Railroads
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
TRN vs SPIR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
TRN vs SPIR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Railroads | Specialty Business Services |
| Market Cap | $2.93B | $529.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.06B | $72M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $255M | $-25.02B |
| Gross Margin | 27.0% | 40.8% |
| Operating Margin | 16.6% | -121.4% |
| Forward P/E | 18.8x | 10.0x |
| Total Debt | $5.44B | $8.76B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $201M | $24.81B |
TRN vs SPIR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Industries,… (TRN) | 100 | 160.4 | +60.4% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 20.5 | -79.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TRN vs SPIR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
TRN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth -30.0%, EPS growth 86.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.9%
- 261.3% 10Y total return vs SPIR's -78.8%
SPIR is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (10.0x vs 18.8x)
- +73.1% vs TRN's +57.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -30.0% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.0x vs 18.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 12.4% margin vs SPIR's -349.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.97 vs SPIR's 2.93 | |
| Dividends | 3.2% yield; 15-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +73.1% vs TRN's +57.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.0% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 4.1% vs -0.1% |
TRN vs SPIR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
TRN vs SPIR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.1B annually — 28.8x SPIR's $72M. TRN is the more profitable business, keeping 12.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPIR's -349.6%. On growth, TRN holds the edge at -16.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.1B | $72M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $646M | -$74M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $255M | -$25.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$283M | -$16.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.0% | +40.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.6% | -121.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | -349.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -13.7% | -227.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -16.0% | -26.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.4% | +59.5% |
Valuation Metrics
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.0x trailing earnings, SPIR trades at a 17% valuation discount to TRN's 12.0x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.9B | $529.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.2B | $513.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.01x | 10.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.79x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.31x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.36x | 7405.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.65x | 4.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
TRN leads this category, winning 6 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 $-88 for SPIR. SPIR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.08x 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 SPIR's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.3% | -88.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | -47.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.1% | -0.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.7% | -0.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.75x | 0.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.2B | -$16.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $201M | $24.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.4B | $8.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.29x | 9.20x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPIR 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 $14,024 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,035 for SPIR. Over the past 12 months, SPIR leads with a +73.1% total return vs TRN's +57.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPIR at 43.9% vs TRN's 23.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +38.3% | +106.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +57.0% | +73.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +88.1% | +198.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.2% | -79.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +261.3% | -78.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +23.4% | +43.9% |
Risk & Volatility
TRN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRN is the less volatile stock with a 0.97 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPIR's 2.93 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 SPIR's 68.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.97x | 2.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $37.27 | $23.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.38 | $6.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.3% | +68.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.1 | 55.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 575K | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TRN as "Hold" and SPIR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.0% upside for SPIR (target: $17) vs -4.5% for TRN (target: $35). TRN is the only dividend payer here at 3.25% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $35.00 | $17.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.19 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.4% | 0.0% |
TRN leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SPIR leads in 1 (Total Returns).
TRN vs SPIR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TRN or SPIR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the stronger pick with -30. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) offers the better valuation at 10. 0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — TRN or SPIR?
On trailing P/E, Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the cheapest at 10. 0x versus Trinity Industries, Inc. at 12. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TRN or SPIR?
Over the past 5 years, Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) delivered a total return of +40. 2%, compared to -79. 6% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TRN returned +261. 3% versus SPIR's -78. 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 — TRN or SPIR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 2. 93β — meaning SPIR is approximately 202% more volatile than TRN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 5% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — TRN or SPIR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Trinity Industries, Inc.
(TRN) is pulling ahead at -30. 0% versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spire Global, Inc. grew EPS 137. 8% year-over-year, compared to 86. 0% for Trinity Industries, 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 — TRN or SPIR?
Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the more profitable company, earning 71. 7% net margin versus 11. 7% for Trinity Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 71. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRN leads at 16. 6% versus -121. 4% for SPIR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPIR leads at 40. 8%, 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 TRN or SPIR more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPIR: 7.
0% to $17. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — TRN or SPIR?
In this comparison, TRN (3.
2% yield) pays a dividend. SPIR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is TRN or SPIR 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. 2% yield, +261. 3% 10Y return). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 2. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRN: +261. 3%, SPIR: -78. 8%), 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 TRN and SPIR?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
TRN pays a dividend while SPIR 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.