Exhibit 99.1
(MERITAGE HOMES LOGO)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         
 
  Contacts:   Brent Anderson
(972) 580-6360 (office)
Brent.Anderson@meritagehomes.com

Nancy Newton
(602) 417-0684 (office)
(602) 697-7785 (mobile)
NNewton@c-k.com
Meritage Homes Reports 28% Increase in Third Quarter 2011 Sales Orders
Scottsdale, Ariz. (October 27, 2011) — Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: MTH), a leading U.S. homebuilder, today announced third quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2011.
Summary Operating Results (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     %Chg     2011     2010     %Chg  
Homes closed (units)
    840       848       -1 %     2,374       2,863       -17 %
Home closing revenue
  $ 217,534     $ 233,803       -7 %   $ 615,154     $ 725,790       -15 %
Sales orders (units)
    906       706       28 %     2,656       2,670       -1 %
Sales order value
  $ 245,235     $ 183,571       34 %   $ 701,861     $ 680,666       3 %
Ending backlog (units)
                            1,060       902       18 %
Ending backlog value
                          $ 288,523     $ 242,411       19 %
Net (loss)/income — incl. impairments
  $ (3,235 )   $ 1,219       n/m     $ (9,332 )   $ 8,045       n/m  
Adjusted pre-tax (loss)/income* —excl. impairments and loss on early extinguishment of debt
    (2,028 )     1,523       n/m       (6,471 )     12,995       n/m  
Diluted EPS (including impairments)
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.04       n/m     $ (0.29 )   $ 0.25       n/m  
     
*   See non-GAAP reconciliations of net (loss)/income to adjusted pre-tax (loss)/income on “Operating Results” statement.
ADDITIONAL THIRD QUARTER SELECTED RESULTS:
  Total order value up 34% over 2010 on 4% higher average sales prices combined with 28% more orders
 
  Acquired approximately 1,300 lots in 17 well-located communities during the quarter
 
  Total cash and securities of $357M at September 30, 2011
 
  Net debt to capital ratio of 33.4% at September 30, 2011
 
  Opened 18 new communities during the quarter and ended with 149 active communities at September 30; first community in Raleigh-Durham division opened in October 2011
MANAGEMENT COMMENTS
“We achieved strong growth in sales and backlog this quarter compared to 2010, and I commend our team for helping buyers decide that this is the right time to buy, and demonstrating the value a new Meritage home offers that you won’t find in most homes,” said Steven J. Hilton, chairman and chief executive officer of Meritage Homes. “I am encouraged that we maintained healthy traffic levels despite the recent macroeconomic concerns, and believe we’ll continue to show year-over-year sales improvement next quarter with the help of our energy-efficient homes and new community locations.

 

 


 

“We were disappointed that we did not remain above break-even for the quarter — it has been a challenge to maintain or improve profitability when the housing market is still bumping along the bottom,” he continued. “We are focused on improving our top line while managing our costs and overhead. We remain confident in the long-term demographics supporting the homebuilding industry, and believe it’s just a matter of time before the market improves. We believe Meritage is one of the best positioned homebuilders to benefit when it does.”
NET EARNINGS
Meritage reported a net loss of $3.2 million or ($0.10) per diluted share for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $1.2 million or $0.04 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2010. The $4.4 million net change from 2010 to 2011 was primarily due to a 7% decline in home closing revenue caused by a change in the geographic mix of closings. The revenue decline resulted in $4.5 million less home closing gross profit in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, on relatively flat closings. The Company closed 840 homes representing 85% of beginning backlog in the third quarter of 2011, compared to 848 or 81% of beginning backlog in the third quarter of 2010.
Home closing revenue was lower in 2011 due to a 6% decline in average closing prices year-over-year, mainly attributable to a $15 million decline in closing revenue from California caused by reduced prices and fewer closings. That decline was only partially offset by higher closings in Texas, Colorado and Florida, where average prices are typically lower than California’s.
Average home closing gross margins for the third quarter were 17.5% in 2011 and 18.2% in 2010, reflecting the impact of price declines from the prior year in most markets. Home closing gross margins excluding impairments were 17.9% in 2011 and 18.5% in 2010.
Additional spending on marketing efforts designed to improve sales increased total selling, general and administrative expenses during the third quarter.
Combined with its loss in the first half of the year, Meritage reported a cumulative year-to-date net loss of $9.3 million or ($0.29) per diluted share in 2011, compared to year-to-date net income of $8.0 million or $0.25 per diluted share in 2010.
SALES ORDERS
Net sales orders increased 28% over the prior year’s third quarter, and combined with a 4% increase in average sales price for a 34% increase in total order value over 2010. Meritage achieved sales order gains in every state except Nevada. Sales more than doubled year over year in Florida and Colorado, where average sales per community for the quarter were 11.2 and 9.4, respectively. The Company’s average sales per community improved to 6.2 in the third quarter, compared to 4.7 in the prior year. Meritage had 149 active communities at September 30, 2011 compared to 150 a year earlier. Cancellations remained low at 17% of gross sales in the third quarter 2011, compared to 24% in 2010.

