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The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index; the Underlying Index, which measures the performance of the home construction sector of the U.S. equity market, as defined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC; the Index Provider or SPDJI.

D.R. Horton Inc - Common

Lennar Corp. Class A

Pultegroup Inc.

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Lowes Cos., Inc.

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iShares US Home Construction ETF

A flurry of new data is in and the housing market is flashing mixed signals from builders, buyers and analysts. Here&#8217;s what <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/01/42963973/housing-demand-falls-as-average-30-year-mortgage-rate-above-7">you need to know.</a>
The Data: The Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development December<a href="https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/current/index.html"> housing data</a> released Friday was mixed with housing starts beating expectations while housing completions declined. 
Housing starts jumped 15.8% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.499 million, surpassing the estimate of 1.33 million and rising sharply from November's revised rate of 1.294 million. However, privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December declined 0.7% from November's rate of 1.493 million and fell 3.1% compared to December 2023.
Meanwhile, housing completions fell 4.8% in December to 1.544 million, potentially signaling that builders face challenges in finishing projects. Annual housing completions in 2024 rose 12.3% to 1.627 million. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43041254/unitedhealth-ceo-highlights-hospitals-doctors-pharmas-role-in-soaring-health-care-costs">UnitedHealth CEO Highlights Hospitals, Doctors, Pharma&#8217;s Role In Soaring Health Care Costs</a>&nbsp;
According to <a href="https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/housing-economics/indices/housing-market-index">data released</a> Thursday from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo, U.S. homebuilders lowered their six-month outlook on prospective sales as buyers are discouraged by rising mortgage rates which crossed over the 7% mark last week.&nbsp;
However, homebuilder sentiment rose in January on optimism about current sales and prospective buyer traffic. The survey also attributed the rise in sentiment to the anticipation of likely more favorable regulatory conditions under the incoming Trump administration. 
Expert Ideas: Analysts from JPMorgan said on Friday that the firm remains optimistic on housing spending, despite surging mortgage rates.&nbsp;
The analysts view consumers as in the "acceptance phase" when it comes to interest rates and expect existing home sales to grind modestly higher, up from 40-year lows.&nbsp;
"More specifically, we believe 30-year mortgage rates being in the high 6 range is ‘okay,'" JPMorgan analysts wrote.&nbsp;
Stocks To Watch: Investors can track the U.S. homebuilders and construction through the IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and the SPDR Series Trust SPDR Homebuilders ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XHB#NYSE">XHB</a>). 
Read Next:&nbsp;
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</ul>
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iShares Dow Jones US Homenstruction Index Fund

Housing Market: Builders Forge Ahead As Buyers Enter 'Acceptance Phase' On Rates

Fixed-rate mortgage rates have steadily declined, marking a third consecutive week of decrease. Freddie Mac's data shows that 30-year <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mortgages">fixed-rate mortgage</a> now averages 6.60%, significantly lower than the 6.95% rate from a year ago.
"The combination of mortgage rate declines, firm consumer income growth, and a bullish stock market have increased homebuyer demand in recent weeks. While the outlook for the housing market is improving, the improvement is limited given that homebuyers continue to face stiff affordability headwinds," <a href="https://freddiemac.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/mortgage-rates-continue-drop-3">noted</a> Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist.
Fixed-rate mortgages are crucial for many homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers because they offer predictability. Since the interest rate remains constant throughout the loan term, borrowers know their monthly payments regardless of market conditions, making for easier financial planning and buying peace of mind. If these rates continue to drop, this development could make homeownership more accessible, stimulating sales.
<a href="https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales">Recent data</a> reveals that the U.S. housing market is showing signs of recovery. Existing home sales rose 3.5% in October 2024, rebounding from a 14-year low and surpassing market expectations.
However, the median home sales price increased by 4% to $407,200, outpacing November&#8217;s 2.7% inflation rate. While Khater warned about these dynamics, home prices typically rise faster than inflation, which is one reason they were excluded from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation in 1983.
Falling mortgage rates support optimism for the market, which suffered high borrowing costs earlier this year. Furthermore, the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted increased inventory could further bolster home sales, with job growth and economic expansion supporting growing housing demand.
Still, the home construction market offered mixed results, as shown by broad market ETFs. The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) returned 14.66% year-to-date, while the SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XHB#NYSE">XHB</a>) fared better at 23.06%. The Invesco Building &amp; Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKB#NYSE">PKB</a>) outperformed with 31.86% — however, it is worth noting that it is by far the smallest and most expensive of the group.
Two notable stocks in the sector performed similarly. KB Home (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBH#NYSE">KBH</a>) has clocked a solid yet underperforming 18.52% return year-to-date. It trades at 8.9x its earnings, significantly lagging the peer average 21.1x.  Meanwhile, Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOL#NYSE">TOL</a>) outperformed, climbing 37.39% year-to-date. Still, the firm trades cheaper than its peers at 8.8x its earnings. Following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/24/12/42418066/toll-brothers-investors-may-be-disappointed-with-guidance-analysts-say-after-q4-earnings">latest earnings results</a>, Oppenheimer and JPMorgan reiterated an Outperform and Overweight rating, citing robust demand but warning about the gross-margin guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
Read Next: • <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42471357/egg-hyperinflation-could-spike-grocery-prices-why-cal-maine-vital-farms-are-soaring">Egg Hyperinflation Could Spike Grocery Prices: Why Cal-Maine, Vital Farms Are Soaring</a>
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Economics

PowerShares ETF Trust Dynamic Building &nstruction Portfolio

Mortgage Rates Drop Present Opportunities For Homebuilders

JP Morgan analyst Christopher Horvers maintained an Overweight rating for Lowe&#8217;s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LOW/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price forecast of $300.</a>
Yesterday, the company highlighted its near-term and long-term financial targets at its 2024<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42445818/lowes-targets-1-billion-in-annual-savings-and-expands-store-footprint-to-drive-future-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Analyst and Investor Conference</a>.
Lowe&#8217;s reaffirmed its outlook, projecting total sales between $83 billion and $83.5 billion<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener"> (consensus estimate: $83.34 billion)</a>.
The company expects comparable sales to decline by 3.0% to 3.5% and adjusted EPS&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/42060077/lowes-q3-earnings-revenue-and-eps-beat-but-comp-sales-fall-amid-softness-in-bigger-ticket-diy-discretionary-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">of $11.80 – $11.90 (consensus estimate: $11.89)</a>.
Lowe&#8217;s plans to unveil its next phase of Perpetual Productivity Improvement (PPI) initiatives, projected to deliver approximately $1 billion in annual cost savings.
The analyst writes that Lowe&#8217;s Analyst Day marked a subtle pivot, signaling that the infrastructure built since CEO Marvin Ellison&#8217;s 2018 arrival is now in place.
The analyst says they continue to favor LOW and write that with the shift to positive comps after three years of pullforward spending and housing headwinds, they believe a moderate 1% comp is reasonable.
The analyst views the 10 basis points of operating margin expansion per comp point and the $1 billion stock repurchase assumption as conservative.
Hoovers adds that Lowe&#8217;s is advancing self-help initiatives to boost top-line growth and margins, reducing the performance gap with Home Depot.
The industry&#8217;s duopoly and resistance to Amazon, along with a strong housing-driven long-term outlook, justify its premium valuation, adds the analyst.
Additionally, the recent decline in long-term rates is expected to boost demand, especially as existing home sales remain at 40-year lows, with potential upside from a Fed rate cut, per the analyst.
As the housing market improves, Horvers expects the company to further re-rate, especially with the 2025 guidance uncertainty cleared.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and&nbsp;VanEck Retail ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTH#NASDAQ">RTH</a>).
Price Action: LOW shares are down 1.41% at $264.11 at the last check Thursday.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42465586" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gevo And LG Chem Double Down On Ethanol-To-Olefins Tech: Details</a></li>
</ul>
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Merrill Lynch Retail HOLDRS Trust due 12/31/41

Lowe's Positioned For Growth Amid Cost Savings And Housing Recovery: JP Morgan Analyst

