Lennar (NYSE:LEN) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Lennar

Lennar is one of the largest public homebuilders in the United States. The company's homebuilding operations target first-time, move-up, and active adult homebuyers mainly under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's financial-services segment provides mortgage financing and related services to its homebuyers. Miami-based Lennar is also involved in multifamily and single-family for rent construction and has invested in numerous housing-related technology startups.

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Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) reported third-quarter fiscal 2024 results, wherein its earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Lennar Q3 Earnings &amp; Revenues Beat, Stock Down on Tepid Q4 View

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Friday was a lackluster session on Wall Street, with major U.S. averages lingering in negative territory at midday trading in New York.

Wall Street Falls On Triple Witching Day, Fed&#39;s Waller Pushes Gold To Fresh Record Highs, FedEx Plummets: What&#39;s Driving Markets Friday?

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LENZ Therapeutics Inc

Lennar Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/len#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported third-quarter fiscal 2024 results, wherein its earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
On a year-over-year basis, revenues increased, given the company&#39;s emphasis on maintaining a steady production rate to drive sales momentum. Lennar strategically utilized pricing, incentives, marketing expenditure and dynamic pricing insights to ensure steady sales volume despite fluctuations in interest rates.
However, earnings fell by a cent from the year-ago period. LEN&#39;s stock plunged 2.4% in the after-hours trading session on Sept. 19. Investors&#39; sentiments might have been hurt by lower earnings and gross margin in the fiscal third quarter, as well as tepid fiscal fourth-quarter guidance.
<h2>Quarterly Numbers</h2>
LEN reported adjusted earnings per share (excluding mark-to-market gains on technology investments and one-time items in its Multifamily segment) of $3.90, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.62 by 7.7%. The metric, however, slipped 0.3% year over year from $3.91 per share.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Lennar Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<img alt="Lennar Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/fa/1726841318.png" style="height:265px; width:589px" title="" />
Lennar Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Lennar Corporation Quote
Revenues of $9.42 billion topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion by 1.4% and rose 7.9% year over year from $8.73 billion.
</div>
<h2>Segment Details</h2>
Homebuilding: Revenues of the segment totaled $9.05 billion, up 8.7% from the prior-year quarter. Under the Homebuilding umbrella, home sales contributed $9.02 billion to total revenues, up 8.8% from a year ago.
Land sales accounted for $19.5 million, down from $20.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The Other homebuilding unit contributed $8.6 million to homebuilding revenues, down from $12.3 million a year ago.
Home deliveries for the reported quarter improved 16% from the year-ago level to 21,516 units. The reported figure was better than our projection of 20,598 units for the quarter. The average sales price&nbsp;of homes delivered was $422,000, down 5.8% from the year-ago figure due to pricing to market through an increased use of incentives and product mix. Our model had predicted ASP to be $432,910 for the fiscal third quarter.
New orders rose 5% from the year-ago quarter to 20,587 homes. However, the potential value of net orders fell 0.9% year over year to $8.56 billion.
Backlog at the fiscal third-quarter end declined 20.5% from the year-ago quarter to 16,944 homes. Potential housing revenues from backlog decreased 21.4% year over year to $7.75 billion.
The gross margin on home sales was 22.5% for the quarter, down 190 basis points (bps). Notably, the reported figure came below our projection of 23% for the quarter. The decline was mainly due to decreased revenues per square foot and increased land costs year over year.
SG&amp;A expenses &mdash; as a percentage of home sales &mdash; decreased 30 bps to 6.7% due to a decrease in broker commissions and benefits of LEN&#39;s technology efforts.
Financial Services: The segment&#39;s revenues increased year over year to $273.3 million from $266.2 million for the reported quarter. Operating earnings for the quarter increased to $144.4 million from $149 million a year ago.
Lennar Multi-Family: Revenues of $93.4 million in the segment were down from $137.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The segment registered operating earnings of $78.9 million for the quarter against a loss of $8.7 million a year ago.
Lennar Other: The segment&#39;s revenues totaled $3.6 million, significantly down from $7.4 million a year ago. Its operating earnings were $20.1 million for the quarter against a loss of $26.2 million a year ago.
<h2>Financials</h2>
At the fiscal third-quarter end, Lennar had homebuilding cash and cash equivalents of $4.04 billion, down from $6.27 billion at the end of fiscal 2023. LEN has no outstanding borrowings under the $2.2 billion revolving credit facility, thereby providing $6.2 billion of liquidity.
The total homebuilding debt was $2.26 billion as of the fiscal third-quarter end, down from $2.82 billion at the fiscal 2023-end. Homebuilding debt to capital at the fiscal third-quarter end was 7.6%, down from 9.6% at the fiscal 2023-end.
LEN repurchased 3.4 million shares for $519 million in the fiscal third quarter.
<h2>Guidance</h2>
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2024, the company expects deliveries within 22,500-23,000 homes, depicting a fall from 23,795 homes delivered in the year-ago period. The company expects the ASP of the delivered units to be nearly $425,000, down from an ASP of $441,000 reported a year ago.
The gross margin on home sales is expected to be flat year over year. SG&amp;A expenses, as a percentage of home sales, are likely to be in the range of 6.7-6.8% for the quarter. In the prior year, gross margin was 24.2%, and SG&amp;A was 6.6%.
New orders are likely to be within 19,000-19,300 units, up from 17,366 homes reported a year ago.
Financial Services operating earnings are expected to be around $140 million, down from $168 million a year ago.
<h2>LEN&#39;s Zacks Rank &amp; Stocks to Consider</h2>
Lennar currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mho#NYSE">MHO</a>), Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mth#NYSE">MTH</a>)&nbsp;and PulteGroup, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/phm#NYSE">PHM</a>). Each stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
M/I Homes is a Columbus, OH-based homebuilder that engages in the construction and sale of single-family residential homes.
MHO&#39;s EPS estimates for 2024 have increased to $19.76 from $19.58 over the past 30 days. The company&#39;s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average being 4.8%. MHO&#39;s earnings are expected to rise 21.9% year over year in 2024.
Meritage Homes is a Scottsdale, AZ-based company that designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes.
MTH&#39;s EPS estimates for 2024 have increased to $21.09 from $20.33 over the past 60 days. The company&#39;s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the average being 21.5%. MTH&#39;s earnings are expected to rise 5.8% year over year in 2024.
PulteGroup is an Atlanta, GA-based homebuilder engaged in homebuilding and financial services businesses.
PHM&#39;s EPS estimates for 2024 have increased to $13.36 from $12.85 over the past 60 days. The company&#39;s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the average being 10%. PHM&#39;s earnings are expected to rise 14% year over year in 2024.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2339343/lennar-q3-earnings-revenues-beat-stock-down-on-tepid-q4-view?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2339343">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Lennar Q3 Earnings & Revenues Beat, Stock Down on Tepid Q4 View

