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Validea

Standard Pacific: Eye-popping growth


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by Nicholas Vardy, editor Bull Market Alert

Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF), is a bet on a much-hated sector -- real estate. In many ways, it is a contrarian bet even within the sector, as it is concentrated in the absolute worst states for housing -- California, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona.

Yet it has also been among the first of the big home builders to turn around, and has been profitable for two quarters running.

So what is SPF's secret? First, over the past couple of years, SPF purchased land for a fraction of its earlier selling price. That makes its sale of homes more profitable than they would have been otherwise.

SPF's gross housing margin now sits at 20.3%, making it one of the few home builders with a gross housing margin north of 20%.

Second, low interest rates are making it cheaper to buy than to rent. This has been translating well into SPF’s bottom line. In Q1, new orders rose 43%.

Earnings are growing at an even more impressive rate. Last quarter, earnings grew by 150%. This quarter, the company is expected to grow by an eye-popping 300%. Buy.

Learn more about this financial newsletter at Nicholas Vardy's Bull Market Alert.

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