Ahead Of The Bell: Trinity Industries Upgraded

NEW YORK (AP) — Expectations that government funding for renewable energy will lead to a "solid" resurgence in wind energy projects prompted an analyst to upgrade Trinity Industries Inc. on Sunday.

Dallas-based Trinity Industries Inc. is a diversified company with railroad car, highway construction materials and wind turbine tower divisions.

KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Steve Barger said he expects legislative provisions and stimulus-driven funding for wind energy projects to flow as early as the second half of this year. Barger warned that wind companies will likely face more quarters of challenging end markets and weaker performance, but a foundation is in place to promote increased demand and costs are scaled back, which could lead to "significant improvements" in margins and earnings.

Barger recommended investors focus on opportunities in 2010 and beyond, and raised his rating on Trinity Industries to "Buy" from "Hold," with a $24 price target.

Shares rose 15 cents to $17.10 in premarket trading.