Lowe&#8217;s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>) highlighted its near-term and long-term financial targets at its 2024 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/n42432122/lowes-unveils-2025-total-home-strategy-to-drive-long-term-growth-and-market-share" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analyst and Investor Conference today</a>.
The company has introduced a standardized framework to harness generative AI, aimed at improving customer experiences and boosting productivity.
Also, the company launched the U.S. home improvement industry&#8217;s first product marketplace, partnering with new sellers and existing suppliers to expand its online assortment. This initiative strengthens Lowe&#8217;s position as a one-stop shop for all home needs.
Apart from this, in early 2025, Lowe&#8217;s will relaunch MyLowe&#8217;s Pro Rewards, a streamlined loyalty program for small-to-medium Pros.
The program will simplify earning and redeeming rewards, with Pro customers saving 5% daily on eligible purchases when using their MyLowe&#8217;s Pro Rewards Credit Card.
Moreover, Lowe&#8217;s is streamlining large Pro orders with direct supplier system integration, aiming to boost close rates and capture more Pro spend, while relying on suppliers for jobsite delivery.
FY24 Outlook: Lowe&#8217;s reaffirmed its outlook, projecting total sales between $83 billion and $83.5 billion<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener"> (consensus estimate: $83.34 billion)</a>.
The company expects comparable sales to decline by 3.0% to 3.5% and adjusted EPS <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/42060077/lowes-q3-earnings-revenue-and-eps-beat-but-comp-sales-fall-amid-softness-in-bigger-ticket-diy-discretionary-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">of $11.80 &#8211; $11.90 (consensus estimate: $11.89)</a>.
Lowe&#8217;s plans to unveil its next phase of Perpetual Productivity Improvement (PPI) initiatives, projected to deliver approximately $1 billion in annual cost savings.
To drive growth, Lowe&#8217;s plans to open 10-15 stores annually in fast-growing U.S. markets, building on recent successes and enhanced space productivity.
The company will also expand its rural assortments to 150 more stores, offering a one-stop shop with enhanced selections in pet, workwear, automotive, and utility vehicles.
Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe&#8217;s chairman, president and CEO, said, &#8220;As we look ahead to the expected recovery in home improvement, we are making investments to position the company for long-term growth. We are evolving our Total Home strategy to help solve our customers&#8217; total home improvement needs with more value and exceptional service,&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&#8220;At the same time, we&#8217;re building on our momentum with Pros now that we&#8217;ve reached 30% Pro penetration.&#8221;
Goldman Sachs analyst rated the company a Buy rating, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LOW/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price target of $276.</a>
The analyst estimates FY24 sales of $83.3 billion, comparable sales of -3.3%, and adjusted EPS of $11.87.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and VanEck Retail ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTH#NASDAQ">RTH</a>).
Price Action: LOW shares are down 0.31% at $269.28 at the last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/24/12/42270723/new-conservative-etf-aims-to-invest-in-sp-500-without-dei-were-going-to-deliver-that-mandate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Conservative ETF Aims To Invest In S&amp;P 500 Without DEI: &#8216;We&#8217;re Going To Deliver That Mandate&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Guidance

Lowe's Targets $1 Billion In Annual Savings And Expands Store Footprint To Drive Future Growth

A hiring freeze in October lifted market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, providing relief to U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/11/41684710/us-economy-adds-only-12-000-jobs-in-october-sharply-misses-estimates-as-hurricane-strikes-pummel-hir">stocks after Thursday's decline</a>. 
The U.S. economy added only 12,000 jobs in October, 211,000 fewer than in September. This marked the lowest monthly pace since December 2020 and sharply missed estimates of 113,000.
Market pricing now reflects a full probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut at next week's Federal Reserve meeting, with the likelihood of another cut in December surging to 85%, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hurricanes, Strikes Knock October Employment Down</h2>
Beyond the dismal October employment figures, which suggest a recession-like scenario, factors such as hurricanes and strikes have significantly disrupted hiring across the nation.
Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Gulf Coast on Sept. 26, followed by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, prompting widespread evacuations and disrupting multiple economic sectors.
"It is likely that payroll employment estimates in some industries were affected by the hurricanes; however, it is not possible to quantify the net effect on the over-the-month change in national employment, hours, or earnings estimates," the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated in its report.
Additionally, layoffs surged in manufacturing, rising to 46,000 — the highest since 2009, excluding the pandemic months of March and April 2020. "Manufacturing employment decreased by 46,000 in October, reflecting a decline of 44,000 in transportation equipment manufacturing largely due to strike activity," the BLS added.
Despite stagnant job growth in October, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, indicating that businesses remain committed to retaining their workforce.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Equity ETFs Rise On Rising Rate-Cut Bets</h3>
<ul>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), tracking the S&amp;P 500 index, rebounded 0.7% after Thursday&#8217;s 1.9% slump. </li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), replicating the Nasdaq 100, was 0.6% higher. </li>
<li>Small caps outperformed, with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soaring 1.2%. </li>
<li>The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#NASDAQ">MAGS</a>) rose 1.4%. On Thursday, it tumbled 3.9%, marking the sharpest 1-day drop since late July.</li>
<li>Sector-wise, the Consumer Discretionary&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) led gains, up over 2%, fueled by a 6% post-earnings rally from Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).</li>
<li>The Direxion Daily AMZN Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZU#NASDAQ">AMZU</a>) skyrocketed by 13%. </li>
<li>Rising expectations for Fed rate cuts fueled gains in real estate industries, with the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#NYSE">ITB</a>) rising 1.8%. </li>
<li>Semiconductors rebounded after tumbling by 3.9% on Thursday. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) rose 1.6%. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) was among the best performers following better-than-expected results. </li>
<li>The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) – the biggest physically-backed gold ETF – also rose 0.5%, rebounding after Thursday&#8217;s 1.6% decline. </li>
<li>The United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), which tracks West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude performance, gained 1% amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following Iran&#8217;s retaliatory attack on Israel. </li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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</ul>
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Stocks Rebound After Selloff As October Hiring Slump Fuels Interest Rate Cut Bets: 10 ETFs To Watch Friday

D.R. Horton, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) shares are trading lower after the company reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/b41594448/d-r-horton-inc-americas-builder-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-2024-earnings-and-increases-quar" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth-quarter results</a>.
Sales fell 5% year-over-year to&nbsp;$10.0 billion, missing the consensus of&nbsp;$10.2 billion.
Net sales orders increased&nbsp;1%&nbsp;to 19,035&nbsp;homes and&nbsp;decreased 2% in value at&nbsp;$7.1 billion.
Homebuilding revenue increased 2% to $9.0 billion. Homes closed in the quarter rose 3% to 23,647 homes.
Sales order backlog of homes under contract as of September 30, 2024, decreased&nbsp;20% to 12,180&nbsp;homes and&nbsp;19% in value to&nbsp;$4.8 billion.
D.R. Horton had 37,400&nbsp;homes in inventory, of which 25,700&nbsp;were unsold as of September 30, 2024.
EPS was&nbsp;$3.92,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">missing the consensus of&nbsp;$4.17.</a>
Return on equity (ROE) was&nbsp;19.9% for FY24, and homebuilding pre-tax return on inventory (ROI) was 27.8%.
The company&#8217;s operating cash flow totaled&nbsp;$2.2 billion in FY24. As of September 30, 2024, the cash balance was&nbsp;$4.5 billion, and the available capacity on its credit facilities was $3.1 billion, for a total liquidity of&nbsp;$7.6 billion.
D.R. Horton repurchased 3.4 million shares for&nbsp;$561.2&nbsp;million during the quarter. The company&#8217;s remaining stock repurchase authorization as of September 30, 2024,&nbsp;was&nbsp;$3.6 billion.
Subsequent to year-end, the company raised the quarterly dividend by 33% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable on November 19, 2024, to shareholders of record as of November 12, 2024.
FY25 Outlook: D.R. Horton expects revenue of $36.0 billion &#8211; $37.5 billion versus the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$39.4 billion</a>.
It expects homes closed to be 90,000 homes-92,000 homes for the year. DHI projects FY25 operating cash flow to be greater than fiscal 2024
The company expects&nbsp;dividend payments of around&nbsp;$500 million and share repurchases of ~$2.4 billion.
David Auld, Executive Chairman, said, &#8220;While mortgage rates have decreased from their highs earlier this year, many potential homebuyers expect rates to be lower in 2025. We believe that rate volatility and uncertainty are causing some buyers to stay on the sidelines in the near term.&#8221;
&#8220;To help spur demand and address affordability, we are continuing to use incentives such as mortgage rate buydowns, and we have continued to start and sell more of our homes with smaller floor plans.&#8221;
&#8220;The supply of both new and existing homes at affordable price points is still generally limited, and demographics supporting housing demand are favorable. With a focus on affordable product offerings, 37,400 homes in inventory and continued improvement in our construction cycle times, we are well positioned for fiscal 2025.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and&nbsp;Invesco Building &amp; Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKB#NYSE">PKB</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;DHI shares are down 10.2% at $162.00 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41317881/hurricane-milton-to-deliver-2-5b-blow-to-floridas-homebuilding-sector-goldman-sachs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane Milton To Deliver $2.5B Blow To Florida&#8217;s Homebuilding Sector, Goldman Sachs Says</a></li>
</ul>

