L.B. Foster CoFSTR +2.78%66 Gross Margin % is 21.21% as of Mar. 2026, which is 8% above its 10-year median of 19.58. GuruFocus rates FSTR with a GF Score™ of 66/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.01 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 985 Transportation companies, L.B. Foster Co ranks better than 51.68% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FSTR'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 16.8 Med: 19.58 Max: 22.24
Current: 21.18
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of L.B. Foster Co was 22.24%. The lowest was 16.80%. And the median was 19.58%.
FSTR's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 51.68% of 985
companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: 20.42
vs FSTR: 21.18
L.B. Foster Co had a gross margin of 21.21% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for L.B. Foster Co was 4.30% per year.
L.B. Foster Co (NAS:FSTR) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
L.B. Foster Co had a gross margin of 21.21% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
L.B. Foster Co Gross Margin % Related Terms
L.B. Foster Co Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
FSTR vs RAIL, SWVL, RVSN: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Railroads subindustry, L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
L.B. Foster Co Gross Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
L.B. Foster Co (FSTR) has a Gross Margin % of 21.21% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on L.B. Foster Co and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 19.58. Over the past decade, L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % has ranged from 16.80 to 22.24. According to the industry distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #476 out of 985 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 48.3%.
Is L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % too high?
L.B. Foster Co's current Gross Margin % of 21.21% is near median its 10-year median of 19.58. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 16.80 to a high of 22.24. The Transportation industry median Gross Margin % is 20.42. L.B. Foster Co's value of 21.21% is 3.9% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #476 out of 985 companies in the Transportation industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, L.B. Foster Co has a GF Score™ of 66/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does L.B. Foster Co's Gross Margin % compare to RAIL and SWVL?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #476 out of 985 companies for Gross Margin %. This puts L.B. Foster Co in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 20.42. L.B. Foster Co's value of 21.21% is 3.9% above this benchmark. Historically, L.B. Foster Co's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 16.80 to 22.24 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 19.58 vs. the industry median of 20.42, L.B. Foster Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Transportation company?
The median Gross Margin % among Transportation companies is 20.42, based on 985 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. L.B. Foster Co's current Gross Margin % of 21.21% is 3.9% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on L.B. Foster Co and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Gross Margin % is 20.42 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. L.B. Foster Co's current Gross Margin % is 21.21%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 19.58. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is L.B. Foster Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, L.B. Foster Co (FSTR) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $25.01, compared to a current price of $44.53 — trading 78% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 21.21%, which is near median its 10-year median of 19.58 and 3.9% above the Transportation industry median of 20.42. L.B. Foster Co's overall GF Score™ is 66/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For L.B. Foster Co (FSTR), the current Gross Margin % is 21.21% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is L.B. Foster Co (FSTR) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, L.B. Foster Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $44.53 is trading 78% above its estimated GF Value™ of $25.01.
GuruFocus considers L.B. Foster Co to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for FSTR:
Gross Margin %: 21.21% (near median its 10-year median of 19.58)
GF Value™: $25.01 vs. price of $44.53 (78% above fair value)
Industry Position: 3.9% above the Transportation median (#476 of 985)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FSTR stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
L.B. Foster Co is a technology solutions provider of products and services for the rail and infrastructure markets. The company has two reporting segments: Rail, Technologies, and Services (Rail); and Infrastructure Solutions (Infrastructure). Maximum revenue is generated from the Rail segment, which is comprised of several manufacturing and distribution businesses that provide products and services for freight and passenger railroads and industrial companies throughout the world. The Infrastructure segment offers engineered precast concrete solutions, as well as fabricated bridge, protective pipe coating, and pipe threading offerings across North America. Geographically, the company generates maximum revenue from the United States, followed by Canada, the UK, and other markets.
66GF Score
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