SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: MTH), a leading U.S. homebuilder, today announced fourth quarter and full year results for the periods ended December 31, 2021.

Summary Operating Results (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

“Our strong fourth quarter results completed an extraordinary 2021 for Meritage Homes, reflecting the demand in the homebuilding market combined with our team’s execution. In the face of prolonged supply chain constraints and a tightening labor market, we achieved our highest fourth quarter of sales orders and our second highest quarterly home closings while accelerating our spec starts,” said Steven J. Hilton, executive chairman of Meritage Homes. "Meritage again broke several financial company records this quarter including our highest quarterly home closing revenue, home closing gross profit and diluted EPS as well as the lowest quarterly SG&A as a percentage of home closing revenue in our company's history."

“The housing market remained strong, benefiting from the ongoing shortage of housing inventory, still-low interest rates and the continued favorable homebuying trends from millennials and baby boomers that drove housing demand in all our markets,” Phillippe Lord, chief executive officer of Meritage Homes, said. “We anticipate that our strategy of focusing on the entry-level and first move-up markets will enable us to continue leveraging these ongoing demographic demand trends.”

Mr. Lord continued, "In the fourth quarter of 2021, quarterly sales orders of 3,367 homes were 6% higher than prior year. Despite metering our orders pace in almost all of our communities to align our sales with production, we achieved our second highest fourth quarter average absorption pace of 4.5 per month across our 248 average communities.”

"For full year 2021, we delivered 12,801 homes, which was the most in company history and 8% greater than the prior year. On a quarterly basis, we closed 3,526 homes in the current quarter, which was just 6% lower than the fourth quarter of 2020 given labor and supply chain challenges. As a result of favorable pricing power, home closing revenue increased 6% year-over-year to $1.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021, which combined with a 29.0% home closing gross margin, led to a 57% year-over-year increase in our diluted EPS from $3.97 to $6.25," Mr. Lord remarked.

“At December 31, 2021, we had 259 active ending communities, a 10% increase sequentially from 236 at September 30, 2021 and a 33% year-over-year increase from 195 at December 31, 2020. We are one step closer to attaining our mid-2022 goal of 300 communities. We are already seeing increased volume from our community count growth and expect to continue to benefit from incremental orders volume and closings in 2022 and beyond,” said Mr. Lord. “During the quarter, $507 million was spent on land acquisition and development and 9,000 net new lots were secured, bringing our total lot supply to over 75,000. We maintained a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity this quarter as reflected in our net debt-to-capital ratio of 15.1%, which positions us well to invest for future growth.”

Mr. Lord concluded, “2021 was a record year of sales orders and home closings. Given our heavy backlog of nearly 5,700 sold homes and our growing community count, we are projecting 14,500-15,500 home closings for the full year 2022, which we anticipate will generate $6.1-6.5 billion in home closing revenue. Home closing gross margin is projected to be around 27.75%. With a projected effective tax rate of 25%, we expect diluted EPS to be in the range of $23.15-24.65 for 2022.”

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

• Orders of 3,367 homes for the fourth quarter of 2021 were 6% higher year-over-year, driven by a 24% increase in average active community count, which was partially offset by a decrease in average absorptions per store to 4.5 per month from our highest fourth quarter average absorption pace of 5.3 per month in the fourth quarter of 2020. Entry-level represented 82% of fourth quarter 2021 sales orders, compared to 72% in the same quarter of 2020. Average sales price ("ASP") on orders in the fourth quarter of 2021 exceeded $430,000.

• The 6% increase in home closing revenue to $1.5 billion for the quarter reflected a 13% increase in ASP on closings due to strong market demand even as we shifted our product mix toward entry-level homes. This was partially offset by a 6% decline in home closing volume year-over-year.

• Home closing gross margin improved 500 bps to 29.0% in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 24.0% in the prior year. Higher ASP more than offset high commodity costs.

• Land sale impairments totaled $2.0 million in the current quarter's total gross profit compared to $20.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. In both years, the charges stem from the disposition of assets that no longer fit our strategy.

• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses as a percentage of fourth quarter 2021 home closing revenue of 8.5% improved 80 bps from 9.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020, due to continued leverage of fixed costs on higher home closing revenue, lower broker commissions and the benefits of technology on our sales and marketing efforts.

• One-time items comprised of payments to our general counsel who retired in December 2021 and a change in the Company's retirement vesting eligibility for equity awards totaled $5.0 million and were included in SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021.

• The fourth quarter effective income tax rate was 23.8% in 2021 compared to 21.9% in the prior year. Eligible energy tax credits on qualifying energy-efficient homes closed under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act ("2019 Taxpayer Act") enacted in December 2019 reduced the rate in both years.

• Fourth quarter 2021 pre-tax margin of 20.7% was 690 bps higher than 13.8% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Net earnings were $237.5 million ($6.25 per diluted share) for this quarter, compared to $152.5 million ($3.97 per diluted share) for the same quarter in the prior year. The 57% increase in diluted EPS reflected pricing power, expanded gross margin and improved overhead leverage combined with a lower outstanding share count in the current quarter.

FULL YEAR RESULTS

• Total sales orders of 13,808 homes for the full year 2021 were in line with full year 2020, as were average community count of 224 and average absorption pace of 5.1 per month for the full year 2021. For the current year, entry-level represented 81% of sales orders, compared to 68% for 2020.

