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LB Foster Company(FSTR)
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)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FSTR
09/15/2026: FSTR (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
L.B. Foster Company is an industrial firm providing engineered products for the rail and infrastructure sectors. The company is currently pivoting its business model to focus on higher-margin technology solutions, such as automated rail friction management systems, which serves as its primary growth opportunity. While this shift aims to improve profitability, the company remains exposed to cyclical industrial spending and the risks of raw material price volatility. Investors should monitor the successful execution of its current strategic plan and federal infrastructure spending trends. It may best suit investors looking for exposure to infrastructure modernization who are comfortable with the inherent volatility of cyclical industrial stocks.
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 style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company is undergoing a pivot toward technology but faces cyclical constraints. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock often lacks consistent, high-velocity price trends required for momentum strategies. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | The company may appear undervalued relative to assets, but earnings volatility complicates the thesis. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | Dividend policy is not currently a primary feature of the investment thesis. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | The stock exhibits high sensitivity to cyclical industrial economic factors. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock price is sensitive to industrial economic cycles and project-based revenue lumpy-ness. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Earnings volatility makes traditional P/E valuation metrics less reliable for predicting future returns. |
| Competition risk (Infrastructure/Rail) | High | Larger competitors with greater scale can pressure margins in core product lines. |
| Business quality | Medium | The business has historically dealt with cyclical, low-margin segments during down cycles. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Capital is currently prioritized for debt management and strategic growth rather than income distribution. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Successfully transitioning to a higher-margin, technology-driven model requires sustained operational focus. |
Price Behavior
Rolling Over
The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.
Moderately Choppy
The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 60.97% | Avg. Invested days 55 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/15/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 388.92M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 34.88 | 1Y Target Price 44 |
Price to earnings Ratio 34.88 | 1Y Target Price 44 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 63.5K shares | Beta 1.15 | 52 Weeks Range 23.81 - 45.81 | Updated Date 09/15/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 23.81 - 45.81 | Updated Date 09/15/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 1.06 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Rail Technologies | Friction management, transit products, and specialized rail services. | The company provides tech-focused maintenance products that help railways run more efficiently. |
| Infrastructure Solutions | Precast concrete, piling, and bridge products. | The company sells structural components used in large-scale construction and utility projects. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 34.88 | Forward PE 17.3 | Enterprise Value 459.56M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.7 |
Enterprise Value 459.56M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.7 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.82 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.66 | Shares Outstanding 10.52M | Shares Floating 9.74M |
Shares Outstanding 10.52M | Shares Floating 9.74M | ||
Percent Insiders 8.2 | Percent Institutions 82.43 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
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)
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)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About LB Foster Company
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Pittsburgh, PA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1990-03-26 | President, CEO & Director Mr. John F. Kasel | ||
Sector Industrials | Industry Railroads | Full time employees 1191 | Website https://www.lbfoster.com |
Full time employees 1191 | Website https://www.lbfoster.com | ||
L.B. Foster Company provides engineered and manufactured products and services for building and supporting infrastructure in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in two segments: Rail, Technologies, and Services; and Infrastructure Solutions. The Rail, Technologies, and Services segment offers new rail to passenger and short line freight railroads, industrial companies, and rail contractors, as well as new and used rails; rail accessories, such as track spikes, bolts, angle bars, tie plates, and other products; insulated rail joints and related accessories; fixation fasteners, coverboards, and special accessories; power rail; and trackwork products. This segment also provides friction management products and application systems; mobile and wayside systems; railroad condition monitoring systems and equipment including wheel impact load detection systems, wayside data collection and management systems, and rockfall, flood, earthworks, and bridge strike monitoring; and aftermarket services. The Infrastructure Solutions segment manufactures precast concrete products, including restrooms, concession stands, and other protective storage buildings under the CXT brand for national, state, and municipal parks; and sound walls, bridge beams, and other wet/dry utilities concrete products. This segment also provides steel bridge products; corrosion protection solutions; cuts, threads, and paints pipes; threading services for oil and gas production; fabricated steel and aluminum products; and protective pipeline coating services. L.B. Foster Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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