PulteGroup Stock Gains 1.68% on Austin 55+ Housing Launch Ranks 418th in $240M Daily Turnover

PulteGroup (PHM) rose 1.68% on August 19, 2025, with a trading volume of $0.24 billion, ranking 418th among stocks by daily turnover. The homebuilder announced the commencement of construction on the Del Webb Lost Pines community in Austin, its first 55+ housing project in the region in over three decades. The company also secured a Great Place to Work Certification™ and appointed Chase Turner as president of its Utah division, signaling operational and leadership developments.

Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating based on nine buy and four hold recommendations. PHM’s forward earnings growth projection stands at 9.82%, supported by a low price-to-earnings ratio of 9.63, below both the market and construction sector averages. Short interest in PHM decreased by 28.48% month-on-month, reflecting improved investor confidence. Recent unusual options activity and institutional trading, including a $300,000 commitment from the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, further highlight market attention.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 0.98% average 1-day return, accumulating to a 31.52% total return over 365 days. This suggests the approach captured short-term momentum but remained subject to market volatility and timing risks.