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5 Top Stocks to Buy Now on Renewed Homebuilder Confidence
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Homebuilder sentiment ticked up recently as buyers’ demand overshadowed headwinds. A growing economy and record low unemployment rate boosted housing demand. At the same time, the cost of lumber is falling, which is enhancing builders’ confidence.
The broader construction industry, by the by, is also hiring on a large scale, reflecting the housing market’s underlying strength.
U.S. Homebuilder Sentiment Rises
Builder confidence unexpectedly rose in October after gain was recorded for the first time in five months. Per the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo (“NAHB”), the monthly confidence index went up one point to 68 in October. Any reading above 50 shows improvement.
The index’s three sub-gauges, current sales condition ticked up one point to 74, and expectations for sales over the next six months rose one point to 75. The gauge of buyer traffic witnessed the largest gain, up four points to 53.
Why Builders are Feeling Better?
Builders are motivated by solid housing demand, fueled by a growing economy and one of the strongest job markets in decades. Currently the components of the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index indicate a 3% or more growth rate in GDP in the final two quarters of the year. Notably, the economy, has already expanded at a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2% in the April-June quarter, per the Commerce Department. This marked the strongest rise since the 4.3% annual gain recorded in the third quarter of 2014. U.S. unemployment rate, in the meantime, fell to a 49-year low of 3.7% in September, the lowest since December 1969, per the Labor Department (read more: American Labor Market Hale and Hearty: Top 5 Winners).
Housing demand, in fact, is expected to improve further in the near term. After all, summertime underperformance due to concerns of a housing slowdown may now lead to a “hope trade”, where investors will buy housing-related stocks in winter and early spring in anticipation of a bounce back in demand. Raymond James analyst Buck Horne added that on an average this phenomenon helped homebuilders to outdo the broader S&P 500 by 14% in the last 33 years.
Builders are also relieved to see that lumber prices recently have tanked nearly 50% since reaching a record in May. Robert Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist added that lumber prices continue to decline because supplies are rising, which has already increased 5% in the first four months of this year. Thus, these tailwinds are a blessing in disguise for homebuilders among rising home prices and borrowing costs.
Construction Hiring is Booming
Another sign that the market for newly-built homes may be regaining steam is that a lot of hiring is taking place in the broader construction industry. This is a telltale sign that the housing market is in an expansion mode and definitely in a good shape.
Per the Labor Department, employers have added 23,000 new construction jobs in September, while the industry has added 315,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
Even pay and perks are also quite encouraging. Last month, average hourly earnings for construction workers were $30.18, more than $27.24 earned by all workers. Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, a trade group reiterated that “the construction industry added workers and increased pay in the past year at rates higher than the overall economy.”
5 Top Picks
Given the aforesaid positives, investing in housing-related stocks that can make the most of the improved homebuilder sentiment seems judicious. We have, thus, selected five such stocks that carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Toll Brothers, Inc. (TOL - Free Report) designs, builds, markets, and arranges finance for detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been raised 1.8% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a solid 57.3% and 44.2%, respectively.
Fastenal Company’s (FAST - Free Report) products such as bolts, nuts, screws, studs and related washers are used in manufactured products and building projects. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been revised 0.8% upward in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is 33.3% and 33.2%, respectively.
American Woodmark Corporation (AMWD - Free Report) manufactures and distributes kitchen, bath and home organization products for the remodeling and new home construction markets in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been raised 1.1% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is an encouraging 58.5% and 45.4%, respectively. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (HVT - Free Report) is a full-service home furnishings retailer in the Southern and Midwestern regions in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.7% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a promising 32.1% and 11.2%, respectively.
RH (RH - Free Report) operates as a retailer in the home furnishings. It offers products in various categories, including furniture and lighting. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been revised 14.7% up in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a solid 21.2% and 150.7%, respectively.
5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.
New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.
Image: Bigstock
5 Top Stocks to Buy Now on Renewed Homebuilder Confidence
Homebuilder sentiment ticked up recently as buyers’ demand overshadowed headwinds. A growing economy and record low unemployment rate boosted housing demand. At the same time, the cost of lumber is falling, which is enhancing builders’ confidence.
The broader construction industry, by the by, is also hiring on a large scale, reflecting the housing market’s underlying strength.
U.S. Homebuilder Sentiment Rises
Builder confidence unexpectedly rose in October after gain was recorded for the first time in five months. Per the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo (“NAHB”), the monthly confidence index went up one point to 68 in October. Any reading above 50 shows improvement.
The index’s three sub-gauges, current sales condition ticked up one point to 74, and expectations for sales over the next six months rose one point to 75. The gauge of buyer traffic witnessed the largest gain, up four points to 53.
Why Builders are Feeling Better?
Builders are motivated by solid housing demand, fueled by a growing economy and one of the strongest job markets in decades. Currently the components of the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index indicate a 3% or more growth rate in GDP in the final two quarters of the year. Notably, the economy, has already expanded at a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2% in the April-June quarter, per the Commerce Department. This marked the strongest rise since the 4.3% annual gain recorded in the third quarter of 2014. U.S. unemployment rate, in the meantime, fell to a 49-year low of 3.7% in September, the lowest since December 1969, per the Labor Department (read more: American Labor Market Hale and Hearty: Top 5 Winners).
Housing demand, in fact, is expected to improve further in the near term. After all, summertime underperformance due to concerns of a housing slowdown may now lead to a “hope trade”, where investors will buy housing-related stocks in winter and early spring in anticipation of a bounce back in demand. Raymond James analyst Buck Horne added that on an average this phenomenon helped homebuilders to outdo the broader S&P 500 by 14% in the last 33 years.
Builders are also relieved to see that lumber prices recently have tanked nearly 50% since reaching a record in May. Robert Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist added that lumber prices continue to decline because supplies are rising, which has already increased 5% in the first four months of this year. Thus, these tailwinds are a blessing in disguise for homebuilders among rising home prices and borrowing costs.
Construction Hiring is Booming
Another sign that the market for newly-built homes may be regaining steam is that a lot of hiring is taking place in the broader construction industry. This is a telltale sign that the housing market is in an expansion mode and definitely in a good shape.
Per the Labor Department, employers have added 23,000 new construction jobs in September, while the industry has added 315,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
Even pay and perks are also quite encouraging. Last month, average hourly earnings for construction workers were $30.18, more than $27.24 earned by all workers. Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, a trade group reiterated that “the construction industry added workers and increased pay in the past year at rates higher than the overall economy.”
5 Top Picks
Given the aforesaid positives, investing in housing-related stocks that can make the most of the improved homebuilder sentiment seems judicious. We have, thus, selected five such stocks that carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Toll Brothers, Inc. (TOL - Free Report) designs, builds, markets, and arranges finance for detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been raised 1.8% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a solid 57.3% and 44.2%, respectively.
Fastenal Company’s (FAST - Free Report) products such as bolts, nuts, screws, studs and related washers are used in manufactured products and building projects. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been revised 0.8% upward in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is 33.3% and 33.2%, respectively.
American Woodmark Corporation (AMWD - Free Report) manufactures and distributes kitchen, bath and home organization products for the remodeling and new home construction markets in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been raised 1.1% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is an encouraging 58.5% and 45.4%, respectively. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (HVT - Free Report) is a full-service home furnishings retailer in the Southern and Midwestern regions in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 0.7% in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a promising 32.1% and 11.2%, respectively.
RH (RH - Free Report) operates as a retailer in the home furnishings. It offers products in various categories, including furniture and lighting. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been revised 14.7% up in the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter and current year is a solid 21.2% and 150.7%, respectively.
5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.
New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.
Click here to see the 5 stocks >>