Fourth Quarter 2020 Earnings Release and Webcast Conference Call
Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2020
Net earnings were $109.1 million ($2.84 per diluted share) for the third quarter of 2020, a 56% increase over $69.8 million ($1.79 per diluted share) reported for the third quarter of 2019. Strong earnings growth reflected the increases in home closing revenue, gross margins and improved overhead leverage, which combined with the reduction in diluted shares after the repurchase of one million shares in the first quarter of 2020, led to a 59% year-over-year improvement in earnings per diluted share.
The record total sales orders for the third quarter of 2020 reflected an increase of 71% year-over-year, driven by a 94% increase in absorption pace over the prior year’s third quarter with high demand for Meritage's entry-level LiVE.NOW® product.
Home closing gross margin improved 170 bps to 21.5% from 19.8% a year ago. The additional closing volume and efficiencies gained from streamlined operations more than offset record high lumber prices and contributed to a 31% increase in total home closing gross profit over the prior year's third quarter.
For Fiscal Year Ending Dec 31, 2019
For complete information regarding our financials, see our periodic filings
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East Bay, Central Valley, Sacramento and Southern CA; Phoenix / Scottsdale and Tucson, AZ; Denver, CO; Dallas / Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, TX; Nashville, TN; Raleigh and Charlotte, NC; Greenville, SC; Atlanta, GA; Orlando, Tampa and South Florida
Meritage Homes is the seventh-largest public homebuilder in the United States, based on homes closed in 2019. Meritage offers a variety of homes that are designed with a focus on first-time and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The Company has designed and built over 135,000 homes in its 35-year history and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and award-winning customer experience. Meritage is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and a seven-year recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award since 2013 for innovation and industry leadership in energy efficient homebuilding.
Meritage Homes Corporation
8800 E. Raintree Drive
Suite 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
T: (480) 515-8100
Contact.Center@MeritageHomes.com
Emily Tadano
Vice President, Investor Relations
T: (480) 515-8979
Investors@MeritageHomes.com
Computershare
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
T: (800) 851-9677
www.computershare.com