This is the third in a series of articles on the performance of stock sectors since the financial crisis. The first article focused on steel producers while the second article was on women's apparel. As with the first two articles, the goal is review a sector where stock prices remain drastically depressed from highs seen prior to the financial crisis back in 2006-2008. In some cases, this might be a sign that the sector was just overvalued back then and hence the current price is deserved. In other cases, this might signal that the sector has plenty of room for recovery especially if the global economy gets over the current soft patch. For the Engineering & Construction (EC) sector, the stocks have had a wild ride as global growth in energy demand drove them to all time highs around the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008 [except for Foster Wheeler (FWLT)]. Considering global demand has bounced back to new highs, its surprising that this sector has yet to recover. Unlike the steel producers highlighted in the first article, the EC companies are very global and not reliant on the slow growth in the US. An investor might be surprised that Caterpillar (CAT) could have recently hit an all time high while this sector remains 60% below highs seem three years back. Below is a recap of five of the leading EC companies traded on U.S. exchanges. Since all of the companies have different focuses whether oil/gas, coal, nuclear, or infrastructure, it probably isn't too surprising that they peaked at various times over a roughly nine month period from October 2007 to June 2008. Ironically, outside of Flour (FLR), the other stocks are all down an equal 60% from the highs. Flour - provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services specifically focused on Oil & Gas and Industrial & Infrastructure. FLR has a market cap of $10.7B with revenue estimated at $23.4B for 2011. The company hit a high of $101.36 on June 23, 2008 and currently trades at $61. The stock is down roughly 40% from that high. Foster Wheeler - provides construction and engineering services to the oil and gas, oil refining, chemical/petrochemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and power plant operation. The company has a market cap of $3.6B with estimated revenue of $4.6B. Stock hit a high of $84.24 on December 7, 2007 and currently trades at $29. FWLT is down 63%. Jacobs Engineering (JEC) - provides professional, technical, and construction services in the industrial, commercial, and government. It has a market cap of $5.3B and estimated revenue of $10.4B. Stock hit a high of $103.29 on January 3, 2008 and now trades at $41. JEC is down 60% from that high. McDermott (MDR) - operates as a engineering and construction company in segments of Offshore Oil & Gas Construction, Government and Power Generation. It has a $4.4B market cap with an estimated $3.5B in 2011 revenue. Stock hit a high of $67.14 on June 9, 2008 and now trades at $18.66. It is down 58%. Shaw Group (SHAW) - provides technology, procurement, construction, maintenance, fabrication, manufacturing, consulting, remediation, and facilities management services to various industries including a large focus on nuclear plant design and services. SHAW has a market cap of $2.6B with estimated revenue around $6.4B. Stock hit a high of $77.30 on October 26, 2007 and now trades at $32. Stock is down 58%. Disclosure: I am long FWLT. Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. The information and data is believed to be accurate, but no guarantees or representations are made. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice.