FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does FreightCar America, Inc. Do?
FreightCar 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. FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) is classified as a micro-cap stock in the Industrials sector, specifically within the Shipbuilding, Railroad Equipment industry. The company is led by CEO James R. Meyer and employs approximately 1,000 people, headquartered in CHICAGO, Illinois. With a market capitalization of $154M, RAIL is one of the notable companies in the Industrials sector.
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)
As of April 2026, FreightCar America, Inc. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 49.6/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.RAIL ranks #2,517 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Industrials sector, FreightCar America, Inc. ranks #407 of 752 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Industrials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
RAIL Stock Price and 52-Week Range
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) currently trades at $8.98. The stock gained $0.06 (0.7%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for RAIL is $14.90, which means the stock is currently trading -39.7% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $4.31, putting the stock 108.4% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 181K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is RAIL Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) carries a value factor score of 77/100 in the Blank Capital model, suggesting the stock trades at a meaningful discount to its fundamental earning power. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 7.69x, compared to the Industrials sector average of 28.33x — a discount of 73%. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.32x, compared to 0.50x for the average Industrials stock. On an enterprise value basis, RAIL trades at 7.58x EV/EBITDA, versus 5.70x for the sector.
Based on these multiples, FreightCar America, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to both its sector peers and the broader market. Value-oriented investors may find the current entry point compelling, particularly if the company's fundamental quality metrics also score well.
FreightCar America, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is -109.4%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 8.9%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at -18.1% versus the sector average of 3.3%.
On a margin basis, FreightCar America, Inc. reports gross margins of 14.8%, compared to 35.8% for the sector. The operating margin is 6.8% (sector: 6.2%). Net profit margin stands at -9.2%, versus 3.9% for the average Industrials stock. Revenue growth is running at 8.9% on a trailing basis, compared to 6.4% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
RAIL Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
FreightCar America, Inc. has a debt-to-equity ratio of -164.0%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 70.0%. The low leverage indicates a conservative balance sheet with significant financial flexibility. The current ratio is 1.87x, suggesting adequate working capital coverage. Total debt on the balance sheet is $107M.
RAIL has a beta of 1.63, meaning it is more volatile than the broader market — a $10,000 investment in RAIL would be expected to move 62.5% more than the S&P 500 on any given day. The stability factor score for FreightCar America, Inc. is 27/100, suggesting elevated price swings that may be unsuitable for conservative portfolios.
FreightCar America, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, FreightCar America, Inc. reported revenue of $489M and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.16. Net income for the quarter was $-52M. Gross margin was 14.8%. Operating income came in at $35M.
In FY 2025, FreightCar America, Inc. reported revenue of $501M and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.16. Net income for the quarter was $38M. Gross margin was 14.6%. Revenue grew -10.4% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $34M.
In Q3 2025, FreightCar America, Inc. reported revenue of $161M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.23. Net income for the quarter was $-7M. Gross margin was 15.1%. Revenue grew 41.7% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $15M.
In Q2 2025, FreightCar America, Inc. reported revenue of $119M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.36. Net income for the quarter was $12M. Gross margin was 15.0%. Revenue grew -19.5% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $8M.
Over the past 8 quarters, FreightCar America, Inc. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $147M to $489M. Investors analyzing RAIL stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
RAIL Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Shipbuilding, Railroad Equipment industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Industrials dividend stocks may want to explore other Industrials stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
RAIL Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) has a momentum factor score of 52/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 29/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 46/100 reflects moderate short selling activity.
RAIL vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Industrials sector, FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) ranks #407 out of 752 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places RAIL in the lower half of all Industrials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include South Bow Corp (SOBO) with a score of 56.5/100, TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD (TEN) with a score of 61.4/100, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP (GLDD) with a score of 56.7/100, Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (TPH) with a score of 57.3/100, and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) with a score of 52.2/100.
Comparing RAIL against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full RAIL vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how FreightCar America, Inc. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
RAIL Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy RAIL? — Investment Thesis Summary
The quantitative profile for FreightCar America, Inc. suggests caution. The value score of 77/100 suggests attractive pricing relative to fundamentals. High volatility (stability score 27/100) increases portfolio risk.
In summary, FreightCar America, Inc. (RAIL) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 49.6/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on RAIL stock.
Related Resources for RAIL Investors
Explore more research and tools: RAIL vs S&P 500 comparison, top Industrials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare RAIL head-to-head with peers: RAIL vs SOBO, RAIL vs TEN, RAIL vs GLDD.