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		<title>Top Earnings Previews For Thursday (BZH, PHM, BX, CME, DOW, GNW, GILD, IP, K, MA, MRK, RCL, HOT, TRMB, VRTX, YRCW)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2012/02/01/top-earnings-previews-for-thursday-bzh-phm-bx-cme-dow-gnw-gild-ip-k-ma-mrk-rcl-hot-trmb-vrtx-yrcw/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2012/02/01/top-earnings-previews-for-thursday-bzh-phm-bx-cme-dow-gnw-gild-ip-k-ma-mrk-rcl-hot-trmb-vrtx-yrcw/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:43:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[24/7 Wall St. Wire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Calendar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Earnings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BZH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CME]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DOW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GILD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RCL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRMB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VRTX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YRCW]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Earnings season is still upon us.  There are going to be many big earnings reports Thursday and we would consider Thursday as the climax for the companies reporting their normal fourth quarter results of 2011 which have fiscal year-end dates of December 31. We have two homebuilder earnings due from Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=129270&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2010/11/11/top-active-trader-alert-stocks-asti-csco-grrf-dndn-jnpr-snic-wpi/top-day-trader-alerts-7/" rel="attachment wp-att-85912"><img class="alignleft" title="Top Day Trader Alerts" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/top-day-trader-alerts5.jpg?w=200&#038;h=133" alt="" width="200" height="133" data-id="85912" data-caption="" /></a>Earnings season is still upon us.  There are going to be many big earnings reports Thursday and we would consider Thursday as the climax for the companies reporting their normal fourth quarter results of 2011 which have fiscal year-end dates of December 31.</p>
<p>We have two homebuilder earnings due from Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) and PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM).  Other key earnings to watch will be from the following: Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX); Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX); CME Group Inc. (NYSE: CME); Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW); Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW); Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD); International Paper Co. (NYSE: IP); Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K); MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA); Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK); Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL); Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT); Trimble Navigation Ltd. (NASDAQ: TRMB); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX); YRC Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: YRCW).</p>
<p>We have included Thomson Reuters consensus estimates on each company.  On most we have included pricing data and/or other bits of color for traders to consider.</p>
<p>We have two different homebuilders on deck to report.  Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) is expected to post -$0.36 EPS on $211.4 million in sales and we would watch cancellation rates on contracts as well as the quality of the earnings.  Second is PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) with an expected positive earnings of $0.07 EPS on $1.14 billion in sales.  Pulte&#8217;s cancellation rates and quality of earnings will also have to be monitored.</p>
<p>Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX) will show private equity wealth and earnings in the morning.  The firm is expected to report earnings of $0.38 EPS on revenues of $986.75 million.</p>
<p>Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has been down and out for longer than any current and past holder would like to consider.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.08 EPS on $1.91 billion in sales.</p>
<p>CME Group Inc. (NYSE: CME) is expected to report earnings of $3.71 EPS and $754 million in sales before the market opens.  With a possibility of a state-relocation and the ongoing pressure of exchange mergers we would be watching this one.  At roughly $244.50, the 52-week trading range is $224.69 to $317.27.</p>
<p>Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) is expected to turn in earnings of $0.30 EPS on $14.19 billion in sales.  The report is due in the morning.</p>
<p>Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is expected to report earnings of $0.19 EPS on $2.58 billion in sales.  The shares are now up over 60% from the lows of the last year and the stock still remains pressured due to the mortgage insurance overhang that has been in place for quite some time.</p>
<p>Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) has shocked the market by outperforming despite what appears to be a bad use of effort and capital in the large acquisition.  Still, shares hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.05 EPS and $2.18 billion in sales. </p>
<p>International Paper Co. (NYSE: IP) is close to being within striking range of a 52-week high and it pays well above a 3% yield today.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.61 EPS and $6.5 billion in sales.</p>
<p>Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) is lagging and actually close to a 52-week low with shares around the $49.50 mark. The estimates are $0.63 on $2.99 billion in sales.  The bar is set very low here.</p>
<p>MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) will show just what the interchange fee problems look like, but that is not fully reflected at all in current numbers.  The consensus estimates are $3.92 EPS and $1.73 billion in sales. With shares around $357 some are concerned over valuations here.</p>
<p>Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is reporting early Thursday morning and the company&#8217;s higher dividend hike has shares trading very close to 52-week highs with a price of close to $38.70 andf a 52-week range of $29.47 to $39.43.  Estimates are $0.95 EPS and $12.53 billion in sales. To show just how low growth is the estimates of $3.76 EPS and $48.23 billion in sales for all of 2011 are only expected to be $3.83 EPS on $47.62 billion in sales for all of 2012.</p>
<p>Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) may or may not release.  With its rival&#8217;s disaster, we are not doing much legwork here.  Thomson Reuters has a projection of $0.15 EPS and $1.78 billion in sales.</p>
<p>Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is key for hotel investors and this one is expected to post $0.57 EPS on $1.42 billion in sales. Starwood has over $1 billion in cash but is still trading at a high 3.7-times book value.</p>
