Investors Are Avoiding This Industry Like the Plague. Berkshire Is Going All In. Should You Invest?
Berkshire sees the ailing U.S. housing industry as a long-term opportunity.
The U.S. housing market is facing a severe downturn, with pending home sales falling by 7.3% in September and a year-over-year decline of 11.3%. This decline is widespread, affecting all regions of the country. The decline in home sales has led to a significant drop in homebuilder stocks, with the State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) down 10% over the past year.
Some builders have suffered even more, with Lennar (LEN) plummeting by about 36% in the same period. Despite this, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) is making significant investments in the housing sector, including a substantial acquisition and increased investments in Lennar. As of September, Berkshire's stake in Lennar stood at $2.2 billion.
Berkshire CEO Greg Abel sees the housing gap - the difference between housing supply and demand - as a significant opportunity, estimating it to be around 10 million homes. While Berkshire has the patience and resources to wait for housing's recovery, high interest rates and high bond yields pose significant challenges to the industry's recovery.
Investors looking to capitalize on this long-term trend may want to consider buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway and benefit from its long-term strategy.
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