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Why MDC is a Profitable Pick for Investors Amid Industry Woes
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Since the start of 2021, the Zacks Construction sector as a whole has been grappling with supply chain disruptions as well as labor and raw materials shortage. Also, rising inflation, particularly for materials and transportation, and the Fed’s expectation of future interest rate hikes are adding to the woes.
On Mar 16, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reported two points decline in the builder confidence for newly-built single-family homes to 79 in March. This reflects its third consecutive monthly fall.
To mitigate these macro headwinds, M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. and other homebuilders like Lennar Corporation (LEN - Free Report) , PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM - Free Report) , D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI - Free Report) have undertaken various price actions as well as cost-saving moves. These companies are currently observing price-cost neutrality, which will certainly reduce cost pressure on the bottom line.
MDC — a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company — has been benefiting from the robust build-to-order process, relentless land acquisitions and efforts to provide affordable homes. Also, robust housing demand is working as a catalyst for its growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Although shares of MDC have declined 24% compared with the Zacks Building Products - Home Builders industry’s 21.9% fall so far this year, earnings estimates for 2022 have moved up 13.8% over the past 30 days. The bottom-line estimate of $10.61 indicates 35.5% year-over-year growth. Also, the company currently has a Value Score of A.
This positive trend signifies bullish analyst sentiments and justifies the company’s solid rank, indicating robust fundamentals and the expectation of outperformance in the near term.
Build-To-Order Approach: The build-to-order approach facilitates its buyers with a huge range of choices in major aspects of their future home and personalized customer experience through in-house community teams. This approach is also known as “dirt sales”. It highly prioritizes customers by giving them the opportunity to customize their options according to their preferences and affordability.
MDC is also banking on the “spec homes” strategy, which enables it to improve efficiency and reduce inventory risk. Under this process, the company limits the number of homes started without a contract and initiates construction only after a purchase agreement has been executed. During 2021, it witnessed strong sales growth, primarily driven by a robust build-to-order operating model.
Focus on Entry-Level Buyers: This homebuilding company is focused on growing demand for entry-level homes and addressing the need for lower-priced homes, given affordability concerns in the U.S. housing market. MDC has been rapidly benefiting from the successful execution of strategic initiatives to boost profitability, with a focus on entry-level homes. Of late, the company has been closely observing the price appreciation of new homes across the country and is continuously trying to address the issue by providing housing options to new home buyers at a reasonable price.
Accretive Land Acquisitions: MDC’s growth strategy is largely dependent on land acquisitions. The company follows a systematic strategy of acquiring lots. During 2021, it spent $1.9 billion on land acquisition and development, up from $1.3 billion a year ago. At 2021-end, the company supplied more than 38,000 lots, reflecting a 29% increase from the year-ago period. Also, it closed 5,304 lots during fourth-quarter 2021. The ongoing acquisition strategy eventually helped the company build and deliver homes on immediate demand.
Improved Housing Market: Lower mortgage rates have been driving the U.S. residential market over the past few months. Furthermore, demand for new single-family homes has seen a V-shaped recovery throughout the country and MDC is not an exception. The rising work-from-home trend and fear of future interest rate hikes are prompting many families to choose new and spacious homes, thereby boosting demand.
Although the recent industry parameters that give a clear picture of housing market conditions are somewhat depressed, January’s solid job data and construction spending numbers are encouraging.
Discussion of the Above-Mentioned Stocks
Lennar: This well-known homebuilder is benefiting from effective cost control and focus on making its homebuilding platform more efficient, leading to higher operating leverage.
Lennar’s earnings for fiscal 2022 are expected to rise 10.9% year over year to $15.82 per share.
PulteGroup: This Atlanta-based homebuilder has been benefiting from a prudent land investment strategy, focus on entry-level buyers and returning more free cash flow to shareholders. PulteGroup’s annual land acquisition strategies have been resulting in improved volumes, revenues and profitability for quite some time now. The company has been reaping benefits from the successful execution of strategic initiatives to boost profitability, with a focus on entry-level homes.
Earnings for 2022 are expected to increase 38.6% year over year.
D.R. Horton: This leading homebuilder currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. This Texas-based prime homebuilder continues to gain from industry-leading market share, a solid acquisition strategy, a well-stocked supply of land, lots, and homes along with affordable product offerings across multiple brands.
D.R. Horton’s earnings are expected to rise 38.5% year over year in fiscal 2022.
