FSTR (L.B. Foster Co) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 2.00% (As of Mar. 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

FSTR L.B. Foster Co FSTR
72 GF Score
Price $42.28
GF Value $25.01
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is L.B. Foster Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio?

L.B. Foster Co FSTR -1.83% 72 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.00 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates FSTR with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.01 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 527 Transportation companies, L.B. Foster Co ranks better than 88.99% on this metric.

Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.

3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. L.B. Foster Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 2.00%.

The historical rank and industry rank for L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:

FSTR' s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -4.3   Med: -0.3   Max: 4.6
Current: 2

During the past 13 years, L.B. Foster Co's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 4.60%. The lowest was -4.30%. And the median was -0.30%.

FSTR's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than
88.99% of 527 companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: -0.4 vs FSTR: 2.00

L.B. Foster Co (NAS:FSTR) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation

A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.


Be Aware

Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.


L.B. Foster Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms


FSTR vs RAIL, SWVL, RVSN: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison

For the Railroads subindustry, L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Transportation Industry

For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.


FSTR
72GF Score
L.B. Foster Co FSTR
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

L.B. Foster Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation

This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).

Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.

What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.00 mean?
L.B. Foster Co (FSTR) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.00 as of Mar. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for L.B. Foster Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #58 out of 527 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 11%.
Is L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
L.B. Foster Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.00. Based on the distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #58 out of 527 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, L.B. Foster Co has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does L.B. Foster Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to RAIL and SWVL?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, L.B. Foster Co ranks #58 out of 527 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places L.B. Foster Co in the top 11% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for a Transportation company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Transportation industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for L.B. Foster Co and its competitors. L.B. Foster Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.00. 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 $42.28 — trading 69.1% above its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.00. L.B. Foster Co's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For L.B. Foster Co (FSTR), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.00 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 $42.28 is trading 69.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $25.01. GuruFocus considers L.B. Foster Co to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for FSTR:

  • 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 2.00
  • GF Value™: $25.01 vs. price of $42.28 (69.1% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 72/100 with 4 warning signs

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 Business Description

Other Exchanges LB1A:Germany
Address 415 Holiday Drive, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 15220
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.
72GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FSTR

3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$42.28
Price
$25.01
GF Value