One of the great ironies of the five-year rally on Wall Street, which has propelled the S&P 500 up by almost 380%, is that capital has generally flowed to companies that don’t need much capital. This upswing, particularly over the past 12 months, has been driven by tech companies whose most valuable assets are often intangible—such as brands, intellectual property, and goodwill.
This shift toward tangible assets reflects a growing recognition of the need for substantial, long-term investments in physical infrastructure and other foundational sectors. As global supply chains reconfigure and nations invest more in domestic capabilities, companies that own and develop these hard assets stand to benefit significantly.
For ASX investors, this means looking beyond the high-flying tech sector and considering opportunities in industries poised to grow from this capital expenditure boom. Stocks tied to infrastructure development, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing could see increased demand as they align with the new economic priorities.
As the global economy shifts focus from intangible assets to hard assets, certain ASX stocks stand to benefit from the emerging capital expenditure (capex) supercycle. Here are 15 ASX stocks that are well-positioned to capitalize on this trend:
1. BHP Group (ASX: BHP): A leading global resources company, BHP is set to benefit from increased demand for raw materials needed for infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
2. Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO): Another major mining company, Rio Tinto’s diverse portfolio of minerals positions it well for the capex supercycle.
3. Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG): As a significant iron ore producer, Fortescue is likely to see strong demand for its products in infrastructure development.
4. BlueScope Steel (ASX: BSL): A key player in the steel industry, BlueScope will benefit from increased construction and infrastructure projects.
5. South32 (ASX: S32): This diversified mining and metals company stands to gain from higher demand for base metals and coal.
6. Transurban Group (ASX: TCL): As a leader in toll road operations, Transurban is well-positioned to benefit from investments in transport infrastructure.
7. APA Group (ASX: APA): A major energy infrastructure company, APA’s extensive gas pipeline network makes it a key beneficiary of increased energy infrastructure investments.
8. CIMIC Group (ASX: CIM): A construction and engineering company, CIMIC is set to gain from a surge in infrastructure projects.
9. Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC): Specializing in property and infrastructure, Lendlease is poised to benefit from increased capex in urban development and construction.
10. Aurelia Metals (ASX: AMI): A gold and base metals mining company, Aurelia Metals will see benefits from rising demand for minerals used in infrastructure.
11. Orica Limited (ASX: ORI): A supplier of explosives and blasting systems to the mining and infrastructure industries, Orica will benefit from increased mining and construction activities.
12. Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG): Known for its investments in infrastructure projects, Macquarie Group is set to capitalize on the capex supercycle.
13. Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX): An operator of toll roads, Atlas Arteria will benefit from increased investments in transport infrastructure.
14. Spark Infrastructure (ASX: SKI): An investor in energy infrastructure, Spark Infrastructure will gain from the rising focus on renewable energy projects.
15. Downer EDI (ASX: DOW): A provider of integrated services in infrastructure, Downer EDI is well-positioned to benefit from increased capex in the sector.
These 15 ASX stocks are strategically positioned to take advantage of the global shift towards tangible, capital-intensive investments. Investors looking to benefit from the new capex supercycle should consider adding these companies to their portfolios.