Friedman Industries Inc. Common Stock(FRD)

upturn advisory logo
ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
SELL
SELL for 3 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-5.85%
LAST CLOSE
$40.46
09/16/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FRD

09/16/2026: FRD (1-star) is a SELL. SELL for 3 days. Simulated Profits (-5.85%). Updated daily EoD!

Friedman Industries Inc. is a steel processor and distributor focused on regional industrial markets. The company provides essential coil slitting and plate processing services, benefiting from long-standing customer relationships and a focused regional footprint. Its primary opportunity lies in potential demand from infrastructure projects and improved operational efficiencies. However, the company faces significant risks from cyclical steel price volatility and competition from larger, national distributors. Suited primarily for value and dividend-oriented investors, the company's performance is closely tied to domestic manufacturing health, making it important to monitor steel pricing trends and capital investment levels in the industrial sector.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe company operates in a mature, cyclical industry with limited high-growth prospects.
Momentum investorMixed fitThe stock can exhibit momentum during steel cycle upturns, but is prone to significant volatility.
Value investorStrong fitOften trades at valuations reflecting cyclical asset values rather than high-growth premiums.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company provides a consistent dividend yield, suitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh exposure to commodity price cycles makes this a higher-risk investment.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighSteel prices fluctuate significantly, directly impacting revenue and profit margins.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing of steel companies often disconnects from fundamental value during cycle shifts.
Competition risk (Consolidated service centers)HighLarge national distributors have greater purchasing power and wider geographic reach.
Business qualityMediumBusiness model is functional and essential, but lacks deep competitive moats.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are dependent on cyclical profitability and cash flow.
Execution riskMediumOperational success relies on efficient inventory management in a volatile commodity market.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 71.7%
Avg. Invested days 34
Today’s Advisory SELL
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/16/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

FRD receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid quantitative characteristics. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft analyst coverage, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

FRD has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, strong growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong earnings growth (+221.0%) and strong revenue growth (+45.5%) are partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 0.2%), soft profitability (net margin 3.0%).

Financial Health Rating

FRD's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (0.2% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

Earnings growth is FRD's strongest growth driver at +221.0% FY2026 versus FY2025 (strong, 5 stars). Revenue growth (+45.5%, strong) and free-cash-flow growth (+114.7%, strong) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

Institutional ownership is 54.8% and approximately 93.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 6.60% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 7.54%
Gendell Jeffrey L 4.92%
Renaissance Technologies Corp 4.59%
BlackRock Inc 4.55%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.00%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

FRD generates approximately $134 of gross profit, $40 of operating income, and $2 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

Effective Tax Rate: 25.93%

Quantitative Style Profile

FRD has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 294.28M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 10.82
1Y Target Price -
Price to earnings Ratio 10.82
1Y Target Price -
Volume (30-day avg) 82.9K shares
Beta 1.62
52 Weeks Range 16.50 - 48.77
Updated Date 09/16/2026
52 Weeks Range 16.50 - 48.77
Updated Date 09/16/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.39%
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.77

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Coil ProcessingSlitting and cutting steel coils to customer specifications.The company profits by providing value-added services that prepare raw steel for specific industrial uses.
Steel DistributionDirect sales of flat-rolled steel products.Revenue is earned by sourcing steel from mills and selling it to end-users at a markup.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Advertisement

Valuation

Trailing PE 10.82
Forward PE 14.43
Enterprise Value 394.35M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.39
Enterprise Value 394.35M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.39
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.52
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 8.69
Shares Outstanding 7.21M
Shares Floating 6.74M
Shares Outstanding 7.21M
Shares Floating 6.74M
Percent Insiders 6.6
Percent Institutions 54.84

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization accuracy disclaimer AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization data freshness disclaimer Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.

Information icon warning about Upturn AI Fundamental Rating based on potentially old data Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.

Information icon warning about potential inaccuracies or hallucinations in Upturn AI-generated summaries AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Friedman Industries Inc. Common Stock

Exchange NASDAQ
Headquarters Longview, TX, United States
IPO Launch date 1992-03-17
Chairman of the Board, President & CEO Mr. Michael J. Taylor
Sector Basic Materials
Industry Steel
Full time employees 381
Full time employees 381

Friedman Industries, Incorporated engages in the manufacture and processing of steel products in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Flat-Roll Products and Tubular Products. The Flat-Roll Product segment is involved in the operation of hot-rolled coil processing facilities to cut the coils into sheets and plates, as well as the provision of process and storage services for customer-owned coils on a fee basis. The Tubular Product segment manufactures line and oil country pipes, as well as pipes for structural applications. The company serves metals distributors and customers manufacturing products, such as metal buildings, railcars, heavy equipment, tanks and containers, trailers, component parts, and other fabricated metal products. Friedman Industries, Incorporated was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Longview, Texas.