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Time to Buy These Highly Ranked Construction Stocks After Rate Cuts

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Markets have risen sharply after the Fed decided to cut interest rates for the first time since 2020 on Wednesday.

Amid rate cuts, investors may be searching for specific areas of the economy that may benefit directly in regard to a lower inflationary environment. This makes it noteworthy that several construction sector stocks were added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list this week.

From mortgage rates falling to their lowest level in over a year to the likelihood of a more favorable operating environment for borrowing costs and new investment projects, here are three of these highly-ranked construction stocks to consider.

Reuters
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Top Home Builder Stocks: CCS & MHO

With it likely that the average 30-year mortgage rate will continue to decline from a multi-year high of 7.08% in October, Century Communities (CCS - Free Report)  and MI Homes (MHO - Free Report)  are two of the top homebuilder stocks to consider.

Lower mortgage rates are obviously appealing to homebuyers with Century Communities and MI Homes’ Zacks Building Products-Home Builders Industry in the top 17% of over 250 Zacks industries.

Federal Reserve Economic Data
Image Source: Federal Reserve Economic Data

Furthermore, post-pandemic demand for new homes remained resilient even as mortgage rates had hit their highest levels since 2002. Considering borrowing costs should become more favorable for consumers and homebuilders, it's very tempting to buy CCS and MHO.

To that point, both stocks are expected to post high double-digit EPS growth in fiscal 2024 while trading at less than 10X forward earnings. Notably, Century Communities earnings are expected to climb another 15% in FY25 to $10.72 per share while MI Homes’ EPS is projected to increase 5% next year to a whopping $20.76.

Zacks Investment Research
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LSI Industries (LYTS - Free Report) Special Niche                   

Having a unique niche in the construction sector, LSI Industries (LYTS - Free Report)  stock is very enticing as a provider of high-quality lighting fixtures for various commercial markets.

Most intriguing is that LSI Industries’ Zacks Building Products-Lighting Industry is currently in the top 1% of all Zacks industries. Correlating with such, earnings estimate revisions are nicely up over the last 60 days with LSI Industries EPS expected to increase 6% this year and projected to soar another 34% in FY25 to $1.18 per share.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Reassuringly, LSI Industries has reached or exceeded the Zacks EPS Consensus for 18 consecutive quarters. Better still. At $15 LYTS still trades at a reasonable 17.8X forward earnings multiple which is on par with its industry average and a pleasant discount to the S&P 500’s 23.7X.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

Like LSI Industries, earnings estimate revisions for FY24 have trended higher for Century Communities and MI Homes stock. This trend should continue with rate cuts upon us, making now an ideal time to buy these highly-ranked construction stocks.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


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Century Communities, Inc. (CCS) - free report >>

M/I Homes, Inc. (MHO) - free report >>

LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) - free report >>

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