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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Meritage Homes, M.D.C. Holdings, PulteGroup, M/I Homes, and TRI Pointe

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 14, 2020 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH - Free Report) , M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC - Free Report) , PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM - Free Report) , M/I Homes, Inc. (MHO - Free Report) and TRI Pointe Group, Inc. (TPH - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

5 Top Homebuilder Stocks with More Room for Growth

The homebuilding industry has been on a tear lately after being stalled by the coronavirus pandemic. The twin tailwinds of tumbling mortgage rates and higher demand for new homes have been driving the stocks higher in the industry. In fact, the S&P 500’s home-building sub industry index hit its first record in 15 years on Aug 10 and more than doubled from the lows reached in late March.

Mortgage rates have been on a declining trend. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.88% for the week ending Aug 6, down from 2.99% the week before and 3.6% a year ago. This level is the lowest in its survey’s history dating back to 1971. Record-low mortgage rates are encouraging people to buy more homes and have made refinance cheaper. This trend is likely to continue at least this year on the Fed’s easy money policy and provide a boost to the homebuilder stocks.

Homebuilder confidence has also been rising. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index jumped back to the pre-pandemic high in July. Additionally, new homes sales in June hit the highest level since July 2007 while existing home sales jumped the most on record. Mortgage applications to purchase a new home were up more than 50% annually in June.

A slew of stronger-than-expected earnings added to the strength lately. Moreover, homebuilders are currently well placed, belonging to a top-ranked Zacks industry (placed at the top 8% of 250+ industries), suggesting a solid outlook. However, labor shortage, rising construction costs and high unemployment could remain as causes of concern.

Given the bullish trend, we have presented five stocks that have easily led the way higher over the past three months. These stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), suggesting their continued outperformance. Further, these stocks have a favorable Growth Score of B or better and positive estimated double-digit earnings growth for this year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Meritage Homes – Up 57.5%

With a market cap of $3.7 billion, Meritage Homes is one of the leading designers and builders of single-family homes. The company has seen a positive earnings estimate revision of $3.80 for this year over the past three months and has an expected earnings growth rate of 42.8%. It sports a Growth Score of A.

M.D.C. Holdings – Up 45.7%

It is engaged in homebuilding and financial service businesses in the United States. The stock has seen a positive earnings estimate revision of $1.73 for this year over the past three months and has an expected earnings growth rate of 26.1%. It has a market cap of $2.7 billion and a Growth Score of B.

PulteGroup – Up 45.1%

This company is engaged in homebuilding and financial services businesses, primarily in the United States. The company has seen a positive estimate revision of 93 cents for this year over the past three months and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.1%. It has a market cap of $11.9 billion and a Growth Score of B.

MI Homes – Up 44%

MI Homes is one of the nation's leading builders of single-family homes. It has seen a solid earnings estimate revision of $3.02 for this year over the past three months and has an expected growth rate of 36.7%. MI Homes has a market cap of $1.2 billion and a Growth Score of A.

TRI Pointe Group – Up 40.2%

This company is involved in the design, construction and sale of single-family homes. It has a market cap of $2.2 billion and has witnessed a positive earnings estimate revision of 40 cents for this year in the past three months. TRI Pointe Group has estimated earnings growth of 12.2%. The stock has a Growth Score of A.

These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.

Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.

See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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