 

2


 

Year-to-date orders were flat year over year, as the increase in third quarter sales offset lower sales in the first half of 2011 compared to last year’s sales assisted by the home buyer tax credit. Total order value increased 3% due to a higher average sales price in 2011, reflecting a greater proportion of sales within move-up communities compared to 2010.
Meritage increased the number of homes in backlog by 18% year over year and 7% sequentially from the second quarter, ending with 1,060 homes valued at $289 million as of September 30, 2011, compared to 902 homes valued at $242 million as of September 30, 2010.
After starting a new division in the top-ranked housing market of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, during the second quarter of 2011, Meritage opened its first community there in October and will report its first sales there during the fourth quarter of 2011.
BALANCE SHEET
The Company contracted for approximately 1,300 lots during the third quarter of 2011 and controls approximately 16,000 total lots, equivalent to a five-year supply based on trailing twelve months closings.
Meritage ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet including $357 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, investments and securities, and a net debt to total capital ratio of 33.4% at September 30, 2011, compared to of 27.1% at September 30, 2010.
CONFERENCE CALL
Management will host a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Pacific Time.) The call will be webcast by Business-to-Investor, Inc. (B2i), with an accompanying slideshow on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s web site at http://investors.meritagehomes.com. For telephone participants, the dial-in number is 877-317-6789 and the conference number is 10005091. Participants are encouraged to dial in five minutes before the call begins. A replay of the call will be available after 12:00 p.m. ET, October 27, 2011 on the website noted above, or by dialing 877-344-7529, and referencing conference number 10005091. For more information, visit meritagehomes.com.

 

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Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Operating Results
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Operating results
                               
Home closing revenue
  $ 217,534     $ 233,803     $ 615,154     $ 725,790  
Land closing revenue
                100       1,222  
 
                       
Total closing revenue
    217,534       233,803       615,254       727,012  
Home closing gross profit
    38,070       42,561       108,037       133,455  
Land closing gross (loss)/profit
    (127 )           (118 )     258  
 
                       
Total closing gross profit
    37,943       42,561       107,919       133,713  
 
   
Commissions and other sales costs
    (19,708 )     (19,624 )     (53,876 )     (58,452 )
General and administrative expenses
    (16,466 )     (15,678 )     (46,582 )     (47,100 )
Interest expense
    (7,517 )     (8,425 )     (23,036 )     (25,273 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
                      (3,454 )
Other income, net
    2,673       1,897       6,803       8,469  
 
                       
(Loss)/income before income taxes
    (3,075 )     731       (8,772 )     7,903  
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes
    (160 )     488       (560 )     142  
 
                       
Net (loss)/income
  $ (3,235 )   $ 1,219     $ (9,332 )   $ 8,045  
 
                       
(Loss)/income per share
                               
Basic:
                               
(Loss)/income per share
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.04     $ (0.29 )   $ 0.25  
Weighted average shares outstanding
    32,417       32,095       32,358       32,038  
Diluted:
                               
