He told the panel that Caterpillar's (CAT) valuation made sense. He said he did not see the stock dropping 10% in the future and would entertain buying a little when it moves lower.

Money managers view 3M as “the ideal proxy for any rebound,” Cramer says. And it will be the first thing they buy when the recovery is at hand. “You want to be in it ahead of the stampede of big-money investors.” In the meantime, enjoy the dividend payout.

When big corporations want to build new plants and install better equipment or expand in general – both logical outgrowths of an economic rebound – “you can bet that Emerson Electric will get a ton of business,” Cramer says. This firm makes parts and tools for other businesses, and 75% of its operations are tied to infrastructure. So every time you hear the word stimulus, expect Emerson’s bottom line to benefit.

As the economy gradually recovers, Cramer says, railcar traffic will increase. After all, this mode of transport has proved itself the best for bringing goods to market. Union Pacific, the biggest US railroad company, which has great exposure to Chinese demand, is the best way to play the trend. The stock’s cheap, too, and it “should be able to work its way higher for several years to come.”

When you’re putting together a list of stocks to take advantage of the recovery, Cramer says, you need at least one chemical company. He likes PPG Industries because of its diversified exposure to end markets around the world such as manufacturing, construction, automotive and consumer products. CEO Charles Bunch told Mad Money that his firm should recover in 2010, so the time to start buying PPG is now.

Higher oil and gas prices will be a part any rebound, Cramer says, “and we should cash in on the move before it happens.”ConocoPhillips, which is levered to both, is “the most balanced way to profit from the coming energy recovery.” The best part? During the writing of Getting Back to Even , COP traded at just four times cash flow, a historic low, and a 25% discount to peers Chevron and Exxon. Cramer expects Conoco to close that gap – and then some.

“I believe China will be the country that leads the rest of the world into the coming recovery,” Cramer says. Why? Because the Middle Kingdom quickly pushed through a stimulus package that focused on infrastructure, and it didn’t take long to see the positive effects. Investors who want to play Chinese spending should buy BHP Billiton, the world’s largest diversified resources company. China can’t build its bridges and tunnels without the metals and minerals mined by BHP, and the stock is a great hedge against inflation.

Tech stocks are about as sexy as it gets, especially when the market’s revving back up. And mutual-fund managers can’t help themselves when this sector starts to turn. “For that reason alone, you need a tech stock as a recovery play,” Cramer says, “a stock like Hewlett-Packard, because you do not want to miss out on the kind of move that heavy mutual-fund buying can create.” That’s not the only reason he likes this stock, though. With both corporate and consumer spending picking up, business should start booming for HP.