Investors are gnashing their teeth over a litany of anxieties, including an imminent interest rate hike, terrorism overseas, a troubled eurozone, and an overall economic slowdown in Asia.

However, a major bright spot is growth in the United States. Instead of relying on a sputtering China as the global growth engine, investors are now casting their eyes to a revved-up America. Below are four cyclical stocks that profit from this growth, with built-in protection from temporary dips along the way. Indeed, our four transportation-related stocks meet several growth and valuation criteria applied by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway , making them great "defensive growth" buys for an uncertain Transportation is a textbook recovery play, but investors who want to leverage the economic rebound should remain leery of many cyclical stocks because they tend to falter if overall growth slows.

The shrewder approach is to pinpoint undervalued cyclical companies that also enjoy distinct competitive advantages and pricing flexibility. By dominating their respective niches over the long haul, these companies offer protection against downturns or unexpected external shocks. Our four stocks below are riding the accelerating economic expansion but they also boast intrinsic underlying strengths that cushion them from future bumps in the road.

In other words, they're all stocks that the Oracle of Omaha would love.

Let's take a closer look at why you should consider adding them to your portfolio. Expeditors International provides logistical services in the U. When recovery kicks into gear, companies increasingly rely on transportation logistics providers to meet rising demand.

3 Cyclical Stocks That Are Set Up for Success - ybevosapoyud.web.fc2.com

Expeditors sports a superb balance sheet, with considerable excess cash, no debt and strong positive cash flows. These are Buffett-friendly criteria. As a provider of logistical solutions, the company also requires relatively little capital expenditure -- a cost-effective business model that leverages economic growth but also provides protection during lean times. The company's global presence and low overhead also generate economies of scale that allow it to undercut the prices of competitors.

Expeditors reported third-quarter earnings-per-share EPS of 62 cents, beating the consensus estimate by 3 cents. Several lesser-known banks make my stock screening cut, though higher-profile Snap-on, Tractor Supply and Manpower also are on the list.

Bull market number one, perhaps of all time: At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. EXPD data by YCharts 1. Expeditors International of Washington EXPD Expeditors International provides logistical services in the U. Union Pacific UNP Union Pacific has adapted to the coal industry's long-term decline by placing greater emphasis on the rising need to ship America's glut of petroleum and natural gas. However, a key metric of a railroad's financial health is the operating ratio, which measures operating costs against revenue.

Four stocks to buy as cyclicals take market leadership - The Globe and Mail

And in the third quarter, Union Pacific once again showed that it is among the leanest and most efficient railroads in the U. The company posted an all-time quarterly record operating ratio of FleetCor Technologies FLT Drivers with trucking fleets spend their time behind the wheel under strict management from corporate headquarters, with almost every movement planned and monitored to make that trip as efficient as possible.

A crucial logistical tool is the fleet card, sometimes called a fuel card, used to pay for gasoline, diesel, and other fuels at gas stations. Fleet cards also are used to pay for vehicle maintenance and expenses.

This trend is a long-term boon for the world's leading provider of fleet cards and related payment processes for companies and government entities in 21 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Russia, and Australasia.

FleetCor's core product is a special purpose business charge card for the commercial fuel industry. Fleet cards preclude the need for carrying cash, increasing the safety of drivers. The elimination of cash also helps prevent fraudulent transactions at a fleet owner or manager's expense. FleetCor will benefit from the trucking industry's resurgence this year , as overall economic activity improves in key markets such as North America.

The company's core business is standard and customized semi-truck trailers, as well as intermodal equipment. During the early stages of the current recovery, many trucking operators were reluctant to replace or even repair aging trailers because of the lingering trauma of the Great Recession of , which hit trucking particularly hard. Now that the recovery appears real, these firms are whittling away at their backlog of deferred repair and replacement needs, providing a multiyear stream of work for Wabash that should withstand the next cycle of volatility.

To further mitigate vulnerability to economic ups and downs, Wabash also has been diversifying its business to offer technological solutions such as carbon composite components that enhance the aerodynamics and fuel performance of semitrailers.

It's no accident that Warren Buffett is now buying select cyclical stocks such as these, which tend to rise in tandem with the fortunes of the overall economy. To find out what the Oracle of Omaha is now buying and selling, click here for a free report. Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

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