Berkshire Hathaway’s $1 billion homebuilding investment indicates Warren Buffett’s confidence in a future U.S. housing market rebound.

Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett’s investment group, disclosed it had bought 5 million shares of the healthcare company earlier in the year. That sparked a 14% Friday rally in a stock that has lost more than half of its value over the past 12 months.

Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK.A -0.05%) ( BRK.B 0.24%) is considered by many to be a reliable stock for long-term investors. It's outperformed the S&P 500 ever since a young Warren Buffett took over the company in 1965, and its evolution from an aging textile maker to a diversified conglomerate churned out millionaire-making gains.