• Home closing revenue for the full year 2021 increased 14% year-over-year to $5.1 billion due to 8% improved home closing volume and 6% higher ASP resulting from the favorable pricing environment.

• Home closing gross margin improved 580 bps to 27.8% for the full year 2021, compared to 22.0% in 2020, reflecting the benefits of higher ASP and better leveraging of fixed costs.

• Total impairments were $2.1 million in the current year compared to $24.9 million in 2020, with each year relating to the disposition of assets that no longer fit our strategy.

• SG&A expenses as a percentage of home closing revenue improved 80 bps to 9.2% in 2021 from 10.0% in 2020 as a result of greater leverage of overhead expenses on higher home closing revenue as well as sales and marketing efficiencies gained from digital innovations.

• Loss on early extinguishment of debt charges of $18.2 million was recognized in 2021 in connection with the early redemption of our 7.00% senior notes due 2022.

• The effective tax rate for the full year 2021 was 22.8%, compared to 20.6% in 2020. The effective tax rate in both periods benefited from tax credits earned for qualifying energy-efficient homes under the 2019 Taxpayer Act.

• The pre-tax margin for the current year of 18.6% was 670 bps higher than 11.9% for 2020. Net earnings totaled $737.4 million ($19.29 per diluted share) for full year 2021, compared to $423.5 million ($11.00 per diluted share) in 2020. The 74% year-over-year increase in net earnings (75% for diluted EPS) reflects pricing power, expanded gross margin and greater overhead leverage in the current year.

BALANCE SHEET

• Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021 totaled $618.3 million, compared to $745.6 million at December 31, 2020, reflecting increased investments in real estate and development and share repurchases. Real estate assets increased from $2.8 billion at December 31, 2020 to $3.7 billion at December 31, 2021.

• More than 75,000 total lots were owned or under control at December 31, 2021, compared to about 55,500 total lots at December 31, 2020. 9,000 net new lots were added in the fourth quarter of 2021, representing an estimated 45 net future communities, of which 93% are entry-level communities.

• Debt-to-capital and net debt-to-capital ratios were 27.6% and 15.1%, respectively at December 31, 2021, compared with 30.3% and 10.5%, respectively at December 31, 2020.

• During the full year 2021, the Company repurchased 639,346 shares of stock for $61.0 million, of which 243,885 shares of stock totaling $24.0 million were repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2021. $153.4 million remains available to repurchase under our authorized share repurchase program as of December 31, 2021.

• On December 17, 2021, Meritage entered into an amendment to its $780 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which extends the maturity date to December 2026.
  

CONFERENCE CALL

Management will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) on Thursday, January 27, 2022. The call will be webcast live with an accompanying slideshow available on the "Investor Relations" page of the Company's website at https://investors.meritagehomes.com. Telephone participants will be able to join by dialing in to 1-877-407-6951 US toll free or 1-412-902-0046 on the day of the call.

A replay of the call will be available via webcast beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on January 27, 2022 and extending through February 10, 2022, at https://investors.meritagehomes.com.

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ABOUT MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION

Meritage Homes is the sixth-largest public homebuilder in the United States, based on homes closed in 2020. The Company offers a variety of homes that are designed with a focus on entry-level and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Meritage Homes has delivered over 150,000 homes in its 36-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and award-winning customer experience. The Company is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding, an eight-time recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award since 2013 for innovation and industry leadership in energy efficient homebuilding, and the recipient of the EPA Indoor airPLUS Leader Award.

For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com.

The information included in this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include expectations about the housing market in general; projected 2022 home closings, home closing revenue, home closing gross margins, effective tax rate and diluted earnings per share; future community counts; trends in construction costs; and expectations about our future results.

Such statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of Company management and current market conditions, which are subject to significant uncertainties and fluctuations. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or changes in these expectations. Meritage's business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. As a result of those risks and uncertainties, the Company's stock and note prices may fluctuate dramatically. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in interest rates and the availability and pricing of residential mortgages; inflation in the cost of materials used to develop communities and construct homes; supply chain and labor constraints; our ability to obtain performance and surety bonds in connection with our development work; the ability of our potential buyers to sell their existing homes; legislation related to tariffs; the adverse effect of slow absorption rates; impairments of our real estate inventory; cancellation rates; competition; home warranty and construction defect claims; failures in health and safety performance; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; our level of indebtedness; our ability to obtain financing if our credit ratings are downgraded; our potential exposure to and impacts from natural disasters or severe weather conditions; the availability and cost of finished lots and undeveloped land; the success of our strategy to offer and market entry-level and first move-up homes; a change to the feasibility of projects under option or contract that could result in the write-down or write-off of earnest or option deposits; our limited geographic diversification; the replication of our energy-efficient technologies by our competitors; shortages in the availability and cost of subcontract labor; our exposure to information technology failures and security breaches and the impact thereof; the loss of key personnel; changes in tax laws that adversely impact us or our homebuyers; our inability to prevail on contested tax positions; failure to comply with laws and regulations; our compliance with government regulations; negative publicity that affects our reputation; potential disruptions to our business by an epidemic or pandemic (such as COVID-19), and measures that federal, state and local governments and/or health authorities implement to address it; and other factors identified in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 under the caption "Risk Factors," which can be found on our website at https://investors.meritagehomes.com.