By Dawn Wotapka Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Builder Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (HOV) said Thursday that it won't invest $40 million in "Newco," a move that could have helped the builder boost its land supply. Under a plan first discussed in March, the company would have acquired and developed land parcels and finished building lots in major markets. The land could then be resold or optioned to other builders, including Hovnanian. Ara Hovnanian, Hovnanian's chairman and chief executive, would have become Newco's non-executive chairman. Late Wednesday, New Jersey-based Hovnanian reported a loss of $72.9 million, or 92 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $168.9 million, or $2.16 a share. Revenue fell 1.7% to $380.6 million. Shares of Hovnanian were recently up 3.2% at $3.80. -By Dawn Wotapka, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2193; dawn.wotapka@dowjones.com
