Pulte Homes Inc

, the biggest U.S. homebuilder, reported a smaller fourth-quarter net loss on Tuesday, helped by tax benefits.

The net loss narrowed to $116.9 million, or 31 cents per share, from $338.2 million, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier.

Based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Pulte has operations in 29 states. It became the biggest builder in the United States by acquiring former rival Centex Corp, knocking D.R. Horton Inc out of the country's top spot.

(Reporting by Helen Chernikoff; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

Michigan