Friday was a lackluster session on Wall Street, with major U.S. averages lingering in negative territory at midday trading in New York. This session coincided with the simultaneous expiration of a large volume of options and futures contracts, commonly referred <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40959748/exclusive-options-expert-warns-of-terrible-week-after-fridays-triple-witching">to as &#8220;triple witching.&#8221;</a>
However, rather than a sharp spike in volatility, stocks edged only slightly lower, failing to trigger a rise in the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX).
Investor sentiment remained defensive, with 10 out of 11 sectors of the S&amp;P 500 falling, while utilities were the only sector to post a positive performance.
Dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller indicated that he expects &#8220;very low&#8221; August Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data. 
Waller also hinted at the possibility of a 25 basis point rate cut in the next meeting or two if the data continues to come in as expected, with a stronger size of cut if the labor market weakens and inflation softens more rapidly.
Waller's comments sent gold surging past $2,600 per ounce, marking new all-time highs.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) remained stable at $63,000.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg (1-day %)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,015.17</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,700.41</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,771.36</td>
<td>-0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,237.55</td>
<td> -0.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent092024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro </a>data: 
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was 0.5% lower to $567.92.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;edged 0.2% down to $420.43.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) fell 0.3% to $481.96.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.7% to $222.50.</li>
<li>The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up 2.1%. The Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) lagged, down 0.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) tumbled 13.6% on dismal quarterly earnings. </li>
<li>Lennar Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) also reacted to earnings, falling over 4%. </li>
<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) rose over 6%, following the company&#8217;s appointment of Elliot Hill as the new CEO.</li>
</ul>
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Wall Street illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

Wall Street Falls On Triple Witching Day, Fed's Waller Pushes Gold To Fresh Record Highs, FedEx Plummets: What's Driving Markets Friday?

U.S. stocks traded mixed midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 0.2% on Friday.
The Dow traded up 0.09% to 42,064.34 while the NASDAQ fell 0.25% to 17,969.11. The S&amp;P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.22% to 5,701.29.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/09/40956889/jim-cramer-viking-therapeutics-has-many-ships-coming-in">Jim Cramer: Viking Therapeutics Has &#8216;Many Ships Coming In&#8217;</a>
Leading and Lagging Sectors Utilities shares jumped by 1.6% on Friday.
In trading on Friday, industrials shares fell by 1%.
Top Headline
Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported better-than-expected financial results for the third quarter on Thursday.
The company said it sees fourth-quarter new orders in a range of 19,000 to 19,300 and deliveries between 22,500 and 23,000. The company expects the average sales price to be approximately $425,000.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNZI#NASDAQ">BNZI</a>) shares shot up 131% to $6.62. Banzai International recently announced a 1-for-50 reverse stock split.</li>
<li>Shares of Battalion Oil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BATL#NYSE">BATL</a>) got a boost, surging 120% to $6.48 after the company announced it has amended its merger agreement with Fury Resources for the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Battalion at $7.00 per share in cash.</li>
<li>Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) shares were also up, gaining 13% to $235.54 after the company announced it signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft that will help launch the Crance Clean Energy Center and restart Three Mile Island Unit 1.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRBP#NASDAQ">CRBP</a>) shares dropped 59% to $21.12. RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams reiterated Corbus Pharmaceuticals with an Outperform rating and maintained the price target of $82.</li>
<li>Shares of Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOC#NYSE">SOC</a>) were down 19% to $22.79 after the company announced a $150 million private placement of 7.50 million shares.</li>
<li>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) was down, falling 15% to $254.45 as the company reported weaker-than-expected results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and lowered its full-year guidance.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.1% to $72.03 while gold traded up 1.3% at $2,649.40.
Silver traded up 0.1% to $31.455 on Friday, while copper fell 0.4% to $4.33.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 1.34%, Germany's DAX declined 1.43% and France's CAC 40 fell 1.38%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index slipped 0.03%, while London's FTSE 100 fell 1.09%.
Spain&#8217;s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 3.2 billion in July from EUR 4.9 billion in the year-ago month. The manufacturing climate indicator in France slipped to 98.6 in September from 98.9 in the prior month.
Retail sales in the UK rose 1% month-over-month in August compared to revised 0.7% gain in July. Producer prices in Germany fell by 0.8% year-over-year in August.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed higher on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.53%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index surging 1.36%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.03% and India's BSE Sensex gaining 1.63%.
Foreign exchange reserves held by the Reserve Bank of India climbed to $689.5 billion as of Sept. 13. The annual inflation rate in Hong Kong came in flat at 2.5% in August, while Hong Kong&#8217;s current account surplus increased to HKD 101.03 billion in the second quarter from HKD 50.71 billion in the year-ago period. The Bank of Japan kept its key short-term interest rate unchanged at around 0.25% during its recent meeting.
Economics
The Baker Hughes rig-count report for the latest week will be released at 1:00 p.m. ET. 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/09/40956962/top-3-financials-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-quarter">Top 3 Financials Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>

