KB Home Faces Sluggish Demand
KB Home (KBH) saw its stock dip after announcing disappointing earnings and downscaled expectations. The homebuilder’s latest results show earnings per share at $1.49 and revenue dropping 5% from last year to $1.39 billion. Home deliveries fell by 9% to 2,770, though the average selling price rose by 4% to $500,700.
CEO Jeffrey Mezger attributed the slowdown to buyer hesitancy, fueled by worries about affordability and ongoing economic uncertainties. He noted that this year’s spring selling season hasn’t been as vibrant compared to past years, even with decent traffic in their communities. As a result of lower net orders in the first quarter, KB Home reduced its annual revenue forecast to between $6.6 billion and $7.0 billion, down from $7.0 billion to $7.5 billion. Shares dropped by 6%, marking the lowest point in over a year.
Tesla Sales Decline in the EU
Tesla (TSLA) continues to struggle in the European market, with sales plummeting for the second month in a row. In February, registrations for new Tesla cars in the EU fell by 47% year-over-year to 11,743, just one month after a 50% decline. In contrast, overall battery-electric vehicle registrations in Europe rose by nearly 24%.
The dip in sales follows concerns about CEO Elon Musk’s public engagements, which some investors fear may distract from his management of Tesla. Currently, Tesla’s shares are down more than 30% this year, weighed down by challenges in both European and Chinese markets.
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Push
MicroStrategy (MSTR) shares experienced a slight decline this morning after a significant 10% surge the previous day. The company, the largest holder of bitcoin in the corporate world, announced it acquired an additional 6,911 bitcoins recently, bringing its total to over 500,000 BTC.
The stock sees renewed interest as it has more than doubled in price year-over-year, appealing to investors who want to capitalize on bitcoin’s performance. After bouncing back to the pivotal 200-day moving average, investors are keenly watching key resistance levels around $383, $543, and $870, as well as support levels near $232 and $180.
Market Wrap-Up
In broader market news, major U.S. stock index futures are slightly up, rising by about 0.2%. Investors are likely keeping an eye on trends as the market adjusts to recent economic news and company performances.
For a complete overview of these developments and their implications, refer to trusted sources like the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association and Investopedia.