Zacks.com Features the Following Top Stocks in the Construction Sector: Beazer Homes, Lowe's Companies, and Lafarge North America

Business Wire, Jan 20, 2003

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2003

Home is where the heart is. But, for the past couple of years, it's also where the money's been. Break new ground in your portfolio with All Star recommendations in the Construction sector. Here are the top recommendations in the Construction sector: Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH), Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) and Lafarge North America Inc. (NYSE:LAF). Discover the full story at Zacks.com http://allstartoppicks.zacks.com

What Do The All Stars Recommend:

Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) designs, builds and sells single-family homes. The company designs homes to appeal primarily to entry-level and first move-up home buyers. The company reported a very solid fourth quarter with diluted earnings of $3.03 per share, marking an advance of 18% from $2.56 last year and represented its all-time quarterly record for the company. Total revenues jumped by 47% to $904 million. The results for the year ended September 30 was equally as impressive, with diluted earnings of $10.74 per share, or 31% better than last year's $8.18, for another record. Total revenues accelerated by 46% to $2.6 billion. In addition, BZH broke previous fourth quarter record for new orders and backlog with 3,731, or a 59% increase from fiscal 2001.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is a retailer of home improvement products, with specific emphasis on retail do-it-yourself and commercial business customers. Lowe's specializes in offering products and services for home improvement, home decor, home maintenance, home repair and remodeling and maintenance of commercial buildings. The world's second-largest home improvement retailer sure did separate itself from its largest rival, Home Depot, earlier this month. While HD cut it's earnings outlook for fiscal 2002, LOW stuck by its fourth quarter guidance. The company expects sales growth of 16% to 17%, a same-store sales increase of 2% to 4%, and diluted earnings per share of 33 cents. LOW said that quarter-to-date same store sales are within the above-mentioned guidance.

Lafarge North America Inc. (NYSE:LAF) is the largest diversified supplier of materials for residential, commercial, institutional and public works construction in the United States and Canada. Lafarge operates cement plants, construction materials facilities and gypsum drywall manufacturing plants. The company reported third quarter net income of $1.94 per diluted share, compared to $1.80 in the year-ago quarter, as pricing gains in most product lines and better cost performance in manufacturing facilities offset the impact of a weaker construction environment. LAF credits the diversity of its business for overcoming weak business conditions in the quarter. Its next quarterly report is set for early February.

To get our full analysis and top picks for this sector, then click: http://allstartoppicks1.zacks.com/

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