CC Lagator, co-founder of Options AI, shared his insights on the Friday&#8217;s episode of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket-prep">Benzinga&#8217;s PreMarket Prep</a>, cautioning traders to prepare for increased volatility in the week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40948624/traders-brace-for-friday-volatility-as-over-5-trillion-in-options-expire-could-trip">following September&#8217;s &#8220;triple witching.&#8221; </a>
Hosted by Aaron Bry and Dennis Dick, the discussion highlighted how the massive expiration of key options contracts can drive unusual market activity and set the stage for turbulence ahead.
Triple witching, which occurs quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, is when stock index futures, stock index options, and individual stock options expire simultaneously. 
This event often creates market turbulence, as traders scramble to close, roll over, or offset expiring contracts. 
Over $5 trillion in notional options, including $605 billion in single-stock options, are expected to expire during Friday's session.
Historically, triple witching has led to increased volatility and unusual price movements. The S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), closed in the red on the last three triple witching days:
<ul>
<li>June 21, 2024: S&amp;P 500 fell by 0.5%.</li>
<li>March 15, 2024: S&amp;P 500 dropped by 1%.</li>
<li>Dec. 15, 2023: S&amp;P 500 declined by 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Witching Day &#x7C; PreMarket Prep" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zq0gm-YmwUM?start=2238&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Historical Weakness Post-Witching Week</h2>
During his appearance on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket-prep">Benzinga PreMarket Prep</a>, CC Lagator explained how the convergence of expiring options impacts the market.
&#8220;You might see some imbalances that you wouldn&#8217;t have seen on a normal day at the open,&#8221; CC Lagator said, highlighting how trading activity starts to unwind a couple of days before but accelerates toward the close of the session.
This often stems from big hedge funds and mutual funds rolling options positions into the next month, which can lead to increased volatility. He further noted that the market environment shifts drastically after triple witching, with traders facing a completely new landscape in the following week.
&#8220;Next week historically is a terrible week going back decades,&#8221; Lagator said, noting that the week after triple witching in September has rarely shown positive returns over the last 30 years.
With volatility expected to pick up, he cautioned that traders should brace for a challenging week due to the impact of unwinding positions on the broader market.
The conversation also turned to the Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as the &#8220;fear gauge,&#8221; which CC Lagator described as being relatively low and attractive for call option buyers at these levels. 
&#8220;The VIX is at 16 right now, it&#8217;s not high,&#8221; CC Lagator stated, adding that it trades below its long-term average of 19. 
&#8220;If this was July and we were at all-time highs, the VIX would probably be 13,&#8221; he noted, attributing the slight uptick to recent market events and the seasonal volatility that accompanies the fall months. 
&#8220;For traders looking at the next month and a half, there&#8217;s not much worry about volatility dropping much lower than where it is now,&#8221; Lagator predicted, adding that &#8220;we're probably not seeing it hit 12 until Christmas.&#8221;
Lagator advised that traders could use this period of low volatility to their advantage when considering options positions. 
&#8220;If you were buying at-the-money options right now, you probably don&#8217;t have much to worry about in terms of volatility going much lower,&#8221; he said, emphasizing the stability of current volatility levels as a potential buying opportunity for those seeking to hedge or position themselves for a breakout.
A similar view has also been shared by Goldman Sachs, which estimates that, given macroeconomic conditions, the VIX should be at 24.5 points.
The investment bank issued a recommendation for investors to hedge their portfolios using VIX calls. Specifically, Goldman Sachs analysts advise buying CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) November calls at a strike price of 18.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s 5 Top Gainers, 5 Worst Laggards After Friday&#8217;s Market Open</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Constellation Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>)</td>
<td>13.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vistra Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>)</td>
<td>7.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>)</td>
<td>6.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>)</td>
<td>4.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXC#NASDAQ">EXC</a>)</td>
<td>2.35%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>)</td>
<td>-14.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NYSE">ODFL</a>)</td>
<td>-4.72%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Viatris Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTRS#NYSE">VTRS</a>)</td>
<td>-4.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>)</td>
<td>-4.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>)</td>
<td>-4.43%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data as of 10:00 a.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
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Analyst Color

Options

CRWD

ODFL

VTRS

EXCLUSIVE: Options Expert Warns Of 'Terrible Week' After Friday's Triple Witching

