Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:  

Brent Anderson, VP Investor Relations

(972) 580-6360 (office)

Brent.Anderson@meritagehomes.com

Meritage Homes Reports Strong Earnings Growth in the Second Quarter of 2012

Diluted EPS of $0.24 Driven by Higher Home Closings, Revenue, Gross Margins and Operating Leverage

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: MTH), a leading U.S. homebuilder, today announced second quarter results for the period ended June 30, 2012.

Summary Operating Results (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2012      2011      %Chg     2012      2011     %Chg  

Homes closed (units)

     1,042         856         22     1,801         1,534        17

Home closing revenue

   $ 281,340       $ 220,131         28   $ 485,362       $ 397,620        22

Home orders (units)

     1,353         910         49     2,497         1,750        43

Home order value

   $ 385,829       $ 236,014         63   $ 694,158       $ 456,626        52

Ending backlog (units)

             1,611         994        62

Ending backlog value

           $ 457,650       $ 260,822        75

Net income/(loss)

   $ 8,005       $ 562         1,324   $ 3,251       $ (6,097     n/m   

Diluted EPS

   $ 0.24       $ 0.02         1,100   $ 0.10       $ (0.19     n/m   

Adjusted income/(loss) before income taxes*

   $ 9,477       $ 1,337         609   $ 5,196       $ (4,443     n/m   

 

* See non-GAAP reconciliations of net income/(loss) to adjusted pre-tax income/(loss) on “Operating Results” statement.

SECOND QUARTER 2012 SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS:

 

   

Net income of $8.0M, which includes a $5.8M loss on early extinguishment of debt in May 2012, $0.9M of impairments and a tax benefit of $5.2M, primarily from reversal of a portion of a valuation allowance recorded against a deferred state tax asset in Florida

 

   

Highest home orders and total order value since the second quarter of 2008

 

   

Absorptions increased to 9.0 orders per community for the quarter, up from 6.4 per community in 2011

 

   

Home closing gross margin of 18.5% in 2012 compared to 18.0% in 2011

 

   

G&A expense as a percentage of revenue improved by 90 basis points, commissions and other sales costs improved by 40 basis points, and interest expense improved by 120 basis points over the prior year’s second quarter

 

   

Ended with 17,586 total lots under control and total cash and securities of $205M at June 30, 2012, after adding 2,133 new lots during the quarter


MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

“The housing market continued to improve during the second quarter of 2012, and June represented our eighth straight month of year-over-year increases in order volume, capping off our highest quarter for orders in four years,” said Steven J. Hilton, chairman and chief executive officer of Meritage Homes. “We improved over last year on our key operating metrics this quarter, increasing closings, average sales prices, revenue, orders, backlog, gross margin and net earnings. Our employees did a fantastic job of capitalizing on improving market conditions, and our strong backlog supports our belief that we will close over 4,000 homes this year.

“We also took steps to further strengthen our balance sheet and position Meritage for additional growth,” continued Mr. Hilton. “We refinanced approximately $300 million of long-term debt in April to push out our earliest maturity to 2017, and successfully completed a well-received follow-on stock offering earlier this month. The stock offering provided $87 million of cash that we plan to use for growth, including the purchase of land and opening of more communities as the market recovers. Investors demonstrated confidence in our strategy, including our expansion into more Southeast markets like Raleigh, Charlotte and Tampa.”

NET EARNINGS

Meritage reported net income of $8.0 million or $0.24 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2012, compared to $562,000 or $0.02 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2011. The 2012 results included a $5.8 million loss on early extinguishment of debt and $863,000 of impairments, compared to $590,000 of impairments in the second quarter of 2011. Net income also included a $5.2 million tax benefit primarily due to the reversal of most of a valuation allowance previously recorded against the company’s deferred state tax asset in Florida. Excluding those items, adjusted pre-tax income for the second quarter was $9.5 million in 2012 compared to $1.3 million in 2011. Adjusted pre-tax margin increased by 280 basis points to 3.4% from 0.6% in the second quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Home closing gross margin rose to 18.5% in the second quarter of 2012, from 18.0% in the prior year and 17.2% in the first quarter of 2012. Margins increased due to sales price increases and construction overhead leverage, partially offset by increases in various cost components.