(Loss)/income per share
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.04     $ (0.29 )   $ 0.25  
Weighted average shares outstanding
    32,417       32,297       32,358       32,277  
 
                               
Non-GAAP Reconciliations:
                               
Home closing gross profit
  $ 38,070     $ 42,561     $ 108,037     $ 133,455  
Add: Real estate-related impairments
    920       680       2,174       1,526  
 
                       
Adjusted home closing gross profit
  $ 38,990     $ 43,241     $ 110,211     $ 134,981  
 
                       
 
   
(Loss)/income before income taxes
  $ (3,075 )   $ 731     $ (8,772 )   $ 7,903  
Add: Real estate-related and joint venture (JV) impairments
                               
Terminated lot options and land sales
    225             227        
Impaired projects
    822       680       2,074       1,526  
JV impairments
          112             112  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
                      3,454  
 
                       
Adjusted (loss)/income before income taxes
  $ (2,028 )   $ 1,523     $ (6,471 )   $ 12,995  
 
                       

 

4


 

Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    September 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 157,104     $ 103,953  
Investments and securities
    188,996       299,345  
Restricted cash
    11,109       9,344  
Other receivables
    19,617       20,835  
Real estate (1)
    798,057       738,928  
Investments in unconsolidated entities
    10,783       10,987  
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
    13,318       10,359  
Other assets
    34,559       31,187  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,233,543     $ 1,224,938  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Equity:
               
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, home sale deposits and other liabilities
    129,582       119,163  
Senior notes
    480,377       479,905  
Senior subordinated notes
    125,875       125,875  
 
           
Total liabilities
    735,834       724,943  
Total stockholders’ equity
    497,709       499,995  
 
           
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 1,233,543     $ 1,224,938  
 
           
 
               
(1) Real estate — Allocated costs:
               
Homes under contract under construction
  $ 123,347     $ 96,844  
Unsold homes, completed and under construction
    85,346       86,869  
Model homes
    46,472       36,966  
Finished home sites and home sites under development
    473,807       454,718  
Land held for development or sale
    69,085       63,531  
 
           
Total allocated costs
  $ 798,057     $ 738,928  
 
           
Supplemental Information and Non-GAAP Financial Disclosures (in thousands — unaudited):
                                 
    Three Months Ended Sept 30,     Twelve Months Ended Sept 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Interest amortized to cost of sales and interest expense
  $ 9,938     $ 11,608     $ 40,916     $ 48,992  
 
                               
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,694     $ 2,111     $ 7,102     $ 8,435  
 
                               
                         
    Sept 30, 2011     Dec 31, 2010     Sept 30, 2010  
Notes payable and other borrowings
  $ 606,252     $ 605,780     $ 605,623  
Less: cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments and securities
    (357,209 )     (412,642 )     (419,843 )
 
                 
Net debt
    249,043       193,138       185,780  
Stockholders’ equity
    497,709       499,995       499,302  
 
                 
Total capital
  $ 746,752     $ 693,133     $ 685,082  
 
                 
Net debt-to-capital
    33.4 %     27.9 %     27.1 %

 

5


 

Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
                               
Net (loss)/income
  $ (3,235 )   $ 1,219     $ (9,332 )   $ 8,045  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
                      3,454  
Real-estate related impairments
    1,047       680       2,301       1,526  
Equity in earnings from JVs and distributions of JV earnings, net
    158       637       678       1,404  
Increase in real estate and deposits, net
    (24,153 )     (29,301 )     (63,846 )     (71,921 )
Other operating activities
    7,705       6,083       18,986       95,655  
 
                       
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
    (18,478 )     (20,682 )     (51,213 )     38,163  
 
                       
 
                               
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
    7,981       9,174       102,533       (138,464 )
 
                       
 
                               
Proceeds from issuance of new debt
                      195,134  
Debt issuance costs
          (98 )           (3,067 )
Repayments of senior notes
                      (197,543 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
    33       261       1,831       1,770  
 