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Why MDC is a Profitable Pick for Investors Amid Industry Woes
Since the start of 2021, the Zacks Construction sector as a whole has been grappling with supply chain disruptions as well as labor and raw materials shortage. Also, rising inflation, particularly for materials and transportation, and the Fed’s expectation of future interest rate hikes are adding to the woes.
On Mar 16, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reported two points decline in the builder confidence for newly-built single-family homes to 79 in March. This reflects its third consecutive monthly fall.
To mitigate these macro headwinds, M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. and other homebuilders like Lennar Corporation (LEN - Free Report) , PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM - Free Report) , D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI - Free Report) have undertaken various price actions as well as cost-saving moves. These companies are currently observing price-cost neutrality, which will certainly reduce cost pressure on the bottom line.
MDC — a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company — has been benefiting from the robust build-to-order process, relentless land acquisitions and efforts to provide affordable homes. Also, robust housing demand is working as a catalyst for its growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Although shares of MDC have declined 24% compared with the Zacks Building Products - Home Builders industry’s 21.9% fall so far this year, earnings estimates for 2022 have moved up 13.8% over the past 30 days. The bottom-line estimate of $10.61 indicates 35.5% year-over-year growth. Also, the company currently has a Value Score of A.
This positive trend signifies bullish analyst sentiments and justifies the company’s solid rank, indicating robust fundamentals and the expectation of outperformance in the near term.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Factors Supporting Growth
Build-To-Order Approach: The build-to-order approach facilitates its buyers with a huge range of choices in major aspects of their future home and personalized customer experience through in-house community teams. This approach is also known as “dirt sales”. It highly prioritizes customers by giving them the opportunity to customize their options according to their preferences and affordability.
MDC is also banking on the “spec homes” strategy, which enables it to improve efficiency and reduce inventory risk. Under this process, the company limits the number of homes started without a contract and initiates construction only after a purchase agreement has been executed. During 2021, it witnessed strong sales growth, primarily driven by a robust build-to-order operating model.
Focus on Entry-Level Buyers: This homebuilding company is focused on growing demand for entry-level homes and addressing the need for lower-priced homes, given affordability concerns in the U.S. housing market. MDC has been rapidly benefiting from the successful execution of strategic initiatives to boost profitability, with a focus on entry-level homes. Of late, the company has been closely observing the price appreciation of new homes across the country and is continuously trying to address the issue by providing housing options to new home buyers at a reasonable price.
Accretive Land Acquisitions: MDC’s growth strategy is largely dependent on land acquisitions. The company follows a systematic strategy of acquiring lots. During 2021, it spent $1.9 billion on land acquisition and development, up from $1.3 billion a year ago. At 2021-end, the company supplied more than 38,000 lots, reflecting a 29% increase from the year-ago period. Also, it closed 5,304 lots during fourth-quarter 2021. The ongoing acquisition strategy eventually helped the company build and deliver homes on immediate demand.
Improved Housing Market: Lower mortgage rates have been driving the U.S. residential market over the past few months. Furthermore, demand for new single-family homes has seen a V-shaped recovery throughout the country and MDC is not an exception. The rising work-from-home trend and fear of future interest rate hikes are prompting many families to choose new and spacious homes, thereby boosting demand.
Although the recent industry parameters that give a clear picture of housing market conditions are somewhat depressed, January’s solid job data and construction spending numbers are encouraging.
Discussion of the Above-Mentioned Stocks
Lennar: This well-known homebuilder is benefiting from effective cost control and focus on making its homebuilding platform more efficient, leading to higher operating leverage.
Lennar’s earnings for fiscal 2022 are expected to rise 10.9% year over year to $15.82 per share.
PulteGroup: This Atlanta-based homebuilder has been benefiting from a prudent land investment strategy, focus on entry-level buyers and returning more free cash flow to shareholders. PulteGroup’s annual land acquisition strategies have been resulting in improved volumes, revenues and profitability for quite some time now. The company has been reaping benefits from the successful execution of strategic initiatives to boost profitability, with a focus on entry-level homes.
Earnings for 2022 are expected to increase 38.6% year over year.
D.R. Horton: This leading homebuilder currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. This Texas-based prime homebuilder continues to gain from industry-leading market share, a solid acquisition strategy, a well-stocked supply of land, lots, and homes along with affordable product offerings across multiple brands.
D.R. Horton’s earnings are expected to rise 38.5% year over year in fiscal 2022.