<p>Trimble Navigation Ltd. (NASDAQ: TRMB) is not so widely watched on its own, but it is used as a barometer reading for Garmin.  Trimble estimates are $0.48 EPS and $419.10.</p>
<p>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) has been in the news with new FDA approvals.  We have Thursday as the tentative date and estimates are $0.73 EPS and $523.66 million in sales.</p>
<p>YRC Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: YRCW) is set to report and it is a puzzlement as to how this stock is still alive.  On a reverse split basis the $12.83 price compares to a 52-week range of $7.94 to somewhere over $1,000.  The consensus is listed as -$6.97 EPS but we have no idea how these targets are composed on this company.</p>
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<p>JON C. OGG</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/247-wall-st-wire/'>24/7 Wall St. Wire</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/calendar/'>Calendar</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/earnings/'>Earnings</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bx/'>BX</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bzh/'>BZH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/cme/'>CME</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dow/'>DOW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/gild/'>GILD</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/gnw/'>GNW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hot/'>HOT</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/ip/'>IP</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/k/'>K</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/ma/'>MA</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/mrk/'>MRK</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/rcl/'>RCL</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/trmb/'>TRMB</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/vrtx/'>VRTX</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/yrcw/'>YRCW</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/129270/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=129270&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BX</category><category domain="tickers">BZH</category><category domain="tickers">CME</category><category domain="tickers">DOW</category><category domain="tickers">GILD</category><category domain="tickers">GNW</category><category domain="tickers">HOT</category><category domain="tickers">IP</category><category domain="tickers">K</category><category domain="tickers">MA</category><category domain="tickers">MRK</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">RCL</category><category domain="tickers">TRMB</category><category domain="tickers">VRTX</category><category domain="tickers">YRCW</category>
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			<media:title type="html">Top Day Trader Alerts</media:title>
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		<title>Top Analyst Upgrades &amp; Downgrades (AMGN, CMA, COP, GOOG, JIVE, JCI, NUVA, PG, PHM, RIMM, SN, SIRI, VPHM)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2012/01/23/top-analyst-upgrades-downgrades-amgn-cma-cop-goog-jive-jci-nuva-pg-phm-rimm-sn-siri-vphm/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:28:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Analyst Calls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GOOG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JCI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JIVE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NUVA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RIMM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIRI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VPHM]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street brokerage and research firms this Monday morning. Amgen Corporation (NASDAQ: AMGN) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan. Comerica Inc. (NYSE: CMA) Cut to Neutral at Susquehanna. ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) Cut to Sell at UBS. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) Reiterated Buy with $730 price [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=127172&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2011/02/14/the-plot-thickens-at-st-joe-joe/bull-and-bear/" rel="attachment wp-att-95230"><img class="alignleft" title="Bull and Bear" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bull-and-bear.jpg?w=200&#038;h=149" alt="" width="200" height="149" data-id="95230" data-caption="" /></a>These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street brokerage and research firms this Monday morning.</p>
<p>Amgen Corporation (NASDAQ: AMGN) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.<br />
Comerica Inc. (NYSE: CMA) Cut to Neutral at Susquehanna.<br />
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) Cut to Sell at UBS.<br />
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) Reiterated Buy with $730 price target at Argus.<br />
Jive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: JIVE) Started as Buy at Citigroup; Started as Neutral at UBS; Started as Outperform at Wells Fargo; Started as Overweight at Morgan Stanley.<br />
Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI) Cut to Equal Weight at Barclays.<br />
NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUVA) Raised to Buy at Canaccord Genuity.<br />
Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE: PG) Cut to Hold at Stifel Nicolaus.<br />
PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM) Cut to Equalweight at Barclays.<br />
Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) Raised to Hold from Sell at Deutsche Bank; Reiterated as Hold at Canaccord Genuity.<br />
Sanchez Energy Corporation (NYSE: SN) Started as Buy at Canaccord Genuity; Started as Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.<br />
SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) Cut to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.<br />
ViroPharma Incorporated (NASDAQ: VPHM) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.</p>
<p>If you enjoyed the top analyst calls, you can sign up in the box below to join our morning email list to receive news directly in your inbox each morning. We include major analyst upgrades and downgrades, IPO and M&amp;A news, special situation developments, observations on Warren Buffett and key market gurus, as well as special exclusive feature stories.</p>
<p>JON C. OGG</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/analyst-calls/'>Analyst Calls</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/amgn/'>AMGN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/cma/'>CMA</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/cop/'>COP</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/goog/'>GOOG</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/jci/'>JCI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/jive/'>JIVE</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/nuva/'>NUVA</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/pg/'>PG</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/rimm/'>RIMM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/siri/'>SIRI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/sn/'>SN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/vphm/'>VPHM</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/127172/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=127172&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	<category domain="tickers">AMGN</category><category domain="tickers">CMA</category><category domain="tickers">COP</category><category domain="tickers">GOOG</category><category domain="tickers">JCI</category><category domain="tickers">JIVE</category><category domain="tickers">NUVA</category><category domain="tickers">PG</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">RIMM</category><category domain="tickers">SIRI</category><category domain="tickers">SN</category><category domain="tickers">VPHM</category>
