$42.30
Value $436M
L.B. FostervsLowe's Companies
FSTR and LOW stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.
-1.92%
$227.73
Value $128B
L.B. Foster (FSTR) has a market value of $436M and Lowe's Companies (LOW) $128B. Over the last year, with dividends, FSTR moved +58.0% and LOW -0.8%. The P/E is 31.6 for FSTR and 19.3 for LOW. Dividend yield: FSTR none, LOW 2.15%.
At a glance
The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.
Market value
FSTR$436M
LOW$128B
LOW is 293 times FSTR
Revenue, 12 months
FSTR$588M
LOW$90.4B
LOW is 154 times FSTR
Net income, 12 months
FSTR$14M
LOW$6.6B
LOW is 482 times FSTR
Operating margin
FSTR4.4%
LOW11.4%
7.0 points apart
ROIC
FSTR9.2%
LOW27.6%
18.4 points apart
P/E
FSTR31.6
LOW19.3
FSTR is 1.6 times LOW
Dividend yield
FSTR0.0%
LOW2.2%
2.2 points apart
5-year return
FSTR+153.6%
LOW+6.4%
147.2 points apart
A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.
The price over time
Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.
FSTR+153.6%
LOW+6.4%
| Period | FSTRWith dividends | LOWWith dividends |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year since November 12, 2025 | +58.0%Price +58.0% | -0.8%Price -3.0% |
| 3 years since November 13, 2023 | +109.5%+28.0% a yearPrice +109.5% | +24.8%+7.7% a yearPrice +17.5% |
| 5 years since November 12, 2021 | +153.6%+20.5% a yearPrice +153.6% | +6.4%+1.3% a yearPrice -3.6% |
| 10 years since November 15, 2016 | +258.5%+13.6% a yearPrice +258.5% | +298.4%+14.8% a yearPrice +229.8% |
Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.
Every figure
As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.
FSTRL.B. FosterLOWLowe's Companies
Valuation
FSTRLOW| Price | $42.30 | $227.73 |
|---|---|---|
| Market value | $436M | $128B |
| Enterprise value (EV) | $457M | $162B |
| P/E | 31.6 | 19.3 |
| P/E, 5-year median | 39.1 | 21.2 |
| P/B | 2.4 | – |
| EV/EBIT | 17.5 | 15.7 |
| Free cash flow yield | 9.5% | 5.5% |
Results and growth
FSTRLOW| Revenue, 12 months | $588M | $90.4B |
|---|---|---|
| Net income, 12 months | $14M | $6.6B |
| Free cash flow, 12 months | $42M | $7.0B |
| Earnings per share, 12 months | $1.29 | $11.83 |
| Revenue growth, year on year | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Revenue growth a year, past | +1.7%over 5 years | -0.8%over 5 years |
| EPS growth a year, past | -0.6%over 5 years | +8.9%over 5 years |
Margins and returns on capital
FSTRLOW| Gross margin | 20.8% | 33.1% |
|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 4.4% | 11.4% |
| Net margin | 2.4% | 7.3% |
| ROIC | 9.2% | 27.6% |
| ROE | 7.8% | – |
Balance sheet
FSTRLOW| Cash | $7.2M | $3.4B |
|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $50M | $42.0B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.6 | 2.7 |
| Interest cover | – | – |
Dividends and buybacks
FSTRLOW| Dividend yield | – | 2.2% |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend per share, 12 months | – | $4.90 |
| Dividend growth a year, past | – | +15.6%over 5 years |
| Buyback yield | 3.8% | 0.2% |
| Shareholder yield | 3.8% | 2.3% |
Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.
Which is bigger, L.B. Foster or Lowe's Companies?
By market value, Lowe's Companies ($128B) is about 292.5 times L.B. Foster ($436M), at today's prices.
How did FSTR and LOW stock do over the last 10 years?
Since November 15, 2016, FSTR's price moved +258.5% and LOW's +229.8%. With dividends: FSTR +258.5% (+13.6% a year), LOW +298.4% (+14.8% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.
Which pays the higher dividend, FSTR or LOW?
The dividend yield at today's price is none for L.B. Foster and 2.15% for Lowe's Companies. Over the last twelve months they paid – and $4.90 per share.
What is the P/E of FSTR and LOW?
At today's price, the P/E is 31.6 for FSTR and 19.3 for LOW. The median of the last five years was 39.1 and 21.2, which shows where each stands against its own past.
Which has the higher profit margins, L.B. Foster or Lowe's Companies?
Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 2.4% for L.B. Foster and 7.3% for Lowe's Companies, and the operating margin 4.4% and 11.4%. Revenue was $588M and $90.4B.
Which is the better investment, L.B. Foster or Lowe's Companies?
The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.
Other comparisons
With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.
Related pages
The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.
US stocksThe market today, the sectors, the largest companies and the week's results.The market's sectorsThe 11 sectors side by side: returns, share of the market, median P/E and dividend.Compare stocksTwo companies side by side: price over up to ten years, with and without dividends, and every figure.US dividend stocksEach dividend's yield next to whether the company's cash covers it and whether it was ever cut.
Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.