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D.R. Horton Misses Q4 Estimates: Rising Inventory, FY25 Outlook Below Consensus Amid Cautious Homebuyers

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>) shares are trading lower after the company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/b41446207/pultegroup-reports-third-quarter-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported&nbsp;third-quarter results</a>.
Revenue stood at&nbsp;$4.48 billion, beating the consensus of&nbsp;$4.26 billion.
Reported home sale revenues rose&nbsp;12% to&nbsp;$4.3 billion, with higher revenues reflecting a 12% increase in closings to 7,924&nbsp;homes and an average sales price of&nbsp;$548,000 (flat Y/Y).
The gross margin for home sales stood at&nbsp;28.8%, vs. 29.5% a year ago.
Net new orders fell to 7,031&nbsp;from 7,065 homes last year. However, the dollar value of net new orders rose&nbsp;3%&nbsp;to&nbsp;$3.9 billion&nbsp;in the&nbsp;third quarter.
GAAP EPS of&nbsp;$3.35 beat the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$3.15</a>.
At the end of the&nbsp;third quarter, the company&#8217;s backlog was 12,089&nbsp; homes, valued at&nbsp;$7.7 billion.
The company ended the year with&nbsp;$1.5 billion of cash and a debt-to-capital ratio of&nbsp;12.3%.
During the quarter, the company repurchased 2.5&nbsp;million of its common shares for&nbsp;$320&nbsp;million, or an average price of&nbsp;$126.05 per share.
Ryan Marshall, PulteGroup President and CEO, said, &#8220;Years of underbuilding has created a structural shortage of homes and correspondingly high home prices, so the Federal Reserve&#8217;s pivot to lowering interest rates provides a powerful tool in helping to address the affordability challenge faced by today&#8217;s homebuyers.&#8221;
&#8220;Given our strong&nbsp;third quarter&nbsp;and nine-month financial results, we are well positioned to deliver a record year of earnings for the Company,&#8221; added Marshall.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and&nbsp;SMI 3Fourteen Full-Cycle Trend ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCTE#NASDAQ">FCTE</a>).
Price Action: PHM shares are down 5.8% at $135.90 at the last check Tuesday.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41317881/hurricane-milton-to-deliver-2-5b-blow-to-floridas-homebuilding-sector-goldman-sachs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane Milton To Deliver $2.5B Blow To Florida&#8217;s Homebuilding Sector, Goldman Sachs Says</a></li>
</ul>

FCTE

FTCE

PulteGroup Q3 Beats Estimates: Home Closings Up 12%, CEO Highlights Fed's Role in Addressing Affordability

Hurricane Milton could slow down new home construction in the state of Florida, which could have a negative impact on the overall <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/housing">U.S. housing market.</a>
What Happened: Hurricane Milton has left devastation in the state of Florida that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41254312/hurricane-milton-descends-on-florida-analysts-warn-of-impact-on-disney-nexteras-flo"> impacts multiple sectors</a> and will take time to clean up and restore portions of the state.
While portions of the cleanup effort will include the rebuilding and repair of existing homes, the hurricane could impact new homes built in Florida.
New home build permits could be delayed in portions of the state, while deliveries and orders could also be delayed on existing new homes. This could add costs to home builders who have large operations in the state of Florida, according to a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-10-10/hurricane-milton-strikes-florida?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">report</a>.
The report names Taylor Morrison Home Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMHC#NYSE">TMHC</a>), PulteGroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), Lennar Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) and D.R. Horton Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) as the home builders with the highest exposure in Florida.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41266095/hurricane-milton-knocks-out-power-for-over-2m-in-florida-nextera-energy-duke-energy-and-tampa-electr">Hurricane Milton Knocks Out Power For Over 2M In Florida, NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, And Tampa Electric Report Major Outages</a>
Why It's Important: Florida accounts for 14% of single-family home permits and ranks second for new homes in the U.S., according to a Bloomberg report.
A <a href="https://constructioncoverage.com/research/cities-investing-most-in-new-housing">report </a>from Construction Coverage highlights Florida as ranking fifth for new home builds. Among the large cities tracked for the most new home builds, Florida has three cities on the list.
Jacksonville ranks third, Orlando ranks seventh and Tampa ranks 12th.&nbsp;
Investors could soon get more details on the impact Hurricane Milton has on new home builds in the state of Florida. Pulte reports quarterly earnings on Oct. 22, Taylor Morrison reports on Oct. 23 and D.R. Horton reports on Oct. 29.
Lennar <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948948/homebuilder-lennar-reports-better-than-expected-q3-results-details">reported quarterly financial results </a>in September with revenue and earnings per share both beating estimates from analysts.
The company reported new orders were up 5% year-over-year to 20,587 homes and deliveries were up 16% year-over-year to 21,516 homes. Lennar reported a backlog of 16,944 homes worth an estimated $7.7 billion.
Outlooks from home builder companies could be conservative or guided down in the coming quarterly results and something investors should closely monitor.
The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) holds a basket of home building stocks with D.R. Horton (14.6%), Lennar (11.7%) and Pulte (7.8%) ranking first, second and fourth, respectively, in the fund by assets.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/24/09/41036750/new-us-single-family-home-sales-fall-from-prior-month-but-are-up-from-a-year-ago-as-mortgage-rat">New U.S. Single-Family Home Sales Fall From Prior Month — But Are Up From A Year Ago As Mortgage Rates Decline</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Markets

TMHC

Florida Is A Top State For New Home Builds — Could Hurricane Milton Slow It Down? 4 Homebuilder Stocks That Could Come Under Pressure

Sales of single-family homes fell last <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39465243/u-s-home-sales-decline-for-third-month-as-record-prices-pose-persistent-affordability-challenges-dur">month from July </a>but rose from a year ago as mortgage rates kept falling.
New single-family home sales fell 4.7% in August from the prior month to an annualized rate of 716,000, according to estimates released on Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
That was up 9.8% from an annualized rate of 652,000 home sales in August 2023.
The latest month-over-month decline was in contrast to a 10.3% jump in single-family home sales from June to July.
Single-family home sales fell the most from July to August in the West, falling 17.8% to an annualized rate of 152,000 in that region.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39398524/home-sales-suffer-third-worst-month-in-the-last-10-years">Home Sales Suffer Third Worst Month In The Last 10 Years</a>
Sales of all homes, which also included condominiums, townhomes and co-ops, slipped 2.5% from July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.86 million in August, according to latest figures from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Year-over-year sales for August declined 4.2% from 4.03 million in August 2023.
"Home sales were disappointing again in August, but the recent development of lower mortgage rates coupled with increasing inventory is a powerful combination that will provide the environment for sales to move higher in future months," NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said.
"The home-buying process, from the initial search to getting the house keys, typically takes several months."
The interest rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/41024067/mortgage-demand-soars-as-fed-interest-rate-cut-fuels-housing-market-revival-next-sp">two-year low of 6.13%</a>, a week after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points to mark the first Fed rate cut in four years.
Price Action: Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>), one of the largest homebuilders with a market cap of $49.5 billion, slipped 1.29% to close Wednesday at $181.86.
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) slipped 1.71%</li>
<li>Direxion Daily Homebuilders &amp; Supplies Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAIL#NYSE">NAIL</a>) fell 4.94%</li>
<li>AdvisorShares Gerber Kawasaki ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GK#NYSE">GK</a>) went up 0.17%</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/07/39909262/us-home-sales-see-sharpest-monthly-decline-in-1-5-years-as-record-high-prices-keep-buyers-on-the-s">US Home Sales See Sharpest Monthly Decline In 1.5 Years As Record High Prices Keep Buyers On The Sideline</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Floridastock via Shutterstock

REIT

NAIL

New US Single-Family Home Sales Fall From Prior Month — But Are Up From A Year Ago As Mortgage Rates Decline

New construction on single-family homes in the U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32926608/us-housing-starts-skyrocket-to-highest-level-since-2016-sign-of-strong-market-optimism-among-builder">jumped in August</a> as mortgage rates trend downward and the Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates on Wednesday for the first time in four years.
Single-family housing starts last month came in at an annualized rate of 992,000 units, up 15.8% from a revised figure of 857,000 for July, according to Commerce Department data released on Wednesday.
Starts for all privately-owned housing in August totaled an annualized rate of 1.356 million units, up 9.6% from the July revised estimate of 1.237 million and up 3.9% from the August 2023 rate of 1.305 million.
Single-family housing completions reached an annualized rate of 1.029 million in August, registering a 5.6% decline from July&#8217;s revised rate of 1.09 million.
Completions for all privately-owned homes in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.788 million, up 9.2% from the July revised estimate of 1.637 million and 30.2% above the July 2023 rate of 1.373 million.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37845734/housing-starts-rebound-lift-homebuilder-stocks-sign-of-economic-resilience">Housing Starts Rebound, Lift Homebuilder Stocks: Sign Of Economic Resilience</a>
Building permits also rose last month, Commerce Department data showed.
Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 967,000, up 2.8% from the revised July figure of 941,000.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,475,000. That&#8217;s up 4.9% from the July revised rate of 1.406 million but below the August 2023 rate of 1.578 million.
The average rate for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40921345/mortgage-rates-drop-to-2-year-low-refinancing-hits-fastest-pace-since-2022-rocket-lendingtree-among">30-year mortgages</a> fell 14 basis points in the week ended Sept. 13 to 6.15%, marking the lowest rate since September 2022, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The Federal Reserve is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40921827/fed-decision-is-here-5-things-investors-need-to-know-ahead-of-wednesdays-pivotal-in">expected to lower</a> its key interest rate ranging from 5% to 5.25% on Wednesday by either 25 or 50 basis points, signifying its first rate decline in four years.
Price Action: Homebuilders slid into Wednesday&#8217;s mid-day trading.
<ul>
<li>D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) slipped 0.86% to $193.67 </li>
<li>Pulte Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>) declined 0.41% to $139.88</li>
<li>NVR, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVR#NYSE">NVR</a>) went down 0.34% to $9,542.99</li>
</ul>
Exchange-traded funds that hold homebuilder stocks showed gains and losses.
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) declined 0.57%</li>
<li>Direxion Daily Homebuilders &amp; Supplies Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAIL#NYSE">NAIL</a>) fell 1.8%</li>
<li>Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUL#NYSE">BUL</a>) gained 0.2%</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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<li>&#8216;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/08/40666981/the-time-has-come-to-adjust-cheaper-mortgage-rates-could-be-just-weeks-away-but-it-all-hinges-on-thi">The Time Has Come to Adjust&#8217; — Cheaper Mortgage Rates Could Be Just Weeks Away, But It All Hinges On This Data</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Single-Family Housing Starts Are Up As Mortgage Rates Decline, Fed Eyes Lower Rates

The U.S. housing market has been tumultuous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/24/08/40259694/housing-inches-toward-buyers-market-as-mortgage-rates-fall-but-with-one-caveat-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">due to persistent interest rate hikes</a>.
However, an upward revision of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/08/40639345/traders-scale-back-bets-on-50-basis-point-september-rate-cut-ahead-of-fridays-key-fed-inflation-ga"> U.S. gross domestic product growth</a> in the second quarter has led speculators to reconsider their bets on a substantial 50-basis-point&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40627044/us-dollar-oil-prices-tech-stocks-rise-as-gdp-roars-by-3-in-q2-bonds-yen-slip-as-bets-for-large-r" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rate cut next month.</a>
With mortgage rates expected to decrease, experts advise homebuyers to act swiftly to secure the best deals before the opportunity closes.
Looking ahead, several dynamic trends are set to shape the housing market.
According to a <a href="https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/housing-market-forecast-for-next-5-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">note</a> by Norada Real Estate Investments, the market will remain strong over the next five years, though it will experience some dramatic shifts. Home prices are projected to continue rising, but at a slower pace than in recent years, offering a more gradual increase. While the supply of homes is expected to grow, addressing the previous shortage should ease the inventory crunch that has driven prices up.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40230627/a-ton-of-landlords-are-about-to-raise-rents-this-year" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Ton Of Landlords Are About To Raise Rents This Year</a>
Despite the Federal Reserve&#8217;s past rate hikes raising borrowing costs and dampening buyer enthusiasm, a gradual rate decline could rekindle demand and revitalize the market.
However, competition will remain fierce due to robust job growth, population expansion, and limited land availability.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2024 Forecast</h3>
The U.S. housing market is anticipated to slow, with home prices either stabilizing or seeing a slight decline. Zillow&#8217;s latest forecast for 2024 projects a 1.8% national increase in home values, indicating a period of market stability, Norada Real Estate Investments added.
Stock Opportunities
As home prices are expected to remain stable or increase modestly, homebuilders are likely to benefit from sustained demand and favorable conditions. This stability should support their revenue growth through ongoing construction and sales.
According to a June report by the<a href="https://www.nahb.org/blog/2024/06/pro-builder-housing-giants"> National Association of Home Builders</a>, the top three homebuilders by revenue, closings, and home types are:
<ul>
<li>D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>): DHI stock has surged over 58% in the past year. Wells Fargo recently raised its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DHI/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast </a>to $220 from $210 while maintaining an Overweight rating. Investors can consider the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) for exposure.</li>
<li>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>): LEN stock has risen more than 52% in the past year. Wells Fargo increased its price forecast to $195 from $185, also maintaining an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LEN/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overweight </a>rating. The AdvisorShares Gerber Kawasaki ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GK#NYSE">GK</a>) offers a way to invest in Lennar.</li>
<li>Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOL#NYSE">TOL</a>): TOL stock has jumped over 75% in the past year. Wedbush raised its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TOL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> price forecast</a> to $148 from $120, keeping a Neutral rating. The Invesco Dorsey Wright Consumer Cyclicals Momentum ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEZ#NASDAQ">PEZ</a>) provides investment exposure.</li>
</ul>
Overall, the U.S. housing market is poised for stability this year, with modest price increases and benefits for homebuilders. Prices are projected to rise 3-5% annually through 2029, while mortgage rates are expected to stabilize above pre-pandemic levels, Norada reported. This evolving landscape, marked by a shift towards suburban and rural demand and technological advancements, will require buyers and investors to remain informed and adaptable, the report added.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40649198/housing-market-in-biggest-bubble-of-all-time-warns-reventure-ceo-this-situation-is-not-sustainable" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Housing Market In &#8216;Biggest Bubble Of All Time,&#8217; Warns Reventure CEO: &#8216;This Situation Is Not Sustainable&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

General

PowerShares Dynamicnsumer Discretionary Sector Portfolio

Rate Cuts Coming: Is It The Perfect Time For Homebuyers To Strike Big Deals?

