Bricks, Mortar, and the True Bottleneck
Then we have construction. It sounds terribly straightforward, but it is a fiendishly nuanced beast. The problem in construction right now is rarely a lack of demand. It is finding people who can actually mix the cement. You can hold all the lucrative contracts you want, but without a capable workforce, they are just expensive pieces of paper.
Companies like EMCOR Group and Construction Partners sit right at this miserable intersection. A looser labour market means they might actually hire hands, finish projects, and secure their margins.
However, the cyclical risk here is vicious. Construction is brittle. If interest rates linger too high and development hits a brick wall, these companies will be the first to bleed. All investments carry risk, and if the wind changes, you may lose money.