Homebuilders Fall as Pulte, Horton Orders Miss Estimates

PulteGroup Inc. and D.R. Horton Inc., the largest U.S. homebuilders, tumbled after reporting lower-than-expected orders, adding to concerns that higher mortgage rates will hamper the nation’s housing recovery.

PulteGroup, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, said second-quarter orders fell 12 percent on a lower community count. D.R. Horton said orders increased 12 percent, which was below analysts’ forecast for 28 percent growth, according to Adam Rudiger, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co. in Boston.