Certain exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, experienced a significant surge following Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s speech at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/24/08/40529209/jerome-powell-time-has-come-for-interest-rate-cuts-cooling-in-labor-market-unmistakable">the Jackson Hole Symposium</a>.
&#8220;The time has come for policy to adjust,&#8221; Powell said in a speech. 
The reassuring statement regarding upcoming rate cuts sparked a strong rally in the most interest rate-sensitive corners of the stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40530908/powells-rate-cut-signal-triggers-small-cap-rally-gold-makes-record-highs-dollar-tumbles-7-etfs-o">market during Friday&#8217;s session.</a> Here&#8217;s a look at three of the top-performing industry ETFs on Friday: regional banks, solar, and home builders.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40532443/strong-economy-doesnt-justify-4-rate-cuts-this-year-how-about-3-what-experts-are-saying">Strong Economy Doesn&#8217;t &#8216;Justify&#8217; 4 Rate Cuts This Year: How About 3? What Experts Are Saying</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1) Regional Banks</h2>
The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) surged 5% by 3:00 p.m. ET, setting up for its strongest session since December 2023. 
Notably, all 141 of its constituents posted gains, underscoring a broad-based rally across the regional banking industry. 
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EGBN#NYSE">EGBN</a>), United Community Banks Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UCB#NYSE">UCB</a>) and Valley National Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLY#NYSE">VLY</a>) were the strongest performers, up 10.6%, 9.6% and 8.7%, respectively.
Regional banks benefit from lower interest rates mainly because borrowing costs go down, resulting in higher loan demand among customers.
Additionally, U.S. regional banks can find a relief from decreased stress on their non-performing exposures, especially in commercial real estate, as reduced borrowing costs can encourage those firms to refinance their debt or invest in their businesses, thereby improving their ability to meet financial obligations.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2) Solar </h2>
The Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) soared 4.6% on Friday, marking its best session since late May 2024. 
Top gainers were Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOVA#NASDAQ">NOVA</a>) and SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEDG#NASDAQ">SEDG</a>) up 13.7% and 12.5%, respectively. 
Solar companies often require substantial upfront capital to finance the development and installation of solar projects. Lower interest rates reduce the cost of borrowing, making it cheaper for these companies to fund their projects.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3) Home Builders</h2>
The iShares Home Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#NYSE">ITB</a>) gained 3.8%, on track to close Friday&#8217;s session at fresh record highs. 
Top-performing names within this industry included Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLDR#NYSE">BLDR</a>), Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFH#NYSE">DFH</a>) and Arhaus, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARHS#NYSE">ARHS</a>), all screening gains above 7%. 
Increased housing demand due to more affordable mortgage rates and lower financing costs represent tailwinds for the home construction business. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: Regional Banks, Solar Energy, Home Builders Rally</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="459" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234-1024x459.png" alt="" class="wp-image-511618" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234-1024x459.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234-300x135.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234-768x344.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234-1536x689.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23150757/image-234.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent082324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a></figcaption></figure>
The market interpreted Powell&#8217;s remarks as a green light for the first interest rate cut at the imminent September Open Market Committee meeting. However, Powell provided no indications regarding the size of the cut or the future trajectory of interest rates.
Powell paved the way for a turnaround in companies most negatively impacted by the recent surge in interest rates. Markets had already fully priced in a September rate cut and over 85 basis points of cuts by year-end.
&#8220;Fed Chair Jerome Powell was dovish in his Jackson Hole&nbsp;speech&nbsp;today. He didn&#8217;t hedge. He didn&#8217;t push back against market expectations of several rate cuts ahead as we anticipated he might,&#8221; Ed Yardeni, president at Yardeni Research, commented. 
&#8220;Fed Chair Powell took a dovish tone at Jackson Hole, sounding more preemptive on the labor market and locking in a September cut,&#8221; Bank of America economist Aditya Bhave&nbsp;stated. 
Powell &#8220;struck a dovish tone on the labor market and more firmly emphasized that the Fed's tolerance for labor market cooling had reached its limits and any further weakening would be unwelcome," Goldman Sachs economist Jan Hatzius stated. 
Don&#8217;t miss the opportunity to dominate in a volatile market at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/small-cap/global-small-cap-conference-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga SmallCAP Conference</a> on Oct. 9-10 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Get exclusive access to CEO presentations, 1:1 meetings with investors, and valuable insights from top financial experts. Whether you&#8217;re a trader, entrepreneur, or investor, this event offers unparalleled opportunities to grow your portfolio and network with industry leaders. Secure your spot and get your tickets today!
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40532173/powell-removes-any-uncertainty-around-september-rate-cuts-in-jackson-hole-speech-economists">Powell Removes &#8216;Any Uncertainty&#8217; Around September Rate Cuts In Jackson Hole Speech: Economists</a></li>
</ul>

Mid Cap

Small Cap

ARHS

BLDR

EGBN

NOVA

SEDG

Powell's Dovish Stance Ignites Rally In Stocks Craving Lower Borrowing Costs: 3 ETFs Positioned For Fed Rate Cuts

Jerome Powell's interest rate remarks Friday ignited a rally in stocks, bonds, and commodities, while the U.S. dollar plunged as traders solidified their bets on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">rate cuts</a>.
Financial markets responded positively to Fed chair Powell&#8217;s remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium, where he said the &#8216;&#8221;time has come <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/24/08/40529209/jerome-powell-time-has-come-for-interest-rate-cuts-cooling-in-labor-market-unmistakable">for policy to adjust.&#8221;</a>
The Fed chair said he is more confident the economy is on a sustainable path back to the 2% inflation target, allowing the Fed to finally shift its focus to labor market conditions.
&#8220;We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,&#8221; he said, adding the Fed has &#8220;ample room to respond&#8221; by adjusting its policy should further weakening in labor market conditions occur.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">7 Key ETFs React To Powell&#8217;s Jackson Hole Speech</h3>
A greenback gauge, as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>), tumbled by 0.7% at 11 a.m. ET., extending its weekly decline to 1.4% — the worst performance it has recorded this year.
Driven by expectations of lower interest rates and a weakening dollar, gold prices surged to a new all-time high of $2,530 per ounce following the speech, with the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) climbing by 1.1%. 
Wall Street initially rallied before paring back some gains as traders assess the economic outlook.
Small caps, instead, substantially outperformed large-cap indices. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 2.9%, on track for its strongest session since July 16. 
Within sectors, real estate stocks rallied, with the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>) up 1.8%, hitting the highest levels since September 2022. 
Interest-rate sensitive industries saw significant gains following Powell&#8217;s remarks, with homebuilders, regional banks and miners leading the market.
The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) jumped 4.6%, while the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#NYSE">ITB</a>) climbed 3.2%, and the SPDR S&amp;P Metals &amp; Mining ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XME#NYSE">XME</a>) advanced 1.7%.
Don't miss the opportunity to dominate in a volatile market at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/small-cap/global-small-cap-conference-2024/">Benzinga SmallCAP Conference </a>Oct. 9-10 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="440" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232-1024x440.png" alt="" class="wp-image-511163" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232-1024x440.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232-300x129.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232-768x330.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232-1536x660.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/23110937/image-232.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Jerome Powell and Wall Street illustration. Photo: Federalreserve/Flickr Photo: Bylolo/Unsplash

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Powell's Rate Cut Signal Triggers Small-Cap Rally, Gold Makes Record Highs, Dollar Tumbles: 7 ETFs On The Move

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOL#NYSE">TOL</a>) CEO Douglas Yearley is expecting the demand for luxury homes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40489889/whats-going-on-with-toll-brothers-stock-wednesday">to remain robust</a> into 2025 after his high-end construction company posted solid third-quarter results on Tuesday.
&#8220;With mortgage rates at their lowest point in a year and trending lower, favorable demographics and continuing balance in the supply and demand of homes for sale, we are optimistic that demand for new homes will remain solid through the end of fiscal &#8217;24 and into 2025,&#8221; he said on Wednesday during a conference call with analysts.
He noted that demand was &#8220;uneven&#8221; throughout the quarter as May had a strong start that slowed in June, while July saw the highest demand, particularly in the latter half of the month.
&#8220;We are encouraged by demand trends we are seeing across the country and also across our buyer segments,&#8221; he said.
Demand was especially strong in the states of California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and in the urban areas of Atlanta, Boise, Las Vegas and Metro D.C., he said.
Toll Brothers posted adjusted EPS of $3.60 that exceeded Wall Street consensus of $3.31 and $2.73 billion in revenue that beat the analyst estimate of $2.71 billion.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/24/08/40447261/toll-brothers-q3-earnings-preview-will-kamala-harris-3-million-homes-plan-boost-homebuilde">Toll Brothers Q3 Earnings Preview: Will Kamala Harris&#8217; 3 Million Homes Plan Boost Homebuilder Stocks?</a>
But RBC Capital Markets pointed out that Toll Brothers&#8217; 11% rise in home orders to 2,490 units from a year ago fell well short of its expectation for a 26% jump in orders and Wall Street&#8217;s forecast of a 27% increase in orders. Meanwhile, the company&#8217;s gross margin of 27.6% beat RBC&#8217;s forecast of 26.4% and Street consensus of 26.3%.
&#8220;Net, the miss on orders and beat on GM% were both wider than expected,&#8221; analyst Mike Dahl wrote in a note.
Wedbush Securities noted that Toll Brothers&#8217; orders rose by double-digit percentages in the Midatlantic, South and Mountain regions but fell by single-digit percentages in the North and Pacific regions.
It also pointed out that Toll Brothers&#8217; sales absorption rate, which is the ratio of homes sold to homes available in a market during a period, of 2.1 homes per month was below Wedbush&#8217;s forecast of 2.3 homes per month.
&#8220;We expect absorption to decline to 1.9 orders/month in F4Q24 due to normal seasonality,&#8221; analyst Jay McCanless wrote in a note.
Price Action: Toll Brothers gained 5.62%, to close at $141.03 on Wednesday, along with gains across ETFs in the sector.
<ul>
<li>Invesco Dorsey Wright Consumer Cyclicals Momentum ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEZ#NASDAQ">PEZ</a>) rose 2.33%.</li>
<li>IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) went up 2.6%.</li>
<li>IShares Focused Value Factor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOVL#NYSE">FOVL</a>) gained 0.52%.</li>
<li>Themes US Small Cap Cash Flow Champions ETF (NASDFAQ: SMCF) edged up 0.64%.</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XHB#NYSE">XHB</a>) rose 2.9%.</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

