Hold for a Housing Rebound

Article Excerpt

AMERICAN WOODMARK $16.47 (Nasdaq symbol AMWD; SI Rating: Speculative) (540- 665-9100;www.americanwoodmark.com; Shares outstanding: 14.0 million; Market cap: $231.4 million) reported a loss of $0.03 a share in the three months ended October 31, 2008, compared to a profit of $0.08 a share a year earlier. Consensus forecasts were for a loss of $0.06 a share. Sales fell 15.8%, to $134.9 million from $160.2 million. American Woodmark expects tighter credit conditions and falling housing prices to continue to hurt remodeling and new construction markets. Earnings could suffer until housing markets recover. American Woodmark pays a quarterly dividend of $0.09 a share, which currently yields 2.2%. The company holds $60.4 million or $4.29 a share in cash and has low long-term debt. American Woodmark is a hold. hold…