The brokerage also raised 2012 earnings estimates and price targets for a host of other U.S. homebuilders, including Toll Brothers Inc (TOL.N), Lennar Corp (LEN.N) and Meritage Homes Corp (MTH.N).
“It has become increasingly apparent to us that the pieces for a rebound next year are beginning to fall into place – chief among them being a stabilization in prices for non-distressed home transactions,” the brokerage said in a note.
In addition, Barclays, which initiated coverage on the sector about two months back, said economic indicators–including job creation, delinquencies, housing starts, homebuyer traffic and consumer sentiment–also showed that the housing industry was stabilizing.
Separately, brokerage Susquehanna expressed a note of caution over new home sales and said tripling of insurance in force since 2007, falling home prices and a recent up-tick in Federal Housing Administration delinquencies could increase headwinds in an already “low delivery environment.”
Meanwhile, another brokerage Guggenheim downgraded homebuilders such as Toll Brothers, Lennar Corp, Meritage Homes Corp and Ryland Group (RYL.N) to “neutral” from “buy,” citing absence of any positive new catalyst. The brokerage, however, maintained its “Cautiously Optimistic” view of the sector.
The homebuilding stocks have taken a breather since their big October rally, which saw DR Horton and Toll Brothers touch the valuation peaks they achieved during last year’s winter trading rally.