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Upturn AI Summary - About
Freightcar America Inc(RAIL)
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 RAIL
10/02/2026: RAIL (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Freightcar America Inc is a North American manufacturer specializing in freight cars, including hoppers and flat cars, for the rail industry. The company is known for its focus on aluminum-bodied railcar designs and has recently optimized its manufacturing footprint to improve cost efficiency. Its primary growth story revolves around the long-term replacement cycle of the aging North American rail fleet. However, the company faces significant execution risks, including cyclical demand volatility, competition from larger manufacturing rivals, and vulnerability to commodity price fluctuations. The stock may best suit investors comfortable with industrial cyclicality who are monitoring the company's ability to maintain margins and secure recurring aftermarket revenue.
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 | Weak fit | The company's growth is heavily tied to cyclical industrial demand rather than consistent high-growth trends. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum fit is conditional on positive industry-wide demand upturns and sustained contract wins. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Value suitability depends on the stock's pricing relative to book value and recovery potential during industrial cycles. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not currently offer a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | High cyclicality and industry volatility make this a higher-risk equity holding. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | High | The stock is susceptible to sharp price swings driven by industrial production cycles. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Investors face risk if market expectations for railcar orders do not materialize. |
| Competition risk (Railcar Manufacturing) | High | Larger competitors possess scale advantages that can pressure margins and pricing power. |
| Business quality | Medium | The capital-intensive nature of the business requires strong execution to maintain consistent profitability. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | There is no dividend income associated with this stock. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Successful management of the Mexican manufacturing footprint is critical to maintaining cost competitiveness. |
Price Behavior
Steep Decline
The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 38.38% | Avg. Invested days 30 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/02/2026 |
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 226.26M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 14.67 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 14.67 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 246.5K shares | Beta 1.46 | 52 Weeks Range 6.35 - 14.90 | Updated Date 10/02/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 6.35 - 14.90 | Updated Date 10/02/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -0.38 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| New Railcar Manufacturing | Production of aluminum and steel hopper cars, and flat cars. | The company makes the most money when rail companies order new cars to replace old ones. |
| Aftermarket Parts and Repairs | Replacement components and railcar maintenance services. | Provides recurring revenue by keeping existing freight car fleets operational. |
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 - | Forward PE 8.76 | Enterprise Value 324.60M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.49 |
Enterprise Value 324.60M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.49 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.7 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 25.23 | Shares Outstanding 32.79M | Shares Floating 28.16M |
Shares Outstanding 32.79M | Shares Floating 28.16M | ||
Percent Insiders 13.9 | Percent Institutions 30.27 |
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 Freightcar America Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Chicago, IL, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2005-04-06 | President, CEO & Director Mr. Nicholas J. Randall | ||
Sector Industrials | Industry Railroads | Full time employees 1986 | Website https://freightcaramerica.com |
Full time employees 1986 | Website https://freightcaramerica.com | ||
FreightCar America, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells railcars and railcar components for the transportation of bulk commodities and containerized freight products in the United States and Mexico. The company operates through two segments: Manufacturing and Aftermarket. It offers a range of railcars, including boxcars, covered and open-top hopper cars, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars, mill gondola cars, coil steel cars, coal cars, dynastack series, steel products, boxcars, aluminum coal cars, stainless steel and hybrid stainless steel cars, and other railcar types, as well as other supplies for all railcar types, and provides aftermarket services including safety training, railcar inspections, and preventative maintenance. The company also sells used railcars; rebuilds, converts, and leases railcars; and sells forged, cast, and fabricated parts for various railcars. It serves shippers, railroads, and financial institutions. FreightCar America, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
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