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.
Hodges Private Client is a program offered through Hodges Capital Management, Inc. (“HCM”). HCM is an Investment Advisory Firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hodges Capital Holdings and serves as investment advisor to the Hodges Funds. HCM is affiliated with First Dallas Securities, Inc, a broker-dealer, and investment advisor registered with the SEC.
This discussion is not intended to be a forecast of future events and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Investing in smaller companies involves additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. No current or prospective client should assume that information referenced in this communication is a recommendation to buy or sell any security or is a substitute for personalized investment advice from your individual advisor. HCM does not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisor for any related questions.
All information referenced herein is from sources believed to be reliable and is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. This material was created for informational purposes only and the opinions expressed are solely those of HCM. HCM shall not in any way be liable for claims and makes no expressed or implied representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the data and other information. The data and information are provided as of the date referenced and are subject to change without notice.