Based on the aggregated intelligence of 125,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, building equipment maker Astec Industries (NASDAQ:ASTE) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

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

Astec facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Chattanooga, Tenn. (1972)

Market Cap

$563.7 million

Industry

Construction and Farm Machinery and Heavy Trucks

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$999 Million

Management

Chairman/CEO Dr. Don Brock

CFO F. McKamy Hall

Return on Equity (Average, Past Three Years)

15.1%

Competitors

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT)

Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE:CBI)

CAPS Members Bullish on ASTE Also Bullish on:

General Electric (NYSE:GE)

Transocean (NYSE:RIG)

CAPS Members Bearish on ASTE Also Bearish on:

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Alliance Data Systems (NYSE:ADS)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 298 of the 306 members who have rated Astec -- or 97% -- believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include RAMFunds and hwyman64.

Last month, RAMFunds noted that Astec "is all about the pavement, in a good way." Our CAPS member added: "They are the number one infrastructure source for that great black stuff we all love … and with Barack's infrastructure plan, that means stock up on this stock."

In a pitch from earlier this month, hwyman64 elaborates on why infrastructure spending is a real wave that investors should strive to ride:

Infrastructure will boom over the next few years as it's the easiest and most efficient way to keep people working. While governments invest billions in infrastructure just think of how much money is returned to those same governments in income tax, sales tax, fuel tax etc.

Infrastructure is an excellent way to spend money keeping people employed and get immediate return on the dollar that just went out the door.

What do you think about Astec, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard on Motley Fool CAPS today. More than 125,000 investors are waiting to hear what you have to say. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!