In this article, we discuss 10 best infrastructure stocks to buy now. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 5 Best Infrastructure Stocks To Buy Now.
The global infrastructure construction market was worth $2,242.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $3,267.3 billion by 2027, indicating a growth rate of 6.48% during the forecast period. Infrastructure earnings are resilient and it is a low-beta sector, but the space is not suited to outperform during a cyclical economic recovery.
New York Life Investments believes that infrastructure earnings will potentially outperform global earnings for the first time in multiple years in 2022. The broader equity market earnings are set to decelerate while the infrastructure industry delivers robust growth. The firm anticipates 10% earnings growth compared to the broader equity market growth of only 7%.
Historically, moderating economic growth has been a positive sign for infrastructure. During such economic cycles, infrastructure has reported an average annualized return of about 18.5%, topping global equities by 5%. Moreover, during times of above-average inflation, infrastructure has surpassed global equities by 7% to 9% in terms of annualized returns. With this macroeconomic outlook in mind, New York Life Investments backed 2022 to be a good year for the infrastructure space. Some of the best infrastructure stocks to invest in, to benefit from the acceleration in the sector, include Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN), and Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH).
Our Methodology
We selected the firms which are involved directly or indirectly in key infrastructure sectors such as roads, railways, electricity and power, water and sewerage, communication, and airports. Positive analyst coverage, strong business fundamentals, and robust dividend profiles were classifiers for choosing the following infrastructure stocks. We have assessed the hedge fund sentiment from Insider Monkey’s database of 895 elite hedge funds tracked as of the end of the second quarter of 2022.
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash
Best Infrastructure Stocks To Buy Now
10. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates electricity transmission and distribution lines, natural gas pipelines, and operational telecom towers. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) is one of the leading global managers of infrastructure assets that drive cash flow.
On September 23, TD Securities analyst Cherilyn Radbourne assumed coverage of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) with a Buy rating and a $49 price target. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) has achieved 10% organic growth year-to-date, which the analyst observed is ahead of its 6%-9% target range, and she believes the company is on track to repeat this performance in 2023 and “possibly also” in 2024, since about 70% of its cash flows are linked to inflation.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 18 hedge funds were long Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) at the end of June 2022, compared to 15 funds in the last quarter. Select Equity Group is the leading position holder in the company, with 418,087 shares worth nearly $16 million.
In addition to Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN), and Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) is one of the best infrastructure stocks to invest in.
9. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) is a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of specialty vehicles worldwide. The company also provides aerial work platforms and telehandlers for use in various construction, industrial, institutional, and general maintenance applications. On October 27, Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on November 28, to shareholders of record on November 14. The dividend yield on November 1 came in at 1.68%.
On October 28, JPMorgan analyst Tami Zakaria raised the price target on Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) to $85 from $82 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares after the Q3 results. The debate around margin recovery next year remains unresolved for now, the analyst told investors in a research note.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 22 funds reported owning stakes worth $136 million in Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), compared to 28 funds in the prior quarter worth $130.7 million. Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management held the leading position in the company, comprising 479,496 shares valued at $38.6 million.
Here is what Aristotle Capital Management Value Equity has to say about Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) in its Q1 2022 investor letter:
“Oshkosh is typically a North American market share leader in its respective equipment types and supplies a wide swath of industries and end customers. For instance, it is the global leader in aerial work platforms through its JLG brand. It is also the largest light defense truck supplier to the U.S military, with its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) chosen to replace the Humvee in 2015.
We had previously owned Oshkosh in our Value Equity portfolios for the better part of a decade. As long-time admirers of the company’s quality characteristics, and through our diligent process continuing to closely follow as management creates ways to improve, we have once again found an opportunity to be investors.
High-Quality Business
Some of the quality characteristics we have identified for Oshkosh include:
-Pricing power stemming from its leading market share positions in nearly every business segment, vital nature of its products and industry concentration;
-Diversified product line and customer base, as well as high barriers to entry in many of its businesses, such as fire trucks, aircraft rescue vehicles and defense; and
-Consistent positive FREE cash flow generation, even during the 2008 financial crisis when most of its segments faced the steepest downturn in a generation.
Attractive Valuation
Through market share gains, we expect operating margins and FREE cash flow to be higher on a normalized basis. Thus, we believe Oshkosh shares are offered at a discount to our estimates of the company’s intrinsic value.
Compelling Catalysts
Catalysts we have identified for Oshkosh, which we believe will cause its stock price to appreciate over our three- to five-year investment horizon, include:
-Further innovation and technological improvements, particularly in the electrification of its vehicles, which could drive additional demand;
-Continued rollout of its recently awarded U.S. Postal Service vehicle contract and market share gains for its JLG aerial work platforms;
-Increased international orders for its JLTV military trucks as countries around the world replace aging Humvee fleets. In addition, further development of its aftermarket business can help improve profitability; and
-Strong balance sheet can give management the ability to run a balanced capital allocation strategy that advances organic growth and returns cash to shareholders.”
8. Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) is a Canadian energy infrastructure company, operating through Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services segments. On September 29, Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) disclosed the acquisition of U.S. renewable project developer Tri Global Energy for $270 million in cash and assumed debt. This acquisition will advance Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB)’s renewables business, while strengthening its North American growth strategy. It is one of the premier infrastructure stocks to invest in.
Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Kad on October 19 maintained an Equal Weight rating on Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) but trimmed the price target on the stock to C$64 from C$67. The analyst said that he expects fewer material earnings beats in the Midstream sector compared to Q2, but “nonetheless largely in-line results”. Potential buyback acceleration could be a positive catalyst for some firms, he added.
According to the second quarter database of Insider Monkey, 25 hedge funds were long Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB), compared to 24 funds in the prior quarter. Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners featured as the leading position holder in the company, with 51.85 million shares worth $2.2 billion.
Here is what ClearBridge Investments Dividend Strategy has to say about Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:
“We are meaningfully overweight energy, particularly within North American energy infrastructure. Enbridge and Williams, our two infrastructure holdings, possess crown jewel infrastructure assets. They each deliver meaningful proportions of the overall energy produced and consumed in North America. Their revenues are backed by long-term contracts with high-quality counterparties and have little direct commodity price exposure. Their growth has been driven by the increasing production of North American energy. The advent of unconventional oil and gas production (oil sand and shale) has made North America a low-cost competitor on a global basis. We expect strong North American production to be an enduring feature of global energy supply for decades to come.”
7. Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28
Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) is a North Carolina-based company that provides mission-critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR)’s products are used in medical, industrial manufacturing, water and waste management, chemical processing, precision irrigation, energy, food and beverage, agriculture, and vacuum and automated liquid handling applications. Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) is one of the best infrastructure stocks to buy now.
On October 27, Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) announced the acquisition of Everest Group and Airmax Group for approximately $86 million in cash. These acquisitions will expand Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR)’s presence in India and France, respectively. The deals are expected to conclude in Q4 2022.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joshua Pokrzywinski on October 12 reiterated an Overweight rating on Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) but slashed the price target on the shares to $53 from $55. He forecasts Q3 results to be “largely in line” for the multi-industry group and sees most revisions due to foreign exchange headwinds. However, Q3 results are likely to give way to volatility and “an air pocket for orders” in Q4, the analyst added.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 28 hedge funds were bullish on Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 31 funds in the prior quarter. Henry Ellenbogen’s Durable Capital Partners is the largest stakeholder of the company, with approximately 4.6 million shares worth $193.2 million.
Here is what Artisan Mid Cap Fund has to say about Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR) in its Q4 2021 investor letter:
“Ingersoll Rand is a global market leader with a broad range of mission critical flow creation technologies (pumps, compressors, etc.) for industrial and medical applications. The company’s recent Q3 results were solid and support our belief it is making the right investments in R&D and acquisitions to elevate its sustainable revenue growth rate. We have been particularly encouraged by the important role IR’s products can play in reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of manufacturing facilities. With an increasingly visible organic and acquisition-driven growth capability and further margin upside from the Gardner Denver merger, we added to our position as the market appears to be underappreciating the transformation underway at the company.”
6. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is a North Carolina-based company that manufactures and sells steel and steel products. The company provides hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, steel tubing products, electrical conduits, ferro-alloys, and wire and wire mesh products. It serves agriculture, automotive, construction, energy and transmission, oil and gas, heavy equipment, infrastructure, and transportation industries. The management expects 2022 to be the most profitable year for earnings in Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE)’s history.
On October 6, Goldman Sachs analyst Emily Chieng reaffirmed a Neutral rating on Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) but lowered the price target on the shares to $114 from $127. The analyst sees Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) as well positioned to gain from improving construction and infrastructure demand given its “strong portfolio of products serving those end markets.”
According to Insider Monkey’s Q2 data, 32 hedge funds were bullish on Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), up from 22 funds in the prior quarter. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group is the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 1.3 million shares worth approximately $135 million.
Like Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN), and Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is one of the top infrastructure players to consider for riding the boom in the sector.
Here is what Madison Funds has to say about Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) in their Q1 2021 investor letter:
“This quarter we are highlighting Nucor (NUE) as a relative yield example within the Materials sector. NUE is a leading manufacturer of steel and steel products. It is the largest steelmaker in the U.S. based on production volume with a vertically integrated business model. The company has a low fixed-cost position due to its use of electric arc furnaces, which are cleaner, less labor and energy-intensive than blast furnaces, and this results in low total costs per unit of steel produced. Our view is that a low cost position is an important attribute in a commodity business. NUE’s historical financial record supports this view as it has been profitable every year except for one over the past fifty years, unlike many steel producing peers. In addition, the company has a diverse product and mill portfolio that takes market share over time. We believe its scale, low fixed-cost position, consistent record of profitability and diverse mill portfolio result in a sustainable competitive advantage versus peers.
Our thesis on NUE is that it should benefit from higher steel prices as the U.S. economy recovers from the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company may also be a beneficiary of on-shoring, where manufacturing returns to the United States. These two dynamics should drive growth this year, and if the United States Congress passes new infrastructure legislation, that will provide another avenue for growth longer-term.” (Click here to read full text)
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Disclosure: None. 10 Best Infrastructure Stocks To Buy Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.
