Dallas, TX, Mar. 5--Centex Corp. said orders at Centex Homes for the first eight weeks of the fourth quarter rose 20.8% from the comparable period a year ago.
In a press release Thursday, the homebuilder said it will report fourth-quarter results on April 20.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call on average, predict earnings of $3.46 a share and sales of $3.14 billion.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, Centex earned $3.12 a share on sales of $2.88 billion.
Centex shares recently traded at $112.61 after hours, according to Inet, after closing the regular session at $111.70, up $2.73.