We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Industrial Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) stands against the other industrial stocks.
Industrial stocks in the United States encompass a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, transportation, aerospace, defense, and construction. These sectors form the backbone of the American economy, driving innovation, employment, and growth. Companies within this category often engage in the production of machinery, equipment, and infrastructure essential for various industries. The performance of industrial stocks is closely tied to the overall health of the economy. Economic expansion typically boosts demand for industrial goods and services, while recessions can lead to contractions in this sector.
Recently, industrial stocks have shown resilience amid global supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, thanks in part to technological advancements and diversified service offerings. Advancements in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence are transforming the industrial landscape. Companies are increasingly investing in smart manufacturing technologies to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs. Environmental concerns and regulatory pressures are pushing industrial firms toward sustainable practices. Companies are adopting greener technologies and renewable energy sources to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Industrial stocks play a vital role in the US economy, offering a diverse range of investment opportunities. Understanding the dynamics of different sectors, keeping abreast of market trends, and evaluating economic indicators are crucial for making informed investment decisions in this space. With continued advancements in technology and a focus on sustainable practices, the industrial sector remains a critical and evolving component of the financial market landscape. Overall, industrial stocks returned close to 10% so far in 2024.
According to Federal Reserve Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization report, most major market groups saw gains in May. Consumer goods increased by 1.3 percent, driven by rises across all components except home electronics. Business equipment edged up by 0.2 percent despite a drop in transit, buoyed by gains in information processing and industrial sectors. Defense and space equipment rose by 1.0 percent, marking a nearly 10 percent increase from a year ago. The materials market group saw a 0.8 percent increase, with non-energy durables and non-energy nondurables each up by around 1 percent, and energy materials rising by 0.6 percent. In manufacturing, overall output rose by 0.9 percent in May, slightly above last year’s level. Durable manufacturing increased by 0.6 percent, nondurables by 1.1 percent, and other manufacturing (publishing and logging) by 0.2 percent. Within durable manufacturing, notable gains were seen in wood products (up 2.6 percent), machinery (up 2.3 percent), and computer/electronic products (up 0.8 percent). Furniture and related products saw the largest decline (down 2.6 percent). In nondurables, printing and support activities decreased by 1.5 percent, while other categories saw gains. Mining output rebounded with a 0.3 percent increase in May, following declines in the previous two months. Oil and gas extraction rose, offsetting decreases in other mining and support activities. Utilities output grew by 1.6 percent, surpassing last year’s level by 3.9 percent. Capacity utilization for manufacturing rose to 77.1 percent in May, slightly below its long-run average. Mining’s operating rate reached 92.7 percent, well above its average, while utilities remained notably below their typical operating levels despite a slight increase to 71.5 percent.
So, what are the best industrial stocks to buy in this current environment?
Our Methodology
We leveraged Insider Monkey’s comprehensive database of 920 prominent hedge funds to identify the top 10 industrial stocks with the highest level of hedge fund investment as of Q1 2024. These stocks are listed in order of increasing hedge fund ownership, providing insight into the most popular industrial stocks among elite investors.
A construction worker wearing a hard hat and safety glasses at a site, carrying concrete blocks.
CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)
Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 75
CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) along with its subsidiaries, offers building materials solutions globally, operating through four main segments: Americas Materials Solutions, Americas Building Solutions, Europe Materials Solutions, and Europe Building Solutions. The company specializes in providing products and services for the construction and upkeep of public infrastructure, commercial properties, and residential buildings. CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) manufactures and sells aggregates, cement, ready-mixed concrete, and asphalt, and also offers paving and construction services as part of its comprehensive offerings. On June 17, Stephens initiated coverage of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) with an Overweight rating and a price target of $95.00. RBC Capital also began covering shares of CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) with an Outperform rating on May 14, setting a price target of $110.00. The firm’s analysis indicates that CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) stands to benefit from concentrating its operations exclusively in North America.
In the first quarter of 2024, the number of hedge funds with stakes in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) increased to 75 from 65 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkey’s database of 920 hedge funds. The combined value of these stakes is approximately $7.92 billion. Alexander Mitchell’s Scopus Asset Management emerged as the largest stakeholder among these hedge funds during this period.
L1 Long Short Fund stated the following regarding CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) (Long +25%) shares continued to rally strongly after the company delivered strong Q4 FY23 numbers and provided FY24 guidance ~5% ahead of consensus expectations. The company is a significant beneficiary of the exceptional growth in U.S. infrastructure spending which will underpin many years of robust demand. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (‘IIJA’), Inflation Reduction Act (‘IRA’) and the Chips and Science Act will together add roughly US$2 trillion in investment to ageing U.S. infrastructure. These market tailwinds, together with CRH’s ability to drive value-accretive M&A, position the company to deliver consistent double-digit earnings growth over the medium term.”
Overall CRH ranks 5th on our list of the best industrial stocks stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best Industrial Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds to see the other industrial stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of CRH as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CRH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion “Opportunity” for NVIDIA and 10 Best of Breed Stocks to Buy For The Third Quarter of 2024 According to Bank of America.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
