Filed under: Management, Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, General Electric (GE), Home Depot (HD), Scandals, Caterpillar (CAT), Alcoa Inc (AA), Black and Decker (BDK), Lowe’s Cos (LOW), U.S. Steel (X), Nucor Corp (NUE), Reliance Steel and Aluminum (RS), Johnson Controls (JCI), Deere and Co (DE), Honeywell Intl (HON), United Technologies (UTX), BHP Billiton Ltd ADR (BHP), Rio Tinto plc ADS (RTP), Freep’t McMoRan Copper (FCX), Politics, Commodities
It is alarming to me that the same people who screw up the economy (or stand by watching) are the ones that are now promoting the remedies. They’ve proven without a shadow of a doubt that this is not their strong suit. The proposed economic stimulus package has bi-partisan support and calls for an estimated $156 billion of tax rebates ranging from $500 to $1,000 (+ $300 for each child) that might show up in Might.
If we are going to add on to our already humungous joke of national debt, than I want to invest this capital in something that’ll bring a higher return on invested capital (ROIC) than the paltry one time mad money. That expenditure should be for national infrastructure projects like roadways, bridges, tunnels, and waterways.
We have all heard about the poor condition of our national infrastructure and the hundreds of billions of dollars of repair work and replacement that is desperately needed.
This alternative would bring visible results that each single person in the country would benefit from and improved linkages always stimulate economic growth. Road improvements even reduce fuel consumption by shortening routes and reducing friction both strategically and physically.
Furthermore, this form of stimulus goes directly to support middle and lower income workers, the ones hurt by the severe downturn in the construction industry. The government, like private enterprise, benefits when it can borrow affordably and invest at higher returns. This has been historically true of infrastructure projects.
Giving people a one time hand out is like giving your children some cash for the week end. They’ll care about it while it lasts and it won’t last long. However, building something usable will have a benefit for several generations.
If you’re interested in a few stocks that would benefit from this type of investment you might add the following to your watch list:
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BHP Billiton Ltd ADR (NYSE: BHP) — raw materials
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The Black & Decker Corporation (NYSE: BDK) — hand tools
- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) — heavy equipment
- Cemex SAB de CV (ADR) (NYSE: CX) — concrete
- Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) — heavy equipment
- Freeport McMoRan Copper (NYSE: FCX) — raw materials
- General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) — building systems
- The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD) — construction supply
- Honeywell International, Inc. (NYSE: HON) — building systems
- Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEC) — engineering
- Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) — building systems
- Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) — construction supply
- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) — steel
- Reliance Steel & Aluminum (NYSE: RS) — specialty metals
- Rio Tinto plc (ADR) (NYSE: RTP) — raw materials
- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) — steel
- United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX) — building systems
- URS Corporation (NYSE: URS) — engineering
All of these do not present the same value and some of them, being conglomerates will be effected less than more focused companies. For example, I would anticipate CX or NUE to receive more benefit than GE or UTX.
- On a related note: Suburban slums — city centers being revitalized
Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I don’t own shares of any of these stocks except for CX. RS is one of my 2008 picks.
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