Friday, October 26, 2012

Where the Growth Is: It's Still in Remodeling (HD; LOW; FBHS)

These stocks are not cheap.
For example, Lowe's is up 24% in the last three months and is flirting with six year highs.
From the Wall Street Journal's Developments blog:
Will Remodeling Surge Next Year?
Analysts in the building products industry are all abuzz about the strong quarterly earnings posted this week by Fortune Brands Home & Security, a company that makes windows, cabinets, doors and other household products.

Daniel Oppenheim, an analyst at Credit Suisse , for example, wrote in a note that “higher new remodel and construction spending” in 2013 will lead to a more profits for the company going forward.

In addition, the National Association of Home Builders announced on Thursday that its Remodeling Market Index had climbed five points in the third quarter of 2012, from 45 to 50, a sign that remodelers are reporting that they are seeing more business.

This comes on the heels of a release last week from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projecting that home improvement spending could see double-digit growth in the first half of 2013. According to Harvard’s LIRA, or Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, homeowner spending on remodeling is expected to rise from its current annual rate of $115.1 billion to $134.2 billion by the second quarter of next year....MORE