Public Firms and Investors See Risks Ahead, but Are Optimistic

摘要

Construction sector presenters and investors at a recent publicly owned firm investment conference sponsored by Credit Suisse are bracing for tougher market conditions ahead, but are buoyed by improvements in risk allocation and technology, according to the investment banking firm's analysis of attendee comments and predictions. "The tone for 2020 for most all equipment firms was to brace for a sales decline broadly," says lead industry analyst Jamie Cook, with truck producers to be hardest hit, followed by manufacturers serving construction, mining and energy markets. She says sales in the North American tracking sector "are viewed as near or at bottom, [with] no expectation of recovery." Equipment makers are actively cutting production and proactively streamlining costs, she says, adding that they project a downturn to last four to six quarters.