"Industrials stocks focus on the manufacturing, transport and construction of physical goods and heavy infrastructure," says Elliott Gue.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "The best in the sector share one key trait: powerful leverage to a global economic recovery led by growth in the emerging markets and renewed spending on basic infrastructure across the developed world. The S&P 500 Industrials has outperformed the broader market by 20% during the past year."

Continue reading ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains

ABB (ABB) and Shaw (SHAW): Industrial Gains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"A smart grid makes use of coded signals that travel along power lines, much like DSL broadband messages move through the phone telephone," explains growth stock expert Jim Powell.

In Global Changes & Opportunities Report, he looks at two favorite plays on the development of a smart grid: Esco Technologies (NYSE: ESE) and Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR).

"In a smart grid, the signals allow electric meters to report power consumption automatically to suppliers. At the same time, signals can be sent to customer's appliances such as freezers and refrigerators to prevent them from cycling on and off at the same time.

Continue reading Power plays: Investing in a smart grid

Power plays: Investing in a smart grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's a market than remains the province of those who make astute calculations and who can tolerate moderate risk (or high risk). This market has demonstrated that it can certainly frustrate -- and humble -- institutional investor and individual investor alike.

Moreover, perhaps the most memorable dimension to the bear market that began in October 2007 will be its ability to take down the stocks of healthy companies with demonstrated business models.

Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) is one such business model. A global, engineering, procurement and construction company that specializes in turnkey projects for customers that produce, process, store and distribute the world's natural resources, the market hammered CBI as it became clear that emerging markets, a key CBI customer, had entered a recession. The First Call F2009/F2010 EPS estimates for CBI are $1.64 / $1.42.

Continue reading Chicago Bridge & Iron: A get-ahead-of-the-pack play

Chicago Bridge & Iron: A get-ahead-of-the-pack play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway revealed a new position in Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC); it's my favorite pure play on water filtration," says Chris Mayer in Daily Wealth.

"With a $1.6 billion market cap, Nalco is a small-cap stock, but it's actually one of the world's largest water-treatment companies. Customers use Nalco's products and services to prevent corrosion, contamination, and the buildup of harmful deposits.

"Buffett picked up 8.7 million shares. That makes Berkshire the second-largest shareholder in the company, with a little more than 6% of the shares.It's easy to see what Buffett likes.

Continue reading Naclo (NLC): Buffett's bet on water

Naclo (NLC): Buffett's bet on water originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his Validea newsletter, John Reese selects stocks using the investment strategies of the market's leading gurus, such as Benjamin Graham, John Neff, Warren Buffett, David Dreman, and Peter Lynch.

The advisor, and author of the just-published The Guru Investor, recently ran a screen based on the investment strategy of Kenneth Fisher to find his latest buy recommendation -- Kennametal (NYSE: KMT).

Reese explains, "For decades, the price-to-earnings ratio has been the most widely used valuation measure for stock investors, and a key tool in the arsenals of many of the gurus I follow. ut in 1984, Kenneth Fisher sent a shockwave through the P/E-conscious investment world.

Continue reading Kennametal (KMT): A 'Kenneth Fisher' guru play

Kennametal (KMT): A 'Kenneth Fisher' guru play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The industrial equipment giant's brand is synonymous with big, bad earthmoving construction machinery. In fact, it's doubtful that any major construction project performed in America since the Great Depression hasn't been performed without the help of a "Cat."

Given the Obama administration's focus on shovel-ready infrastructure construction jobs as the answer to what's ailing our economy, it stands to reason that Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) equipment will once again be called upon to help rebuild and remodel America's crumbling roads, tunnels and bridges.

Think about this, every time you hear the words "shovel-ready jobs," you should think about the makers of the actual shovels. And there is no denying that Caterpillar makes the biggest and best shovels on the planet.

Take a look at all ten stocks to fall in love with again.

Jim Woods is a Senior Editor for OptionsZone.com.

Ten stocks to fall in love with again: #2 Caterpillar (CAT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"For those in search of a pure play in the water infrastructure sector, my favorite bet is Insituform (NSDQ: INSU)," says Roger Conrad in his newly-launched advisory service, The New World.

Conrad explains, "Its most innovative product is its fast-growing 'trenchless' repair service to aging and cracked pipes." Here's his review.

"Rather than dig up and replace actual pipes, the process involves injecting a compound into the pipe itself which acts to seal any breaches. The result is a lower cost and far less intrusive repair.

