FreightCar America Reports Q1 Revenue of $64.31M
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 04 2026
0mins
Reports Q1 revenue $64.31M, consensus $74.6M. "Our first quarter results were in line with expectations and reflective of the current industry environment. Despite this environment, we continue to win high quality commercial opportunities, create new efficiencies and grow our aftermarket parts business. This represents our highest quarterly gross margin in over a decade and demonstrates that we are well positioned across the cycle," said Nick Randall, President and Chief Executive Officer of FreightCar America. "Fleets continue to age and deferred replacement needs are contributing to pent-up demand across the industry. As replacement demand materializes, FreightCar America is well positioned to respond quickly and capitalize in a shorter lead-time environment, supported by scalable capacity and strong operational flexibility. At the same time, our differentiated full-service railcar offering, including retrofits, conversions and an expanding aftermarket presence, positions us well to drive growth and create value across a range of market conditions."
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Analyst Views on RAIL
Wall Street analysts forecast RAIL stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 8.570
Low
18.00
Averages
18.00
High
18.00
Current: 8.570
Low
18.00
Averages
18.00
High
18.00
About RAIL
FreightCar America, Inc. is a designer, producer and supplier of railroad freight cars, railcar parts and components. It also specializes in railcar repairs, complete railcar rebody services and railcar conversions that repurpose idled rail assets back into revenue service. It designs and manufactures a broad variety of freight cars including box cars, covered hoppers, open top hoppers, gondolas, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars that transport numerous types of dry bulk and containerized freight products. It offers VersaFlood II open-top hoppers in all steel and hybrid configurations (aluminum/stainless steel) with a patented automatic door system; 52’ and 66’ mill gondolas in multiple cubic capacities; rotary and non-rotary aggregate gondolas; triple hoppers in all steel and hybrid configurations; intermodal flats (including single unit, 2 unit and 3 unit, 53’ well cars) and non-intermodal flat cars including 64’ - 89’ length for general purpose, steel slab, and bulkhead flats.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
FreightCar America Secures 1,900 Railcar Order, Signaling Growth
- New Order Milestone: FreightCar America has secured a multi-year order for 1,900 railcars from a key customer, with deliveries scheduled through 2028, significantly enhancing the company's backlog visibility and reflecting customer confidence in its execution and manufacturing capabilities.
- Quarterly Order Surge: In the second quarter, total orders reached approximately 3,000 railcars valued at around $300 million, received across all core market segments, indicating broad-based demand and product diversity, marking a commercial inflection point.
- Strengthened Customer Trust: The increase in first-time customer orders, along with meaningful repeat customer activity, underscores FreightCar America's strong commercial presence, product offering, and manufacturing platform, further solidifying its market position.
- Market Responsiveness: CEO Nick Randall noted that customers are increasingly choosing FreightCar America for its ability to respond quickly to market needs and provide tailored solutions, enhancing the company's transportation capacity within the North American supply chain.
See More
FreightCar America Secures 1900 Railcar Order Through 2028
- Significant Order Size: FreightCar America announced a multiyear order for 1900 railcars from a key customer, with deliveries scheduled through 2028, indicating strong demand and customer confidence in the freight rail market.
- Quarterly Order Performance: The company reported approximately 3000 railcars in total orders for the second quarter, showcasing FreightCar America's sales capability and growth potential in the current market environment, further solidifying its position in the industry.
- Stock Price Increase: In pre-market trading, RAIL shares rose by 0.67% to $9.03, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future performance, likely influenced by the announcement of the new order.
- Financial Details Undisclosed: Although the order size is substantial, the company has not disclosed the financial details of the order, which may affect investors' assessments of its profitability, necessitating attention to future information releases.
See More
FreightCar America Added to Russell Indexes
- Index Inclusion Impact: FreightCar America was added to the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indexes on June 29, 2026, indicating significant growth in market capitalization and enhancing visibility among institutional investors.
- Management Commentary: CEO Nick Randall stated that this inclusion reflects the company's growth trajectory and progress in strengthening its business, demonstrating a commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders.
- Market Influence: The Russell indexes are widely used for investment management and active investment strategies, with approximately $12.2 trillion in investor assets benchmarked to these indexes, thereby increasing FreightCar America's market influence.
