Topic: How To Invest

Pat, what is your opinion on KB Home Corp.?

Article Excerpt

KB Home Corp., $15.10, symbol KBH on New York (Shares outstanding: 88.1 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion), gets 95% of its revenue from building single-family houses, townhouses and condominiums in eight U.S. states. Financial services account for the remaining 5% of KB Home’s revenue; the company sells title and insurance services to its homebuyers. The company also provides home mortgages to its customers through KB Home Mortgages, a 50/50 joint venture with Bank of America. Around 80% of KB Home’s buyers get their mortgages from this joint venture. Sales of resale homes are showing signs of recovery. However, demand for new homes continues to suffer. As well, the weak economy and rising unemployment mean there are more foreclosed properties on the market. Moreover, stricter lending standards in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis have made it more difficult for potential buyers to finance real-estate purchases. In its third quarter, which ended August 31, 2009, KB Home lost $66.0 million, or $0.87 a..