U.S. stock futures were lower this morning, with the Nasdaq futures falling over 80 points on Friday.
Shares of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) fell sharply in today's pre-market trading after the company reported weaker-than-expected results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and lowered its full-year guidance.
FedEx reported first-quarter revenue of $21.6 billion, missing analyst estimates of $21.955 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.60 per share, missing analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948046/fedex-q1-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-lowered-guidance-challenging-quarter">estimates of $4.80 per share</a>.
FedEx shares dipped 13.1% to $260.92 in pre-market trading.
Here are some big stocks recording losses in today's pre-market trading session.
<ul>
<li>Rezolve AI Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RZLV#NASDAQ">RZLV</a>) shares dipped 11.3% to $6.21 in pre-market trading after jumping around 47% on Thursday.</li>
<li>Veea Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEA#NASDAQ">VEEA</a>) shares fell 7.6% to $10.22 in pre-market trading after declining around 10% on Thursday. Veea recently announced a strategic partnership with Crowdkeep to integrate their respective technologies into a singular, tailored solution to track assets, people, and conditions across a variety of use cases.</li>
<li>MillerKnoll, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLKN#NASDAQ">MLKN</a>) shares declined 5.4% to $25.99 in the pre-market trading session as the company reported downbeat first-quarter financial results on Thursday.</li>
<li>Adient plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADNT#NYSE">ADNT</a>) shares fell 5.1% to $21.43 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Frontline plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRO#NYSE">FRO</a>) shares declined 5% to $22.75 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Evotec SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVO#NYSE">EVO</a>) slipped 5% to $3.46 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Hafnia Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAFN#NYSE">HAFN</a>) shares fell 4.9% to $7.34 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) shares declined 3.1% to $186.45 in pre-market trading. Lennar reported better-than-expected financial results for the third quarter. The company said it sees fourth-quarter new orders in a range of 19,000 to 19,300 and deliveries between 22,500 and 23,000. The company expects the average sales price to be approximately $425,000.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40952252/nvidia-tesla-rally-as-dow-s-p-500-surge-to-fresh-highs-after-fed-cuts-rates-fear-index-remains-in-g">Nvidia, Tesla Rally As Dow, S&amp;P 500 Surge To Fresh Highs After Fed Cuts Rates: Fear Index Remains In &#8216;Greed&#8217; Zone</a></li>
</ul>

Pre-Market Outlook

Movers

ADNT

HAFN

MLKN

RZLV

VEEA

FedEx Reports Downbeat Results, Joins MillerKnoll And Other Big Stocks Moving Lower In Friday's Pre-Market Session

Wedbush analyst Jay McCanless reiterates Lennar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) with a Neutral and maintains $144 price target.

Price Target

Reiteration

Wedbush Reiterates Neutral on Lennar, Maintains $144 Price Target

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40926026/federal-reserve-delivers-bold-0-5-rate-cut-signals-further-easing-ahead"> a deep 50 basis-point cut to its Fed funds rate, </a>which is likely to ease the pressure on consumers. An analyst, however, sees a return of recession along with stagnation.
What Happened: &#8220;Get ready for stagnation,&#8221; said GLJ Research&#8217;s Gordon Johnson, adding that, this is the &#8220;inflation is Transitory&#8221; mistake all over again. To make his case, he noted four corporate announcements suggesting the near could be challenging.
China Drags Skechers: Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>), which designs, manufactures and distributes footwear, sees softness in China&#8217;s business. CFO John Vandemore said, at the Wells Fargo Consumer Conference, &#8220;We've definitely seen worse conditions unfold in China than we expected for the back half of the year, so I would expect the back of the year's going to be more disappointing than what we had originally thought.&#8221; The shares reacted with a sharp tumble on Thursday, settling down 9.62% to $61.56
Rough Road For Mercedes-Benz: Also German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBGAF#OTC">MBGAF</a>) late Thursday said its 2024 earnings before interest and taxes will likely come in &#8220;significantly below&#8221; the previous year, citing a further deterioration in the macroeconomic environment, mainly in China. The automaker also said it expects its adjusted return on sales to be between 7.5% and 8.5%, down from its earlier forecast of 10% to 11%. The company&#8217;s shares listed on the Frankfurt exchange fell nearly 7%.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-depression-stocks">Best Depression Stocks</a>
FedEx Doesn&#8217;t Deliver: Package-shipping company FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) reported first-quarter earnings that fell year-over-year and missed expectations. The company reduced the high end of the full-year adjusted operating income guidance. The predicament was blamed on circumspect consumers favoring cheaper services over pricey and speedier options. The stock fell over 13% in premarket trading on Friday.
Lennar&#8217;s Underwhelming Quarter: Homebuilder Lennar Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported roughly 8% revenue growth to $9.42 billion and earnings per share were up 10% but the average sales price of houses fell.
More Cuts At Warner Music: Entertainment and record-label company Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMG#NASDAQ">WMG</a>) said Thursday it plans to reduce its workforce by about 750 employees, representing 13% of its total headcount, more than the 10% expected earlier.
R-Word Still Floats Around: Chief Global Strategist of BCA Research Peter Berezin said in an X post that the 50 basis-point cut and another 50 bps reduction the central bank is penciling in before the year-end <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40954521/wall-street-looks-to-pause-after-s-ps-record-performance-as-fed-rate-cut-euphoria-fades-and-hard-la">may not ensure a soft landing. </a>He pointed out to the previous two rate-cut cycles when recession followed following 100 basis-point cuts.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index, fell 0.26% to $567.76, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro data. </a>The ETF, however, is up nearly 21% so far this year.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948046/fedex-q1-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-lowered-guidance-challenging-quarter">FedEx Q1 Earnings: Revenue Miss, EPS Miss, Lowered Guidance — &#8216;Challenging Quarter&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG by Mercedes Benz Group AG

MBGAF

Brace For Stagflation After Fed's Benevolence, Warns Analyst, Raising 5 Corporate Red Flags: 'Inflation Is Transitory Mistake All Over Again'

WIIM

Lennar shares are trading lower. The company reported Q3 financial results.

