Pulte Optimstic Despite Q4 Loss

(Bloomfield Hills-WWJ) Pulte Group, the nation's largest homebuilder, lost money in its fiscal fourth quarter and during calendar year 2010, but the Bloomfield Hills-based company expressed guarded optimism for improved sales in spring.

Pulte reported a loss of 165.4 million dollars, or 44 cents a share, for the period ended December 31. That compares with a loss of $116.9 million, or 31 cents a share, a year earlier.

For all of 2010, the builder's loss narrowed slightly to $1.1 billion, or $2.90 per share.

Still, CEO Richard Dugas Jr. says Pulte sees encouraging levels of interest from prospective buyers that could bode well for spring, traditionally a strong period for home sales.

Dugas said, "We need a lot more than four weeks in January to determine how the selling season and the year will ultimately develop. Still, getting off to a strong start would be a very positive sign."

(Copyright 2011 WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press Contributed To This Story)