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GATX vs TRN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Railroads
GATX vs TRN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Rental & Leasing Services | Railroads |
| Market Cap | $6.51B | $2.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.90B | $2.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $340M | $255M |
| Gross Margin | 33.6% | 27.0% |
| Operating Margin | 25.2% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 18.3x | 18.8x |
| Total Debt | $12.81B | $5.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.98B | $201M |
GATX vs TRN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| GATX Corporation (GATX) | 100 | 291.9 | +191.9% |
| Trinity Industries,… (TRN) | 100 | 183.5 | +83.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GATX vs TRN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GATX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 19 yrs, beta 0.71, yield 1.4%
- Rev growth 9.8%, EPS growth 17.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.0%
- 359.5% 10Y total return vs TRN's 261.3%
TRN is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.97, yield 3.2%, current ratio 2.12x
- 3.2% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs GATX's 1.4%
- +57.0% vs GATX's +28.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.8% revenue growth vs TRN's -30.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (18.3x vs 18.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 17.9% margin vs TRN's 12.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.71 vs TRN's 0.97, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.2% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs GATX's 1.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +57.0% vs GATX's +28.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.0% ROA vs GATX's 2.2%, ROIC 4.1% vs 3.7% |
GATX vs TRN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
GATX vs TRN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GATX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRN and GATX operate at a comparable scale, with $2.1B and $1.9B in trailing revenue. GATX is the more profitable business, keeping 17.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TRN's 12.4%. On growth, GATX holds the edge at +38.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $2.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $823M | $646M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $340M | $255M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$297M | -$283M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.6% | +27.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.9% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -15.6% | -13.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +38.4% | -16.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.3% | +15.4% |
Valuation Metrics
TRN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.0x trailing earnings, TRN trades at a 40% valuation discount to GATX's 20.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TRN's 12.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GATX's 14.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.5B | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $14.3B | $8.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 20.08x | 12.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.28x | 18.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.19x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.52x | 12.31x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.74x | 1.36x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.80x | 2.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
TRN leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TRN delivers a 21.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $11 for GATX. GATX carries lower financial leverage with a 3.52x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TRN's 4.75x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TRN scores 8/9 vs GATX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.7% | +21.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.7% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.1% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.52x | 4.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.8B | $5.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.0B | $201M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12.8B | $5.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.04x | 1.29x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GATX five years ago would be worth $18,749 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,024 for TRN. Over the past 12 months, TRN leads with a +57.0% total return vs GATX's +28.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TRN at 23.4% vs GATX's 19.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.6% | +38.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +28.5% | +57.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.4% | +88.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +87.5% | +40.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +359.5% | +261.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.0% | +23.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GATX and TRN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GATX is the less volatile stock with a 0.71 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TRN's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TRN currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs GATX's 89.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.71x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $205.56 | $37.27 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $143.46 | $22.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.1% | +98.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.4 | 64.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 188K | 575K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — GATX and TRN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GATX as "Buy" and TRN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 15.8% upside for GATX (target: $212) vs -4.5% for TRN (target: $35). For income investors, TRN offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs GATX's 1.37%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $212.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.4% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 19 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.51 | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | +2.4% |
TRN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GATX leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
GATX vs TRN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GATX or TRN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, GATX Corporation (GATX) is the stronger pick with 9.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -30. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GATX Corporation (GATX) a "Buy" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GATX or TRN?
On trailing P/E, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the cheapest at 12. 0x versus GATX Corporation at 20. 1x. On forward P/E, GATX Corporation is actually cheaper at 18. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GATX or TRN?
Over the past 5 years, GATX Corporation (GATX) delivered a total return of +87.
5%, compared to +40. 2% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GATX returned +359. 5% versus TRN's +261. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GATX or TRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), GATX Corporation (GATX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
71β versus Trinity Industries, Inc. 's 0. 97β — meaning TRN is approximately 37% more volatile than GATX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GATX Corporation (GATX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 5% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GATX or TRN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), GATX Corporation (GATX) is pulling ahead at 9.
8% versus -30. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Trinity Industries, Inc. grew EPS 86. 0% year-over-year, compared to 17. 2% for GATX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GATX leads at 11. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — GATX or TRN?
GATX Corporation (GATX) is the more profitable company, earning 19.
2% net margin versus 11. 7% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GATX leads at 30. 7% versus 16. 6% for TRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GATX leads at 48. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is GATX or TRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, GATX Corporation (GATX) trades at 18.
3x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Trinity Industries, Inc. — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GATX: 15. 8% to $212. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — GATX or TRN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 4% for GATX Corporation (GATX).
09Is GATX or TRN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, GATX Corporation (GATX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
71), 1. 4% yield, +359. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GATX: +359. 5%, TRN: +261. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between GATX and TRN?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: GATX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TRN is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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