The market mood appears to have soured as the index futures slid early Friday, which is expected to be volatile due to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40948624/traders-brace-for-friday-volatility-as-over-5-trillion-in-options-expire-could-trip">triple witching phenomena. </a> There could be a lack of incentive to buy for want of any major Main Street catalysts, as some economists have begun flashing the danger of a hard landing. Negative reaction to earnings released late Thursday may also serve as a dampener
Triple-witching refers to the simultaneous expiration of stock options, index options and index futures contracts, and the session is marked by increased volume and high volatility. This quarterly event will see some $5.1 trillion worth of options tied to individual stocks, indexes and exchange-traded funds fall off the board, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-19/wall-street-s-5-1-trillion-triple-witching-is-next-market-test">reported,</a> citing data analytics firm Asym 500.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.22%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow</td>
<td>-0.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R2K</td>
<td>-0.31%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Friday,&nbsp;the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.18% to $568.21 and the&nbsp;Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) slipped 0.31% to $481.86, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Cues From Last Session:
Pent-up buying perked up on Wall Street on Thursday, as risky bets rallied across the board, led by tech stocks, following the Fed&#8217;s first rate cut in about 4-1/2 years. Traders also drew comfort from a few positive economic data, including an unexpected drop in weekly jobless claims, the Philadelphia regional manufacturing activity unexpectedly turning to expansion territory and a smaller-than-expected drop in Conference Board&#8217;s leading economic index.
The S&amp;P 500 Information Technology Index ended the day up 3.08%, while consumer discretionary and communication technology stocks also rose sharply. On the other hand, safe-haven consumer staples, utility and real-estate stocks pulled back modestly.
The major averages gap opened higher and moved roughly sideways before ending the session notably higher. The Nasdaq Composite Index ended at its highest level since July 16 and the S&amp;P 500 Index ended at a fresh high and in the process scaled a new intraday high.
The 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average also hit new intraday and closing highs, as it went past the psychological resistance of 42,000 for the first time.
Making sense of Thursday&#8217;s market rally, Jamie Cox, Managing Partner at Harris Financial Group, said, &#8220;Markets like rate cuts, especially big ones when the economy is strong.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>+2.51%</td>
<td>18,013.98</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Index</td>
<td>+1.70%</td>
<td>5,713.64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Industrials</td>
<td>+1.26%</td>
<td>42,025.19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>+2.10%</td>
<td>2,252.71</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
Fund manager Louis Navellier said the economic risk is mitigated with the Fed rate cut and a new dot plot, which suggests more cuts could be in the offing this year. The housing sector also seems to be firming up, he said. Much of the economic uncertainty has been eliminated and so all investors have left to stress about is political uncertainty, he added.
Chief Global Strategist of BCA Research Peter Berezin said the 50 basis-point cut and another 50 bps reduction the central bank is penciling in before the year-end may not ensure a soft landing.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Fed cut rates by 50 bps today and penciled in another 50 bps of cuts by yearend. Will that ensure a soft landing? I have my doubts. The Fed lowered rates by a cumulative 100 bps from January 2001 to March 2001, and the recession started one month later. Likewise, the Fed… <a href="https://t.co/YC1TKjVBcf">pic.twitter.com/YC1TKjVBcf</a>
&mdash; Peter Berezin (@PeterBerezinBCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterBerezinBCA/status/1836541172136739273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The economist noted that the Fed lowered rates by a cumulative 100 bps from Jan. to March 2001 and a recession started a month later, and the central bank implemented a cut of similar magnitude between Sept. 2007 &#8211; Dec. 2007 only for the Great Recession to begin in Jan. 2008.
Investors may be hoping for a repeat of the 1994-95 episode, when Fed easing paved the way for an economic boom, the economist said. There are at least three differences between then and now, he said. In 1994-95, the tightening was fairly mild, merely a cumulative 300 bps between Feb. 1994 and Feb. 1995, as opposed to the 525 bps increase this time around, he said. Also, unlike then, the unemployment rate is rising now, he added.
The second half of the 1990s saw a &#8220;massive disinflationary capex boom&#8221; coupled with rapid productivity growth but nothing comparable is evident in the data so far, Berezin said.
Upcoming Economic Data:
<ul>
<li>Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, who is a member of the rate-setting committee, is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. EDT.</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How To Trade Futures</a>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) shares fell over 13% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket">in premarket trading</a> following the company&#8217;s first-quarter earnings miss. Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) slipped over 2.5% after earnings.</li>
<li>NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) rose over 6.5% after the company announced John Donahoe will retire as CEO, effective Oct. 13, and Elliott Hill, a former Nike executive who retired in 2020, will return to take over from Donahoe.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Bonds And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures slipped after Thursday&#8217;s strong rally that took it past the $71-a-barrel level. Gold futures were in record territory despite the dollar coming back up. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note slid 2.5 points to 3.715%. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has extended its rally, rising nearly 2% over the past 24 hours. The apex crypto, which topped $64K intraday, has eased off the day&#8217;s high and traded a little shy of the $63.5K mark.
Most major Asian markets advanced, with the exception of the Indonesian, New Zealand and Singaporean markets, while European stocks pulled back sharply in early trading after Thursday&#8217;s strong gains. 
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40944024/exclusive-fed-in-pro-growth-mode-will-drive-small-cap-performance-lazard-expert-say">EXCLUSIVE: Fed In &#8216;Pro-Growth Mode&#8217; Will Drive Small Cap Performance, Lazard Expert Says</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Futures

Previews

Wall Street Looks To Pause After S&P's Record Performance As Fed Rate-Cut Euphoria Fades And Hard-Landing Fears Surface