"Insituform has languished in recent years, as overly aggressive expansion by prior management ran up against a brick wall of stagnant to falling system investment by municipalities.

Continue reading Insituform (INSU): Investing in sewer & pipe repair

Insituform (INSU): Investing in sewer & pipe repair originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The Obama administration is poised to spend a lot of money on infrastructure; one important sector is the the nation's electric power grid and the communications system," notes growth stock advisor Dave Dyer.

In his Dave Dayer's Newsletter, he explains, "Some products will win big, others will get nothing, but one company will get more business regardless of which products win: Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR), the leading electrical contractor in the country.

"Quanta's service business stands ready to expand with the infrastructure buildout no matter which products are selected.

"They do design, installation, maintenance, and repair on just about any type of network infrastructure (electric power, telecom, broadband cable, and gas pipelines.) Their moat against competitors is size. They are the largest in their field and that is in no danger of changing.

Continue reading Power play: Rebuilding the electric power grid

Power play: Rebuilding the electric power grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

Two advisors that specializes in income investing -- Mark Skousen and Nick Lanyi -- both turn to high-yielder, Southern Peru Copper (NYSE: PCU) as a contrarian play on building and infrastructure growth ahead.

Skousen, in his High Income Alert, he says, "Make no mistake, this is a contrarian play. But if you believe in buying straw hats in winter, PCU is an exceptional value at these levels."

"More than 2.9 billion pounds of copper are used in construction every year, primarily in plumbing and wiring, while electronic products use more than 1.9 billion pounds a year.

"Transportation equipment -- including cars, trains, planes and submarines -- uses more than 1 billion pounds a year.

"The manufacture of industrial equipment requires another 1 billion pounds annually. And consumer and general products, from cookware to church bells to pennies, require another 800 million pounds.

"Southern Peru operates the world's largest copper mine high in the Andes mountains, producing more than 800 million pounds of copper a year.

"Of course, the commodity bull market that was running at a full gallop in the first half of this year has stopped dead in its tracks. Copper prices are no exception. When building and manufacturing slow, so does the demand for the red metal.

Continue reading Southern Peru (PCU): Two income experts build gains in copper

Southern Peru (PCU): Two income experts build gains in copper originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"I think we have bottomed in some sectors, including commodities and materials," explains Glenn Rogers. In Internet Wealth Builder, he explains, "President-elect Obama has said he will pour hundreds of billions into projects.

"The Chinese and the Europeans have also committed to huge amounts to infrastructure spending." Here, he looks at one play on this trend -- Cemex (NYSE: CX).

"If you want to venture back into the stock market at this point and you're a long-term investor, my advice is to buy high-quality names with low P/E ratios, no debt coming due next year, and the sustainable ability to pay a dividend.

"Late last month, this Mexican cement giant traded as low as $4.01. Then President-elect Obama announced his plan to spend billions on infrastructure projects and guess what happened?

"The share price shot up on the expectation that infrastructure spending will translate into a growing demand for cement.

"Cemex shares traded as high as $11.35 before pulling back to close the week at $8.16. That's still more than double the November low but this is a stock that was trading at over $30 last June so it still looks like good value at this level.

Continue reading Cemex (CMX): 'Solid' play on infrastructure

Cemex (CMX): 'Solid' play on infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"President-elect Obama recently announced that he is working on a stimulus package that could be as large as $1 trillion," notes BizRadio host Daniel Frishberg in The MoneyMan Report.

"This money would be used on infrastructure. Items such as new roads, bridges, etc. would be on the 'to do list.'

"The theory is that this would bring jobs and thus help stimulate the economy. On this news, many of the infrastructure companies rallied. These are the same companies that have been severely beaten up due to global growth slowing.

"Thus, with a new stimulus package focused on infrastructure spending imminent, not only in the U.S. but some emerging countries, we are using some of our cash to invest in various infrastructure companies.

"We are purchasing Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR). This is a global engineering firm that will be a huge beneficiary from all the infrastructure spending.

"Even though the stock has recovered the last few weeks, it is still down over 50% from its high. Given their prospects and valuation, we believe this is a great company to invest in at present levels.

"We are also purchasing KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR). The company was spun off from Halliburton and they focus on engineering & construction. KBR gets a lot of their sales from contracts in Iraq and other countries.

