It’s called “Second City” by New York City snobs, “the Windy City” by those who’ve walked her streets, and “Chi-Town,” by the casual set, but it’s formally known by its proper name — Chicago.
Recently, the debate over President Obama’s former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel’s residency has turned the city’s mayoral election into national news. On Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Emanuel does, in fact, meet the residency requirements to run for Chicago mayor.
Whoever is boss in City Hall, many of corporate America’s biggest publicly traded companies are headquartered either in Chicago proper, or in a city or suburb surrounding her. The following 10 are arguably the most important Windy City stocks to watch for all investors.
Abbott Laboratories
Diversified pharmaceutical and medical devices giant Abbot Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is one of the biggest providers of health care related products in the world. It creates, researches, and markets its products from corporate headquarters in North Chicago. Abbott’s stock meandered last year but the $70 billion company remains formidable.
Boeing
Commercial jet maker and national defense equipment contractor Boeing (NYSE: BA) is perhaps the name synonymous with American military/technological superiority. Although Boeing has production facilities throughout the country, the company’s command and control center is located right in the heart of Chicago. With a market cap of $51 billion, Boeing soars as an international aviation leader.
Motorola Mobility Holdings, Motorola Solutions
The two companies were once one, but the split between its mobile device division, Motorola Mobility Holdings (NYSE: MMI), and its business and government technology operation, Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI), has helped investors better assess the respective stock prospects. The stock performance of both MMI and MSI has been rocky since they began trading last April. The two still manage operations in Illinois, with MMI headquartered in Libertyville, while MSI runs things out of Schaumburg.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is the hands-down global leader in heavy equipment manufacturing, and as such it’s a true bellwether for the global construction sector. The $61 billion CAT saw its stock hit a 52-week high recently after reporting its fourth quarter revenues jumped 62% to $12.8 billion. The fate of the company’s ubiquitous yellow and black machines is directed just outside of Chicago in Peoria.
Deere & Co.
Farm equipment maker Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE
) is another firm well-known for the color of its machines. It may indeed be true that “nothing runs like a Deere,” and you can bet that famous corporate slogan was approved by the brass in Moline. DE rose last week to a three-year high of $91.89 before giving up some gains.
McDonald’s
Fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is known the world over for its Big Macs as well as its big profits. The company is perhaps less well known for its corporate headquarters near Chicago in the town of Oak Brook. The stock has fallen from its recent highs but the $77 billion Mickey D’s is a valued part of many portfolios.
United Continental Holdings
If you’re looking for a flight to or from Chicago, then you will likely be looking at United Continental Airlines (NYSE: UAL). The carrier conducts about 5,800 flights per day from 371 airports around the globe. Yet none is bigger or more important to the company than its hometown hub of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. The company reported last week a fourth quarter loss as United continued its integration of Continental since the two merged last year. However, revenues rose 15% to $8.4 billion.
Archer Daniels Midland
The world eats a lot of food, and many of the ingredients in that food comes courtesy of Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM). The huge task of processing agricultural commodities is one ADM is extremely adept at, and it directs these operations in its hometown headquarters of Decatur. ADM is trading near its 52-week high of $34.58.
Allstate
You’re in good hands with the Northbrook-based Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). The diversified insurance and financial products giant is one of the most profitable companies in the industry, and those profits all are sorted out just a few miles north of Chicago.
CME Group
The CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) is growing from the merger of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade in 2007. This $20 billion options and futures hub offers traders commodities and financial products through electronic and open-outcry trading. Despite a recent flap over an increase in Illinois state tax that prompted talks of the CME departing its hometown, the CME has reassured the city it’s not going anywhere.
As of this writing, Jim Woods did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
