L. B. Foster Company Profile

L. B. Foster Company (Foster) is engaged in the manufacture, fabrication and distribution of products that serve surface transportation infrastructure in the United States. The Company classifies its activities into three business segments: rail products, construction products and tubular products. For rail markets, Foster provides a full line of new and used rail, trackwork, and accessories to railroads, mines and industry. The Company also designs and produces concrete railroad ties, insulated rail joints, power rail, track fasteners, coverboards and special accessories for mass transit and other rail systems worldwide. For the construction industry, Foster sells steel sheet, H-bearing and pipe piling, and rents steel sheet piling for foundation and earth retention requirements. For tubular markets, Foster supplies pipe coatings for natural gas pipelines and utilities. In February 2006, Foster sold substantially all of the assets of its Geotechnical Division (the Business). For the three months ended 31 March 2006, L.B. Foster Company's revenues increased 24% to $84.2M. Net income from cont. ops. increased 96% to $1.2M. Revenues reflect higher income from Rail segment due to an increase in concrete ties sales, higher sale of Construction products due to increased sheet & pipe piling sales and an increase in Tubular products sales. Net income also reflects improved gross margins.