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948046/fedex-q1-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-lowered-guidance-challenging-quarter">weaker-than-expected results</a> for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and lowered its full-year guidance. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $21.6 billion, missing analyst estimates of $21.955 billion, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.60 per share, missing analyst estimates of $4.80 per share. FedEx shares tumbled 11% to $267.25 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Wall Street expects VinFast Auto Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFS#NASDAQ">VFS</a>) to report a quarterly loss at 21 cents per share on revenue of $460.09 million before the opening bell. VinFast Auto shares rose 0.2% to $3.9665 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Chewy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) announced a public offering by a selling stockholder and a concurrent share repurchase. Chewy shares fell 0.8% to $30.85 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>MillerKnoll, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLKN#NASDAQ">MLKN</a>) reported downbeat <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40949071/millerknoll-stock-dips-after-q1-results-heres-why">first-quarter financial results</a> on Thursday. The company also said it sees second-quarter earnings of between 51 cents and 57 cents per share, versus the estimate of 61 cents, and second-quarter revenue in a range of $950 million to $990 million, versus the $948.12 million estimate. MillerKnoll shares declined 5.3% to $26.02 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948948/homebuilder-lennar-reports-better-than-expected-q3-results-details">reported</a> better-than-expected financial results for the third quarter. The company said it sees fourth-quarter new orders in a range of 19,000 to 19,300 and deliveries between 22,500 and 23,000. The company expects the average sales price to be approximately $425,000. Lennar shares fell 2.4% to $187.75 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

CHWY

FedEx, Lennar And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

Lennar Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported its third-quarter financial results after Thursday's closing bell. Here's a look at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/n40948079/lennar-reports-third-quarter-2024-results">details from the report. </a>
The Details: Lennar reported quarterly earnings of $3.90 per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $3.63 by 7.44%. Quarterly revenue clocked in at $9.416 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $9.164 billion and representing a 7.86% increase over the same period last year.
<ul>
<li>New orders increased 5% to 20,587 homes.</li>
<li>Lennar reported a backlog of 16,944 homes with a dollar value of $7.7 billion.</li>
<li>Deliveries increased 16% to 21,516 homes. </li>
<li>Lennar reported homebuilding operating earnings of $1.5 billion with gross margin on home sales of 22.5%.</li>
<li>Average home price was $422,000 in the third quarter,</li>
</ul>
&#8220;We are pleased to report another solid quarter backed by an economic environment that remains very constructive for homebuilders. Employment was strong, housing supply remained chronically short due to production deficits of over a decade and demand was solid driven by strong household formation,&#8221; said Stuart Miller, executive chairman and Co-CEO of Lennar.
&#8220;Although affordability continued to be tested during the quarter, purchasers remained responsive to increased sales incentives, resulting in a 16% increase in our deliveries and a 5% increase in our new orders year over year,&#8221; Miller added.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/09/40928342/what-happened-with-sofi-stock-today">What Happened With SoFi Stock Today?</a>
Outlook: Lennar sees fourth-quarter new orders in a range of 19,000 to 19,300 and deliveries between 22,500 and 23,000. The company expects the average sales price to be approximately $425,000.
What Else: The company will host a conference call at 11 a.m. ET Friday to discuss the results. BofA Securities analyst Rafe Jadrosich maintained Lennar with a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $171 to $190 before the print on Thursday.
LEN Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Lennar shares are down 3.36% in extended trading at $185.99 after gaining 2.13% in Thursday&#8217;s regular session.
Read Also:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40923038/whats-going-on-with-carnival-stock">What&#8217;s Going On With Carnival Stock?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

After-Hours Center

Homebuilder Lennar Reports Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results: Details

Lennar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $3.90 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $3.63 by 7.44 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $9.416 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $9.164 billion by 2.76 percent. This is a 7.86 percent increase over sales of $8.730 billion the same period last year.

Lennar Q3 2024 Adj. EPS $3.90 Beats $3.63 Estimate, Sales $9.416B Beat $9.164B Estimate

Guidance
The following are the Company&#39;s expected results of its homebuilding and financial services activities for the&nbsp;fourth quarter&nbsp;of 2024:
<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
New Orders
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
19,000 - 19,300
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Deliveries
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
22,500 - 23,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Average Sales Price
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
About&nbsp;$425,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Gross Margin % on Home Sales
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Flat with&nbsp;Q3
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
S,G&amp;A as a % of Home Sales
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
6.7%&nbsp;-&nbsp;6.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Financial Services Operating Earnings
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$140 million
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Lennar Sees Q4 Average Sales Price ~$425,000; Financial Services Operating Earnings $140M

General

Lennar shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q3 financial results.

Lennar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $4.26 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $3.68 by 15.76 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $9.416 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $9.164 billion by 2.76 percent. This is a 7.86 percent increase over sales of $8.730 billion the same period last year.

Lennar Q3 2024 GAAP EPS $4.26 Beats $3.68 Estimate, Sales $9.416B Beat $9.164B Estimate

BLDR

GRBK

LGIH

LOVE

LSEA

ROCK

TMHC

Shares of housing-related stocks are trading higher after the Fed policy decision to cut rates by 50 basis points, which could help curb housing unaffordability and increase demand.

B of A Securities analyst Rafe Jadrosich maintains Lennar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $171 to $190.