FOVL

SMCF

Demand For High-End Homes 'Will Remain Solid' Into Next Year, Says Toll Brothers CEO

Homebuilder stocks surged to record highs on Friday, driven by a positive inflation report that cemented expectations for interest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">rate cuts in September.</a>
The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index — commonly referred to as the Fed&#8217;s favorite inflation measure — fell from 2.6% year-on-year to 2.5% in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/07/39983210/feds-preferred-inflation-measure-shows-mixed-readings-personal-income-spending-fa">June 2024, matching expectations. </a>
The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#NYSE">ITB</a>), a key basket tracking U.S. homebuilder equity performances, jumped 3.8%, marking its third consecutive week of gains. 
Chart: U.S. Home Construction ETF Reaches Record Highs
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="441" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50-1024x441.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459652" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50-1024x441.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50-300x129.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50-768x330.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50-1536x661.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102927/image-50.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image:<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> Benzinga Pro </a></figcaption></figure>
Over the past three weeks, U.S. homebuilder stocks have surged by more than 20%, spurred by the anticipation of lower interest rates benefiting rate-sensitive sectors like home construction.
Market participants are now fully pricing in a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, with expectations for at least one more reduction by December 2024. 
&#8220;Homebuilders are trading at the high-end of the&nbsp;historical&nbsp;valuation&nbsp;range, which we think is justified by higher return-on-equity (ROE). On average, we forecast 22% return-on-equity compared to the 2019 level of 20%,&#8221; Bank of America analyst Rafe Jadrosich wrote in a recent report. 
Historically, similar valuation levels in 2018 and 2021 led to sharp pullbacks as the Fed raised rates, Bank of America highlighted. However, the investment bank believes the scenario is different in the second half of 2024, with the Fed likely to begin cutting rates.
On Friday, Bank of America double-upgraded Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MHK#NYSE">MHK</a>) from Underperform to Buy and raised their price target from $120 to $177, following better-than-expected Q2 2024 earnings.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top-Performing Homebuilder Stocks In July 2024</h3>
The top ten best-performing stocks in the U.S. Home Construction ETF this month are:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Price Chg. % (MTD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mohawk Industries, Inc.</td>
<td>37.16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M/l Homes, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MHO#NYSE">MHO</a>)</td>
<td>35.92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green Brick Partners, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRBK#NYSE">GRBK</a>)</td>
<td>31.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMWD#NASDAQ">AMWD</a>)</td>
<td>28.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFH#NYSE">DFH</a>)</td>
<td>27.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JELD#NYSE">JELD</a>)</td>
<td>26.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBP#NYSE">IBP</a>)</td>
<td>26.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>)</td>
<td>26.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPH#NYSE">TPH</a>)</td>
<td>26.26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCS#NYSE">CCS</a>)</td>
<td>26.05%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As of July 26, 2024</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Latest Mortgage Rates, Housing Market Data</h3>
The Mortgage Bankers Association recently reported that the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $766,550 or less dropped by 5 basis points to 6.62% for the week<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/07/39931211/mortgage-rates-hit-lowest-point-since-february-as-investors-anticipate-fed-rate-cuts"> ending July 19, 2024.</a>
Despite the easing in borrowing costs, other housing market indicators remain bleak. 
Homebuilder confidence dipped to 42 in July, its lowest reading year-to-date, according to Bank of America.
 Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial, commented on the situation, stating, &#8220;The low supply of homes and high interest rates have depressed affordability to near-term lows.&#8221;
The National Association of Realtors reported a significant 5.4% decline in existing home sales for June, marking the worst monthly drop since 2022. 
Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that new single-family home sales fell 0.6% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 617,000 in June 2024, the lowest in seven months and below forecasts of 640,000, as high prices continued to affect affordability. 
The median sales price of existing homes rose 4.1% year-over-year, setting a new record high.
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AMWD

GRBK

JELD

Homebuilder Stocks Rally To Record Highs On Rate-Cut Frenzy But Housing Sales Still Struggle

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/b39901324/pultegroup-reports-second-quarter-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter&nbsp;FY24&nbsp;results</a>.
Revenue stood at&nbsp;$4.60 billion, beating the consensus of&nbsp;$4.491 billion.
Reported home sale revenues rose&nbsp;10%&nbsp;Y/Y to&nbsp;$4.4 billion, with higher revenues reflecting an&nbsp;8%&nbsp;Y/Y increase in closings to 8,097 homes and a 2%&nbsp;Y/Y rise in average sales price to $549,000.
The gross margin for home sales stood at&nbsp;29.9%, increasing by 30 basis points Y/Y, in the quarter.
Net new orders fell to 7,649 from 7,947 homes last year. However, the dollar value of net new orders rose 2% year-over-year to $4.4 billion in the second quarter.
GAAP EPS of&nbsp;3.83&nbsp;beat the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$3.26</a>.
At the end of the second quarter, the company&#8217;s backlog was 12,982 homes, valued at $8.1 billion. The company ended the year with&nbsp;$1.4 billion&nbsp;of cash and a debt-to-capital ratio of&nbsp;12.8%.
During the quarter, the company repurchased 2.8 million of its common shares for&nbsp;$314 million, or an average price of&nbsp;$113.79&nbsp;per share.
Ryan Marshall, PulteGroup President and CEO, said, &#8220;While interest rate movements can impact short-term homebuying demand, long-term market dynamics continue to benefit from a structural shortage of homes caused by years of underbuilding.&#8221;
&#8220;As demonstrated by our 27.1% return on equity for the past 12 months, we continue to successfully navigate these conditions by actively managing sales price, pace and starts on a community-by-community basis with the goal of realizing high returns on invested capital and equity over time.&#8221;
Yesterday, the company disclosed that Bob O&#8217;Shaughnessy, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer, plans to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/b39880849/pultegroup-cfo-bob-oshaughnessy-announces-plan-to-retire-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">retire at the end of 2025</a>.
PulteGroup has appointed Jim Ossowski, currently Senior Vice President of Finance, as the replacement.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and&nbsp;Invesco Building &amp; Construction ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKB#NYSE">PKB</a>).
Price Action: PHM shares were up&nbsp;2.61%&nbsp;at&nbsp;$128.92 premarket&nbsp;at last check Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Midjourney

Home Construction Company PulteGroup's Q2 Revenue and Earnings Soar Despite Rising Interest Rates: Details