- Long-term Strategic Significance: Membership in the Russell 3000 Index means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000 or small-cap Russell 2000 indexes, further solidifying FreightCar America's position in the capital markets.
See More
FreightCar America Appoints New Board Member
- New Board Member: FreightCar America appointed Bradley J. Pickard as an independent director effective June 10, 2026, expanding the board to nine members, six of whom are independent, thereby enhancing corporate governance.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over three decades in investment banking, including leadership roles at Salomon Brothers and Houlihan Lokey, Pickard's expertise will provide valuable strategic insights for the company.
- Driving Long-Term Value: Chairman James R. Meyer noted that Pickard's addition will help strengthen the company's platform, expand aftermarket capabilities, and pursue disciplined opportunities to create long-term shareholder value.
- Company Background: Since 1901, FreightCar America has focused on designing and producing railroad freight cars, committed to supporting economic growth in the North American supply chain, with customers relying on its high-quality railcars.
See More
FreightCar America Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Performance: FreightCar America reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of -$0.04, meeting expectations, but revenue of $64.31 million fell 33.2% year-over-year, missing estimates by $10.29 million, indicating significant market challenges.
- Fiscal 2026 Outlook: The company reaffirms its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting railcar deliveries of 4,000 to 4,500, a 3% year-over-year increase, with revenue expectations set between $500 million and $550 million, reflecting a 4.8% growth, showing cautious optimism for future market conditions.
- Adjusted EBITDA Forecast: Expected adjusted EBITDA is between $41 million and $50 million, representing a 10.4% year-over-year increase, highlighting the company's efforts in cost control and operational efficiency despite the overall revenue decline.
- Market Reaction: Following the earnings report, FreightCar America's shares rose 1.36% in after-hours trading, suggesting a recovery in investor confidence regarding the company's future outlook, even though overall performance remains weak.
See More
FreightCar America Reports Q4 Earnings Miss Amid Revenue Decline
- Quarterly Revenue Miss: FreightCar America reported Q4 2025 revenue of $125.6 million, falling short of the $160.6 million analysts expected by 21.8%, indicating a shift towards lower-priced converted railcars affecting overall revenue.
- Earnings Per Share Decline: The EPS for the quarter was $0.16, below the consensus estimate of $0.17, with management attributing the shortfall to a higher effective tax rate and the absence of a prior-year tax valuation allowance benefit, highlighting pressure on profitability.
- Full-Year Performance Decline: Total revenue for FY2025 was $501.0 million, a 10.4% year-over-year decline primarily due to fewer railcar deliveries (4,125 vs. 4,362) and a shift towards lower-priced conversion builds, although EPS improved to $1.09 from a loss of $3.12 in FY2024, aided by a $51.9 million tax allowance release and improved gross margin.
- Stable Future Guidance: The company issued guidance for FY2026, expecting 4,000 to 4,500 railcar deliveries, revenue between $500 million and $550 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $41 million to $50 million, reflecting management's confidence in future operations despite current performance challenges.
See More
FreightCar America Secures 1,900 Railcar Order, Signaling Growth
- New Order Milestone: FreightCar America has secured a multi-year order for 1,900 railcars from a key customer, with deliveries scheduled through 2028, significantly enhancing the company's backlog visibility and reflecting customer confidence in its execution and manufacturing capabilities.
- Quarterly Order Surge: In the second quarter, total orders reached approximately 3,000 railcars valued at around $300 million, received across all core market segments, indicating broad-based demand and product diversity, marking a commercial inflection point.
- Strengthened Customer Trust: The increase in first-time customer orders, along with meaningful repeat customer activity, underscores FreightCar America's strong commercial presence, product offering, and manufacturing platform, further solidifying its market position.
- Market Responsiveness: CEO Nick Randall noted that customers are increasingly choosing FreightCar America for its ability to respond quickly to market needs and provide tailored solutions, enhancing the company's transportation capacity within the North American supply chain.
See More
FreightCar America Secures 1900 Railcar Order Through 2028
- Significant Order Size: FreightCar America announced a multiyear order for 1900 railcars from a key customer, with deliveries scheduled through 2028, indicating strong demand and customer confidence in the freight rail market.
