Home builder Toll Brothers reported a loss for its fiscal second quarter Wednesday that was slightly wider than analysts predicted, as revenue halved from the same period a year ago.
But the company also said there were signs of new buyers entering the market.
For the three months ended April, the company reported a loss of $83.2 million, or 52 cents a share, narrower than the loss of $93.7 million, or 59 cents a share in the year-ago quarter.
Toll Brothers' loss included writedowns for $119.6 million, or 48 cents a share.
Revenue fell 51 percent from the same quarter a year ago to $398.3 million.
On average, analysts surveyed by Thomson predicted a loss of 50 cents a share and revenue of $395 million.
"With interest rates near historic lows and housing affordability near historic highs, it appears that some buyers are beginning to re-enter the new home market," Chairman and CEO Robert I. Toll said in a statement. "The recently reported strong rise in consumer confidence was consistent with our recent experience."