General Motors (GM), Ford Motor (F) MetLife (MET), Prudential (PRU) Investors to Benefit from Japan Tragedy

Although most people don't like to think about how someone could benefit from someone else's pain, the truth is it's always going to happen, and that's no different with the tragedy in Japan, which will definitely help boost General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor (NYSE:F), while also offering low entry points for companies with heavy exposure to Japan like insurers MetLife Inc (NYSE:MET) and Prudential Financial Inc (NYSE:PRU).

Marting Sass, the founder of hedge fund M.D. Sass, said "We don't invest directly in Japan, but we like two stocks that are particularly under pressure now - MetLife and Prudential - because they are most exposed to Japan, with 25 percent and 41 percent of earnings, respectively, coming from Japan."

Citing the destruction of automobiles and the closing of automotive manufacturing plants in Japan, Doug Kass, founder of hedge fund Seabreeze Partners, said the best investing idea to come out of the tragedy is Ford and General Motors.

General Motors closed Monday at $31.59, down $0.34, or 1.06 percent. Ford closed at $14.30, down $0.06, or 0.42 percent. Met Life closed down $44.74, falling $1.11, or 2.42 percent. Prudential ended the session at $61.26, dropping $1.84, or 2.92 percent.