B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on Lennar, Raises Price Target to $190

Wall Street is in full risk-on mode following the Federal Reserve&#8217;s landmark decision to slash interest rates by 50 basis points, signaling further cuts as inflation approaches <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40938732/wall-street-ramps-up-interest-rate-cut-bets-after-fed-meeting-the-hard-landing-crow">the central bank&#8217;s target.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones both set fresh record highs during the morning session in New York, buoyed by strong performances from the Magnificent Seven tech giants.
By midday, these elite tech stocks added over $500 billion in market value, boosting their combined market capitalization to $15.9 trillion.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) led the rally, surging nearly 7% and hitting a two-month peak, while NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) climbed 5%, driving the semiconductor sector higher.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) jumped 4.6%, fully erasing its losses from September.
The Nasdaq 100 rose 2.9%, on pace for its strongest session in over a month and outperforming other major indices. Small caps joined the rally, with the Russell 2000 index surging 2%.
Commodities rallied across the board: Gold, silver, and copper increased by 1.2%, 3.8%, and 1.8%, respectively. Oil prices, tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), spiked over 3%.
The bullish sentiment extended to cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rising over 2%, poised to close at its highest level since late August.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,905.70</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,249.90</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,720.74</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,002.90</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:25 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was 1.8% higher to $571.52.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.2% to $421.23.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 2.8% to $484.99.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1.9% to $223.63.</li>
<li>The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 0.2%. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.9%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) soared 9%, in response to its quarterly earnings and bullish outlook for upcoming quarters. </li>
<li>Also reacting to earnings reports was FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) up 5%.</li>
<li>Companies expected to report earnings after the close include FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) and Lennar Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>).</li>
</ul>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40937291/bank-stocks-hit-inflection-point-after-feds-50-basis-point-cut-analyst-reveal-top-p">• Bank Stocks Hit Inflection Point After Fed&#8217;s 50 Basis Point Cut, Analyst Reveals Top Picks</a> Images was created using artificial intelligence DALL-E

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Wall Street Breaks Records, Chipmakers Rally, Tesla Hits 2-Month High As Fed Cut Drives Risk-On Mode: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) will release earnings results for its third quarter, after the closing<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LEN/earnings"> bell on Thursday, Sept. 19.</a>
Analysts expect the Miami, Florida-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.63 per share, down from $3.87 per share in the year-ago period. Lennar projects to report revenue of $9.16 billion for the quarter, compared to $8.45 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On June 17, Lennar reported quarterly earnings of $3.38 per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $3.24 per share.
Lennar shares fell 0.5% to close at $188.43 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TJX/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5967569b988ca8000127b8db/jay-mccanless">Wedbush analyst Jay McCanless</a> reiterated a Neutral rating with a price target of $144 on Sept. 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 84%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Sam Reid maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $195 to $205 on Sept. 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 85%.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/584feeb6ee7bf600019078df/jade-rahmani">Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Jade Rahmani </a>maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $183 to $230 on Sept. 4. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
<li>Seaport Global analyst Kenneth Zener downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral on Aug. 5. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5901e8e90bd9910001e193f6/stephen-kim">Evercore ISI Group analyst Stephen Kim</a> maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $237 to $240 on July 15. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 79%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying LEN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="520" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19023214/image-143-1024x520.png" alt="" class="wp-image-555416" style="width:632px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19023214/image-143-1024x520.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19023214/image-143-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19023214/image-143-768x390.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19023214/image-143.png 1322w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40927530/coinbase-global-electronic-arts-and-2-other-stocks-executives-are-selling">Coinbase Global, Electronic Arts And 2 Other Stocks Executives Are Selling</a></li>
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Lennar Gears Up For Q3 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