Home closing revenue was 28% higher than the prior year, combining a 22% increase in closings with a 5% increase in average closing prices. California and Florida led with 80% and 81% growth in closing revenue over 2011, followed by Arizona and Colorado, with 57% and 44% growth, respectively. Higher average closing prices reflected the combination of price increases in many communities due to improved demand and a mix shift toward higher-priced homes.

Higher closing revenue resulted in greater leverage of fixed costs. Commissions and selling expenses decreased by 40 basis points year over year, to 8.2% of home closing revenue in the second quarter of 2012 from 8.6% of home closing revenue in prior year. General and administrative expenses decreased by 90 basis points year over year, to 5.9% from 6.8% of total revenue. Interest expense decreased by $1.2 million or 120 basis points from the prior year, as a greater portion of interest incurred was capitalized to assets under development.

 

2


HOME ORDERS

Demand continued to be strong during the second quarter of 2012. Net order value increased 63% over the prior year, due to 49% growth in orders and a 10% increase in average prices in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 2011. Net orders also increased by 18% sequentially to 1,353 in the second quarter of 2012 from 1,144 in the first quarter, resulting in the highest level of quarterly orders for Meritage since the second quarter of 2008.

As demand accelerated in 2012, Meritage’s average orders per community improved 41% to 9.0 in the second quarter of 2012, from 6.4 in the prior year and 7.5 in the first quarter this year. Cancellations also fell to 13% of gross orders in the second quarter of 2012 from 15% in both the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.

California showed the strongest demand, with nearly three times the number of orders in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to 2011, and a 28% increase in actively selling communities. Average sales prices increased 11% year over year in California, resulting in a 229% increase in total order value over the prior year.

Arizona achieved a 61% increase in orders despite slightly fewer communities open in 2012.

Net orders in Florida grew 47% while Colorado grew 24% year over year, and Meritage recorded its first orders in Tampa during the second quarter of 2012.

In its third quarter since opening its first communities for sale, Meritage’s new North Carolina operations turned in 40 orders from five active communities in the second quarter of 2012.

Meritage opened a total of 19 new communities during the second quarter while selling out of 18 communities, ending the quarter with 151 actively selling communities at June 30, 2012, up from 150 at the start of the quarter and 145 at June 30, 2011.

YEAR TO DATE RESULTS

With second quarter net income more than offsetting 2012’s first quarter loss, Meritage reported year-to-date net income of $3.3 million or $0.10 per diluted share, a significant improvement over the first half of 2011’s net loss of $6.1 million or $0.19 per diluted share. Year-to-date net income also included a $5.0 million tax benefit. Excluding the $5.8 million loss on early extinguishment of debt in 2012, about $1.2 million of impairments in both years, and before the partial reversal of a valuation allowance previously recorded against Florida’s deferred state tax asset, Meritage produced adjusted pretax income of $5.2 million for the first six months of 2012, compared to an adjusted pretax loss of $4.4 million for the same period in 2011.

Home closings and closing revenue for the first half of 2012 increased 17% and 22% respectively, compared to the first six months of 2011, including a 4% increase in average closing prices. Year-to-date home closing gross margins improved by 30 basis points to 17.9% in 2012 compared to 17.6% in 2011.

Year-to-date net orders increased 43% in 2012 over 2011, and combined with a 7% increase in average sales prices to increase total order value by 52% year over year.

Total orders in backlog increased sequentially by 24% during the second quarter to 1,611 homes with a total value of $458 million at June 30, 2012, which represented a 62% year over year increase in orders and a 75% increase in total order value over the second quarter of 2011. With this large backlog entering into the second half of 2012, management expects to show continued revenue and earnings growth in 2012, and to be profitable for the full year.

 

3


BALANCE SHEET

Meritage ended the quarter with $205 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and securities, after putting 2,133 new lots under control during the second quarter. The company controlled a total of 17,586 lots as of June 30, 2012, net of 1,476 lots put into production for homes started during the quarter. Based on trailing twelve months closings of 3,535 homes, this is equivalent to a 5.0 year supply of lots.

