ACA
Arcosa, Inc.
Industrial - Infrastructure Operations
Market Cap$6.10B
5Y Perf.+225.2%
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Stock Comparison
ACA vs TRN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TRN
Trinity Industries, Inc.
Railroads
Market Cap$2.74B
5Y Perf.+71.6%
ACA vs TRN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ACA | TRN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Infrastructure Operations | Railroads |
| Market Cap | $6.10B | $2.74B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.82B | $2.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $223M | $255M |
| Gross Margin | 22.8% | 27.0% |
| Operating Margin | 10.1% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 29.1x | 14.7x |
| Total Debt | $1.52B | $5.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $215M | $201M |
ACA vs TRN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACA
TRN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcosa, Inc. (ACA) | 100 | 325.2 | +225.2% |
| Trinity Industries,… (TRN) | 100 | 171.6 | +71.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACA vs TRN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: TRN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Arcosa, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ACA
Arcosa, Inc.
The Growth Play
ACA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.2%, EPS growth 122.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.7%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs TRN's 244.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.42, Low D/E 58.1%, current ratio 2.20x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
TRN
Trinity Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
TRN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.91, yield 3.5%
- Beta 0.91, yield 3.5%, current ratio 2.12x
- Lower P/E (14.7x vs 29.1x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACA | 12.2% revenue growth vs TRN's -30.0% |
| Value | TRN | Lower P/E (14.7x vs 29.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | TRN | 12.4% margin vs ACA's 7.9% |
| Stability / Safety | TRN | Beta 0.91 vs ACA's 1.42 |
| Dividends | TRN | 3.5% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs ACA's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACA | +40.8% vs TRN's +31.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACA | 4.5% ROA vs TRN's 3.0%, ROIC 6.4% vs 4.1% |
ACA vs TRN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ACA vs TRN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLTRNLAGGINGACA
ACAArcosa, Inc.
2leads
TRNTrinity Industries, I…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
TRN4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
TRN4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACA7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ACA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
TRN2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
TRN2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACA and TRN operate at a comparable scale, with $2.8B and $2.1B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.4% (TRN) to 7.9% (ACA). On growth, ACA holds the edge at -9.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $2.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $456M | $646M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $223M | $255M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $225M | -$283M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | +27.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.1% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | -13.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.5% | -16.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -37.5% | +15.4% |
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.2x trailing earnings, TRN trades at a 62% valuation discount to ACA's 29.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TRN's 12.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACA's 13.1x.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.1B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.4B | $8.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.28x | 11.23x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.15x | 14.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.06x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.15x | 12.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.11x | 1.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.32x | 2.48x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 34.73x | — |
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACA 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 $9 for ACA. ACA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.58x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TRN's 4.75x.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.6% | +21.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.4% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.58x | 4.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $5.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $215M | $201M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $5.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.76x | 1.29x |
ACA leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ACA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACA five years ago would be worth $20,090 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,016 for TRN. Over the past 12 months, ACA leads with a +40.8% total return vs TRN's +31.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACA at 22.0% vs TRN's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.3% | +29.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.8% | +31.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +81.8% | +81.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.9% | +40.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +509.7% | +244.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.0% | +21.9% |
ACA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRN is the less volatile stock with a 0.91 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACA's 1.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.42x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $135.58 | $37.36 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $81.91 | $22.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.6% | +91.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 286K | 550K |
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACA as "Buy" and TRN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 12.8% upside for ACA (target: $140) vs 2.2% for TRN (target: $35). For income investors, TRN offers the higher dividend yield at 3.48% vs ACA's 0.16%.
| Metric | ACAArcosa, Inc. | TRNTrinity Industrie… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $140.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | +3.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.6% |
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
TRN leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ACA leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Best OverallTrinity Industries, Inc. (TRN)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ACA vs TRN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACA or TRN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is the stronger pick with 12. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -30. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) offers the better valuation at 11. 2x trailing P/E (14. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arcosa, Inc. (ACA) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 — ACA or TRN?
On trailing P/E, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the cheapest at 11. 2x versus Arcosa, Inc. at 29. 3x. On forward P/E, Trinity Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACA or TRN?
Over the past 5 years, Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) delivered a total return of +100. 9%, compared to +40. 2% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACA returned +509. 7% versus TRN's +244. 8%. 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 — ACA or TRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 91β versus Arcosa, Inc. 's 1. 42β — meaning ACA is approximately 57% more volatile than TRN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arcosa, Inc. (ACA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 58% versus 5% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACA or TRN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is pulling ahead at 12. 2% versus -30. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arcosa, Inc. grew EPS 122. 0% year-over-year, compared to 86. 0% for Trinity Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACA leads at 8. 7% 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 — ACA or TRN?
Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 7% net margin versus 7. 2% for Arcosa, 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 11. 8% for ACA. 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 ACA or TRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) trades at 14. 7x forward P/E versus 29. 1x for Arcosa, Inc. — 14. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACA: 12. 8% to $140. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACA or TRN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 0. 2% for Arcosa, Inc. (ACA).
09Is ACA 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. 91), 3. 5% yield, +244. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRN: +244. 8%, ACA: +509. 7%), 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 ACA 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: ACA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TRN is a small-cap deep-value stock. TRN pays a dividend while ACA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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>
%
(ACA: -9.5% · TRN: -16.0%)Net Margin>
%
(ACA: 7.9% · TRN: 12.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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