Wall Street is currently witnessing the &quot;Great Rotation&quot; with investors shunning hot technology stocks in favor of smaller companies and other sectors. The combination of the Trump trade resurgence and the growing expectations of the Fed cutting rates in September has led to the rotation in the market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was underperforming, has gained 2.3% over the past week, outperforming the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite Index, which shed nearly 0.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The Russell 2000 small-cap index has risen 3.4% in a week. Value investing is also being favored by investors as it involves buying stocks or other financial assets that are believed to be undervalued or trading below their intrinsic worth.
Chances of Donald Trump winning in November have risen steadily in recent weeks. Trump favors higher tariffs, particularly on imports from China, that could potentially hurt semiconductor stocks. Technology names, which powered the bull market this year, have lost their sheen lately.
Trump prefers more deregulation, which will benefit the health insurance, energy and financial industries as well as small-cap companies. Proposed extensions of corporate and personal tax cuts could increase budget deficits and result in higher government borrowing. Consequently, longer-dated bond yields have surged lately, steepening the yield curve.
Inflation in the United States cooled in June to the slowest pace since 2021, spiking the bets for rate cuts as soon as possible. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell&#39;s latest comment that the Fed wouldn&#39;t wait for inflation to get to its 2% target before it began cutting rates also lent support to the rate cut bets. According to the CME FedWatch tool, traders now see a 100% chance of the Fed lowering rates in September.
Pint-sized companies have a higher level of debt, and lower rates generally lead to reduced borrowing costs. This helps small businesses to expand their operations more easily and results in increased profitability. A rate cut after two years of tightening would be a big relief for banks, which have been struggling with the impact of high rates on their profits and their borrowers. While lower rates can compress net interest margins for banks, it will encourage lending and potentially lead to increased consumer and business loan activity.
High-dividend-yield sectors such as utilities and real estate will be the biggest beneficiaries of rate cuts, given their sensitivity to interest rates. This is especially true as these offer higher returns due to their outsized yields. In real estate, lower rates can boost housing market activity by making mortgages more affordable.
Given the great rotation, some ETFs, which were depressed this year, have started to gain momentum and hit new 52-week highs in the latest trading session. We have highlighted them in detail below:
Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Pure Value ETF (ARCA:RZV) &ndash; 52-Week High: $110.00
Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Pure Value ETF offers exposure to the stocks of companies that exhibit strong value characteristics by tracking the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Pure Value Index. It holds 143 stocks in its basket, with key holdings in financials, consumer discretionary and industrials sectors.
Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Pure Value ETF has AUM of $254.6 million and trades in an average daily volume of 12,000 shares. It charges 35 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold).
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLF) &ndash; 52-Week High: $44.11
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF seeks to provide exposure to 71 companies in diversified financial services, insurance, banks, capital markets, mortgage real estate investment trusts, consumer finance, and thrifts and mortgage finance industries. It follows the Financial Select Sector Index, charging investors 9 bps in fees per year.
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund is an ultra-popular ETF with AUM of $43 billion and trades in an average daily volume of 34 million shares. It carries a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itb#BATS">ITB</a>) &ndash; 52-Week High: $118.66
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF provides exposure to U.S. companies that manufacture residential homes by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index.
With an AUM of $2.8 billion, iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF holds a basket of 44 stocks, with a heavy concentration on the top two firms. The product charges 40 bps in annual fees and trades in a heavy volume of around 2 million shares a day, on average. iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF has a Zacks ETF Rank #3.
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (ARCA:IYR) &ndash; 52-Week High: $94.88
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF offers exposure to the country&#39;s real estate companies and REITs, which invest in real estate directly and trade like stocks. It follows the Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Capped Index. iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF holds a basket of 71 securities with key holdings in telecom tower REITs, industrial REITs and retail REITs. It has amassed $3.4 billion in its asset base while trading in a heavy volume of 4.2 million shares a day on average.
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF charges 40 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3.
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF (ARCA:MGV) &ndash; 52-Week High: $124.31
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF follows the CRSP US Mega Cap Value Index, which measures the performance of the largest value stocks in the U.S. market. It holds 134 stocks in its basket, with key holdings in financials, healthcare, industrials and technology sectors.
Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF has amassed $8 billion and trades in an average daily volume of 170,000 shares. It charges 7 bps in fees per year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a Medium risk outlook.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2305429/5-etfs-making-the-most-of-the-great-market-rotation?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2305429">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Events

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Real Estate Fund Index

Rydex ETF Trust S&P Smallcap 600 Pure Value ETF

5 ETFs Making the Most of the Great Market Rotation

D.R. Horton, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/b39833823/d-r-horton-inc-americas-builder-reports-fiscal-2024-third-quarter-earnings-and-declares-quarterly-" rel="noreferrer noopener">third-quarter&nbsp;FY24 results</a>.
Sales grew&nbsp;2%&nbsp;Y/Y to&nbsp;$10.0 billion, beating the consensus of&nbsp;$9.77 billion. Net sales orders increased 1% Y/Y to 23,001 homes and&nbsp;were flat in value at $8.7 billion.
Homes closed in the quarter increased 5% Y/Y to 24,155 homes and 6% in value to $9.2 billion.
Sales order backlog of homes under contract as of June 30, 2024, decreased&nbsp;12%&nbsp;to 16,792 homes and&nbsp;12%&nbsp;in value to&nbsp;$6.6 billion.
D.R. Horton had 42,600 homes in inventory, of which 26,200 were unsold as of June-end.
EPS was&nbsp;$4.10&nbsp;(+5%&nbsp;Y/Y),&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of&nbsp;$3.78.</a>
Return on equity (ROE) was&nbsp;21.5%&nbsp;for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2024, and homebuilding return on inventory (ROI) was&nbsp;29.5%.
The company&#8217;s net cash used in operations for the nine months totaled&nbsp;$228.2&nbsp;million. Consolidated cash balance was&nbsp;$3.0 billion, and available capacity on its credit facilities was&nbsp;$2.8 billion, for a total liquidity of&nbsp;$5.8 billion.
Buyback: D.R. Horton repurchased 3.0 million shares of common stock for&nbsp;$441.4 million&nbsp;during the quarter. The company&#8217;s remaining stock repurchase authorization on June 30 was&nbsp;$459.7 million.
In July 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program of up to $4.0 billion, replacing the previous authorization. This new authorization has no expiration date.
Dividend: Subsequent to quarter end, D.R. Horton declared a quarterly dividend per share of $0.30, payable on August 8 to stockholders of record on August 1.
FY24 Outlook: D.R. Horton revised&nbsp;the outlook&nbsp;for revenue to&nbsp;$36.8 billion-$37.2 billion (from $36.7 billion&nbsp;to&nbsp;$37.7 billion) vs. the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$36.972 billion</a>.
It now expects homes closed to be 90,000 to 90,500 (prior view<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38315651" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 89,000 to 91,000 homes</a>).
DHI reiterated cash provided by operations&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of around&nbsp;$3.0 billion&nbsp;and currently expects share repurchases of ~$1.8 billion.
David Auld, Executive Chairman, said, &#8220;Although inflation and mortgage interest rates remain elevated, the supply of both new and existing homes at affordable price points is still limited, and demographics supporting housing demand continue to be favorable.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) and&nbsp;SMI 3Fourteen Full-Cycle Trend ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCTE#NASDAQ">FCTE</a>).
Price Action: DHI shares are up 6.2% at $167.15 at the last check Thursday.
Image via Shutterstock

Builder D.R. Horton Beats On Q3 Earnings, Authorizes $4B Stock Buyback, Tightens FY24 Home Sales Forecast & More

