Horton, Lennar and other homebuilders as the housing market is due for a comeback, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets. Analyst Kenneth Zener double upgraded the homebuilding sector to overweight from underweight, saying history points to higher prices after declines this year, which came amid slowing demand and rising mortgage rates. The analyst pointed to data going back to 1963 showing that the relationship between homebuilders and the S & P 500 now offers relative risk to reward. Over the past 19 economic cycles, "Builders fell 41% (28% vs. the S & P) with those same cycles' recoveries offering 194% upside (up 141% vs. the S & P)," Zener wrote in a Friday note. "On balance, we see fundamental and rate pressure persisting, but positive relative performance, supporting our upgrades," Zener wrote.

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