November 2021 / INVESTMENT INSIGHTS
U.S. Infrastructure Bill Could Strengthen Secular Trends
Investors should remain selective and focus on fundamentals.
The recently ratified bipartisan USD 1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) comprises about USD 650 billion in reauthorized spending and USD 550 billion in new expenditures. These earmarks include significant funding for surface transportation upgrades over the next five years that would help to improve economic productivity. Line items that help to modernize the power grid and expand the network of charging stations for electric vehicles would provide further support for key secular trends.
Surface Transportation and Municipalities
Transportation‑related investments account for a little more than half of the USD 550 billion worth of new spending in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, including USD 110 billion for roads and bridges, USD 66 billion for passenger and freight rail, USD 25 billion for airports, and USD 17 billion for ports and waterways.
This influx of federal money should pull forward the start date for needed infrastructure upgrades while increasing the market’s confidence in the potential capacity of municipalities to pay for these projects. Research conducted by the National Association of State Budget Officers estimates that federal grants historically have accounted for almost one‑third of state government funding.1 Although the project‑specific competitive federal grants available under the auspices of the IIJA run for five years, these earmarks potentially could cover a larger proportion of a project’s total cost. At the same time, T. Rowe Price research shows that many municipalities’ fiscal health strengthened during the coronavirus pandemic, as in some instances the hit to tax revenues did not necessarily materialize to the extent expected.
The projects themselves have the potential to improve productivity by reducing the dangers and business disruptions that become more common as infrastructure ages. These upgrades also have the potential to address bottlenecks where investment in physical assets has not kept up with how public and business needs have evolved.
Key Areas of New Spending Authorized by the IIJA
Road infrastructure tops the list for new spending
As of November 15, 2021.
Source: WhiteHouse.gov.
However, investors seeking companies that might benefit from a wave of infrastructure spending should bear in mind that hastening the start dates for needed projects does not necessarily expand the overall addressable market or contribute to fundamental changes in longer‑term industry dynamics. In our view, selectivity and a deep understanding of companies’ business models could be key to identifying potential investment opportunities.
Broadband, Power, and Electrification
Outside of traditional transportation‑related projects, the bipartisan infrastructure package includes USD 65 billion to improve internet connectivity in unserved and underserved communities. Given the importance of broadband access for remote work and school, these investments have the potential to improve the dynamism of the economy, especially in rural areas.
The infrastructure measure also finances the procurement of electric buses and charging stations for electric vehicles. These line items are significantly smaller than the earmarks for traditional transportation infrastructure. That said, we would expect this funding to contribute to the adoption of electric vehicles—a powerful secular trend that should accelerate as carmakers expand their offerings in this segment.
Although the bipartisan infrastructure package does not explicitly include funding for renewable energy, the massive USD 73 billion for upgrades to the nation’s electricity grid will be critical to building a flexible, resilient system that can accommodate variable generation from wind and solar power as well as increased demand from the electrification of transportation and—perhaps in the future—residential and commercial heating.
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Katie Deal is an investment analyst covering legislative and regulatory research, primarily focused on domestic public policy, in the U.S. Equity Division. She is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.