Following the 2024 presidential election, executives at publicly traded construction companies expressed increased clarity for the industry during their earnings calls for the third and fourth quarters. The prospect of reduced taxes and fewer permitting challenges led many leaders to express optimism, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign goods.

Ronald Tutor, the chairman and outgoing CEO of Tutor Perini, a heavy civil contractor based in Los Angeles, encapsulated the general sentiment when reflecting on the election results on November 6. “I’ve always considered Trump good for business and since his background is construction, I can’t imagine him being anything but positive,” Tutor remarked.

The perspective from Europe was equally optimistic, with Pontus Winqvist, CFO of Sweden-based Skanska, telling Construction Dive that a second Trump term would likely lead to tax cuts for businesses, positively impacting the firm’s financial performance. Winqvist also expressed confidence that infrastructure spending would continue under the new administration.

AECOM CEO Troy Rudd shared a similarly optimistic view, expressing hope that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a key piece of legislation under President Joe Biden, would be preserved. Rudd also highlighted that permitting reform under Trump could address "one of the greatest bottlenecks to infrastructure investments."

This roundup explores executives' perspectives on the election results, offering a glimpse into the opportunities and challenges that may shape the construction industry over the next four years.