 The Institute for Supply Management supplies a monthly look at the U.S. manufacturing market. In April, that index hit an 11-year low.But since then, the numbers have been rising. Theyre not going wild, but theyre rising.You have seen this in the housing market where new home purchases are growing -- mortgage demand is increasing -- and in other spots that show the consumer moving back into the economy and taking advantage of low interest rates.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice Trading TipsThis is why the consumer is so fundamental to the economy. When they are buying durable goods and housing, manufacturers benefit from the increased demand. 7 Utilities Stocks to Buy With Reassuring Dividends These 7 American manufacturing stocks to buy now are benefiting from the expanding consumer demand for goods. And they should benefit further as the U.S. economy rights itself and starts to grow again. Builders FirstSource NASDAQ:BLDR AAON Inc NASDAQ:AAON Generac Holdings NASDAQ:GNRC Applied Materials NASDAQ:AMAT YETI Holdings NYSE:YETI Illinois Tool Works NYSE:ITW Lumentum Holdings NASDAQ:LITERemember many of these stocks were hammered over the spring when investors were still expecting the worst from the COVID-19 lockdowns. And right now, all of them are a Buy in the Portfolio Grader tool I use to find Growth Investor plays. Builders FirstSource BLDRSource: Shutterstock This likely isnt a name consumers know offhand, since its fundamentally a supplier to the homebuilding market, supplying goods such as roof and floor trusses, vinyl windows, drywall and lumber.But it is a Fortune 500 company and does about 7 billion worth of business across more than 400 locations around the US.Again, youre not going to see a lot of advertising on television for BLDR, but it is a major homebuilding supplier in the U.S. That means when housing is growing, so is BLDR.The stock has been on a ride in the past year, growing well through the second half of 2019, only to erase much of those gains in March this year. But BLDR is up 80 in the past 3 months and still up 22 in the past 12 months. AAON Inc AAONSource: Shutterstock This firm specializes in commercial, industrial and residential HVAC. This is another sector that goes hand in hand with an expanding economy. New facilities need new equipment.Also, with low-cost loans available, upgrading old, inefficient equipment for more efficient HVAC can actually be cost-reducing in the long term. That also goes along with businesses that are expanding or downsizing their plants and offices.Remember, the locksdowns have sent many people home to work, which is also an ideal time to do the necessary upgrades to HVAC units. Work-from-home, to a much greater extent than it was pre-pandemic, is here to stay, and thats been a source of great buys for Growth Investor. 7 Utilities Stocks to Buy With Reassuring Dividends AAON stock has stayed positive throughout the COVID-19 troubles and currently is up 10 year to date. It also offers a small 0.7 dividend, which is still better than a lot of CDs out there. Generac Holdings GNRCSource: Shutterstock As our world becomes more gadget-centered -- TVs, computers, smartphones, etcetera -- it also needs reliable sources of power to supply these devices and the equipment and devices that run them.Given that our power grid hasnt changed much from the grid that Thomas Edison helped develop, demand is beginning to outstrip supply increasingly often. And as we recently saw in California, harsh weather combined with stresses on this antiquated system can turn catastrophic.Many people are coming to realize that having back-up power when their utility goes down is a smart play. And that bodes well for leaders in the field such as Generac.The stock has taken off in the past few years as consumers and industrial clients see the need and value in being able to manage off the grid. And its also easier and more convenient than ever before to integrate backup power into your business set-up.GNRC is up 70 over the past year, 21 year to date. This is a long-term trend beyond the traditional business cycle. Applied Materials AMATSource: michelmond Shutterstock.com Usually when you think manufacturing, you think big machines, sparks and hard hats.Well at AMAT, its more about lab coats and sterile rooms.Since 1967, AMAT has been a leading manufacturer of semiconductor equipment. They build the machines that etch, measure, inspect and conduct all other aspects of wafer production.Most tech investors think of chipmakers as the superstars of the industry, but its behind the scenes players like AMAT that keep their stars burning. And being a key supplier for more than half a century in such a dynamic industry shows you that theyre every bit as cutting edge as they used to be. Thats a recipe for strong fundamentals