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			<media:title type="html">Administrator</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Bull and Bear</media:title>
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		<title>US Home Prices Fell in November (PHM, KBH, DHI)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2012/01/09/us-home-prices-fell-in-november-phm-kbh-dhi/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2012/01/09/us-home-prices-fell-in-november-phm-kbh-dhi/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:31:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HI/LOW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://247wallst.com/?p=124676</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[US home prices fell -1.4% month-over-month in November and -4.3% year-over-year according to the latest report from research firm CoreLogic. The year-over-year drop in October was -3.7%. The declines come following some reasonably encouraging news for homebuilders like PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE: PHM), KB Home (NYSE: KBH), DR Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), and others. Excluding sales [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=124676&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>US home prices fell -1.4% month-over-month in November and -4.3% year-over-year according to the latest <a href="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/corelogic/50011/">report</a> from research firm CoreLogic. The year-over-year drop in October was -3.7%. The declines come following some reasonably encouraging news for homebuilders like PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE: PHM), KB Home (NYSE: KBH), DR Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), and others.</p>
<p>Excluding sales of distressed homes, that is short sales and real-estate owned properties, prices declined -0.6% year-over-year in November, compared with a decline of -1.6% in October.</p>
<p>Including distressed sales, the biggest price drops occurred in Nevada (-11.2%), Illinois (-9.7%), Minnesota (-7.8%), Georgia (-7.7%) and Ohio (-7.2%). Excluding distressed sales, the largest declines occurred in Nevada (-8.8%), Arizona (-4.9%), Minnesota (-4.7%), Idaho (-4.1%) and Georgia (-3.6%)</p>
<p>Some states are showing home price appreciation as well. Including distressed sales, home prices improved the most in Vermont (+4.3%), South Carolina (+2.8%), District of Columbia (+2.1%), Nebraska (+1.9%) and New York (+1.7%). Excluding distressed sales, the five states showing the greatest price appreciation were Maine (+4.9%), South Carolina (+4.9%), Montana (+3.8%), Indiana (+3.3%) and Louisiana (+2.4%).</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/hilow/'>HI/LOW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/research/'>Research</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/124676/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=124676&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category>
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			<media:title type="html">247paul</media:title>
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		<title>Case-Shiller Report&#8230; Housing Pain Remains (KBH, DHI, TOL, LEN, PHM)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/12/27/case-shiller-report-housing-pain-remains-kbh-dhi-tol-len-phm/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2011/12/27/case-shiller-report-housing-pain-remains-kbh-dhi-tol-len-phm/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:14:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TOL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://247wallst.com/?p=122962</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The monthly S&#38;P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for the month of October were released this morning, and the results failed to meet already low expectation. The annual decline in home prices in the 10- and 20- metropolitan regions measured by the indices fell -3.0% and -3.4%, respectively. A median forecast had predicted a drop of -3.2% [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=122962&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" title="Housing Bad" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/housing-bad.jpg?w=200&#038;h=200" alt="" width="200" height="200" data-caption="" data-id="83248" />The monthly S&amp;P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for the month of October were released this morning, and the results failed to meet already low expectation. The annual decline in home prices in the 10- and 20- metropolitan regions measured by the indices fell -3.0% and -3.4%, respectively. A median forecast had predicted a drop of -3.2% in the 20-city index. For just the month of October, home prices fell in both indices by more than -1% compared with September prices.</p>
<p>Recent earnings and forecasts from builders like KB Home (NYSE: KBH), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), and PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE: PHM) have been mixed, but the trend has been slightly positive for the first time in many quarters.</p>
<p>In the 20-city Case-Shiller index, the one-year decline in Atlanta was worst, at -11.7%, followed by Las Vegas at -8.5% and Minneapolis at -8.4%. The two cities posting one year price gains in October were Detroit, up 2.5%, and Washington, D.C., up 1.3%.</p>
<p>Only one city, Phoenix, posted a month-over-month gain in October, and that gain was a mere 0.3%. The largest decline month-over-month came in Atlanta, at -5%, with Detroit falling -3.3% in the month.</p>
<p>The Case-Shiller indices indicate a couple of things. First, the impact of foreclosed properties still weighs on home prices. And as more foreclosed properties hit the market now that lenders are ending their self-imposed moratorium on foreclosures, more pressure is expected on home prices.</p>
<p>Second, the recent good news on new orders and inventory levels from home builders could be more transient than many had hoped. Even the expected improvements in homebuilding were slight, and remained near recent lows.</p>
<p>Home prices have returned to their level in mid-2003, and the 20-city recovery from its most recent low in March 2011 is up 1.9%. That’s barely better than nothing.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/economy/'>Economy</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/len/'>LEN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/tol/'>TOL</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/122962/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=122962&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">LEN</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">TOL</category>
