Fortune Brands Home & Security (FBHS) has been waiting five years for the turnaround in the U.S. housing and construction market. It’s finally here. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is expected to grow earnings by the double digits in 2013 and 2014. Fortune Brands Home & Security was created in Oct. 2011 when it was spun off from Fortune Brands. It makes products such as MasterBrand cabinets, Moen faucets, Simonton windows and Therma-True door systems. In the security area, it also sells the Master Lock brand. On Jan. 31, FBHS reported its fourth quarter results and beat the Zacks Consensus by a penny. Sales rose 8% and were led by the two big housing segments kitchen & bath cabinetry and plumbing. Kitchen & bath cabinetry saw sales rise 12% year-over-year on overall market improvement. Plumbing jumped 15% on increases in all channels, including strong gains in U.S. wholesale from new construction and international markets, especially China. Advanced windows & door systems saw sales rise just 1% as doors were up 5% but windows fell 2%. Only security & storage saw falling sales, declining 4%. Fortune expects 6% to 8% growth in 2012 as housing and construction continue to recover. Net sales are projected in the high single digits. The analysts are bullish about 2013, for good reason. Housing data is indicating that the housing recovery is picking up momentum. Mortgage rates remain near record lows and low inventory suggests a sellers market in some areas. Special Offer: Hungry for ways to increase investment income? Click for Forbes Dividend Investor’s new free report 7 Quality Stocks Yielding 7%-9% for recommendations with strong fundamentals and solid yields. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest