QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is one of the best strong buy stocks to invest in right now. William Blair cut its estimates for QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) on December 31 after a soft roofing survey and reaffirmed an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm brought its fiscal Q4 EBITDA estimate down to $152 million compared to the Street’s $203 million, and also lowered its fiscal Q1 EBITDA estimate to $130 million compared to $167 million by the Street. Why Beacon Roofing Supply Inc (BECN) Is Up the Most So Far in 2025 ...

Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) is one of the new stocks David Tepper has bought. As of December 29, the average price target for OC suggests an upside of 17%; however, the Street high indicates an upside of 57%. David Tepper added Owens Corning to his Q3 portfolio by acquiring 161,500 shares of the company worth $22.8 million. On December 15, analyst Sam Reid from Wells Fargo maintained an Overweight rating on Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) but trimmed the price target from $150 to $130. According to the firm, 2025 is ...

TopBuild Corp. (NYSE:BLD) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer was asked about. When a caller mentioned that they hold a position in the stock, Cramer remarked: “Well… you know what? It’s 20 times earnings. It’s insulation. That’s a good market. What can I say? I still want to take a little off the table because it has had such a run.” nicholas-cappello-Wb63zqJ5gnE-unsplash TopBuild Corp. (NYSE:BLD) supplies and installs insulation and building materials, including glass, roofing, gutters, and shelving. Du ...

Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR) is one of the stocks that Jim Cramer shared his take on. A caller asked if the stock could be positioned for significant growth, and in response, Cramer said: “I was a huge believer in Builders FirstSource. This is proving to be such a hard market that I had to default and switch to Home Depot and Lowe’s. Builders FirstSource is a moonshot. It could be unbelievable. I want to take a little bit of the risk off the table, which is why we bought Home Depot for the Chari ...

Key Takeaways HD expects Q4 sales pressure due to weaker storm-driven demand and tough year-over-year comps.Comparable sales fell 1.5% in October as storm-related categories saw sharp declines.HD cut FY25 comp sales outlook to slightly positive, down from its prior forecast of 1% growth.The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) faces a challenging fourth quarter in fiscal 2025 as year-over-year weather comparisons intensify. Management has acknowledged that third-quarter performance fell short of expectations due to the ab ...

Core Insights - Home Depot is facing challenges in increasing sales due to declining consumer demand and foot traffic, with CEO Ted Decker highlighting the impact of external factors such as weather and economic conditions [1][4][11] Sales Performance - In Q3 2025, Home Depot's U.S. comparable sales rose by only 0.1% year-over-year, falling short of expectations, while foot traffic at same-store locations decreased by 0.1% [2][3] - The company reported an operating income of $5.3 billion, which is a 1.2% decline compared to Q3 2024 [3] External Factors Impacting Sales - CEO Ted Decker attributed weak sales to the lack of storms, which previously boosted sales in categories like plywood and roofing [4][5] - The absence of significant storm activity in 2025 is expected to lead to lower sales for the remainder of the year compared to 2024 [5][6] Housing Market Challenges - The housing market is experiencing significant pressure, with turnover at a 40-year low of 2.9%, and a cumulative underspend of $50 billion in normal repair and remodel activities [7] - High mortgage rates, averaging above 6% since 2022, are causing consumers to delay home purchases, further impacting demand for home improvement products [8] Consumer Sentiment and Spending - Concerns about high living costs and job market instability are affecting consumer spending, leading to reduced demand in Home Depot stores [11][12] - Approximately 87% of consumers are worried about the financial impact of tariffs, with many planning to change their shopping habits in response [19] Strategic Initiatives - To attract customers, Home Depot has expanded its offerings for Pro customers through significant acquisitions, including GMS for $5.5 billion and SRS Distribution for $18.25 billion [15][16] - The company aims to grow total sales by about 3% for fiscal year 2025, while adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected to decline by roughly 5% compared to fiscal year 2024 [17]

Core Insights - Home Depot reported disappointing Q3 results, with stock prices dropping as much as 5% in early trading [1] - Revenue increased by 2.8% year-over-year to $41.4 billion, but adjusted diluted earnings per share fell to $3.74, missing both the previous year's figure and Wall Street expectations [2] - The company has revised its full-year earnings guidance, now expecting a 5% decline in diluted earnings per share for 2025 compared to 2024, a downgrade from the previous forecast of a 2% decline [3] Financial Performance - Q3 revenue was $41.4 billion, reflecting a 2.8% increase from the previous year [2] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $3.74, which is $0.04 lower than the same period last year and $0.10 below analyst expectations [2] Market Conditions - The U.S. housing market remains stagnant, significantly impacting Home Depot's sales, particularly in storm recovery and repair items [3][4] - Elevated borrowing rates and a shortage of housing supply have contributed to a gridlock in the housing market, affecting both potential home buyers and current homeowners [6] Competitive Landscape - Competitor Lowe's has also experienced a decline in stock prices, down nearly 9% this year, reflecting the broader challenges in the home improvement sector [7] Future Outlook - The National Association of Realtors predicts a potential recovery in the housing market by 2026, contingent on job growth and lower mortgage rates [8] - Home Depot's inventory is significantly affected by tariffs, with nearly half sourced from outside the U.S., leading to modest price increases despite initial commitments to avoid raising prices [9] - The overall sentiment suggests that home improvement stocks may continue to face challenges until there is a clear recovery in the housing market [10]

Core Viewpoint - Boise Cascade Company (NYSE:BCC) is facing challenges due to its connection to the housing market, which is currently underperforming. The company is considered too leveraged to a specific segment of the market, making it less favorable compared to larger home improvement retailers, especially in the context of potential Federal Reserve rate cuts [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Boise Cascade Company manufactures engineered wood products and plywood, and distributes building materials such as lumber, siding, roofing, and millwork [2]. - Third Avenue Management has initiated new positions in Boise Cascade Company, indicating interest in the building materials distributor and manufacturer [2].

Group 1: Market Overview - ClearBridge Investments reported that mid-cap stocks experienced growth in Q3 2025, driven by shifting monetary policy and stabilizing earnings [1] - The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates positively impacted small and mid-cap stocks, with the Russell Midcap Value Index returning 6.2% compared to the Russell Midcap Growth's 2.8% [1] - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy outperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Index, during the third quarter, primarily due to stock selection in the consumer staples and healthcare sectors [1] Group 2: QXO, Inc. Overview - QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is a distributor of roofing, waterproofing, and other building products, with a market capitalization of $12.672 billion as of November 12, 2025 [2] - The stock of QXO, Inc. had a one-month return of -0.74% but gained 23.37% over the last 52 weeks [2] Group 3: Investment Strategy for QXO, Inc. - ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy added a new position in QXO, Inc., which is led by Brad Jacobs, known for his successful track record in building and scaling businesses [3] - The company aims to consolidate the fragmented building materials industry by acquiring mid-size distributors and leveraging advanced technology to enhance efficiency and profitability [3] - There is potential for QXO, Inc. to evolve into a scaled leader with significant margin expansion opportunities [3] Group 4: Hedge Fund Interest - QXO, Inc. was held by 65 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, an increase from 36 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite the potential of QXO, Inc. as an investment, the company believes certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - The home construction sector is facing significant challenges due to high mortgage rates, record home prices, and low consumer confidence, leading to a 17% decline in the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF over the past year, while the S&P 500 has increased by over 15% [1] - Despite the overall downturn, a few niche companies have shown resilience, achieving share price increases between 30% to 41% this year [5] Group 1: Market Performance - The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF has experienced a 16% decline in the last two months, even as the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates and mortgage rates approach a three-year low of 6% [2][4] - Approximately 85% of the 47 stocks in the ETF are down this year, with around 30 stocks declining by 10% or more [4] Group 2: Top Performers - Installed Building Products (IBP) has led the gains with a 41% increase this year, reporting record revenue and net income in its third-quarter results [6][12] - TopBuild has achieved a 30% year-to-date gain, bolstered by $1.2 billion in new revenue from acquisitions and significant share buybacks totaling $417 million [8][9] - Cavco Industries has seen a 28% increase year-to-date, driven by strong demand for affordable housing and consistent performance across its business segments [11][12]