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			<media:title type="html">247paul</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Housing Bad</media:title>
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		<title>Are Homebuilders, Home Improvement Stores Coming Back? (NVR, TOL, PHM, HOV, DHI, BZH, HD, LOW)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/12/07/are-homebuilders-home-improvement-stores-coming-back-nvr-tol-phm-hov-dhi-bzh-hd-low/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2011/12/07/are-homebuilders-home-improvement-stores-coming-back-nvr-tol-phm-hov-dhi-bzh-hd-low/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:31:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Analyst Calls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value Investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BZH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LOW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NVR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TOL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://247wallst.com/?p=120565</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stocks in homebuilders have been down so low for so long that almost anything look like up. Recent earnings releases have indicated that new orders are improving, but much of the improvement is tenuous and could easily be wiped out by cancellations. We’ve reviewe six builders &#8212; NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=120565&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" title="Homes" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/homes.jpg?w=200&#038;h=150" alt="" width="200" height="150" data-caption="" data-id="116156" />Stocks in homebuilders have been down so low for so long that almost anything look like up. Recent earnings releases have indicated that new orders are improving, but much of the improvement is tenuous and could easily be wiped out by cancellations. We’ve reviewe six builders &#8212; NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL), PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE: PHM), Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), and Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) &#8212; to see if there is any upside potential in these stocks, and included The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe’s Cos. Inc.(NYSE: LOW), which may be better bets.</p>
<p>Among the six homebuilders, only NVR had a significant jump in its target price since mid-October. The median target price for NVR is now $765, up from $728, and the stock price as of about noon today is $682.57, for an upside potential of 12.1%. That’s not a grand number, but it’s the best in the sector. Target prices for PulteGroup, D.R. Horton, Hovnanian, and Beazer did not change and the target price for Toll Brothers rose just $0.15, from $21.50 to $21.65. Not a big display of confidence in the sector.</p>
<p>Home Depot’s median target price rose from $40.00 to $42.00, and the stock’s current price of $40.51 implies a potential gain of 3.7%. Lowe’s median target price rose from $23.00 to $26.00, and at the current price of $25.13 the implied gain is 3.5%. Even though now is not a particularly good season for home improvement projects, either one or both of these stores could easily push through the new targets.</p>
<p>While the target prices did not change for five of the homebuilders, all but NVR saw share price gains of more than 30% in the last six weeks, with PulteGroup shares gaining 51%. Home Depot and Lowe’s shares are up 16% and 19%, respectively, in the same period. These share price rises for homebuilders indicate more investor interest in these stocks, analysts’ lack of enthusiasm indicates that caution remains the best policy.</p>
<p>None of these builders pays a dividend, with the exception of Beazer which offers investors a dividend yield of 1.2%. Home Depot’s dividend yield is 2.9%, and Lowe’s offers a dividend yield of 2.3%.</p>
<p>For investors who believe they have to participate in this sector, Home Depot remains the best choice, with Lowe’s the best alternative. Building &#8212; and selling &#8212; new houses is still a risky business.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/analyst-calls/'>Analyst Calls</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/value-investing/'>Value Investing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bzh/'>BZH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hd/'>HD</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hov/'>HOV</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/low/'>LOW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/nvr/'>NVR</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/tol/'>TOL</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/120565/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=120565&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BZH</category><category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">HD</category><category domain="tickers">HOV</category><category domain="tickers">LOW</category><category domain="tickers">NVR</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">TOL</category>
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			<media:title type="html">247paul</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Homes</media:title>
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		<title>Mortgage Applications Fall Again (KBH, LEN, PHM, DHI, BZH, XHB)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/11/16/mortgage-applications-fall-again-kbh-len-phm-dhi-bzh-xhb/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:45:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BZH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEN]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[XHB]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Mortgage interest rates remain historically low, but buyers are either unwilling or unable to take advantage of the low rates. After three straight weeks of increases in mortgage applications, borrowers backed off last week. This spells more trouble for homebuilders. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of mortgage applications fell by -10% last [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=117929&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img title="Housing Bad" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/housing-bad1.jpg?w=200&#038;h=200" alt="" width="200" height="200" />Mortgage interest rates remain historically low, but buyers are either unwilling or unable to take advantage of the low rates. After three straight weeks of increases in mortgage applications, borrowers backed off last week. This spells more trouble for homebuilders.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbaa.org/NewsandMedia/PressCenter/78422.htm">According</a> to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of mortgage applications fell by -10% last week. Of that total, there were -2.3% fewer applications for new purchases and -12% fewer applications for refinancing. Refinancing accounted for 77.3% of all mortgage applications last week, down from 78.6% in the previous week, which might be slightly better news for new home builders if the total number of applications for new homes had increased.</p>
<p>As it is, builders like KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI), and Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) will continue to face the dual headwinds of higher inventory at lower prices and hard-to-get credit for new home buyers. The expected spate of foreclosed properties soon to hit the market is also expected to make matters even worse for the builders.</p>
<p>Home sales are reviving a bit in some markets, as we noted our story on the <a title="The Cities Where People Finally Want to Buy Homes" href="http://247wallst.com/2011/11/16/the-cities-where-people-finally-want-to-buy-homes/">cities where people want to buy homes</a>. All are in sunbelt cities where underwater mortgages and foreclosures have kept prices low, and where many Americans may be looking for a place to retire. One interesting side note to the uptick in home sales in these cities is that buyers may be making all-cash purchases, and foregoing the whole mortgage application process.</p>
<p>About 30% of US homes sold every month are purchased by all-cash buyers. Nearly 20% of buyers are investors who plan either to rent the property or to flip it as soon as possible. It’s probably no surprise that nearly all these all-cash deals are made on foreclosed or distressed properties. <a href="http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/10/ehs_sept">According</a> to the National Association of Realtors, about 30% of all sales in September involved foreclosed or distressed properties.</p>
<p>Another interesting note on mortgages is the rise in 15-year refinancing loans. Last month, 28.8% of all mortgages were of that type. At existing low interest rates, homeowners wanting to stay where they are may be able to refinance and end up paying less per month on a 15-year loan than they are currently paying on a 30-year loan. That assumes, of course, that the homeowner can get approved for the loan.</p>
<p>In September, about 18% of all mortgage applications failed to get approval. Part of the problem has been a lowering of loan limits by lenders, which raises the cost to buyers in areas of  expensive homes where buyers need to get a more expensive jumbo mortgage that exceeds $417,000.</p>
<p>The SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: XHB) is up nearly 2% over the past 12 months, although it has dropped about -1.5% in the first few minutes of trading this morning. The individual homebuilders shares are down anywhere from -1% to -2.25% in early trading as well.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/personal-finance/'>Personal Finance</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bzh/'>BZH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/len/'>LEN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/xhb/'>XHB</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/117929/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=117929&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BZH</category><category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">LEN</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">XHB</category>
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		<title>Homebuilder Profitable Again (DHI, PHM, LEN, TOL, KBH, HD, LOW)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/11/11/homebuilder-profitable-again-but-will-it-last-dhi-phm-len-tol-kbh-hd-low/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:05:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Earnings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEN]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The collapse of the US housing market has been among the most stubborn problems facing the US economy for the past four years. Construction jobs have vanished, home values have plummeted, and buyers are scarce, even while mortgage rates sink below 4%. It’s a bit of a surprise, then, to see a homebuilder report a [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=117447&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img title="housing" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/housing.jpg?w=200&#038;h=133" alt="" width="200" height="133" />The collapse of the US housing market has been among the most stubborn problems facing the US economy for the past four years. Construction jobs have vanished, home values have plummeted, and buyers are scarce, even while mortgage rates sink below 4%. It’s a bit of a surprise, then, to see a homebuilder report a pretty solid quarter even if it fell a little short of expectations. The big question, of course, is does this signal the beginning of a recovery in housing?</p>
<p>D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI) reported fourth fiscal quarter EPS of $0.11 on revenue of $1.1 billion this morning, short of the consensus EPS estimate of $0.14, but in-line with the revenue estimate. For the company’s full fiscal year, EPS came in at $0.23 on revenue of $3.5 billion. For 2010, Horton posted EPS of $0.77 on revenue of $4.3 billion. That hardly looks like the start of a recovery. Other homebuilders like PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL), and KB Home (NYSE: KBH) have posted, at best mixed results. Even home improvement giants like Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe’s Companies (NYSE: LOW) have been mixed.</p>
<p>PulteGroup posted an EPS loss of -$0.34 in its quarter ended in September, but is expected to post EPS of $0.06 for the December quarter. Lennar beat EPS expectations by a penny in its August quarter and Toll Brothers crushed expectations by posting EPS of $0.25. For their current quarters, Lennar is expected to report EPS of $0.17 and Toll Brothers is looking for EPS of $0.05. KB Home put up a better-than-expected EPS loss of -$0.13 in its August quarter and is expected to post EPS of $0.02 for its November quarter.</p>
<p>Home Depot reported EPS for its July quarter of $0.86, beating estimates, and is expected to report EPS of $0.58 next Tuesday. Lowe’s also beat estimates in its July quarter and is expected to post EPS of $0.33 when it reports earnings next Monday. Home remodeling got a boost this year, up 29% year-over-year in August, but that number should begin to decline as the remodeling season is now behind us. Lowe’s announced last month that it would close 20 stores and fire about 1,950 employees, costing the company about $0.17-$0.20 in EPS.</p>
<p>In its quarterly report, Horton noted that its sales backlog had grown nearly 18%, from 4,128 new homes in September 2010 to 4,854 this past September. However, the company also said that its cancellation rate for the quarter was 29%. That backlog can hardly be considered safe, especially given that a surge of foreclosed properties for sale is expected to hit the market sometime in the next few months.</p>
