by Ong Kian Hui

Created on: June 03, 2009   Last Updated: June 11, 2009

The economic meltdown has taken the world by storm! Jobs were lost, wages were cut, companies sink one after another and investors are hit! Amidst all the gloom and seeming doom, signs of green shoots are emerging especially in the manufacturing sector where the ISM manufacturing index appears to have been bottomed! Thus it is now time to invest in some attractive manufacturing companies!

So what are the attractive manufacturing companies to invest in at this time when the economic crisis has not fully subsided? At this juncture, the manufacturing companies to place your money in would be those companies with a stellar record of revenue growth, profit margin, just to name a few key indicators which investors should look out for. A few manufacturing companies in the United States with noteworthy financial performance lately, worthy of your investment are outlined in the following paragraphs.

First of all, Alliant Techsystems Inc (ticker symbol: ATK) is one manufacturing company investors could seriously consider for investing. In the most recent financial results this month, the company's revenue is US $4,172 million, with a strong revenue growth of 17.02%, net income of US $222 millions, earning per share of US $6.32, a profit growth of 20.76%, a profit margin of 5.33%, a revenue growth of 17.02% and a return on equity at 39.86 %.

Another manufacturing company which investors could consider is Alon USA Energy Inc (ticker symbol: ALJ). In the most recent financial results this month, the company's revenue is US $5,157 million, with a strong revenue growth of 13.53%, net income of US $83 millions, earning per share of US $1.72, a profit growth of -20.26%, a profit margin of 1.61%, a revenue growth of 13.53% and a return on equity at 21.37 %. Though the profit growth for ALJ is negative, over a three year period, its profit growth has been more than average and the company's revenue growth which is currently strong underscores the huge potential of the performance of its stock in the near future!

Next, investors could consider Apple Inc (ticker symbol: AAPL). In the most recent financial results this month, the company's revenue is US $32,479 million, with a strong revenue growth of 35.3%, net income of US $4,834 millions, earning per share of US $5.36, a profit growth of 38.27%, a profit margin of 14.88%, a revenue growth of 35.3% and a return on equity at 33.26 %. All great statistics for investors to be!

Last but not least, another manufacturing company which is hot to investors now is Baker Hughes Inc (ticker symbol: BHI). In the most recent financial results this month, the company's revenue is US $11,864 million, with a strong revenue growth of 13.77%, net income of US $1,635 millions, earning per share of US $5.30, a profit growth of 8%, a profit margin of 13.78%, a revenue growth of 13.77 % and a return on equity at 25.93%.

To sum it up, with the economic crisis bottoming out in the manufacturing sector, it may now be a great time for investors to buy the stocks of some of the performing manufacturing companies while they are on their rising trends!

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