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Freightcar America (RAIL)
NASDAQ:RAIL
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Freightcar America (RAIL) AI Stock Analysis

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RAIL

Freightcar America

(NASDAQ:RAIL)

Rating:40Underperform
Price Target:
$9.00
▼(-3.33% Downside)
FreightCar America's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its weak financial performance and valuation challenges. While there are improvements in operational efficiency and cash flow, the company's high leverage and declining revenues pose significant risks. Technical indicators also suggest bearish momentum, further contributing to the low score.

Freightcar America (RAIL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Freightcar America Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFreightCar America, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells railcars and railcar components for the transportation of bulk commodities and containerized freight products primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Manufacturing and Parts. The company offers a range of freight cars, including open top hoppers; covered hopper cars; gondolas; triple hoppers and hybrid aluminum/stainless steel railcars; ore hopper and gondola railcars; ballast hopper cars; aggregate hopper cars; intermodal flats; and non-intermodal flat cars. It also provides railcars, including coal cars, bulk commodity cars, coil steel cars, and boxcars; and woodchip hoppers, aluminum vehicle carriers, and articulated bulk container railcars. In addition, the company sells used railcars; leases, rebuilds, and converts railcars; and sells forged, cast, and fabricated parts for various railcars. It also exports its manufactured railcars to Latin America and the Middle East. The company's customers primarily include financial institutions, railroads, and shippers. FreightCar America, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyFreightCar America generates revenue primarily through the manufacturing and sale of freight cars, which are crucial for transporting goods across the rail network. The company earns money by receiving orders from railroads and leasing companies, as well as through the sale of railcar parts and services for maintenance. Key revenue streams include direct sales of new railcars, lease agreements with clients, and aftermarket services, which encompass repairs and upgrades. Strategic partnerships with major rail operators and leasing companies also bolster its revenue, as these relationships can lead to long-term contracts and consistent demand for its products.

Freightcar America Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 04, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -6.15%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 18, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture with strong financial discipline and operational efficiency leading to improved gross margins and positive cash flow. However, revenue and deliveries were down year-over-year, and there are challenges in the broader industry with a softening demand for new railcars. The company's strategic investments and strong cash position are positive indicators for future growth.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Commercial Momentum
FreightCar America maintained strong commercial momentum, adding 300 units to its backlog despite challenging industry conditions.
Improved Gross Margins
Gross margins expanded to 15% in Q2 2025, up from 12.5% a year ago, driven by operational efficiency.
Positive Cash Flow
The company generated $8.5 million in operating cash flow, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of positive cash from operations.
Healthy Cash Position
FreightCar America ended Q2 2025 with $61.4 million in cash and no borrowings under its revolving credit facility.
Capital Investment in Tank Car Retrofit Program
Announced investment in tank car retrofit program to enhance margin profile and create long-term value.
Negative Updates
Revenue and Deliveries Decline
Consolidated revenues for Q2 2025 were $118.6 million with 939 deliveries, compared to $147.4 million and 1,159 deliveries in Q2 2024, primarily due to timing of railcar deliveries.
Increased SG&A Expenses
SG&A expenses increased to $10.1 million in Q2 2025 from $8.5 million in Q2 2024, primarily due to timing of spend on various professional services.
Softer New Railcar Demand
New railcar demand is softening due to uncertainties around tariff policies, impacting total industry deliveries for 2025.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter of 2025, FreightCar America reported strong operational performance with a gross margin expansion to 15% on 939 deliveries, up from 12.5% on 1,159 deliveries in the prior year. The company generated a positive operating cash flow of $8.5 million, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of cash flow positivity, and maintained a cash reserve of over $61 million. Despite a challenging industry environment, the company secured 1,226 new orders worth $107 million, boosting its backlog to 3,624 units. Adjusted EBITDA margins increased by 20 basis points compared to the previous year, with adjusted free cash flow reaching $7.9 million. FreightCar America's strategy focused on rebuilds and conversions, which accounted for the significant increase in orders, demonstrating the effectiveness of its flexible manufacturing model. The company reaffirmed its outlook for the year, expecting to maintain profitability and cash flow, supported by its diverse business model and ongoing investments in its tank car retrofit program.

