This post was written by Minyanville contributor Vitaliy Katsenelson.

"You should buy Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), PACCAR (NASDAQ: PCAR)." That is what I hear from friends of mine, who are in the biz, all the time. They tell me how cheap these stocks are -- three, six, eight times earnings. "You are a value guy! How come you are not loading up on them?" they ask.

Let me tell you when I'll buy "stuff" stocks (if I ever do, because I've never really cared for the cyclicality of that business). It's when everyone stops telling me how cheap they are and that they are "buys."

These stocks are very similar to housing stocks two years ago: housing stocks were down 50% and looked cheap. Value managers bought just to see their stocks get cut in half again and again.

One needs to subnormalize earnings in this environment for all stocks, but stuff stocks need to see their earnings to be "sub-sub-sub-sub normalized." I've said it before, but it is worth repeating: the global economy just started its journey into a recession, and demand for stuff will drop off the cliff most likely to a lot greater degree than anyone imagines.

Continue reading 'Stuff' stocks look cheap?: Caterpillar, Freeport McMoRan, PACCAR

'Stuff' stocks look cheap?: Caterpillar, Freeport McMoRan, PACCAR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.