Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...

#1 MORTGAGE TRENDS: Weekly mortgage applications last week were 36% lower than the same week a year ago. The weekly average 30-year fixed rate mortgage decreased to 6.34% from 6.42% for conforming loan balances of $647,200 or less.  

#2 AMMUNITION: "In the U.S., there are about 20 million regular golfers compared to 60 million regular (firearm) shooters." - Todd Slater - V.P. & CFO of Olin Corp. (Winchester brand)

#3 BUILDER CONFIDENCE: The National Association of Home Builders released data this week that reflected a decline in December builder confidence for newly built single-family homes. The drop was the 12th straight monthly decline and the lowest confidence reading since mid-2012, except for the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.      

#4 SOLAR SLOWDOWNS: According to Barrons, there has been a 17% decline in U.S. solar installations in the past year, primarily attributed to supply-chain issues.  

#5 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A recent survey by the New York Post showed that the 1946 Frank Capra classic film "It's a Wonderful Life" still ranked as the most loved holiday movie of all time.

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