Based on the aggregated intelligence of 120,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, heavy-equipment maker Manitowoc (NYSE:MTW) has earned a coveted five-star ranking. Our data has shown that five-star stocks outperform the market by a significant margin; conversely, one-star stocks have woefully lagged the market average.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Manitowoc's business, and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Manitowoc facts

Headquarters (founded)

Manitowoc, Wisconsin (1853)

Market Cap

$1.13 billion

Industry

Construction farm machinery and heavy trucks

TTM Revenue

$4.65 billion

Management

CEO Glen Tellock (since 2007)

CFO Carl Laurino (since 2004)

Return on Equity (average last three years)

24.57%

Competitors

Hitachi (NYSE:HIT),

Terex (NYSE:TEX)

CAPS members bullish on MTW also bullish on

General Electric (NYSE:GE),

Vale (NYSE:RIO)

CAPS members bearish on MTW also bearish on

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT),

General Motors (NYSE:GM)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Over on CAPS, 1,391 of the 1,425 members who have rated Manitowoc -- some 98% -- believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include CAPS All-Star ldooley and trexmoney.

Last week, ldooley tapped Manitowoc as an ideal way to play the president-elect's spending plans:

Obama is going to go for a job based stimulus. That's infrastructure and other building. That makes this a good bet.

In a pitch from earlier this week, trexmoney echoes that logic, citing the stock's current valuation as a perfect place to pounce:

Way,way ,way oversold. [Manitowoc] has made a nice move in the last few weeks, but it has so much upside at this price level.

It should be [higher] by the middle of 09, another way to play the infrastructure spending bills that Obama will push for.

What do you think about Manitowoc, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard on Motley Fool CAPS today. More than 120,000 investors are waiting to hear what you have to say. CAPS is 100% free, so simply click here to get started.