Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Would you give me your opinion on Trinity Industries? Thank you for your advice.

Article Excerpt

Trinity Industries Inc., $36.60, symbol TRN on New York (Shares outstanding: 79.2 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; www.trin.net), makes a variety of metal products for many industries. The company’s five main business segments are: Rail (railcars and component parts); Construction Products (highway safety equipment, concrete, and gravel); Inland Barge (barges and related products); Energy Equipment (wind towers); and Railcar Leasing and Management. In the three months ended March 31, 2013, Trinity’s revenue rose 4.1%, to $932.9 million from $896.2 million a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share jumped 37.9%, to $0.91 from $0.66. The rise in earnings came from the higher sales and successful cost-cutting measures. Trinity’s $3.0 billion of long-term debt is a high 107% of its $2.8-billion market cap, but it does hold cash of $420.4 million, or $5.31 a share. The company’s railcar business remains strong, with 5,230 units shipped in the latest quarter, up 4.4% from 5,010 a year ago. Revenue rose 33.9%, to…