L.B. Foster (FSTR) vs Quanex Building Products (NX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
L.B. Foster (FSTR) has outperformed Quanex Building Products (NX) over the past year, gaining 36.6% versus a gain of 27.8%. Over five years, FSTR leads with a +124.0% price change compared with -12.9% for NX. Quanex Building Products is the larger company by market cap ($848.2 million vs $372.8 million), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Quanex Building Products trades at a lower forward P/E (9.4x vs 17.5x for L.B. Foster). Quanex Building Products pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while L.B. Foster does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | FSTR | NX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.44 | $18.51 |
| Market cap | $372.82M | $848.24M |
| 1-day change | -0.23% | +0.65% |
| YTD return | +31.80% | +19.57% |
| 1-year return | +36.56% | +27.80% |
| 5-year return | +123.96% | -12.93% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.43 | 19.08 |
| Forward P/E | 17.50 | 9.38 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.06 | $0.97 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.73% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.32 |
| 52-week high | $45.81 | $23.33 |
| 52-week low | $23.81 | $11.04 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.64% | -20.66% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.15% | +40.46% |
| Average volume | 61.70K | 388.93K |
| Shares outstanding | 10.52M | 45.83M |
| Employees | 1,191 | 7,071 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | Metal Fabrications |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Quanex Building Products is about 2.3 times larger than L.B. Foster by market value ($848.24M vs $372.82M).
- L.B. Foster trades at a higher earnings multiple (33.4x vs 19.1x trailing P/E).
- Quanex Building Products offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
About L.B. Foster
FSTR stock →L.B. Foster Company provides engineered and manufactured products and services for building and supporting infrastructure in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 1,191 employees
About Quanex Building Products
NX stock →Quanex Building Products Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes components for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in the building products industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, Asia, and internationally. It offers energy-efficient flexible insulating glass spacers, extruded vinyl profiles, window and door screens, precision-formed metal and wood products, window and door seals, and window and door hardware.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 7,071 employees
FSTR vs NX FAQ
Which is bigger, L.B. Foster or Quanex Building Products?
Quanex Building Products (NX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $848.24M compared with $372.82M for L.B. Foster (FSTR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FSTR or NX?
FSTR returned +36.56% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.80% for NX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FSTR or NX?
NX has the lower trailing P/E at 19.1, versus 33.4 for FSTR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, L.B. Foster or Quanex Building Products?
Quanex Building Products pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while L.B. Foster does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are L.B. Foster and Quanex Building Products in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Fabrications industry within the Industrials sector.