The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX) is about to face the music. The railcar manufacturer will report first-quarter earnings results after the closing bell on Thursday, January 8, 2025, and the street isn't exactly expecting fireworks.

Analysts are forecasting quarterly earnings of 79 cents per share for the Lake Oswego, Oregon-based company. That's a pretty substantial drop from the $1.72 per share Greenbrier posted in the same period last year. On the revenue side, the consensus estimate sits at $655.53 million, which is actually down from $875.9 million a year earlier.

If those numbers sound rough, well, they follow a challenging fourth quarter. Back on October 28, Greenbrier delivered mixed Q4 financial results and issued fiscal 2026 sales guidance that came in below what analysts were hoping to see. Not exactly the confidence booster investors were looking for.

Despite the headwinds, Greenbrier shares managed to climb 4.3% on Tuesday, closing at $49.09. Sometimes the market likes to keep us guessing.

What the Smart Money Is Saying

Let's look at what some of the most accurate analysts tracking Greenbrier have been saying recently. These aren't just random Wall Street voices—these are analysts with proven track records.

Susquehanna analyst Bascome Majors, who maintains a 66% accuracy rate, kept a Positive rating on the stock but trimmed his price target from $57 down to $52 on October 29, 2025. That haircut suggests some caution even while maintaining overall optimism.

Meanwhile, B of A Securities analyst Ken Hoexter, sporting a 64% accuracy rate, held onto his Underperform rating but actually raised his price target from $60 to $62 on January 9, 2025. An Underperform rating with a rising price target is an interesting combination—basically saying the stock might go up, but probably not as much as the broader market.

The divergence in analyst views reflects the complexity of Greenbrier's current position. With earnings around the corner, we'll soon see whether the conservative expectations prove accurate or if the company has a surprise in store.