Who is the market leader in infrastructure?

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) is the largest infrastructure company by market capitalization (almost $175 billion in mid-2026). Meanwhile, Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) is a leader in infrastructure investment, with $262 billion in infrastructure assets under management.

Is it worth investing in infrastructure?

It can be worth investing in infrastructure. The need for infrastructure is tremendous, while there's a major funding gap between the need and the available capital. As a result, infrastructure investments can generate high returns as companies invest in projects that grow their revenue and cash flows. Infrastructure investments also tend to generate income (dividend payments), providing investors with a base return in addition to the potential growth in the value of their investment.

What is the return on infrastructure investments?

Net returns for core infrastructure investments (roads and power grids) tend to be in the range of 7% to 10%. Higher-risk infrastructure investments tend to yield higher returns (10% or more).

Do infrastructure stocks pay dividends?

Many infrastructure stocks pay dividends. Companies that own and operate infrastructure typically generate recurring revenue from long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures, enabling them to pay consistent, high-yielding, and growing dividends. For example, American Tower, Brookfield Infrastructure, and Enbridge had yields between 4% and 5.5% in mid-2026, with meaningful dividend growth over the past decade.

Is it better to invest in domestic or global infrastructure stocks?

It's better to invest in domestic infrastructure stocks. According to the White House, the Trump Administration had secured $11 trillion in U.S. and foreign investment as of mid-2026. These investments in manufacturing, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and other sectors will drive significant infrastructure needs in the coming years.

Is it better to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks?

The decision to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks is personal. Infrastructure ETFs can provide you with broad exposure to the sector. Individual stocks, on the other hand, enable you to make a more targeted investment in a company you believe will outperform other infrastructure stocks. Either option has underperformance risk. Infrastructure ETFs can underperform a top infrastructure stock, while picking the wrong infrastructure stock can cause you to underperform the infrastructure trend.

5 Best Infrastructure Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Aug 16, 2026 at 9:46 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

According to Swiss Re, the global infrastructure investment need exceeds $80 trillion through 2040.
Private companies increasingly own, operate, and manage infrastructure, addressing public funding gaps and providing investors with new opportunities.
The top infrastructure stocks span various sectors, offering investors dividends and growth potential.

Infrastructure stocks are publicly traded companies that own, operate, and develop infrastructure. Infrastructure supports the movement of energy, water, goods, people, and data, making it the physical backbone of the global economy. As populations grow and systems age, the need for investment continues to rise.

In the U.S. alone, more than $3.5 trillion is needed by 2033 to modernize surface transportation, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The country needs to invest additional capital across energy, aviation, and water systems. Globally, infrastructure needs exceed $80 trillion through 2040, according to Swiss Re.

Because governments often lack the resources to fund these projects on their own, private companies are playing a growing role, creating long-term opportunities for investors.

Here's a look at some of the top companies focused on operating and developing the infrastructure needed to support economic growth.

Loading paragraph...

Five top infrastructure stocks for 2026

Infrastructure companies generally fall into three broad categories:

Transportation infrastructure: Airports, railroads, toll roads, and ports that move people and freight.
Commodity infrastructure: Assets that produce, transport, distribute, and store energy and water, including pipelines and utilities.
Data infrastructure: Communications towers, fiber networks, and data centers that support global connectivity.

The following five infrastructure companies have long histories of creating shareholder value and are in a strong position to capitalize on the growth in infrastructure spending in the coming years.

Loading paragraph...

Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield	Industry
Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIPC)	$5.5 billion	4.38%	Gas Utilities
Enbridge (NYSE:ENB)	$111.2 billion	6.81%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
American Tower (NYSE:AMT)	$81.8 billion	3.98%	Specialized REITs
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT)	$393.7 billion	0.72%	Machinery
Fluor (NYSE:FLR)	$7.0 billion	0.00%	Construction and Engineering

Data as of Aug 17, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

Loading ticker_table...

1. Brookfield Infrastructure

NYSE: BIP

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

Today's Change

(-1.71%) $-0.68

Current Price

$39.06

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$18B

Day's Range

$38.95 - $39.64

52wk Range

$29.75 - $44.03

Volume

234.3K

Avg Vol

867.6K

Gross Margin

26.53%

Dividend Yield

4.45%

Loading company_card...

Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP -1.71%) (BIPC -1.80%) is a major beneficiary of the trend in government entities increasingly transferring ownership of infrastructure assets to the private sector to fund new investment. Brookfield holds a diversified, global portfolio of infrastructure companies. It’s a leader in owning, operating, and acquiring transportation, midstream energy, utility, and data infrastructure. Notably, its data infrastructure investments (semiconductor fabrication, data centers, power solutions, and equipment leasing) position Brookfield to capitalize on the $7 trillion AI infrastructure investment megatrend.

Brookfield Infrastructure has a long history of increasing its dividend payments (17 straight years) and outperforming the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.36%). The company expects to grow its dividend (which yielded over 4.5% in mid-2026) by 5% to 9% annually over the long term, fueled by more than 10% annual funds from operations (FFO) per share growth. It has multiple growth catalysts, including inflation-linked rate increases, volume growth as the global economy expands, capital investments, and acquisitions.

Loading paragraph...

2. Enbridge

NYSE: ENB

Enbridge

Today's Change

(-0.26%) $-0.13

Current Price

$50.78

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$111B

Day's Range

$50.68 - $51.08

52wk Range

$45.02 - $58.45

Volume

1.6M

Avg Vol

4.4M

Gross Margin

25.44%

Dividend Yield

6.81%

Loading company_card...

Enbridge (ENB -0.26%) is one of the leading energy infrastructure companies in North America. It operates oil and gas pipelines, other midstream assets, and natural gas utilities. The company also has a sizable renewable energy business.

Enbridge has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years (in Canadian dollars). Despite the shift toward cleaner alternative energy sources, the fossil fuel industry is still growing. Enbridge estimates it can increase its cash flow per share by 5% annually after 2026, putting it in a strong position to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend. The company has a multi-billion-dollar backlog of growth capital projects underway that it currently expects to complete through the early 2030s. Infrastructure projects include new oil and gas pipelines, gas utility expansions, an LNG export terminal, a carbon capture hub, and new renewable energy projects.

3. American Tower

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: AMT

American Tower

Today's Change

(-0.80%) $-1.41

Current Price

$174.17

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$82B

Day's Range

$172.62 - $175.22

52wk Range

$160.06 - $214.79

Volume

553K

Avg Vol

3.2M

Gross Margin

54.84%

Dividend Yield

3.98%

Loading company_card...

American Tower (AMT -0.93%) is one of the largest infrastructure-focused real estate investment trusts (REITs). The company enables mobile data and voice transmission by operating large communications towers worldwide (nearly 150,000 sites). This infrastructure is crucial for enabling 5G network expansion. American Tower also has a highly interconnected U.S. data center platform.

American Tower believes its portfolio of towers and data centers uniquely positions it to capitalize on the growth in wireless, cloud, and AI infrastructure. It believes the tailwinds are strengthening, driving a multi-year demand cycle for tower and data center infrastructure, creating more opportunities to acquire and develop these assets. The infrastructure REIT expects these investments to steadily increase its cash flow and support a growing dividend.

4. Caterpillar

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: CAT

Caterpillar

Today's Change

(3.27%) $28.01

Current Price

$884.58

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$394B

Day's Range

$859.62 - $886.25

52wk Range

$405.46 - $1073.46

Volume

1.1M

Avg Vol

3.2M

Gross Margin

32.83%

Dividend Yield

0.72%

Loading company_card...

Caterpillar (CAT +3.27%) is a leading global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company's products make it a prime beneficiary of increasing global infrastructure spending. Caterpillar's sales jumped 24% in the second quarter of 2026, topping $20 billion for the first time. It ended that period with a record backlog ($72 billion, up 92% year-over-year), providing it with a strong foundation for continued growth.

The industrial company has a long history of creating value for shareholders. Caterpillar has paid a dividend every year since its formation in 1933 and has increased it for 32 consecutive years. This trend should continue, given the growing need for equipment to build and maintain global infrastructure.

5. Fluor

Loading paragraph...

NYSE: FLR

Fluor

Today's Change

(4.56%) $2.39

Current Price

$54.76

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$7.0B

Day's Range

$52.61 - $54.98

52wk Range

$39.33 - $57.93

Volume

1.2M

Avg Vol

2.6M

Gross Margin

-79.81%

Loading company_card...

