Goodwill	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill	Note 7 — Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized but it is tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. The Company has $7.2 million of goodwill related to the acquisition of Custom Steel in 2006. The results of Custom Steel are included in the manufacturing operations segment. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment test as of March 1 of each year utilizing the market and income approaches and significant assumptions are discussed below: Market Approach The market approach produces indications of value by applying multiples of enterprise value to revenue as well as enterprise value to earnings before depreciation, amortization, interest and taxes. The multiples indicate what investors are willing to pay for comparable publicly held companies. When adjusted for the risk level and growth potential of the subject company relative to the guideline companies, these multiples are a reasonable indication of the value an investor would attribute to the subject company. Income Approach The income approach considers the subject company’s future sales and earnings growth potential as the primary source of future cash flow. ARI prepared a five year financial projection for the reporting unit and used a discounted net cash flow method to determine the fair value. Net cash flow consists of after-tax operating income, plus depreciation, less capital expenditures and working capital needs. The discounted cash flow method considers a five-year projection of net cash flow and adds to those cash flows a residual value at the end of the projection period. Significant estimates and assumptions used in the evaluation were forecasted revenues and profits, the weighted average cost of capital and tax rates. Forecasted revenues of reporting unit were estimated based on historical trends of the ARI plants that the reporting unit supplies parts to, which are driven by the railcar market forecast. Forecasted margins were based on historical experience. The reporting unit does not have a selling, administrative or executive staff; therefore, an estimate of salaries and benefits for key employees was added to selling, administrative and other costs. The weighted average cost of capital was calculated using ARI’s estimated cost of equity and debt. All of the above estimates and assumptions were determined by management to be reasonable based on the knowledge and information at the time of the evaluation. As such, this carries a risk of uncertainty. There could be significant fluctuations in the cost of raw materials, unionization of the Company’s workforce or other factors that might significantly affect the reporting unit’s cost structure and negatively impact the projection of financial performance. If the railcar industry forecasts or ARI’s market share were to change significantly, the fair value of the reporting unit would be materially adversely impacted. Other events that might occur that could have a negative effect would be a natural disaster that would render the facility unusable, a significant litigation settlement, a significant workers’ compensation claim or other event that would result in a production shut down or significant expense to the reporting unit. The March 1, 2011 evaluation equally weighted the values derived from each approach to arrive at the fair value of the reporting unit. The reporting unit with a goodwill balance passed “Step 1” of the March 1, 2011 goodwill impairment analysis. All “Step 1” results had fair values in excess of carrying values by at least 60%, resulting in no impairment of goodwill.

Note 7 — Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized but it is tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. The Company has $7.2 million of goodwill related to the acquisition of Custom Steel in 2006. The results of Custom Steel are included in the manufacturing operations segment.

The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment test as of March 1 of each year utilizing the market and income approaches and significant assumptions are discussed below:

Market Approach

The market approach produces indications of value by applying multiples of enterprise value to revenue as well as enterprise value to earnings before depreciation, amortization, interest and taxes. The multiples indicate what investors are willing to pay for comparable publicly held companies. When adjusted for the risk level and growth potential of the subject company relative to the guideline companies, these multiples are a reasonable indication of the value an investor would attribute to the subject company.

Income Approach

The income approach considers the subject company’s future sales and earnings growth potential as the primary source of future cash flow. ARI prepared a five year financial projection for the reporting unit and used a discounted net cash flow method to determine the fair value. Net cash flow consists of after-tax operating income, plus depreciation, less capital expenditures and working capital needs. The discounted cash flow method considers a five-year projection of net cash flow and adds to those cash flows a residual value at the end of the projection period.

Significant estimates and assumptions used in the evaluation were forecasted revenues and profits, the weighted average cost of capital and tax rates. Forecasted revenues of reporting unit were estimated based on historical trends of the ARI plants that the reporting unit supplies parts to, which are driven by the railcar market forecast. Forecasted margins were based on historical experience. The reporting unit does not have a selling, administrative or executive staff; therefore, an estimate of salaries and benefits for key employees was added to selling, administrative and other costs. The weighted average cost of capital was calculated using ARI’s estimated cost of equity and debt.

All of the above estimates and assumptions were determined by management to be reasonable based on the knowledge and information at the time of the evaluation. As such, this carries a risk of uncertainty. There could be significant fluctuations in the cost of raw materials, unionization of the Company’s workforce or other factors that might significantly affect the reporting unit’s cost structure and negatively impact the projection of financial performance. If the railcar industry forecasts or ARI’s market share were to change significantly, the fair value of the reporting unit would be materially adversely impacted. Other events that might occur that could have a negative effect would be a natural disaster that would render the facility unusable, a significant litigation settlement, a significant workers’ compensation claim or other event that would result in a production shut down or significant expense to the reporting unit.

The March 1, 2011 evaluation equally weighted the values derived from each approach to arrive at the fair value of the reporting unit. The reporting unit with a goodwill balance passed “Step 1” of the March 1, 2011 goodwill impairment analysis. All “Step 1” results had fair values in excess of carrying values by at least 60%, resulting in no impairment of goodwill.