MAAS Group's (ASX:MGH) "bold" decision to divest its mature construction materials business for AU$1.7 billion has created a material earnings gap that will need to be bridged through strategic capital allocation, Jefferies said in a note on Thursday.

The industrial services company is disposing of the division to Heidelberg Materials Australia, trading stable cash flows for liquidity to pivot to higher-growth "next generation" infrastructure initiatives, increasing its risk profile.

"The demand tailwinds for the electrification sector, with [MAAS'] expertise and the material shortages for skilled electrical contractors/trades, position them well to capitalize," analysts at Jefferies commented.

The investment firm added that the post-divestment cash position appears attractive, but the move depends on a disciplined redeployment of capital, as the company attempts to expand into electrification and AI-related assets.

Jefferies kept its estimates unchanged on MAAS due to pending regulatory approvals for the deal and maintained its buy rating.