Freightcar America Financial Statement Overview

Summary
FreightCar America faces significant financial challenges with declining revenues, negative profitability, and high leverage. Improvements in gross margins are noted, but financial instability and cash flow issues need addressing for long-term sustainability.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Freightcar America shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The TTM data indicates a decline in revenue growth rate by 5.82%, and the net profit margin is negative at -2.21%, reflecting ongoing profitability challenges. However, the gross profit margin has improved to 14.90% from previous periods, indicating better cost management. The EBIT margin is also negative, suggesting operational inefficiencies. Overall, the company is struggling with profitability, but there are signs of improvement in gross margins.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet reveals significant financial instability, with a negative stockholders' equity and a debt-to-equity ratio of -0.57 in the TTM period, indicating high leverage and financial risk. The return on equity is positive at 10.21%, which is unusual given the negative equity, suggesting volatility in financial performance. The company needs to address its leverage to improve financial health.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis shows a decline in free cash flow growth by 59.28% in the TTM period, indicating cash generation challenges. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.28, suggesting moderate cash conversion efficiency. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.90, indicating that the company is generating cash relative to its net losses. Overall, cash flow management needs improvement to support operations and reduce financial strain.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue465.86M559.42M358.09M364.75M203.05M108.45M
Gross Profit69.42M67.04M41.76M25.82M11.46M-13.50M
EBITDA-92.15M-57.37M-2.45M-4.65M-20.93M-67.41M
Net Income-10.30M-75.82M-23.59M-38.85M-41.45M-86.10M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets328.09M224.22M259.46M199.74M200.66M182.74M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments61.35M44.45M39.60M37.91M26.24M54.05M
Total Debt152.30M158.99M73.85M127.26M98.06M85.46M
Total Liabilities411.56M374.49M222.21M228.32M202.32M152.25M
Stockholders Equity-83.46M-150.27M-46.21M-28.58M-1.66M30.50M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow32.03M39.91M-7.95M3.69M-57.69M-68.75M
Operating Cash Flow35.72M44.93M4.77M11.50M-55.40M-58.91M
Investing Cash Flow-3.10M-5.02M-4.37M-7.82M-1.68M-6.09M
Financing Cash Flow-10.63M-36.02M2.25M7.99M29.27M52.79M

Freightcar America Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price9.31
Price Trends
50DMA
9.66
Negative
100DMA
7.96
Positive
200DMA
9.18
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.20
Positive
RSI
42.72
Neutral
STOCH
19.35
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RAIL, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 9.31 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 10.27, below the 50-day MA of 9.66, and above the 200-day MA of 9.18, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.20 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.72 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 19.35 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for RAIL.

Freightcar America Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$245.12M7.3422.67%-7.03%397.79%
71
Outperform
$32.98B28.7910.84%0.47%3.38%17.21%
69
Neutral
$1.44B6.5716.16%2.75%0.71%84.57%
67
Neutral
$286.94M45.764.71%3.51%33.35%
61
Neutral
$2.32B24.9710.47%4.09%-22.95%-40.67%
60
Neutral
kr42.62B14.441.95%2.37%0.37%-2.81%
40
Underperform
$179.80M156.43%-6.00%-12.45%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RAIL
Freightcar America
9.31
4.63
98.93%
EVI
EVI Industries
24.45
9.12
59.49%
GBX
Greenbrier
47.63
3.38
7.64%
FSTR
L. B. Foster Company
24.28
6.36
35.49%
TRN
Trinity Industries
28.88
-1.98
-6.42%
WAB
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies
194.40
38.88
25.00%

Freightcar America Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
FreightCar America Holds Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 19, 2025

On May 14, 2025, FreightCar America, Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders where several key proposals were voted on. Stockholders elected Class II directors Jesús Salvador Gil Benavides and Rodger L. Boehm for three-year terms, approved executive compensation, and ratified Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025. These decisions reflect the company’s continued focus on governance and financial oversight.

The most recent analyst rating on (RAIL) stock is a Hold with a $15.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Freightcar America stock, see the RAIL 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: Aug 13, 2025