- Quarterly Order Performance: The company reported approximately 3000 railcars in total orders for the second quarter, showcasing FreightCar America's sales capability and growth potential in the current market environment, further solidifying its position in the industry.
- Stock Price Increase: In pre-market trading, RAIL shares rose by 0.67% to $9.03, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future performance, likely influenced by the announcement of the new order.
- Financial Details Undisclosed: Although the order size is substantial, the company has not disclosed the financial details of the order, which may affect investors' assessments of its profitability, necessitating attention to future information releases.
See More
FreightCar America Added to Russell Indexes
- Index Inclusion Impact: FreightCar America was added to the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indexes on June 29, 2026, indicating significant growth in market capitalization and enhancing visibility among institutional investors.
- Management Commentary: CEO Nick Randall stated that this inclusion reflects the company's growth trajectory and progress in strengthening its business, demonstrating a commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders.
- Market Influence: The Russell indexes are widely used for investment management and active investment strategies, with approximately $12.2 trillion in investor assets benchmarked to these indexes, thereby increasing FreightCar America's market influence.
- Long-term Strategic Significance: Membership in the Russell 3000 Index means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000 or small-cap Russell 2000 indexes, further solidifying FreightCar America's position in the capital markets.
See More
FreightCar America Appoints New Board Member
- New Board Member: FreightCar America appointed Bradley J. Pickard as an independent director effective June 10, 2026, expanding the board to nine members, six of whom are independent, thereby enhancing corporate governance.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over three decades in investment banking, including leadership roles at Salomon Brothers and Houlihan Lokey, Pickard's expertise will provide valuable strategic insights for the company.
- Driving Long-Term Value: Chairman James R. Meyer noted that Pickard's addition will help strengthen the company's platform, expand aftermarket capabilities, and pursue disciplined opportunities to create long-term shareholder value.
- Company Background: Since 1901, FreightCar America has focused on designing and producing railroad freight cars, committed to supporting economic growth in the North American supply chain, with customers relying on its high-quality railcars.
See More
FreightCar America Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Performance: FreightCar America reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of -$0.04, meeting expectations, but revenue of $64.31 million fell 33.2% year-over-year, missing estimates by $10.29 million, indicating significant market challenges.
- Fiscal 2026 Outlook: The company reaffirms its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting railcar deliveries of 4,000 to 4,500, a 3% year-over-year increase, with revenue expectations set between $500 million and $550 million, reflecting a 4.8% growth, showing cautious optimism for future market conditions.
- Adjusted EBITDA Forecast: Expected adjusted EBITDA is between $41 million and $50 million, representing a 10.4% year-over-year increase, highlighting the company's efforts in cost control and operational efficiency despite the overall revenue decline.
- Market Reaction: Following the earnings report, FreightCar America's shares rose 1.36% in after-hours trading, suggesting a recovery in investor confidence regarding the company's future outlook, even though overall performance remains weak.
See More
FreightCar America Reports Q4 Earnings Miss Amid Revenue Decline
- Quarterly Revenue Miss: FreightCar America reported Q4 2025 revenue of $125.6 million, falling short of the $160.6 million analysts expected by 21.8%, indicating a shift towards lower-priced converted railcars affecting overall revenue.
- Earnings Per Share Decline: The EPS for the quarter was $0.16, below the consensus estimate of $0.17, with management attributing the shortfall to a higher effective tax rate and the absence of a prior-year tax valuation allowance benefit, highlighting pressure on profitability.
- Full-Year Performance Decline: Total revenue for FY2025 was $501.0 million, a 10.4% year-over-year decline primarily due to fewer railcar deliveries (4,125 vs. 4,362) and a shift towards lower-priced conversion builds, although EPS improved to $1.09 from a loss of $3.12 in FY2024, aided by a $51.9 million tax allowance release and improved gross margin.
- Stable Future Guidance: The company issued guidance for FY2026, expecting 4,000 to 4,500 railcar deliveries, revenue between $500 million and $550 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $41 million to $50 million, reflecting management's confidence in future operations despite current performance challenges.
See More
