Trinity Industries (TRN) Risk Factors

Stock price volatility affects the price at which our common stock can be sold and could subject our stockholders to losses. The trading price of our common stock could fluctuate widely in response to, among other things, the risk factors described in this report and other factors including: - actual or anticipated variations in quarterly and annual results of operations;- changes in recommendations by securities analysts;- changes in composition and perception of the investors who own our stock and other securities;- changes in ratings from national rating agencies on publicly or privately owned debt securities;- operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;- news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the industries in which we operate;- actual or expected economic conditions that are perceived to affect our Company;- perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors;- fluctuations in prices of commodities that our customers produce and transport;- significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;- changes in government regulations and policies and interpretations of those regulations and policies;- stockholder activism; and - dissemination of false or misleading statements through the use of social and other media to discredit our Company, disparage our products, or to harm our reputation. Additionally, in the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a public company's securities, securities class action litigation has often been initiated. Any such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources. We cannot predict the outcome of any such litigation. The initiation of any such litigation or an unfavorable result could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. See Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for more detailed information on any material pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business, including the current status of the Company's highway products litigation.

Although we have paid regular cash dividends for many years and conduct periodic share repurchase programs, the timing, amount and payment of future dividends to stockholders and repurchases of our common stock fall within the discretion of our Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board's decisions regarding the payment of dividends and repurchase of shares depend on many factors such as our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, debt service obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, and other factors that our Board may deem relevant. We cannot guarantee that we will continue to pay dividends, the amount of any such dividends, or that we will continue to repurchase shares in the future. Any payment of dividends or repurchases of shares could vary from historical practices and our stated expectations.

From time to time we engage in organizational redesigns, cost reductions, and/or similar restructuring plans, which may include organizational changes, workforce reductions, facility consolidations or closures, and other cost reduction initiatives. These types of activities are complex and can require a significant amount of management and other employees' time and focus, which may divert attention from operating and growing our business. If we do not effectively manage and implement these activities, or any future similar activities, expected efficiencies and benefits might be delayed or not realized, and our operations and business could be disrupted. Risks associated with these actions include potential adverse effects on employee morale, loss of accumulated knowledge and/or inefficiency, unfavorable political responses to such actions, unforeseen delays in implementation, unexpected costs, and the failure to meet operational targets, any of which may impair our ability to achieve anticipated benefits, harm our business, or have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Our business is subject to the demands of our customers and the broader economy, and we have particular exposure to the cyclicality of energy products, agriculture products, and consumer products. Additionally, periodic downturns in economic conditions typically have a significant adverse effect on cyclical industries due to decreased demand for new and replacement products. Decreased demand could result in lower sales volumes, lower prices, and/or a decline in or loss of profits. While the business cycles of the various end markets we serve may not typically coincide, an economic downturn could affect disparate cycles simultaneously. The railcar industry has previously experienced sharp cyclical downturns and at such times operated with minimal backlog. The impacts of such an economic downturn may magnify the adverse effect on our business.

There is no assurance that the U.S. government will reauthorize, modify, or otherwise not allow the expiration of tax benefits, such as accelerated depreciation. Changes to income tax laws and regulations have resulted in the phase-out of bonus depreciation, which began in 2023 and will continue through 2026. In such instances where benefits are allowed to expire or are otherwise modified or discontinued, the demand for our products could decrease, thereby creating the potential for a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Periods of impasse, deadlock, and last-minute accords may continue to permeate many aspects of U.S. governance, including federal government budgeting and spending, taxation, U.S. deficit spending and debt ceiling adjustments, and international commerce. Such periods could negatively impact U.S. domestic and global financial markets thereby reducing customer demand for our products and services and potentially result in reductions in our revenues, increased price competition, or increased operating costs, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. We produce many of our products at our manufacturing facilities in Mexico. Our businesses benefit from free trade agreements such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Any changes in trade or tax policies by the U.S. or foreign governments in jurisdictions in which we do business, as well as any embargoes, quotas or tariffs imposed on our products and services, could adversely and significantly affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to comprehensive federal, state, local, and foreign environmental laws and regulations relating to: (i) the release or discharge of materials into the environment at our facilities or with respect to our products while in operation; (ii) the management, use, processing, handling, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, substances, and materials; and (iii) other activities relating to the protection of human health and the environment. Such laws and regulations expose us to liability for our own acts and in certain instances potentially expose us to liability for the acts of others. These laws and regulations also may impose liability on us currently under circumstances where at the time of the action taken, our acts or those of others complied with then-applicable laws and regulations. In addition, such laws may require significant expenditures to achieve compliance, and are frequently modified or revised to impose new obligations. Civil and criminal fines and penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with these environmental laws and regulations. Our operations involving hazardous materials also raise potential risks of liability under common law. Environmental operating permits are, or may be, required for our operations under these laws and regulations. These operating permits are subject to modification, renewal, and revocation. Although we regularly monitor and review our operations, procedures, and policies for compliance with our operating permits and related laws and regulations, the risk of environmental liability is inherent in the operation of our businesses, as it is with other companies operating under environmental permits. However, future events, such as changes in, or modified interpretations of, existing environmental laws and regulations or enforcement policies, or further investigation or evaluation of the potential health hazards associated with the manufacture of our products and related business activities and properties, may give rise to additional compliance and other costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations. In addition to environmental laws, the transportation of commodities by railcar raises potential risks in the event of an accident that results in the release of an environmentally sensitive substance. Generally, liability under existing laws for a derailment or other accident depends upon causation analysis and the acts, errors, or omissions, if any, of a party involved in the transportation activity, including, but not limited to, the railroad, the shipper, the buyer and seller of the substances being transported, or the manufacturer of the railcar, or its components. Additionally, the severity of injury or property damage arising from an incident may influence the causation responsibility analysis, exposing the Company to potentially greater liability. Under certain circumstances, strict liability concepts may apply and if we are found liable in any such incident, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business, and operations. See Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our potential exposure to environmental liabilities.

In general, the Company and its leasing subsidiaries rely in large part upon banks and capital markets to fund their operations and contractual commitments and refinance existing debt. These markets can experience high levels of volatility and access to capital can be constrained for extended periods of time. In addition to conditions in the capital markets, a number of other factors could cause the Company to incur increased borrowing costs and have greater difficulty accessing public and private markets for both secured and unsecured debt. These factors include the Company's financial performance and its credit ratings and rating outlook as determined primarily by rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and Fitch Ratings, Inc. If the Company is unable to secure financing on acceptable terms, the Company's other sources of funds, including available cash, bank facilities, and cash flow from operations may not be adequate to fund its operations and contractual commitments and refinance existing debt.