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…
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…
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…
It appears that the slowdown in foreclosure filings has reached an end. Issues surrounding foreclosure processing, state foreclosure laws, and other court rulings are getting resolved and the pace of foreclosures picked…
Homebuilder Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL) reported third fiscal quarter earnings this morning, managing to post EPS of $0.25 on revenue of $394 million. Analysts were expecting EPS of $0.03 on revenue…
Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) reported earnings on Monday morning ahead of the Tuesday report from The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD). When you look at the Lowe’s numbers and when you…
For the second week in a row, the number of US mortgage applications rose, but the vast majority of the action came in refinancing, not new purchases. This spells continuing pressure on…
When you have a credit rating downgrade of the U.S. followed by a 300+ point drop in the DJIA and another near-100 point drop in the NASDAQ, it is no shock at…
Today’s report on commodities begins with some sobering news from Chinese steel makers and some roaring news from a maker of heavy equipment. Lumber prices remain low, but arabica coffee beans are…
Spring is traditionally the best season for new home builders. In 12 of the past 14 years, sales of new homes peaked in March or April. If 2011 is going to live…
These are some of this Thursday’s top analyst calls with upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research firms. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) Cut to Equal-Weight at Barclays. Arch Coal…
The Mortgage Bankers Association publishes a summary of mortgage applications every week, and as a barometer of home sales it adds some color to the official reports from the government. For last…
A second homebuilder has reported fourth quarter and full-year earnings that handily beat very low expectations. Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) reported this morning that it had quarterly EPS of $0.17 on revenue…
Homebuilder KB Home (NYSE: KBH) posted a surprise EPS gain of $0.23 for its fourth quarter of 2010 ended in November. Analysts had expected an EPS loss of -$0.17. The company’s revenue…
These are some of this Thursday’s key analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) Reiterated Buy and raised target to $198 at BofA/ML. American…