<p>In the earnings release, Horton’s chairman said that the company is positioned “for a stronger start to fiscal 2012.” That’s good, but how the company finishes is more important. There are so many headwinds to new homebuilding that it is hard to be too confident that 2012 will be much better than 2011.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/earnings/'>Earnings</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hd/'>HD</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/len/'>LEN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/low/'>LOW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/tol/'>TOL</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/117447/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=117447&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">HD</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">LEN</category><category domain="tickers">LOW</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">TOL</category>
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		<title>Expected Upside for Homebuilders and Home Improvement Companies (NVR, TOL, PHM, HOV, DHI, BZH, HD, LOW)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/10/17/expected-upside-for-homebuilders-home-improvement-companies-nvr-tol-phm-hov-dhi-bzh-hd-low/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:24:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Ausick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Analyst Calls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BZH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LOW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NVR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Our look at stock target prices focuses on homebuilders and home improvement stores today. It is not news that U.S. homebuilders have had a very tough few years. In the past five years, only one of the six builders we are looking at today has managed a share price gain. The companies began to falter [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=114889&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2010/12/03/are-homebuilders-about-to-bounce-back-dhi-ryl-phm-len-kbh-tol-xhb/homebuilder-image/" rel="attachment wp-att-88543"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-88543" title="Homebuilder Image" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/homebuilder-image.jpg?w=200&#038;h=149" alt="" width="200" height="149" /></a>Our look at stock target prices focuses on homebuilders and home improvement stores today. It is not news that U.S. homebuilders have had a very tough few years. In the past five years, only one of the six builders we are looking at today has managed a share price gain. The companies began to falter in 2007 and the smallest five-year slide is more than 40%. That may be a new definition of awful.</p>
<p>Worse, there is not much expectation that the market will turn around, at least until 2013. More foreclosed homes coming on the market will continue to depress prices, and until inventories of unsold homes are cleared, there simply cannot be a significant recovery. The homebuilders we are looking at include NVR (NYSE: NVR), Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL), PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM), Hovnanian Enterprises (NYSE: HOV), D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) and Beazer Homes USA (NYSE: BZH).</p>
<p>Home improvement stores have also had to struggle over the past several years. Shares of Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and Lowe’s Companies (NYSE: LOW) are both lower today than they were five years ago.</p>
<p>Share prices were pegged at about noon today, and all data comes from Yahoo! Finance.</p>
<p><strong>NVR</strong> has a median target price of $728.00 from four brokers. Shares are trading today at $620.99, for an implied gain of $107.01, or 14.7%. NVR’s forward P/E is 17.6 and the company does not pay a dividend. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $554.71 to $804.31, and at today&#8217;s price that is about 12% above its 52-week low and 23% below the 52-week high. NVR’s share price has risen about 12% since October 2006, and of all the homebuilders, it is the only one that can point to a gain over that period. The company’s consensus EPS estimate for 2011 has dropped from $28.02 to $26.45. There might be an opportunity here, but it is a pretty slim one.</p>
<p><strong>Toll Brothers</strong> has a median target price of $21.50 from 14 brokers. Shares are trading today at $15.29, for an implied gain of $6.21, or 28.9%. Its forward P/E is 49.35 and the company does not pay a dividend. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $13.16 to $22.42, and at today’s price that is about 16% above its 52-week low and 32% below the 52-week high. Toll Brothers is expected to post EPS of $0.20 for its 2011 fiscal year ending this month &#8212; and that is up from an earlier EPS estimate of just $0.02. The company’s position at the luxury end of the market has been something of a prop to the share price, but the U.S. economy is not minting many new millionaires right now.</p>
<p><strong>PulteGroup</strong> has a median target price of $6.50 from 15 brokers. Shares are trading today at $4.14, for an implied gain of $2.36, or 36.3%. PulteGroup’s forward P/E is 32 and the company does not pay a dividend. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $3.29 to $8.69, and at today’s price that is about 26% above its 52-week low and 52% below the 52-week high. PulteGroup was one of the 10 worst performing stocks in the recently completed quarter, losing 45% of its value. There is nothing about the homebuilding industry or PulteGroup’s recent performance that justifies the forward P/E ratio of 32. Hope is not a strategy.</p>
<p><strong>Hovnanian Enterprises</strong> has a median target price of $1.38 from eight brokers. Shares are trading today at $1.20, for an implied gain of $0.18, or 13%. Hovnanian’s forward P/E is negative and the company does not pay a dividend. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $0.89 to $5.00, and at today’s price that is about 35% above its 52-week low and 76% below the 52-week high. Hovnanian is asking debt holders to exchange old notes for new ones carrying a lower interest rate and a longer term. The offer is scheduled to end next week. The company’s corporate debt rating is CC, just two notches above default. Debt holders are unlikely to ride to the company’s rescue.</p>
<p><strong>D.R. Horton</strong> has a median target price of $13.00 from 14 brokers. Shares are trading today at $9.62, for an implied gain of $3.38, or 26%. Horton’s forward P/E is 19.3 and the company pays a dividend yield of 1.5%. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $8.03 to $13.50, and at today’s price that is about 59% above its 52-week low and 29% below the 52-week high. Horton is expected to post EPS for the quarter just ended of $0.14, and full-year EPS of $0.20 for the year ended in September. The consensus estimate for 2012 full-year EPS is $0.50. If the market is getting weaker, as many believe, the company has exactly no chance of meeting that 2012 number.</p>
