Stocks briefly added to gains but were mostly flat on Tuesday after data showed existing home sales fell less than expected.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 20.64 points, or 0.19 percent, to 10,806.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped 0.20 point, or 0.02 percent, to 1,165.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 0.72 point, or 0.03 percent, to 2,394.68.

The National Association of Realtors said sales fell 0.6 percent to an annual rate of 5.02 million units in February. Analysts polled by Reuters expected a drop to a 5 million-unit pace.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)