and popularity with the smart money on Wall Street, which is where I find compelling opportunities for Growth Investor.Tech remains a cyclical industry. And right now, tech is hot. The SP; 500 has even adjusted its weighting to favor tech stocks. Thats great news for AMAT. 7 Utilities Stocks to Buy With Reassuring Dividends The stock is up 35 in the past 12 months, and still delivers a respectable 1.5 dividend. YETI Holdings YETISource: David Tonelson Shutterstock.com If the pandemic lockdown did one thing beyond flattening the curve, it was to drive cabin fever to a pitch like nothing has in recent memory.People were itching to get out of the house. And many, respecting the need for social distancing, didnt head to the cities, but instead to mountains and lakes and beaches.And the fact that they may have given up summer holidays or had fewer options to spend money, saw YETI as a great place to pick up on some premium outdoor recreation products.YETI is known for its top of the line coolers, drinkware and just about anything else outdoor gear oriented. It has also become somewhat of a status symbol brand among those in the know, which is a big deal for consumers with disposable income.The stock has been on a tear, up 136 in the past 3 months and 41 in the past year. This is the most directly consumer-driven stock of the bunch. Illinois Tool Works ITWSource: Casimiro PT Shutterstock.com This firm has been around since 1912 -- thats the year Woodrow Wilson beat William Taft for the presidency.Thats a long time to be making tools. At this point, the company carries a 55 billion market cap and is diversified across a number of industries, including electronics, automotive, food, polymers and welding.That kind of diversification is what has helped keep this giant so successful for so long. ITW isnt a sexy company by any means, but what it lacks in sizzle it makes up for in steak.The stock delivers a solid 2.4 dividend and has a proven record of weathering even the most catastrophic storms. Currently, its up 17 for the past 12 months and 27 in the past 3 months. 7 Utilities Stocks to Buy With Reassuring Dividends This is a safe port-in-the-storm stock that continues to perform quietly and consistently. And if youre looking for growth and income -- both key ingredients for any portfolio -- Ive got more where that came from. Lumentum Holdings LITESource: Michael Vi Shutterstock.com One of the most fundamental advances in our digital world was discovering how to use light to transfer data. Photo optics had a huge beginning in the 1990s when it was still fairly theoretical and didnt have enough demand to support the expense.The sector had its reckoning when the dotcom bubble burst. But since then, it has continued to grow and mature.Now fiber optics are at the core of most high-power commercial and consumer telecom systems.LITE is a core provider of optical and photonics products. That means it provides the components and subsystems that move data around the country and world as well as building commercial grade lasers that are helping industries as diverse as sheet metal processing, precision machining, biotech and drilling circuit boards.The company started just 5 years ago and already has a 6 billion market cap -- thats some serious growth. In the past 12 months, LITE is up 50, 18 in the past 3 months. This growth stock will keep its momentum through our current events.Speaking of momentum, youll notice that many of these buy-rated manufacturers are serving the tech industry. Thats because there are some huge megatrends gearing up now for high demand around the world. Which brings me to the next big opportunity I have for you today: The 5G Buildout Is an Incredible OpportunityIf youre like me, then COVID-19 really underscored the importance of good, fast internet at home. Plenty of Americans, especially essential workers, still have to venture out to keep the country going. But many of us can conduct daily life at home, around the clock.So, while the press releases from Big Telecom will emphasize the cool factor of 5G, and how its up to 100 times faster than 4G, I want you to think about it more practically.5G is whats going to keep us all connected in the modern economy. If you live somewhere without reliable or any! broadband access, you might have trouble keeping up with shopping or even finances in the new normal. That is, until ultrafast 5G wireless changes all that for you.Mobile providers like ATT; and Verizon need 5G to maintain their edge - and get people into new smartphone contracts. But the big profits will come from the companies that help create 5G.One such company I like now is much lesser known than the Big Telecom companies but has excellent growth prospects.This company is already one of the biggest semiconductor equipment manufacturers in the world. 