12 Great Industrial Stocks to Consider Buying Now

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the economy we all live in has been underpinned by, well, industry. That's become a broad term, encompassing all manner of manufacturing and transportation and commercial and professional services and supplies.

There are myriad stocks that investors can buy to take part in this great global endeavor. Here's a look at a dozen. They're in diverse industries but share strong records of total return, and they pay a dividend to shareholders.

5 Stocks Under $49

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We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

Honeywell International (NASDAQ:HON) is a global producer of aviation, satellite, and space systems, as well as building technologies and safety and personal protection equipment. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Honeywell has a 10-year total return of about 306%, compared with about 292% for the S&P 500, and has a dividend yield of about 2%.

ALSO READ: Investing in Industrial Stocks

American Tower (NYSE:AMT) is one of the largest owner-operators of mobile communications towers, a segment still growing with the global rollout of 5G technology.

Also one of the largest publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), Boston-based American Tower is paying shareholders a yield of about 2.16% while providing a 10-year total return of around 386% that's beaten the S&P 500 by about 35%.

Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX) shareholders have enjoyed a total return of about 621% over the past 10 years, more than doubling that of the S&P 500. Plus, this Nashville-based manufacturer of building materials is currently paying a dividend yield of about 1.43%.

ALSO READ: Investing in Basic Materials Stocks

A $10,000 investment in NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) stock 10 years ago would now be worth about $72,740, compared with about $39,180 in an S&P 500 total return fund. And it's yielding about 1.98% compared with around 1.27% for the greater market.

NextEra -- the parent company of Florida Power & Light -- operates in several other states and is making its mark as one of the largest generators of solar and wind power.

Prologis (NYSE:PLD) is, by far, the largest of the industrial REITs, with a portfolio of warehouse logistics space comprising about a billion square feet in 19 countries.

This San Francisco-based powerhouse is riding a wave of intense demand to new heights while building on its record of 515% total return in the past 10 years and nine straight years of dividend increases that have it currently yielding about 1.93%.

ALSO READ: Investing in Shipping Stocks

Nucor Corp. (NYSE:NUE) is America's largest steel producer and has operations across the country and in Canada and Mexico. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company has been around since 1904 and, in the past 10 years, has provided shareholders a total return of about 367%, with a current yield of around 1.34%.

5 Stocks Under $49

Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor

We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

A $10,000 investment in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP) made 10 years ago would now be worth about $50,230 -- about 28% more than an S&P 500 index fund. Plus, you'll enjoy a dividend yield of about 3.21% in this Canadian owner/operator of utilities, transport, pipeline, and data businesses across the planet.

Like Prologis, Terreno Realty (NYSE:TRNO) is a San Francisco-based provider of logistics warehouse space, but unlike its massive counterpart, this REIT specializes in smaller properties and only in six coastal U.S. markets near ports and key highway arteries.

Terreno stock is currently yielding about 1.79%, and its 10-year return of about 590% doubles that of the S&P 500.

ALSO READ: Investing in Industrial REITs

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is currently providing a dividend yield of about 2.51% along with a 10-year total return of about 565%, which nearly doubles the S&P 500's performance over the same period.

Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global leader in aerospace and security and other advanced technology systems, products, and services.

A $10,000 investment in Waste Management (NYSE:WMM) made in 2012 would now be worth $59,230. This Houston-based firm's trucks are a familiar sight as it's grown into one of the country's largest providers of landfills, waste, and recovery services.

Along with long-term growth prospects in a sustainable industry, you'll enjoy a 1.63% yield from this stock right now.

5 Stocks Under $49

Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor

We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

Equinix (NYSE:EQIX) is a Silicon Valley-based REIT that's become one of the largest operators of data centers, with more than 220 facilities in 60 markets worldwide.

Investors in this provider of critical digital connectivity and storage infrastructure have enjoyed a total return of nearly 500% in the past decade and a consistent dividend payout that's currently yielding about 1.63%.

ALSO READ: Is It Too Late to Buy Equinix?

Nothing is boring about work uniforms if you like a total return of about 1,130% over the past 10 years.

While Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) is only yielding about 0.90%, the Cincinnati-based firm founded nearly a hundred years ago as Acme Industrial Laundry Company still cleans up as a leader in corporate identity uniforms and related business services. Good stocks like this never go out of fashion.

Investing in industrial stocks doesn't have to be rocket science, although you can buy shares in companies that do, indeed, make rockets.

Huge sectors of the economy fall in and out of favor in the stock market on a regular basis. The liquidity of owning stocks makes it easy to move in and out of these sectors yourself. Or, of course, to choose what you feel is a great company to own and just hang on to for years to come.

Marc Rapport owns Terreno Realty. The Motley Fool owns and recommends American Tower, Equinix, NextEra Energy, Prologis, and Terreno Realty. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infra Partners LP Units, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Cintas, Lockheed Martin, and Waste Management. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.