"The stock fell 75% before recovering somewhat. However, the stock is still down 63% in the last 12 months and we believe the prospects for their business are excellent."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Obama's to-do list: Bridges and roads originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"One theme that already seems likely to dominate the playbook for the Obama team is 'infrastructure plus' -- encompassing alternative energy, the environment, and health care," says Patrick DeSouza.

The contributing editor to Steven Leeb's The Complete Investor explains, "These priorities will translate into tremendous opportunities for well-situated firms in these areas." Here are some ideas:

"The Obama Administration is likely to link infrastructure with specific policy priorities such as alternative energies and environmental protection.

"In this way, it can launch public work ventures that create jobs while simultaneously fulfilling campaign promises to tackle climate change and resource degradation. Companies with crossover appeal-a foot in both infrastructure and environmental businesses- are the ones to look at.

"Fluor (NYSE: FLR) and General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- which are already holdings in our growth model portfolio -- both fit this bill, with diversified product lines that range from large-scale infrastructure engineering projects to alternative energy infrastructure to renewable power.

Continue reading Obama team targets infrastructure

Obama team targets infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"URS Corp. (NYSE: URS) provides engineering, construction, and technical services to a wide range of markets," says quantitative analyst Vahan Janjigian.

In The Forbes Growth Investor, he adds, "There is increased speculation that the federal government will enact a stimulus package containing substantial spending on infrastructure; as a leader in federally-funded projects, URS could benefit significantly."

"The U.S. was responsible for 91% of first half 2008 revenues with the remainder derived from various global markets. URS operates three divisions. The Washington division was responsible for 41.2% of first half sales.

"Acquired last November, its primary markets are energy and power. The URS division,which generated 35.4% of first half sales, serves the commercial, industrial, environmental, facilities, homeland security, transportation, water/waste water, and specialty markets.

"Customers include federal, state and local governments, and private enterprises, such as nuclear energy and mining companies, chemical and drug makers, and oil and gas firms.

Continue reading URS Corp. (URS): Forbes quant eyes infrastructure stimulus

URS Corp. (URS): Forbes quant eyes infrastructure stimulus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The world is focused on an infrastructure buildout, and one of the best ways to capture that trend is with Zurich-based infrastructure giant ABB (NYSE: ABB)," says Keith Fitz-Gerald.

In The Money Map Report, he explains, "We've been recommending the stock throughout this crisis; and while its up 50% off its low, we believe the best is still to come."

"Chances are you'll be hearing a lot of talk about it in the years to come as governments around the world initiate massive domestic fixed asset programs to create jobs, and improve critical services such as power distribution.

"President-elect Obama is focused on infrastructure while China's $586 billion stimulus package is also aimed at infrastructure building.

"World leaders recognize that the one thing they need, that they can't afford to lose, and that their people can't do without, is power. And lots of it. And one of the best ways to capture that is with Zurich-based ABB.

Continue reading ABB (ABB): Power play on infrastructure buildout

ABB (ABB): Power play on infrastructure buildout originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: GE -- the water & power company

Chasing Value: GE -- the water & power company originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The new administration will likely soon launch a new spending program to put people back to work and boost the economy," says Jim Powell, adding, "That's even more likely now that the financial crisis is in full swing and growth is declining."

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report he looks at General Cable (NYSE: BGC) as a play on the rebuilding of the nation's electric power grid.

"Politicians at all levels have also voiced strong support for rebuilding our woefully inadequate infrastructure. Because building roads, bridges, electrical grids, and so on, will employ many voters, I think allocations for such projects will go to the top of the government's spending list.

"That's especially true since infrastructure projects will also funnel billions of dollars to state and local governments that are facing hard times. All in all, modernizing the the electric power grid should be another very pro?table long-term investment.

"I believe the most promising beneficiary of the electric power project will be General Cable. The company produces products for a wide variety of applications including large cables for long distribution networks.

Continue reading General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid

General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"Like a neglectful homeowner who has let their house fall into a dilapidated state of disrepair, the federal government has quite a bit of housekeeping to do; if Obama wins the election, we would look towards infrastructure plays such as Fluor (NYSE: FLR)," says Nathan Slaughter, editor of Half-Priced Stocks.

"You may remember the tragic collapse of a Minneapolis bridge last year that took 13 lives. According to the Federal Highway Administration, this is not a one-time incident but a potential epidemic.

