KBH

The US Housing Market Is Back

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The housing market in the United States has regained its footing and looks poised to rebound even further. First, on Thursday, PulteGroup (click ticker for report: PHM) reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, generated 15% revenue growth, and showed that its backlog grew 31% year-over-year on a unit basis. Then, on Friday, D.R. Horton’s (click ticker for report: DHI) fiscal third-quarter results revealed its backlog advanced 25% year-over-year. Plus, the firm reversed a tax-asset write-down, indicating the company expects increased profitability down the road. The strong performance from these two builders was preceded by solid results from other builders including KB Home (click ticker for report: KBH) and Lennar (click ticker for report: LEN). Though conventional wisdom may suggest a weak economic … Read more

Lennar Records Strongest First-Quarter Homebuilding Operating Margin in Six Years

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The nation’s third-largest homebuilder Lennar (LEN) reported strong first-quarter results Tuesday that revealed strong order growth, which largely eased concerns brought about by KB Home’s (KBH) recent disappointing order performance. Though we think the housing market will show continued stabilization and improvement during 2012, we’re not enthused by any of the valuations presented by homebuilding stocks at this time. We remain on the sidelines with respect to Lennar and its peers.   Lennar’s revenue increased 30% in the quarter, as deliveries expanded at a similar pace (29%) and the firm experienced positive pricing. New orders advanced 33%, to 3,022 homes, while the firm’s backlog increased to 2,711, up 39%. The firm’s cancellation rate came in at 18% during the period. The homebuilder’s … Read more

Dropping Coverage of the Homebuilders Industry

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Image Source: ArmchairBuilder.com Valuentum is dropping coverage of the homebuilders industry to allocate resources elsewhere. Structure of the Homebuilders Industry The meltdown in housing late last decade is a prime example of the extreme cyclicality of the homebuilding industry. Housing market health is determined by a number of variables: consumer confidence, employment, household formation, replacement demand (natural disasters), inventory (existing/shadow), interest rates, lending standards, and housing prices themselves. The market is far from homogenous, and stronger builders focus on regions with favorable supply/demand characteristics and pursue lot options instead of land purchases. Still, we don’t like the structure of the group given its boom and bust nature. CalAtlantic (CAA) CalAtlantic has agreed to be acquired by Lennar in a cash and … Read more

Dividend Increases/Decreases for the Week Ending July 19

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Below we provide a list of firms that raised their dividends during the week ending July 19. The dividend reports of covered firms on this list will be updated shortly with the new information. To access our dividend reports use the ‘Symbol’ search box in our website header. Firms Raising Their Dividends This Week American Express (AXP): now $0.43 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.39. American National Bankshares (AMNB): now $0.27 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.25. American River Bankshares (AMRB): now $0.07 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.05. Atlantic Union Bank (AUB): now $0.25 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.23. Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB): now $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, was $0.20. Blackstone (BX): now $0.48 per share quarterly … Read more