The industrial heavy equipment market includes machinery and tools used in construction, mining, agriculture, and industrial applications. According to 360iResearch, this sector is critically important for infrastructure development, mining operations, and large-scale agricultural productivity.
Growing infrastructural developments, rapid urbanization, and the growth of mining activities are fueling the necessity for heavy equipment. In agriculture, improved machinery efficiency remains critical for meeting global food demands. As per 360iResearch, market growth continues to be influenced by technological advancements like automation, loT integration, and sustainability trends focusing on fuel-efficient and electrically powered machinery.
Growth Drivers for the Heavy Equipment Market
Research Nester believes that the autonomous heavy equipment market was worth more than US$11.43 million in 2024 and should surpass US$26.56 million by 2037. The primary growth driver for the rapid expansion is the strong growth projected in the construction industry. The growth in the building and construction industry is aligned with the demand for heavy equipment.
Market experts opine that growth in the construction industry is expected to stem from lower interest rates in 2025. The types of heavy equipment that are used in the construction industry include earthmoving equipment, and material construction industry, among others.
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Key Trends to Look Out For in 2025
As per Stumble Forward, the industrial machinery landscape has been witnessing a massive transformation. Technological advancements are taking place at a rapid pace, with manufacturers adopting cutting-edge tools and processes to beat the competition. Increased automation and robotics, Al integration, green manufacturing, and 3D printing for customization are the key trends likely to drive growth for the industrial machinery industry in 2025.
Automation in industrial machinery tends to reduce the chances of human error and supports streamlining production. Robots, together with machine learning, are being employed to inspect, assemble, and even pack goods. Stumble Forward went on to add that Al-powered systems can predict equipment failures, reducing unexpected costly repairs. This predictive maintenance technology should continue to help industries save thousands of dollars in repair costs.
In 2025, industrial machinery is expected to be designed in a way that will promote sustainability. Energy-efficient machines, including those running on renewable energy, or producing less waste, will be adopted. Finally, the adoption of 3D printing in industrial machinery, which can help produce parts that are lightweight yet incredibly strong, is expected to grow as manufacturers continue to realize its importance. Stumble Forward also added that the ability to print intricate designs should result in innovation, enabling engineers to test prototypes and adjust accordingly.
A large open-pit copper mine with heavy machinery extracting minerals from the earth.
Our Methodology
To list the 10 Best Heavy Equipment and Industrial Machinery Stocks to Buy, we used a screener and sifted through online rankings. After getting a list of 25-30 stocks, we filtered out the ones having high hedge fund holdings. Finally, the stocks are arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments, as of Q3 2024.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Best Heavy Equipment and Industrial Machinery Stocks to Buy
10) The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer of cranes and related products.
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) continues to strategically emphasize non-new machine sales, which comprise aftermarket parts, services, rentals, used cranes, and digital solutions, in a bid to drive sustainable growth and mitigate the cyclical nature of the crane market. This focus remains critical to their CRANES+50 strategy, aiming to achieve $1 billion in non-new machine sales and enhance profitability.
Wall Street analysts remain optimistic about The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW)’s focus on non-new machine sales. They believe that expanding non-new machine sales should create more stable, recurring revenue streams, and this will also reduce reliance on new equipment sales. Finally, it will also lessen the impact of market volatility. Moreover, aftermarket services and rentals typically yield higher margins, contributing to overall profitability.
While aftermarket parts and services focus on providing maintenance, repairs, and parts to extend equipment lifespan and ensure optimal performance, equipment rentals focus on offering rental options to address customer needs without requiring full ownership.
During Q3 2024, The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) made good progress on its CRANES+50 strategy, while non-new machine sales reached a new high of $617.5 million for the trailing twelve months. This further reflects the successful execution of their strategy.
9) Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12
Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN) offers water management and road infrastructure products and services in the US and internationally.
Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN) plans to tap growth opportunities in its infrastructure segment and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Notably, an $80 million project in the MENA region should contribute to 2025 revenues, with $14 million already shipped in Q4 2024. The company’s infrastructure segment, mainly its Road Zipper business, continues to gain momentum with federal funding support. This business involves movable barriers designed to enhance road safety and traffic management. The increased adoption of these systems demonstrates a broader recognition of their benefits in improving traffic flow and safety, contributing to the segment’s revenue growth.
In June 2024, Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN) announced a multi-year supply agreement to provide Zimmatic™ irrigation systems and FieldNET™ remote management technology in the MENA region. The project, valued at over $100 million in revenue, is the largest in the company’s history and is part of a broader strategy to support localized food production in the region.
Zimmatic™ irrigation systems are designed to provide innovative and efficient solutions for agricultural irrigation. FieldNET™ is an advanced remote management and scheduling technology focused on enhancing irrigation efficiency and streamlining farm operations.
8) AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide.
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO)’s product portfolio, consisting of tractors and combines, continues to experience varying levels of market sentiment. Wall Street believes that dealers have been quite reluctant to place new orders. This momentum might have a trickle-down effect on other product lines, weighing 4WD tractors over the upcoming 6 – 9 months. However, in a bid to address these challenges, AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) announced a significant 25% planned production cut for Q4 2024. This decision is expected to align production with current market demand and manage inventory levels effectively.
Furthermore, AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) remains focused on European developments, mainly regarding pricing strategies and potential market share gains. Such initiatives are expected to provide avenues for growth.
The company’s growth strategies include Fendt brand expansion, precision agriculture, and parts business. Fendt is a brand under AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) and is a leading manufacturer of high-performance agricultural machinery. Products include tractors, harvesters, and loader wagons, among others. Fendt’s improved distribution and technology-rich product line continues to translate into improved market share, mainly in Europe.
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) continues to work to expand Fendt’s market share beyond its stronghold in Europe. This includes increasing dealership networks in the US and Canada and targeting growth in emerging markets such as Brazil, India, and China, where demand for modern agricultural machinery continues to rise.