Sept 18 (Reuters) - Homebuilder Lennar reported

a 46% decline in third-quarter profit and forecast

fourth-quarter home deliveries below Wall Street estimates on

Thursday, as inflationary pressures continued to weigh on

housing demand.

Shares of Lennar ( LEN ) fell 4.4% in after-hours trading.

Elevated interest rates and affordability challenges have

pressured U.S. homebuilders' profitability in recent quarters.

Treasury yields rose on Wednesday despite a rate cut,

reversing losses seen in June. Lower yields could have eased

mortgage rates, potentially improving affordability.

Analysts at BofA Securities said on Thursday that the Fed's

rate cut is unlikely to significantly impact the housing market

in the short term, as homebuilder stocks and mortgage rates had

already priced in the move following June's announcement.

Lennar's ( LEN ) profit margins remain under pressure due to sales

incentives such as mortgage rate buydowns and cost adjustments

amid weakening home demand.

The company does not expect to be impacted by tariffs and

will focus on improving margins, Lennar Co-CEO and Chairman

Stuart Miller told CNBC.

The second-largest U.S. homebuilder by sales expects

fourth-quarter home deliveries in the range of 22,000 to 23,000

units, below analysts' estimates of over 25,000 units, according

to data compiled by LSEG.

Lennar ( LEN ) reported earnings of $2.29 per share for the third

quarter, compared with $4.26 per share a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter ended August 31 fell 8.7% to $8.25

billion, below analysts' estimates of $9 billion.