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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 - 5.2)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$31.00
▲(15.03% 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 provides engineered and manufactured products and services for the building and infrastructure projects worldwide. The company's Rail, Technologies, and Services segment offers new rail to passenger and short line freight railroads, industrial companies, and rail contractors; used rails; rail accessories, including track spikes and anchors, bolts, angle bars, tie plates, and other products; power rail, direct fixation fasteners, coverboards, and special accessories; and trackwork products, as well as engineers and manufactures insulated rail joints and related accessories. This segment also provides friction management products and application systems, railroad condition monitoring systems and equipment, wheel impact load detection systems, wayside data collection and management systems, track fasteners, and engineered concrete railroad ties; and aftermarket services. Its Precast Concrete Products segment offers a range of specialty precast concrete products, such as sound walls, burial vaults, bridge beams, box culverts, septic tanks, and other custom pre-stressed products for use in transportation and general infrastructure markets. This segment also manufactures precast concrete buildings for use as restrooms, concession stands, and protective storage buildings in national, state, and municipal parks. The company's Steel Products and Measurement segment provides bridge decking, bridge railing, structural steel fabrications, expansion joints, bridge forms, and other products for highway construction and repair. This segment also produces threaded pipe products for industrial water well, irrigation, and oil and gas markets, as well as offers pipe coatings for oil and gas pipelines and utilities, and precision measurement systems for the oil and gas market. The company markets its products directly, as well as through a network of agents. L.B. Foster Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Backlog by Segment
Backlog by Segment
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

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 shows signs of recovery with positive revenue growth and improved cash flow generation. However, profitability margins have weakened, and leverage has increased. The company needs to focus on enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining a balanced financial structure to sustain growth.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a gross profit margin of 21.81%, which is a slight improvement from previous years. However, the net profit margin has decreased significantly to 0.96% from 8.09% in the previous year. Revenue growth is positive at 16.2% TTM, indicating a recovery from the previous year's decline. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also decreased, suggesting pressure on operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a moderate financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio has increased to 0.48 TTM, indicating a rise in leverage, but it remains manageable. Return on equity has dropped to 2.78% TTM, showing reduced profitability. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a balanced asset structure.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals some challenges. Free cash flow growth is positive at 20.39% TTM, indicating improved cash generation. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.54, suggesting that cash flows are not fully supporting net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 0.95, indicating efficient cash conversion despite profitability challenges.
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
28.16
Positive
100DMA
27.52
Positive
200DMA
24.71
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.73
Negative
RSI
63.87
Neutral
STOCH
87.54
Negative
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 29.32, below the 50-day MA of 28.16, and above the 200-day MA of 24.71, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.73 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.87 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.54 is Negative, 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
$41.16B34.9911.07%0.46%4.40%14.60%
68
Neutral
$1.66B9.3212.54%2.71%-8.66%27.14%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
62
Neutral
$230.28M4.68-6.18%
57
Neutral
$320.62M70.682.74%-5.51%-88.11%
57
Neutral
$2.38B25.8910.04%4.34%-33.03%-44.18%
40
Underperform
$9.76M-10.05-74.03%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FSTR
L. B. Foster Company
30.85
3.37
12.26%
RAIL
Freightcar America
12.07
-0.49
-3.90%
GBX
Greenbrier
53.72
-9.31
-14.77%
TRN
Trinity Industries
29.66
-5.86
-16.49%
WAB
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies
240.79
35.03
17.03%
RVSN
Rail Vision Ltd.
4.19
-15.29
-78.49%

L. B. Foster Company Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
L.B. Foster Announces Board Member Resignation
Neutral
Dec 15, 2025

On December 15, 2025, L.B. Foster Company announced the resignation of Alexander B. Jones from its Board of Directors, following the expiration of a Cooperation Agreement with 22NW Fund and related entities. The Board subsequently reduced its size from seven to six members. This decision was amicable and did not involve any disagreements regarding the company’s operations or policies. Both the company and 22NW expressed mutual appreciation for the partnership and contributions made during the agreement, with 22NW remaining supportive of the company’s future endeavors.

The most recent analyst rating on (FSTR) stock is a Hold with a $27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on L. B. Foster Company stock, see the FSTR Stock Forecast page.

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.

The most recent analyst rating on (FSTR) stock is a Hold with a $27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on L. B. Foster Company stock, see the FSTR Stock Forecast page.

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