PulteGroup, D.R. Horton, Lennar: S&P Gainers

The homebuilders are among the best performers in the S&P 500 Wednesday.

Author:: Alexandra Zendrian
Publish date:: Feb 29, 2012 11:17 AM EST

NEW YORK (

TheStreet

) -- Shares of home builders

PulteGroup

(PHM) - Get Report

D.R. Horton

(DHI) - Get Report

and

Lennar

(LEN) - Get Report

were among the best-performing stocks in the

S&P 500

on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 fell 6.5 points, or 0.47%, to 1,365.68 on Wednesday.

Pending home sales, reported Monday from the National Association of Realtors, rose 2% in January,

near a two-year high

. Analysts were expecting a 1% increase; sales dropped 3.5% in December.

Shares of PulteGroup increased 6.27% to $8.82.

The company has an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 16.55; the average for home construction companies is 21.2. For comparison, D.R. Horton and

KB Home

(KBH) - Get Report

both have higher forward P/Es of 17.8 and 29.62, respectively.

Eighteen of the 22 analysts who cover PulteGroup rate it at hold; four analysts give the stock a buy rating.

TheStreet Ratings

gives PulteGroup a

D+ grade

and sell rating. The stock has risen 39.78% year to date.

D.R. Horton shares rose 3.24% to $14.34.

The company has a forward P/E of 17.78; the average for home construction companies is 21.2.

Toll Brothers'

(TOL) - Get Report

forward P/E is 32.27.

Fifteen of the 22 analysts who cover D.R. Horton rate it at hold. Five analysts give the stock a buy rating and two rate it at sell.

TheStreet Ratings

gives D.R. Horton a

C+ grade

and a hold rating. The stock has increased 13.72% year to date.

Shares of Lennar rose 3.86% to $23.38.

Lennar has a forward P/E of 17.98; the average for home construction companies is 21.2. For comparison,

NVR

(NVR) - Get Report

and

Standard Pacific

(SPF)

both have lower forward P/Es of 14.54 and 17.73, respectively.

Thirteen of the 24 analysts who cover Lennar rate it at hold. Nine analysts give the stock a buy rating and two rate it at sell.

TheStreet Ratings

gives Lennar a B- grade with a buy rating and

$26.68

price target. The stock has risen 18.98% year to date.

Other top S&P performers on Wednesday included:

Centerpoint Energy (CNP) - Get Report: The stock rose 5.24% on Wednesday to $19.49. The stock has fallen 2.99% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Centerpoint Energy a B grade with a buy rating and $23.95 price target.
Williams (WMB) - Get Report: The stock increased 3.03% on Wednesday to $29.88. The stock has dropped 9.51% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Williams a B- grade with a buy rating and $38.14 price target.
Wynn Resorts (WYNN) - Get Report: The stock rose 3% on Wednesday to $118.54. The stock has increased 7.29% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Wynn Resorts a B grade with a buy rating and $134.71 price target.
Perrigo (PRGO) - Get Report: The stock increased 2.73% on Wednesday to $103.06. The stock has risen 5.92% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Perrigo an A- grade with a buy rating and $126 price target.
Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) - Get Report: The stock rose 2.76% on Wednesday to $43.67. The stock has increased 6.52% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Expeditors International of Washington a B grade with a buy rating and $50.62 price target.
Lowe's (LOW) - Get Report: The stock increased 2.42% on Wednesday to $28.38. The stock has risen 11.82% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Lowe's a B- grade with a buy rating and $31.25 price target.
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) : The stock rose 2.3% on Wednesday to $28.90. The stock has increased 12.1% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Coca-Cola Enterprises a B grade with a buy rating and $33.04 price target.