Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I know you think that railways have potential. What do you think about railroad equipment company Greenbrier Cos.? Is it worth investing in? Regards.

Article Excerpt

Greenbrier Cos., $12.20, symbol GBX on New York (Shares outstanding: 21.9 million; Market cap: $266.8 million), supplies equipment and services to the railroad industry. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars in its three manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Mexico. The company also builds marine barges at its U.S. facility. In addition, Greenbrier repairs and refurbishes freight cars and sells wheels and railcar parts at 37 locations across North America. In Europe, the company builds new railroad freight cars and refurbishes freight cars through its plant in Poland, and in various subcontractor facilities throughout Europe. As well, Greenbrier owns about 8,000 railcars, and performs management services for roughly 225,000 railcars. In the three months ended May 31, 2010, Greenbrier’s revenue fell 13.5%, to $211.5 million from $244.4 million a year earlier. The company earned $4.6 million, or $0.25 a share, compared to a loss of $51.1 million, or $3.04 a share. Without one-time charges and writedowns, Greenbrier earned $0.27 a share in…