BofA/Merrill analyst John Lovallo raised single-family house starts and new home sales forecasts for 2018 and 2019 to reflect a continuation in accelerating demand over the past six months. He now expects 2018 single family starts and new homes sales of up 9% year-over-year versus 6% previously, and 2019 growth of up 8% growth year-over-year, versus 5% previously. The analyst believes demand is being supported by the return of first time home buyers, low mortgage rates, and stronger home equity positions. Lovallo raised earnings estimates across the group and reiterated D.R. Horton (DHI) and PulteGroup (PHM) as top picks.

M.D.C. Holdings is to be delisted from the NYSE due to its acquisition by Sekisui House for $63.00 per share in cash, representing a transaction equity value of $4.9B. The acquisition was completed on April 19.

M.D.C. Holdings announced that Sekisui House, through SH Residential Holdings, a subsidiary of Sekisui House US Holdings, its U.S. business controlling company, has completed its acquisition of M.D.C. Holdings. With this addition, Sekisui House expects to achieve its goal of supplying 10,000 detached homes in overseas markets by fiscal year 2025, ahead of schedule. Sekisui House acquired MDC for $63.00 per share in cash, representing a transaction equity value of $4.9B. MDC will be delisted from the NYSE.

UBS raised the firm's price target on D.R. Horton to $200 from $192 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares following the "solid" Q2 results and outlook. D.R. Horton is a best-in-class operator that consistently demonstrates the ability to execute at a high level notwithstanding the interest rate environment, the analyst tells investors in a research note. UBS expects the company and other large public homebuilders to continue benefiting from strong demographic demand support, tight existing home inventory and size/scale/financing advantages relative to most private competitors.

Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly. HIGHER AFTER EARNINGSMetropolitan... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists. 1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists. 1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Says Florida market still feels good. Says back to normal in terms of inventory turns. Says multifamily platform continues to grow. Says sees prospects for cash flow on a consolidated basis to be increasing into 2025. Says seen a period of volatility in rate environment over the last week. Says pleased with gross margins this quarter. Says moves rates along with the market. Says customers reacting very positively to incentives offered. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

In Q2: Homes closed increased 15% to 22,548 homes and 14% in value to $8.5B. Net sales orders increased 14% to 26,456 homes and 17% in value to $10.1B.

FY24 consensus $36.32B. Sees FY24: Homes closed by homebuilding operations of 89,000 homes to 91,000 homes; Share repurchases of approximately $1.6B; Income tax rate of approximately 23.5% to 24.0%. The company reiterates its fiscal 2024 guidance for cash flow provided by homebuilding operations of approximately $3B.

Notable companies reporting before tomorrow's open, with earnings consensus, include Blackstone (BX), consensus 96c... Elevance Health (ELV), consensus $10.53... D.R. Horton (DHI), consensus $3.06... Genuine Parts (GPC), consensus $2.16... Snap-on (SNA), consensus $4.64... Keycorp (KEY), consensus 22c... Ally Financial (ALLY), consensus 33c... Alaska Air (ALK), consensus ($1.05).