As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/39583371">cities in the U.S. continue to break their historical heat records</a>, workers, lawmakers and businesses across the country are launching a debate: should the state grant protections for workers in extreme heat conditions?
Most of the country has been under heat alerts since rising temperatures began breaking comfortable levels in early July.
On Tuesday, meteorologists began warning people living in Midwestern and East Coast states. An upcoming heat wave is expected to break records in many cities, putting 140 million Americans under heat alert.
Earlier this month, at least 50 cities saw their historical heat records broken by a heat wave that affected most of the Southwest. Palm Springs, California and Las Vegas reached 124 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2024/07/11/temperature-records-heat-wave-west/74372547007/">USA Today </a>reported.
Many cities and localities in the East Coast are expected to surpass their historical average highs on this week.
The trend is global, with the last 13 months marking the highest temperatures on record for that month, according to official EU data from the Copernicus Programme.
The upcoming heat wave in the U.S. is expected to be dangerously lethal. At least 28 people have died this summer due to extreme heat events, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/07/10/heat-wave-us-death-toll/">report</a> by the Washington Post.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Should Workers Have Federal, State Protections For Heat Risk?</h3>
Rising temperatures across the globe are forcing people to change their living habits, including how many hours of the day they can spend outside without air conditioning.
This has serious consequences for work, especially in sectors that require workers to be exposed to high temperatures under the sun for an extended period of time.
These encompass delivery and postal workers, the construction and agriculture sectors as well as those working in infrastructure repairs and gardening in urban environments, among others.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/39799850">5 Things You Might Not Know About J.D. Vance: &#8216;Hillbilly Elegy&#8217; Author, Bitcoin Holder, First Millennial VP Pick And More</a>
Health risks for workers include "heat exhaustion and heat stroke, occupational injuries from high heat exposure such as burns or falls from dizziness, and exacerbation of preexisting conditions such as asthma, kidney disease, or heart disease," according to reports by the Center for Disease Control and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Earlier this month, the Biden administration proposed a new rule that, for the first time, could introduce protections for workers exposed to health risks due to rising heat levels, whether outdoors or indoors.
The proposal comes from OSHA, and outlines actions that employers should take to protect their employees from heat risks. If finalized, the rule could add protections for 35 million employees nationwide.
"The purpose of this rule is simple. It is to significantly reduce the number of work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses suffered by workers who are exposed to excessive heat and exposed to these risks while simply doing their jobs," an administration official told reporters on a press call, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/07/02/osha-workers-extreme-heat-protections/">according</a> to the Post.
The rule would introduce actions that employers must fulfill if the weather passes two specific temperature marks. Above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must offer drinking water and break areas, as well as plan out the work schedule in an incremental rhythm for the bodies of workers to adapt to the heat.
At 90 degrees, employees must be monitored for signs of heat illness and take mandatory 15-minute breaks every two hours.
No federal heat protection law is in place, and only five states exercise worker safety precautions: California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington.
The timeline for OSHA's proposal would make it final by 2026. Its rollout will largely <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/39780356/trumps-2024-election-betting-odds-hit-record-high-after-assassination-attempt-payouts-for-ex-pre">depend on who wins the U.S. presidency in November</a>. A victory for Donald Trump would likely threaten its existence.
High-profile Republicans have voiced opposition to worker protections for heat risk. Republicans have traditionally stood against policies related to climate change that are liable to impact businesses or industries.
In Florida, where some of the highest temperatures in the country have registered in recent years, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, recently signed a piece of legislation barring local governments from raising protections for workers exposed to heat.
Texas had passed a similar bill the previous year, which was dubbed the "Death Star law." The bill was ruled unconstitutional by a judge, after Houston, El Paso and San Antonio presented lawsuits against it.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Industry Impacts</h3>
Progressive voices like the Center for American Progress have written that exposing workers to heat risk can have bad consequences for the economy, including "lost worker productivity, increased health care costs and worker compensation claims, and threats to workers' financial stability from missing work."
For conservatives, adding protections for workers can reduce productivity for businesses and lead to a loss in competitiveness.
Business groups lobbying against the OSHA rule argue that trigger temperatures proposed by the rule should not be set as a blanket policy nationwide, as workers from different parts of the country have different tolerance thresholds for heat.
For workers in Florida, "an 80-degree threshold for them isn't going to be considered hot," said Prianka Sharma, vice president and counsel for regulatory affairs for The American Road &amp; Transportation Builders Association.
Multiple ETFs follow industries that can be affected by changes in policy around heat risk.
iShares US Home Construction ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITB#BATS">ITB</a>) is the largest ETF by total assets following the construction industry. It's followed by SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XHB#NYSE">XHB</a>) and the Invesco Building &amp; Construction ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKB#NYSE">PKB</a>).
Agriculture is another major sector that affected by the heat issue. The Invesco DB Agriculture Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBA#NYSE">DBA</a>) leads the list by total assets, with Teucrium Wheat Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEAT#NYSE">WEAT</a>) and First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strat ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAAR#NASDAQ">FAAR</a>) next.
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Shutterstock image.

Politics

First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF

FAAR

WEAT

Scorching Heat Breaks Records, But 2024 Election Outcome May Hold Worker Protections Hostage

Inflation in the United States cooled down in June for the third consecutive month. The Consumer Price Index rose just 3% year over year last month, down from an annual growth of 3.3% in May. On a monthly basis, the index declined 0.1% from May&#39;s flat reading. This marked the first monthly drop in inflation since 2020 and the slowest annual price gain since March 2021.
The so-called core inflation, which strips out volatile components such as food and energy prices, rose only 0.1% over the prior month, the lowest monthly core reading since August 2021, and 3.3% from the year-ago month. Both numbers are down from May&#39;s reading of 0.2% monthly growth and 3.4% annual growth.
Following the encouraging inflation data, markets priced in a roughly 89% chance that the Fed will begin to cut rates at its September meeting, up from 75% a day prior, according to data from the CME Group. This has deepened the market&#39;s confidence that the Fed would begin cutting interest rates in September, leading to a sector rotation from the hot technology sector to the laggards that could benefit from falling rates like industrials and small caps.
In particular, the small-cap Russell 2000, which has significantly lagged this year, jumped 3.4% to a more than three-month high. The S&amp;P 500 real Estate index jumped 2.8%, trimming its year-to-date losses to 1%. As such, ETFs from some beaten-down corners of the market saw smooth trading following the inflation data. These include iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itb#BATS">ITB</a>), Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (ARCA:PBW), Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF (ARCA:BBC), iShares Micro-Cap ETF (ARCA:IWC) and SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (ARCA:KRE).
<h3>Why Sector Rotation?</h3>
Small-cap stocks surged amid expectations that rate cuts would improve conditions for these companies. This is especially true as lower rates will lead to reduced borrowing costs, which help businesses expand their operations more easily, resulting in increased profitability. Many small and mid-caps companies have more floating debt than their larger counterparts.
High-dividend-yield sectors such as utilities and real estate will be the biggest beneficiaries of the rate cuts, given their sensitivity to interest rates. This is especially true as these offer higher returns due to their outsized yields. In real estate, lower rates can boost housing market activity by making mortgages more affordable. Additionally, securities in capital-intensive sectors like telecom will also benefit from lower rates. Businesses will also face lower loan rates over time.
Lower rates will also have a positive impact on consumer discretionary and financial services. Reduced borrowing costs can lead to increased consumer spending for consumer discretionary sectors. In the financial sector, while lower rates can compress net interest margins for banks, they can also encourage lending and potentially lead to increased consumer and business loan activity.
<h3>ETFs in Focus</h3>
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF &ndash; Up 6.2%
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF provides exposure to U.S. companies that manufacture residential homes by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index.
With an AUM of $2.5 billion, iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF holds a basket of 44 stocks, with a heavy concentration on the top two firms. The product charges 40 bps in annual fees and trades in a heavy volume of around 2 million shares a day, on average. iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a High risk outlook.
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF &ndash; Up 5.8%
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF offers exposure to companies that are publicly traded in the United States and engaged in the business of advancement of cleaner energy and conservation. It follows the WilderHill Clean Energy Index and holds 71 stocks in its basket.
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF has amassed $296.2 million in its asset base and trades in a solid volume of around 383,000 shares a day. It charges investors 66 bps in fees per year.
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF &ndash; Up 5.4%
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF offers exposure to companies with promising drugs in clinical human trials that have not yet been approved by the FDA or gone into production. It follows the LifeSci Biotechnology Clinical Trials Index and holds 104 securities in its basket, with none accounting for more than 2.9% share.
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF amassed $10.5 million in its asset base and charges 79 bps in fees per year from its investors. It trades in an average daily volume of 4,000 shares and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a High risk outlook.
iShares Micro-Cap ETF &ndash; Up 4.9%
iShares Micro-Cap ETF offers exposure to very small public U.S. companies by tracking the Russell Microcap Index. It holds a large basket of 1,476 stocks with each accounting for no more than 0.5% of assets. IWC has key holdings in healthcare, financials, industrials and information technology with double-digit exposure each.
iShares Micro-Cap ETF has amassed $788.3 million in its asset base and trades in a volume of 27,000 shares a day on average. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook.
SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF &ndash; Up 4.2%
SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF provides exposure to the regional banks segment by tracking the S&amp;P Regional Banks Select Industry Index. It holds 141 stocks in its basket, with each accounting for no more than 2.4% of the assets.
SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF has AUM of $2.4 billion and charges 35 bps in annual fees. It trades in an average daily volume of 12 million shares and has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) with a High risk outlook.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2300847/inflation-cools-in-june-triggers-spike-in-laggard-etfs?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2300847">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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