Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2024	Aug. 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2024	Aug. 31, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 409,007	$ 398,542	$ 822,215	$ 789,415
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	305,493	301,296	616,031	595,150
Gross margin	103,514	97,246	206,184	194,265
Selling, general and administrative	35,868	36,239	68,789	67,762
Operating income	67,646	61,007	137,395	126,503
Interest expense	(21,909)	(27,770)	(44,683)	(56,476)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,478	974	5,302	2,394
Other (income) expense, net	417	88	621	50
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	47,632	34,299	98,635	72,471
Income tax expense	12,213	5,967	23,614	15,617
Net income (loss)	35,419	28,332	75,021	56,854
Dividends on preferred stock	0	(3,600)	(1,200)	(7,200)
Redemption premium on Series A Preferred Stock	0	0	(75,198)	0
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 35,419	$ 24,732	$ (1,377)	$ 49,654
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings per common share (usd per share)	$ 1.19	$ 0.99	$ (0.05)	$ 1.99
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]
Diluted earnings per common share (usd per share)	$ 1.18	$ 0.97	$ (0.05)	$ 1.95
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract]
Weighted average number common shares, basic (shares)	29,852,000	25,054,000	28,294,000	24,997,000
Weighted average number common shares, diluted (shares)	30,057,000	29,210,000	28,294,000	29,196,000
Cash dividends declared per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.34	$ 0.34