GBX
The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
Railroads
Market Cap$1.56B
5Y Perf.+137.3%
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Stock Comparison
GBX vs TRN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TRN
Trinity Industries, Inc.
Railroads
Market Cap$2.89B
5Y Perf.+81.5%
GBX vs TRN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | GBX | TRN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Railroads | Railroads |
| Market Cap | $1.56B | $2.89B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.06B | $2.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $185M | $255M |
| Gross Margin | 17.3% | 27.0% |
| Operating Margin | 9.4% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 16.0x | 18.6x |
| Total Debt | $1.84B | $5.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $326M | $201M |
GBX vs TRN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
GBX
TRN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Greenbrier Comp… (GBX) | 100 | 237.3 | +137.3% |
| Trinity Industries,… (TRN) | 100 | 181.5 | +81.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GBX vs TRN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GBX leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Trinity Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
GBX
The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
The Growth Play
GBX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -8.7%, EPS growth 28.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.97, current ratio 2.80x
- Beta 0.97, yield 2.4%, current ratio 2.80x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
TRN
Trinity Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
TRN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 3.3%
- 248.6% 10Y total return vs GBX's 125.9%
- 12.4% margin vs GBX's 6.0%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GBX | -8.7% revenue growth vs TRN's -30.0% |
| Value | GBX | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 18.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | TRN | 12.4% margin vs GBX's 6.0% |
| Stability / Safety | GBX | Beta 0.97 vs TRN's 0.97, lower leverage |
| Dividends | TRN | 3.3% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs GBX's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | TRN | +52.2% vs GBX's +18.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GBX | 4.3% ROA vs TRN's 3.0%, ROIC 7.6% vs 4.1% |
GBX vs TRN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
GBX vs TRN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLTRNLAGGINGGBX
GBXThe Greenbrier Compan…
2leads
TRNTrinity Industries, I…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GBXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
TRN5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
GBX5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GBX7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
TRN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
TRN2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GBX and TRN operate at a comparable scale, with $3.1B and $2.1B in trailing revenue. TRN is the more profitable business, keeping 12.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GBX's 6.0%. On growth, TRN holds the edge at -16.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.1B | $2.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $413M | $646M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $185M | $255M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $123M | -$283M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +17.3% | +27.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.4% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | -13.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -19.3% | -16.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -33.7% | +15.4% |
TRN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
GBX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.9x trailing earnings, GBX trades at a 33% valuation discount to TRN's 11.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GBX's 6.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TRN's 12.3x.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.1B | $8.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.93x | 11.89x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.99x | 18.59x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.23x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.68x | 12.26x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.48x | 1.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.93x | 2.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
GBX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GBX leads this category, winning 7 of 8 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 GBX. GBX carries lower financial leverage with a 1.06x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TRN's 4.75x.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.7% | +21.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.3% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.6% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.1% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.06x | 4.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | $5.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $326M | $201M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.8B | $5.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.87x | 1.29x |
GBX leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TRN five years ago would be worth $14,173 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,644 for GBX. Over the past 12 months, TRN leads with a +52.2% total return vs GBX's +18.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GBX at 26.5% vs TRN's 23.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.9% | +36.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.6% | +52.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.6% | +86.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.4% | +41.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +125.9% | +248.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.5% | +23.0% |
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GBX and TRN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GBX is the less volatile stock with a 0.97 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 99.0% from its 52-week high vs GBX's 85.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.97x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $59.19 | $36.62 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $38.23 | $22.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.1% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.6 | 62.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 406K | 576K |
Evenly matched — GBX and TRN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GBX as "Buy" and TRN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -2.7% upside for GBX (target: $49) vs -3.4% for TRN (target: $35). For income investors, TRN offers the higher dividend yield at 3.28% vs GBX's 2.45%.
| Metric | GBXThe Greenbrier Co… | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $49.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +3.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.23 | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +2.5% |
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
TRN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). GBX leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallTrinity Industries, Inc. (TRN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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GBX vs TRN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GBX or TRN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
(GBX) is the stronger pick with -8. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -30. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX) offers the better valuation at 7. 9x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — GBX or TRN?
On trailing P/E, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
(GBX) is the cheapest at 7. 9x versus Trinity Industries, Inc. at 11. 9x. On forward P/E, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GBX or TRN?
Over the past 5 years, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) delivered a total return of +41. 7%, compared to +16. 4% for The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TRN returned +248. 6% versus GBX's +125. 9%. 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 — GBX or TRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
(GBX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus Trinity Industries, Inc. 's 0. 97β — meaning TRN is approximately 1% more volatile than GBX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 106% versus 5% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GBX or TRN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
(GBX) is pulling ahead at -8. 7% 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 28. 0% for The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TRN leads at 2. 9% 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 — GBX or TRN?
Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 7% net margin versus 6. 3% for The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRN leads at 16. 6% versus 10. 4% for GBX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRN leads at 26. 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 GBX or TRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
(GBX) trades at 16. 0x forward P/E versus 18. 6x for Trinity Industries, Inc. — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GBX: -2. 7% to $49. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — GBX or TRN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 2. 4% for The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX).
09Is GBX or TRN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 97), 3. 3% yield, +248. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRN: +248. 6%, GBX: +125. 9%), 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 GBX 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.
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(GBX: -19.3% · TRN: -16.0%)Net Margin>
%
(GBX: 6.0% · TRN: 12.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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