After the invention of the first steam engine at the beginning of the 18th century, it did not take long for the railroad industry to become one of the most important industries, enabling the enormous economic growth of the last centuries. Railroads have become a global industry and one of the cheapest means of transportation for goods and people. The longest rail network in the world is in the United States, closely followed by Russia, China, Canada, France, India and Germany. Analysts believe that the global rail market is likely to continue to grow in the coming years. Thus, railroad stocks remain an interesting investment opportunity for investors. In this article we will introduce you to some interesting candidates.
Union Pacific
- Company: Union Pacific Corporation
- Symbol (TWS): UNP
- ISIN: US43300A2033
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar
- Market capitalization: USD 153.96 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 21.21 billion
Union Pacific is one of the largest public railroad companies in the USA. The company was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Union Pacific provides transportation services for grain, fertilizer, food and refrigerated products, as well as coal, renewable energy, petroleum and liquefied gases, metals and ores, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products and several other commodities and products. The most recently published results indicate that the company has recently been able to perform well despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which is also evident when looking at the stock chart.
Canadian Pacific Railway
- Company: Canadian Pacific Railway Limited
- Symbol (TWS): CP
- ISIN: CA13645T1003
- Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange
- Country: Canada
- Currency: Canadian dollar
- Market capitalization: CAD 87.97 billion / USD 69.93 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 7.97 billion
Canadian Pacific Railway was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The company is active in the railroad and related transportation business and operates a route network of 19,500 kilometers spanning Canada and the United States. It also provides ships and docks, transshipment and distribution, automotive logistics, and freight forwarding and transportation management services.
Alstom
- Company: Alstom SA
- Symbol (TWS): ALO
- ISIN: FR0010220475
- Stock Exchange: Paris Stock Exchange
- Country: France
- Currency: Euro
- Market capitalization: EUR 12.24 billion / USD 13.89 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 12.7 billion
One of the largest railroad engineering companies from Europe is Alstom. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Saint-Ouen, France. Alstom is active worldwide and manufactures rail vehicles for local and long-distance transport (e.g. S-Bahn trains of Deutsche Bahn or the French TGV express train). In January 2021, Alstom acquired the rail vehicle manufacturer Bombardier Transportation.
CSX Corporation
- Company: CSX Corporation
- Symbol (TWS): CSX
- ISIN: US1264081035
- Stock exchange: Nasdaq
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar
- Market capitalization: USD 78.16 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 11.92 billion
CSX Corporation provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transfer services and solutions in a broad range of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agriculture and consumer goods. CSX's network connects all major metropolitan areas in the eastern United States, home to nearly two-thirds of the nation's population. It also connects more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 sea, river and ocean ports to major population centers and farming villages alike. CSX Corporation's unique combination of rail, container shipping, intermodal and logistics services provides a global reach that is second to none. In the summer of 2021, CSX completed its previously announced acquisition of Quality Carriers, the largest provider of liquid chemical trucking services in North America. CSX stock has recently performed strongly, setting new annual and all-time highs in the fall of 2021.
Greenbrier
- Company: The Greenbrier Companies Inc
- Symbol (TWS): GBX
- ISIN: US3936571013
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar
- Market capitalization: USD 1236.75 billion
- Turnover (TTM) in USD: 1895.68 billion
Greenbrier is a leading U.S. provider of transportation equipment and services to the rail and related industries. The company's manufacturing segment produces double-deck intermodal rail cars, conventional rail cars and marine vessels, and performs repair and refurbishment work for both intermodal and conventional rail cars. The company is also engaged in complementary leasing and service activities. Greenbrier Europe comprises the activities of the European business and is a full-service provider for the manufacture, construction and repair of freight cars, with operations in Poland and Romania. It serves customers throughout Europe and the Middle East.