                       
Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities
    33       163       1,831       (3,706 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (10,464 )     (11,345 )     53,151       (104,007 )
Beginning cash and cash equivalents
    167,568       156,669       103,953       249,331  
 
                       
Ending cash and cash equivalents (1)
  $ 157,104     $ 145,324     $ 157,104     $ 145,324  
 
                       
     
(1)   Ending “cash and cash equivalents” as of September 30 excludes “investments and securities” and “restricted cash” totaling $200 million in 2011 and $275 million in 2010. Since the fourth quarter of 2009, Meritage has sought to increase yields earned on its excess cash by investing a portion of that cash in government-guaranteed investments and securities which have maturities of up to eighteen months. Due to their longer maturity structure, these investments are not classified as “cash and cash equivalents” on our Balance Sheets or in the Statements of Cash Flows.

 

6


 

Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Operating Data
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                 
    For the Three Months Ended September 30,  
    2011     2010  
    Homes     Value     Homes     Value  
 
                               
Homes Closed:
                               
California
    83     $ 28,708       112     $ 43,803  
Nevada
    19       4,222       17       3,404  
 
                       
West Region
    102       32,930       129       47,207  
 
                               
Arizona
    137       33,314       167       41,387  
Texas
    440       102,121       425       107,663  
Colorado
    68       21,500       39       12,608  
 
                       
Central Region
    645       156,935       631       161,658  
 
                               
Florida
    93       27,669       88       24,938  
 
                       
East Region
    93       27,669       88       24,938  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    840     $ 217,534       848     $ 233,803  
 
                       
 
                               
Homes Ordered:
                               
California
    121     $ 41,146       86     $ 29,614  
Nevada
    10       2,182       11       2,279  
 
                       
West Region
    131       43,328       97       31,893  
 
                               
Arizona
    189       52,684       156       39,214  
Texas
    361       82,758       347       82,584  
Colorado
    80       26,715       39       12,603  
 
                       
Central Region
    630       162,157       542       134,401  
 
                               
Florida
    145       39,750       67       17,277  
 
                       
East Region
    145       39,750       67       17,277  
 
                       
Total
    906     $ 245,235       706     $ 183,571  
 
                       

 

7


 

Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Operating Data
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                 
    For the Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2011     2010  
    Homes     Value     Homes     Value  
 
                               
Homes Closed:
                               
California
    228     $ 77,930       323     $ 114,498  
Nevada
    49       10,360       65       12,628  
 
                       
West Region
    277       88,290       388       127,126  
 
                               
Arizona
    418       100,230       548       119,147  
Texas
    1,269       302,536       1,578       382,592  
Colorado
    175       55,757       110       32,721  
 
                       
Central Region
    1,862       458,523       2,236       534,460  
 
                               
Florida
    235       68,341       239       64,204  
 
                       
East Region
    235       68,341       239       64,204  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    2,374     $ 615,154       2,863     $ 725,790  
 
                       
 
                               
Homes Ordered:
                               
California
    293     $ 98,859       312     $ 108,156  
Nevada
    51       11,072       59       11,651  
 
                       
West Region
    344       109,931       371       119,807  
 
                               
Arizona
    499       128,592       560       126,743  
Texas
    1,252       296,886       1,375       330,582  
Colorado
    221       71,345       118       36,903  
 
                       
Central Region
    1,972       496,823       2,053       494,228  
 
                               
Florida
    340       95,107       246       66,631  
 
                       
East Region
    340       95,107       246       66,631  
 
                       
Total
    2,656     $ 701,861       2,670     $ 680,666  
 
                       
 
                               
Order Backlog:
                               
California
    110     $ 36,224       78     $ 27,980  
Nevada
    14       3,081       8       1,694  
 
                       
West Region
    124       39,305       86       29,674  
 
                               
Arizona
    206       60,342       159       39,706  
Texas
    446       105,957       512       129,554  
Colorado
    98       32,552       47       15,638  
 
                       
Central Region
    750       198,851       718       184,898  
 
                               
Florida
    186       50,367       98       27,839  
 
                       
East Region
    186       50,367       98       27,839  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    1,060     $ 288,523       902     $ 242,411  
 