"By their estimates, 152,000 of the nation's 600,000 bridges (1 in 4) either require substantial work or have become obsolete and need to be replaced entirely.

"The overall price tag to bring all these bridges up to date: about $140 billion. And the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) believes that bridges are actually in pretty good shape when compared to other crumbling infrastructure.

"Across the country, we have 3,500 unsafe dams in need of repair and hundreds of locks that must be fixed to allow cargo barges to navigate through inland waterways.

"Sewage treatment facilities are outdated; corroded pipes leak 6 billion gallons of drinking water daily; and maintenance on energy transmission lines has been steadily dwindling for over a decade.

"Throw in aging transit systems, highways, landfills, and ports, and the ASCE has graded America's overall infrastructure a "D" and puts the repair bill at a staggering $1.6 trillion.

"And Obama will not shy away from big government projects. In fact, the senator has gone on record as saying 'it is critically important for the United States to rebuild its national infrastructure.'

"And this isn't just hollow campaign rhetoric. Obama has thrown his support behind the National Infrastructure Bank Act, which would free up tens of billions to support various infrastructure projects.

"By all accounts, a massive amount of cash will be needed to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century, and much of that will find its way into the coffers of heavy construction companies like Fluor.

"The Texas-based company is a global heavyweight in the engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance (EPCM) field with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues.

Continue reading Obama stock: Constructing gains with Fluor (FLR)

Obama stock: Constructing gains with Fluor (FLR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One of my favorite was to play the market is to find a hot area and then invest in companies that provide products to support that market," says Dave Dyer.

In The Dave Dyer Newsletter he explains, "Bucyrus International (NASDAQ: BUCY) is a domestic heavy equipment manufacturer that is focused exactly in the areas that will benefit from the global commodities boom.

"The company's products are focused on mining for coal, iron ore, copper, oil sands, and other minerals needed to support the global infrastructure expansion. Mining is hot right now, and all mines need mining equipment. "Rapid industrial expansion in Asia and Eastern Europe requires raw materials. This trend is not likely to stop soon.

"BUCY is a very old company. In 1880, they started as a small foundry in Bucyrus, Ohio. By 1904, they were supplying excavation equipment for one of the largest projects in the world, the Panama Canal. By 1969, they were making earth moving equipment that was almost 22 stories tall. If you need to dig a really big hole, talk to BUCY.

Continue reading Bucyrus (BUCY): Global boom in heavy equipment

Bucyrus (BUCY): Global boom in heavy equipment originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 May 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Consulting firm Jacobs Engineering Group (NYSE: JEC) is squarely focused on helping the world solve its infrastructure problems," says David Fessler, advisory panelist for the Oxford Club.

"Jacobs offers broad-based, bumper-to-bumper technical services. With over 54,000 employees staffing 160 offices in 20 countries, Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of professional and technical services.

"And it's keeping plenty busy building and upgrading infrastructure the world over. Its latest big contract win -- worth about $550 million over a three-year period -- comes from the Louisiana Department of Education for post-Katrina reconstruction.

"The work will cover the replacement of damaged or destroyed school facilities as well as the construction of temporary facilities.

Continue reading Jacobs Engineering (JEC): Building value in infrastructure

Jacobs Engineering (JEC): Building value in infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We like to invest in the strongest sectors and we think Industrials are on their way to the top," note Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay in All Star Investor.

The advisors explain, "Surveying the horizon of industrial companies, the most promising is Bermuda-based, Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR). This is a stock you want for the next 12 months."

"The stock market is a leading indicator; it starts to decline before the economy slows down, and it starts to advance well before the economy improves. These lags often results in a stock market that starts moving up just when the public becomes 'convinced' that the problems are serious.

"Economic reports are likely to get worse. Housing foreclosures are likely to increase. Many more employees are likely to be let go. These are the perceptions that currently haunt investors.

"However, these are often the very same perceptions that create bottoms in the stock market. It is hard to see how the economy will crawl out of this mess, but eventually it will. The groundwork is now being laid.

"It may seem counter-intuitive, but investors should start planning for the next expansionary cycle. Markets move well ahead of facts, and it's time to invest accordingly. And indeed, industrials have risen in our rankings in recent weeks.

"A global leader of broad-based equipment offerings, Ingersoll-Rand is positioned to capitalize on the next phase of development like no other company in its sector. Here's why.

Continue reading Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials

Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.