U.S. stocks look set for a relief rally after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40909187/s-p-500-briefly-hits-record-high-just-ahead-of-fed-rate-cut-extends-7-day-winning-streak-tuesday">market failed to sustain the upward momentum</a> set in motion by the 50 basis-point cut announced by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday. The index futures point to a sharply higher opening on Thursday. Given the central bank&#8217;s focus on labor market statistics, traders may closely monitor the weekly jobless claims data. The results of a regional manufacturing survey and the Conference Board&#8217;s leading economic index may also create some ripples in the market.
With the Fed decision on the back-burner, earnings could get back to the spotlight, with FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) due to report after the close. Tech and small-cap stocks remain poised to rally out of the gates even as most strategists warn of a tech rally cool-off. Volatility is on the wane amid the risk-on mood, with the CBOE Volatility Index, aka VIX, down about 9%.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>+1.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>+1.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow</td>
<td>+1.15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R2K</td>
<td>+2.88%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Thursday,&nbsp;the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) jumped 1.55% to $570.08 and the&nbsp;Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) gained 2.00% to $480.96, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Cues From Last Session:
Wall Street closed Wednesday&#8217;s session modestly lower despite the Fed obliging with the magnitude of the cut the market was hoping for. The major indices resigned themselves to the pattern typical of a Fed decision day and moved sideways until the announcement was made. The central bank delivered and traders indulged in strong buying that took the S&amp;P 500 Index to a new intraday high. 
The dot plot suggested policymakers will likely cut rates a 25 basis points at each of the next two decisions and by at least another percentage point in 2025. While the growth outlook was left unchanged, the unemployment rate forecasts were revised. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s cautious comments at the press conference spooked the market, sending stocks lower in late-afternoon trading.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.31%</td>
<td>17,573.30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Index</td>
<td>-0.29%</td>
<td>5,618.26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Industrials</td>
<td>-0.25%</td>
<td>41,503.10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>+0.04%</td>
<td>2,206.34</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
It could be time for defensives and small-caps to shine, now that the rate-cutting cycle has begun and the door is open for more.
LPL Financial Chief Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder said in a note ahead of the rate cut that value stocks outperform their growth counterparts three and six months after the initial cut. The 1995 monetary policy is the most analogous to the current one, he said, adding that during the 12 months after the cut at that time, growth stocks were slightly better. But value stocks have an edge over the first six months, he said.
Defensive sectors typically outperform in the six months after the initial rate cuts, and this was particularly evident during the 1995 period that saw a soft landing and technology buildout, the strategist said. Specifically, the defense and the telecom services sector were top performers, while consumer staples and utilities also outperformed, he said. Financials did well in the 1995 cycle and performed in-line in the 2019 period, which is more comparable to the current situation than the 2001 cycle, he added.
Surprisingly, the technology sector underperformed the S&amp;P 500 after the 1995 rate cut, even though the internet buildout was in its early phases, Buchbinder said, referring to Netscape&#8217;s initial public offering which came after the first rate cut. Netscape is credited with creating the first internet browser.
&#8220;The takeaway here is that the technology sector, which as we know, is in a major buildout phase now with artificial intelligence, may not get a performance bump from a more accommodating Fed,&#8221; the strategist said.
Carson Group Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick pointed out a positive data point that bodes well for the market. In a post on X, he said the Fed has cut rates with stocks near all-time highs 20 times in the past. In all the instances, the S&amp;P 500 was higher a year later.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Fed has cut rates with stocks near all-time highs 20 times. The S&amp;P 500 was higher a year later 20 times. S&amp;P 500 at all-time highs now and the Fed is cutting tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/MSHhII1Cu4">pic.twitter.com/MSHhII1Cu4</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1836069055070916634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-futures-trading-software">Best Futures Trading Software</a>
Upcoming Economic Data:
<ul>
<li>The Labor Department is scheduled to release its weekly jobless claims data for the recent reporting week at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The number of individuals claiming unemployment benefits may have edged down from to 229,000 in the week ended Sept. 14, down from 230,000 in the previous week.</li>
<li>The Philadelphia Fed will release the results of its September regional manufacturing survey at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The diffusion index of business activity, the headline reading of the report, is widely expected to show continued contraction, albeit at a slower rate. Economists, on average, expect the index to increase from -7.0 in August to -1.1 in September.</li>
<li>The National Association of Realtors is due to release its existing home sales report for August at 10 a.m. EDT. Existing home sales are expected to come in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.9 million units, almost flattish with the 3.95-million-unit rate in July.</li>
<li>The Conference Board&#8217;s leading economic index, due at 10 a.m. EDT, is expected to show a 0.3% month-over-month drop for August, smaller than the 0.6% drop in July.</li>
<li>The Treasury is set to auction four- and eight-week bills at 11:30 a.m. EDT and a 10-year TIPS auction at 1 p.m. EDT.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCS#NYSE">SCS</a>) shares fell nearly 8% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket">in premarket trading</a> following the company&#8217;s quarterly results.</li>
<li>Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRL#NASDAQ">CBRL</a>), Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) are among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">notable companies reporting their quarterly results ahead of the market open. </a></li>
<li>Those reporting after the close include FedEx and Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>).</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Bonds And Global Equity Markets:
Crude futures rose in the early U.S. session, extending the gain from the previous session, as the dollar continues to be weak against most currencies barring the yen. Gold futures also firmed up. The 10-year T-note yield rose 1.9 basis points to 3.706%.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rallied strongly following the Fed decision, with the apex crypto now trading just shy of the $62.5K level.
The major Asian averages gained notably on Thursday, as they reacted to the Fed&#8217;s largesse, with Japan benefiting from the yen&#8217;s modest weakening against the greenback. European stocks were on a firmer footing in early Thursday, with traders in the region awaiting the Bank of England&#8217;s rate decision. The Monetary Policy Committee of the central bank is widely expected to keep rates unchanged at 5.25% although signaling reductions in the future.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40927293/powell-defends-0-5-interest-rate-drop-as-right-thing-for-the-economy-doubles-down">Powell Defends 0.5% Interest Rate Drop As &#8216;Right Thing For The Economy,&#8217; Doubles Down On Fed&#8217;s Cautious, Data-Driven Approach</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Pixabay

CBRL

Wall Street Primed For Relief Rally As Traders Eye Jobless Claims, FedEx Earnings After Fed's 50 Basis-Point Cut: Strategist Says These Stocks Will Gain Edge In First 6 Months Of Rate Cut

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Lennar Corporation (LEN): Hold Rating Maintained Amid Q3 Success and Q4 Uncertainties

Oppenheimer analyst Tyler Batory maintained a Hold rating on Lennar (LEN – Research Report) today. The company's shares closed yesterday at $192.45...

Lennar (LEN) Receives a Hold from Oppenheimer

Evercore ISI analyst Stephen Kim maintained a Buy rating on Lennar (LEN – Research Report) today and set a price target of $240.00. The company's s...

Evercore ISI Keeps Their Buy Rating on Lennar (LEN)

In a report released today, Jay McCanless from Wedbush maintained a Hold rating on Lennar (LEN – Research Report), with a price target of $144.00. ...

Lennar (LEN) Gets a Hold from Wedbush

J.P. Morgan analyst Michael Rehaut has maintained their neutral stance on LEN stock, giving a Hold rating today. Michael Rehaut has given his Hold ...

Lennar's Mixed Financial Performance Maintains Hold Rating Amid Margin Concerns and Subdued Growth Outlook

In a report released today, Kenneth Zener from Seaport Global maintained a Hold rating on Lennar (LEN – Research Report). The company's shares clos...

Seaport Global Remains a Hold on Lennar (LEN)

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Lennar Corporation (LEN) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Lennar has been one of the top performers in Warren Buffett's portfolio this year and it has some tailwinds that could send it higher.

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Lennar (LEN) Forecast

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