                       

 

8


 

Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries
Operating Data
(unaudited)
                                 
    Third Quarter 2011     Third Quarter 2010  
    Beg.     End     Beg.     End  
Active Communities:
                               
California
    18       22       12       13  
Nevada
    3       3       5       5  
 
                       
West Region
    21       25       17       18  
 
                               
Arizona
    35       37       33       32  
Texas
    68       65       78       82  
Colorado
    8       9       7       8  
 
                       
Central Region
    111       111       118       122  
 
                               
Florida
    13       13       13       10  
 
                       
East Region
    13       13       13       10  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    145       149       148       150  
 
                       
                                 
    First Nine Months 2011     First Nine Months 2010  
    Beg.     End     Beg.     End  
Active Communities:
                               
California
    14       22       7       13  
Nevada
    4       3       6       5  
 
                       
West Region
    18       25       13       18  
 
                               
Arizona
    32       37       26       32  
Texas
    82       65       98       82  
Colorado
    9       9       6       8  
 
                       
Central Region
    123       111       130       122  
 
                               
Florida
    10       13       10       10  
 
                       
East Region
    10       13       10       10  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    151       149       153       150  
 
                       
ABOUT MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION
Meritage Homes is one of the top 10 homebuilders in the United States based on homes closed. Meritage builds a variety of homes across the Southern and Western states to appeal to a wide range of buyers, including first-time, move-up, luxury and active adults. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had 149 actively selling communities in 12 metropolitan areas, including Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Orlando, and the East Bay/Central Valley and Southern California. Meritage also opened its first communities in the Raleigh-Durham market during October 2011.
Meritage has designed and built more than 70,000 homes in its 26-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction and positive customer experience. In 2010, Meritage launched its new Simply Smart Series™ of homes and its 99-day guaranteed completion program in certain communities. Meritage was the first large national homebuilder to be 100 percent ENERGY STAR® qualified in every home started since January 1, 2010.
Meritage Homes is listed on the NYSE under the symbol MTH.
For more information about the Company, visit http://investors.meritagehomes.com
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include management’s belief that the Company will show year-over-year sales improvement in the fourth quarter; management’s confidence in long-term demographics in the homebuilding industry; that the homebuilding market will improve and that the Company is well positioned to benefit from such improvement; and that Meritage will record sales in its North Carolina division in the fourth quarter.
Such statements are based upon preliminary financial and operating data which are subject to finalization by management and review by Meritage’s independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the current beliefs and expectations of Company management, and current market conditions, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, 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. The risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following: weakness in the homebuilding market resulting from the current economic downturn; interest rates and changes in the availability and pricing of residential mortgages; adverse changes in tax laws that benefit our homebuyers; the ability of our potential buyers to sell their existing homes; cancellation rates and home prices in our markets; inflation in the cost of materials used to construct homes; the adverse effect of slower sales absorption rates; potential write-downs or write-offs of assets, including pre-acquisition costs and deposits; our potential exposure to natural disasters; the liquidity of our joint ventures and the ability of our joint venture partners to meet their obligations to us and the joint venture; competition; the success of our strategies in the current homebuilding market and economic environment; the adverse impacts of cancellations resulting from small deposits relating to our sales contracts; construction defect and home warranty claims; our success in prevailing on contested tax positions; the impact of deferred tax valuation allowances and our ability to preserve our operating loss carryforwards; our ability to obtain performance bonds in connection with our development work; the loss of key personnel; our failure to comply with laws and regulations; the availability and cost of materials and labor; our lack of geographic diversification; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; the Company’s financial leverage and level of indebtedness; our ability to take certain actions because of restrictions contained in the indentures for the Company’s senior and senior subordinated notes and our ability to raise additional capital when and if needed; our credit ratings; successful integration of future acquisitions; government regulations and legislative or other initiatives that seek to restrain growth or new housing construction or similar measures; acts of war; the replication of our “Green” technologies by our competitors; 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, 2010 under the caption “Risk Factors,” and updated in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, all of which can be found on our website.
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