<p><strong>Beazer Homes USA</strong> has a median target price of $3.00 from seven brokers. Shares are trading today at $1.81, for an implied gain of $1.19, or 39.7%. Its forward P/E is negative and the company does not pay a dividend. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $1.35 to $6.23, and at today’s price that is about 12% above its 52-week low and 81% below the 52-week high. Beazer’s biggest trouble is that it is a builder of entry-level homes, the sector that is hardest hit by the number of foreclosed properties coming on the market. One thing that could help Beazer a little is that home owners have begun taking their houses off the market because they are unwilling to sell for the current low prices. Inventory is still high, but it was lower in September than in August.</p>
<p><strong>Home Depot</strong> has a median target price of $40.00 from 22 brokers. Shares are trading today at $34.97, for an implied gain of $5.03, or 12.6%. Home Depot’s forward P/E is 13.14 and the company pays a dividend yield of 2.9%. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $28.13 to $39.38, and at today’s price that is about 24% above its 52-week low and 11% below the 52-week high. Research firm BuildFax <a href="http://www.buildfax.com/public/remodeling/index.html">reports</a> thats home remodeling projects increased by 29% in August compared with August 2010. The firm attributes the increase to refinancing of existing homes at current low interest rates. With the peak remodeling season behind us for another year, this growth could begin to slow down.</p>
<p><strong>Lowe’s Companies</strong> has a median target price of $23.00 from 20 brokers. Shares are trading today at $21.09, for an implied gain of $1.91, or 8.3%. Its forward P/E is 11.93 and the company pays a dividend yield of 2.7%. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $18.07 to $27.45, and at today’s price that is about 17% above its 52-week low and 23% below the 52-week high. Lowe’s announced this morning that it was closing another 20 stores across the U.S. and expects to take a charge of $0.17 to $0.20 against second-quarter EPS. About 1,950 employees will lose their jobs. Lowe’s performance has been weaker than Home Depot’s for a couple of years now, and this year the share price is about flat, compared with Home Depot’s share price gain of 15%.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/analyst-calls/'>Analyst Calls</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/economy/'>Economy</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bzh/'>BZH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hd/'>HD</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hov/'>HOV</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/low/'>LOW</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/nvr/'>NVR</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/tol/'>TOL</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/114889/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=114889&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BZH</category><category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">HD</category><category domain="tickers">HOV</category><category domain="tickers">LOW</category><category domain="tickers">NVR</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">TOL</category>
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		<title>Builders, Bankers Hit by Foreclosures (HOV, PHM, KBH, WFC, BAC, JPM)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/10/13/builders-bankers-hit-by-foreclosures-hov-phm-kbh-wfc-bac-jpm/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2011/10/13/builders-bankers-hit-by-foreclosures-hov-phm-kbh-wfc-bac-jpm/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:39:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HOV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WFC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://247wallst.com/?p=114582</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The number of foreclosures filed in the third calendar quarter of 2011 totaled 610,337, an increase of less than 1% from the second quarter and a drop of 34% from the same period a year ago. That&#8217;s not as good as it sounds.  The data comes from RealtyTrac, which also notes that foreclosures dropped by [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=114582&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2010/12/03/are-homebuilders-about-to-bounce-back-dhi-ryl-phm-len-kbh-tol-xhb/homebuilder-image/" rel="attachment wp-att-88543"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-88543" title="Homebuilder Image" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/homebuilder-image.jpg?w=200&#038;h=149" alt="" width="200" height="149" /></a>The number of foreclosures filed in the third calendar quarter of 2011 totaled 610,337, an increase of less than 1% from the second quarter and a drop of 34% from the same period a year ago. That&#8217;s not as good as it sounds.  The data comes from <a href="http://www.realtytrac.com/content/press-releases/third-quarter-and-september-2011-us-foreclosure-market-report-6880" target="_blank">RealtyTrac</a>, which also notes that foreclosures dropped by 6% month-over-month in September and fell by 38% compared with September of 2010.  The quarterly increase is being interpreted as a sign that foreclosure activity is picking up again as the robo-signing mess gets cleaned up.</p>
<p>Struggling homebuilders like Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: HOV), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), KB Home (NYSE: KBH), and others have a tough time competing on price with the thousands of foreclosed properties on the market in states like Nevada, California, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida. Big mortgage lenders like Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE: WFC), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE: JPM) are not seeing a floods of buyers either, and even re-financings have slowed while interest rates are at their lowest level in decades.</p>
<p>In Nevada, where 1 house in 118 is in foreclosure, <a href="http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/oct/11/realtors-las-vegas-home-prices-86-percent-septembe/" target="_blank">home prices actually rose</a> in September by about 2.8%.  The median price for a house in the Las Vegas area rose to $123,400, compared with $120,000 in August, but still 8.6% below the $135,000 median in September 2010.</p>
<p>Total sales in the Las Vegas area, including condos, houses, and townhomes, totaled 4,108 in September, down from 4,693 in August, but up from 3,603 in September a year ago. Unemployment is 14.2% in Las Vegas. So who&#8217;s buying?</p>
<p>Investors paying cash are the likeliest suspects. And about 45% of the sales in August were bank-owned properties. The Mortgage Bankers Association&#8217;s weekly mortgage application survey still shows that nearly 80% of all mortgage applications are seeking refinancing at the historically low interest rates available.</p>
<p>All those sales around Las Vegas are existing homes, not new homes. And the expectation is that as the robo-signing issues are resolved, more foreclosed properties will come on the market, not only in Las Vegas, but all over the country. New home builders don&#8217;t stand much of a chance.</p>
