L.B. Foster concluded 2025 with an impressive financial showing, marked by substantial growth in its fourth-quarter revenue and adjusted EBITDA. The company’s strategic initiatives, including significant cash generation and share repurchases, positioned it favorably for future expansion, despite some margin pressures in its Rail segment. This robust performance underlines the company's resilience and forward-looking approach in a dynamic market.
The close of 2025 saw L.B. Foster's President and CEO, John Kasel, characterizing the fourth quarter as 'exceptional.' This period was highlighted by net sales reaching $160.4 million, a 25.1% increase year-over-year, marking the highest fourth-quarter sales since 2018. Both the Rail and Infrastructure Solutions segments contributed significantly to this growth, with Rail sales up 23.7% and Infrastructure Solutions up 27.3%. Despite a 260 basis point decline in gross margin to 19.7%, primarily due to challenges in the UK's TS&S business and an unfavorable product mix in Rail, the company managed to improve its selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) leverage. SG&A expenses decreased by $1.3 million, and as a percentage of sales, improved by 470 basis points to 14.4%.
CFO Bill Thalman attributed the quarter's adjusted EBITDA surge of 89% to $13.7 million to higher sales volumes, increased gross profit, and reduced SG&A. In the Rail sector, revenue climbed to $98.0 million, fueled by strong volume increases in Friction Management (41.6%) and Rail Products (31.1%). However, Rail margins experienced a 440 basis point drop, affected by lower sales volume, increased costs, an unfavorable mix, and $1.0 million in restructuring costs from UK downsizing efforts. Despite these margin pressures, the Rail backlog saw a significant 55.3% year-over-year increase across all business units.
Infrastructure Solutions also posted solid results, with a revenue increase of $13.4 million, or 27.3%, driven by both its business units. Steel Products sales surged by 58.2%, with Protective Coatings leading the charge with a 206.5% improvement. Precast Concrete sales rose by 18.7% for the quarter. The Infrastructure segment's gross margin saw a slight improvement of 20 basis points, benefiting from higher sales volumes and an enhanced product mix in Steel Products. However, Precast Concrete margins were softer due to an unfavorable sales mix and startup costs for a new Florida facility. Infrastructure backlog remained lower compared to the previous year, partly due to a $19 million order cancellation and reduced open orders for certain products.
In response to ongoing challenges in its UK Rail business, management completed an additional restructuring program in the fourth quarter. This initiative incurred a $2.2 million charge but is projected to yield annual run-rate savings of $1.5 million to $2.0 million in 2026 through staff reductions and facility closures. The company demonstrated strong financial management, with operating cash flow reaching $22.2 million in the fourth quarter, contributing to a $16.9 million reduction in net debt, bringing it to $38.4 million. Gross leverage notably improved to 1.0x. For the full year, L.B. Foster generated $35.6 million in operating cash flow and $25.2 million in free cash flow. Share repurchases remained a priority, with $14.4 million worth of stock bought back in 2025, reducing outstanding shares by 5.4%, and an additional $28.7 million remaining under authorization.
For the full year 2025, total sales reached $540 million, an increase of 1.7%, largely propelled by the strong performance in the fourth quarter. Infrastructure sales grew by 14.9%, while Rail sales saw a 6.5% decline, influenced by US government funding dynamics and the scaling down of UK operations. Adjusted EBITDA for 2025 stood at $39.1 million, up $5.5 million from the prior year, primarily due to reduced SG&A expenses. New orders, net of $540.9 million, increased by 6.8% year-over-year, and the year-end backlog rose by 1.8% to $189.3 million. The trailing 12-month book-to-bill ratio concluded at 1.0x, indicating a balanced inflow and outflow of orders.
Looking ahead to 2026, L.B. Foster anticipates 3.7% sales growth and 11.3% adjusted EBITDA growth, with free cash flow expected to reach $20 million. The company foresees a stronger start to 2026, supported by an improved Rail backlog, which increased by $34.5 million year-over-year, including a significant multi-year order in the UK. Management remains optimistic about the civil construction market in the southern US, driving demand for Precast Concrete and Envirokeeper water management solutions. Despite some localized softness in residential real estate impacting the Envirocast wall system, the company expects favorable trends in Steel, particularly in Protective Coatings, driven by renewed interest in US oil and gas production.
In summary, L.B. Foster's recent financial disclosures underscore a company navigating market complexities with strategic acumen. The significant improvements in sales and profitability, coupled with prudent financial management and targeted restructuring efforts, paint a picture of a company poised for continued success. The optimistic guidance for the upcoming year reflects confidence in its operational strategies and market positioning, signaling a period of sustained growth and value creation.