Fluor (FLR +4.60%) is a leading global provider of engineering, procurement, and construction services. It focuses on three markets:

Energy solutions: Fluor serves customers in the chemicals, liquified natural gas (LNG), nuclear project services, and production and fuels sectors.
Urban solutions: Fluor provides services to the advanced technology, infrastructure, life sciences, mining and metals, and government sectors.
Mission solutions: The company also provides technical and project expertise to government agencies.

Fluor’s wide range of capabilities makes it a key beneficiary of increased global infrastructure spending. As a leader in engineering and construction, it will play a key role in building infrastructure projects in the coming years. Fluor's revenue rose 9% in the second quarter of 2026 to $4.3 billion. It had $26.9 billion of projects in its backlog in mid-2026 to support its continued growth.

How to buy infrastructure stocks

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to buy infrastructure stocks:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Loading paragraph...

Benefits and risks of investing in infrastructure stocks

Some of the benefits of investing in infrastructure stocks include:

They allow you to capitalize on the massive need for infrastructure investment.
They provide the potential to earn dividend income.
They offer a lower-risk way to invest in a major theme (e.g., infrastructure stocks to capitalize on AI growth).

However, investing in infrastructure isn't without risk. Some risks include:

Infrastructure is capital-intensive, requiring infrastructure companies to have strong financial profiles to fund maintenance and expansion projects.
Some infrastructure projects require government support, which can change with a new administration.
Some infrastructure companies are more cyclical, with growth slowing during recessions.

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

There are many different types of infrastructure and multiple ways to invest in the sector. This group of companies stood out for their business models, financial strength, and growth prospects. Those features put them in the best positions to capitalize on the infrastructure investment needs and grow shareholder value.

Loading paragraph...

Should you invest in infrastructure stocks?

The global economy will require trillions of dollars in spending over the coming decades to rebuild aging infrastructure and build new assets to meet the needs of steadily rising populations. With such immense needs and so many ways to invest, adding infrastructure stocks to your portfolio could be a smart move, potentially enabling you to profit from this megatrend.

Loading paragraph...

Investing in infrastructure stocks: FAQ

Loading faq...

About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in American Tower, Brookfield Infrastructure, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Clearway Energy, Crown Castle, Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Tower, Caterpillar, Crown Castle, Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable, and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

5 Best Infrastructure Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

Five top infrastructure stocks for 2026

1. Brookfield Infrastructure

Key Data Points

2. Enbridge

Key Data Points

3. American Tower

Key Data Points

4. Caterpillar

Key Data Points

5. Fluor

Key Data Points

How to buy infrastructure stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in infrastructure stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in infrastructure stocks?

Related investing topics

12 Best 5G Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

3 Best Tech Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Renewable Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

7 Best Oil Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Investing in infrastructure stocks: FAQ

Who is the market leader in infrastructure?

Who is the market leader in infrastructure?

Is it worth investing in infrastructure?

Is it worth investing in infrastructure?

What is the return on infrastructure investments?

What is the return on infrastructure investments?

Do infrastructure stocks pay dividends?

Do infrastructure stocks pay dividends?

Is it better to invest in domestic or global infrastructure stocks?

Is it better to invest in domestic or global infrastructure stocks?

Is it better to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks?

Is it better to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Five top infrastructure stocks for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

3. American Tower

Key Data Points

4. Caterpillar

Key Data Points

5. Fluor

Key Data Points

How to buy infrastructure stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in infrastructure stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in infrastructure stocks?

12 Best 5G Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

3 Best Tech Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Renewable Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

7 Best Oil Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Investing in infrastructure stocks: FAQ

Who is the market leader in infrastructure?

Who is the market leader in infrastructure?

Is it worth investing in infrastructure?

Is it worth investing in infrastructure?

What is the return on infrastructure investments?

What is the return on infrastructure investments?

Do infrastructure stocks pay dividends?

Do infrastructure stocks pay dividends?

Is it better to invest in domestic or global infrastructure stocks?

Is it better to invest in domestic or global infrastructure stocks?

Is it better to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks?

Is it better to invest in infrastructure ETFs or individual stocks?