<p>Housing market research firm Clear Capital <a href="http://www.clearcapital.com/company/MarketReport.cfm?month=October&amp;year=2011&amp;utm_source=ClearCapital&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=MRlink&amp;utm_campaign=1011HDIMRoptin" target="_blank">expects home prices to fall by -1.6%</a> in the fourth quarter of 2011 and another -3.2% by the end of the first quarter of 2012.  At least some of that pressure is due to the expected growth of foreclosed properties on the market.</p>
<p>And the banks? If you were a banker and a homeowner with a 6% mortgage came in and asked to re-finance at 4%, what would you say? If the homeowner was switching banks and has gold-plated credit, you might agree, but otherwise not likely. Given the headaches in the housing market, it wouldn&#8217;t be too surprising if all the big banks just decided to get out of the home lending business.</p>
<p>The housing market has seen its seasonal summer boomlet for this year. What&#8217;s left of this year won&#8217;t turn around a dismal year in the US housing market.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/economy/'>Economy</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bac/'>BAC</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/hov/'>HOV</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/jpm/'>JPM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/wfc/'>WFC</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/114582/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=114582&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BAC</category><category domain="tickers">HOV</category><category domain="tickers">JPM</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">WFC</category>
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		<title>New Home Sales Continue to be Awful (KBH, LEN, PHM, DHI, TOL, NVR, BZH, XHB)</title>
		<link>http://247wallst.com/2011/09/26/new-home-sales-continue-to-be-awful-kbh-len-phm-dhi-tol-nvr-bzh-xhb/</link>
		<comments>http://247wallst.com/2011/09/26/new-home-sales-continue-to-be-awful-kbh-len-phm-dhi-tol-nvr-bzh-xhb/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:24:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BZH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KBH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NVR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TOL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XHB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://247wallst.com/?p=113243</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite a near-compulsive search for good news from the US housing market, nearly every story contains more than enough dismal news to outweigh whatever good news there is. Generally the news starts with the bad news and then begins a determined hunt for some good news. Today&#8217;s report from the US Commerce Department on new [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=113243&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://247wallst.com/2010/12/03/are-homebuilders-about-to-bounce-back-dhi-ryl-phm-len-kbh-tol-xhb/homebuilder-image/" rel="attachment wp-att-88543"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-88543" title="Homebuilder Image" src="http://247wallst.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/homebuilder-image.jpg?w=200&#038;h=149" alt="" width="200" height="149" /></a>Despite a near-compulsive search for good news from the US housing market, nearly every story contains more than enough dismal news to outweigh whatever good news there is. Generally the news starts with the bad news and then begins a determined hunt for some good news. Today&#8217;s report from the US Commerce Department on new home sales is an example of the latter.</p>
<p>According to today&#8217;s report, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales of new single-family homes in August is -2.3% lower than in July, but 6.1% higher than August 2010.  The number of new homes sold in August 2011 was 295,000 new homes, compared with 278,000 in August 2010. That&#8217;s okay, except August 2010 monthly sales were the lowest on record. Pretty weak.</p>
<p>Last week both KB Home (NYSE: KBH) and Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) reported weak earnings. KB did note a jump of 40% in new orders, once again a hopeful sign until compared with the same period last year which couldn&#8217;t have been much worse. Other homebuilders PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL), NVR Corp. (NYSE: NVR), and Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) have all struggled during the past twelve months, with only NVR showing a share price drop of less than -10%. This is not an industry on the mend.</p>
<p>The Commerce Department also estimates that the US housing inventory increased slightly in August to a 6.6 month supply at the current sales rate. Of that, the Department estimates that 60,000 new homes are completed and ready for sale and another 77,000 are under construction. Another 27,000 are permitted but construction has not yet begun. The total inventory at the end of July was 163,000 houses with 26,000 sold in August. At the end of August, 164,000 new houses were for sale. That&#8217;s not an improvement.</p>
<p>The best thing to be said for new home sales is that they are not getting worse even though the absolute numbers are very low. If this data indicates a recovery or any sign of better days ahead for homebuilders, then one is looking at the numbers through rose-colored lenses.</p>
<p>Shares of KB Hoe are down more than -6% in the early afternoon, at $5.55, in a 52-week range of $5.09-$16.11.  Lennar shares are down about -1.5%, at $13.20, in a 52-week range of $12.39-$21.54. Pulte shares are down nearly -2%, at $3.97 in a 52-week range of $3.40-$8.99. The other builders are also trading lower, and the SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: XHB) is up a fraction at $13.45, in a 52-week range of $13.02-$19.21.</p>
<p>Paul Ausick</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/economy/'>Economy</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/category/housing/'>Housing</a> Tagged: <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/bzh/'>BZH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/dhi/'>DHI</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/kbh/'>KBH</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/len/'>LEN</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/nvr/'>NVR</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/phm/'>PHM</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/tol/'>TOL</a>, <a href='http://247wallst.com/tag/xhb/'>XHB</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/247wallst.wordpress.com/113243/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=247wallst.com&amp;blog=5450697&amp;post=113243&amp;subd=247wallst&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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	<category domain="tickers">BZH</category><category domain="tickers">DHI</category><category domain="tickers">KBH</category><category domain="tickers">LEN</category><category domain="tickers">NVR</category><category domain="tickers">PHM</category><category domain="tickers">TOL</category><category domain="tickers">XHB</category>
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