96%
RAIL
Freightcar America
10.85
1.95
21.91%
GBX
Greenbrier
46.52
-14.63
-23.92%
TRN
Trinity Industries
27.94
-6.43
-18.71%
WAB
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies
219.55
26.37
13.65%
RVSN
Rail Vision Ltd.
0.35
-0.11
-23.91%

L. B. Foster Company Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
L.B. Foster Announces Executive Vice President’s Retirement
Neutral
Dec 5, 2025

L.B. Foster Company announced that Brian H. Kelly, Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the CEO, will retire on December 31, 2025. The company’s Compensation Committee has approved a Retirement Agreement that includes accelerated vesting of stock awards and performance share units, as well as payments under various company plans, contingent upon Mr. Kelly’s compliance with specific covenants.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 03, 2025