D.R. Horton

One of the best-performing sectors this year was also one of the hardest hit by the recession: homebuilders, whose stocks have outpaced the broader market with a modest rebound in home prices and increased demand for properties, but much of recovery has unevenly benefited the luxury sector.

U.S. homebuilder stocks rose Monday after a report indicated that more builders viewed the housing market favorably in June, with confidence hitting the highest level since May 2007.

Boosted by non-residential developments, builders increased their December 2011 spending at a rate higher than economists had expected. The gain confirmed previously observed trends about the ongoing economic recovery in the U.S., which has seen better than expected progress in industry while still facing a soft residential housing market.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Transocean, Emulex, Buckeye Technologies, Penn Virginia, Ivanhoe Mines, Basic Energy Services, Newell Rubbermaid, HyperDynamics, Magnum Hunter Resources and D.R. Horton.

Stocks of major U.S. homebuilders rose on Wednesday after Lennar Corp. reported a 20 percent increase in home orders in the fourth quarter.

A Wall Street Journal article making the rounds this morning notes some big investors have turned bullish on the housing market in the past quarter. Among the big names mentioned are hedge funds run by SAC Capital Advisors LP, Blackstone Group LP and Goldman Sachs Group.

Texas-based homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc. reported net income of $35.7 million, or 11 cents per share, in the fiscal fourth quarter ending Sept. 30, up from a net loss of $8.9 million, or 3 cents per share, in 2010.

U.S. stocks declined to 2011 lows on Wednesday as worsening crisis at Japan nuclear reactor and weaker-than-expected housing data weighed on the sentiment.