Net debt to total capital ratio rose to 44.1% at June 30, 2012 from 31.5% at June 30, 2011. Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, the company issued 2,645,000 shares through a follow-on stock offering in July. Net proceeds from the offering were $87.1 million, increasing the company’s liquidity. Pro forma net debt to capital would have been 34.3% as of June 30, 2012 including this additional cash and equity.

The company closed on an unsecured revolving credit facility earlier this week with commitments from four banks for a total of $125 million that can be used to provide short-term working capital as order volumes grow.

CONFERENCE CALL

Management will host a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 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 10015970. Participants are encouraged to dial in five minutes before the call begins. A replay of the call will be available for fifteen days, beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET on July 26, 2012 on the website noted above, or by dialing 877-344-7529, and referencing conference number 10015970. For more information, visit meritagehomes.com.

 

4


Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Operating Results

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
   June 30,     June 30,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Operating results

        

Home closing revenue

   $ 281,340      $ 220,131      $ 485,362      $ 397,620   

Land closing revenue

     755        —          1,083        100   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total closing revenue

     282,095        220,131        486,445        397,720   

Home closing gross profit

     51,946        39,587        87,059        69,967   

Land closing gross (loss)/profit

     (380     —          (257     9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total closing gross profit

     51,566        39,587        86,802        69,976   

Commissions and other sales costs

     (23,118     (18,853     (42,095     (34,168

General and administrative expenses

     (16,516     (14,990     (31,237     (30,116

Interest expense

     (6,338     (7,496     (13,709     (15,519

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     (5,772     —          (5,772     —     

Other income, net

     3,020        2,499        4,279        4,130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) before income taxes

     2,842        747        (1,732     (5,697

Benefit from/(provision for) income taxes

     5,163        (185     4,983        (400
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

   $ 8,005      $ 562      $ 3,251      $ (6,097
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) per share

        

Basic:

        

Income/(loss) per share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.02      $ 0.10      $ (0.19

Weighted average shares outstanding

     32,755        32,395        32,694        32,328   

Diluted:

        

Income/(loss) per share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.02      $ 0.10      $ (0.19

Weighted average shares outstanding

     33,104        32,638        33,086        32,328   

Non-GAAP Reconciliations:

        

Home closing gross profit

   $ 51,946      $ 39,587      $ 87,059      $ 69,967   

Add: Real estate-related impairments

     194        590        487        1,254   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted home closing gross profit

   $ 52,140      $ 40,177      $ 87,546      $ 71,221   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 2,842      $ 747      $ (1,732   $ (5,697

Add Real estate-related impairments:

        

Terminated lot options and land sales

     669        2        752        2   

Impaired Projects

     194        588        404        1,252   

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     5,772        —          5,772        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 9,477      $ 1,337      $ 5,196      $ (4,443
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

5


Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 81,826       $ 173,612   

Investments and securities

     103,753         147,429   

Restricted cash

     19,108         12,146   

Other receivables

     15,778         14,932   

Real estate (1)

     955,233         815,425   

Investments in unconsolidated entities

     12,180         11,088   

Deposits on real estate under option or contract

     14,759         15,208   

Other assets

     41,201         31,538   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,243,838       $ 1,221,378   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity:

     

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, home sale deposits and other liabilities

   $ 151,126       $ 126,057   

Senior notes

     496,229         480,534   

Senior subordinated notes

     99,825         125,875   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     747,180         732,466   

Total stockholders’ equity

     496,658         488,912   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 1,243,838       $ 1,221,378   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(1) Real estate – Allocated costs:

     

Homes under contract under construction

   $ 188,006       $ 101,445   

Unsold homes, completed and under construction

     95,027         97,246   

Model homes

     52,655         49,892   

Finished home sites and home sites under development

     494,782         441,242   

Land held for development

     54,472         55,143   

Land held for sale

     29,733         29,908   

Communities in mothball status

     40,558         40,549   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total allocated costs

   $ 955,233       $ 815,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6


Supplemental Information and Non-GAAP Financial Disclosures (In thousands – unaudited):

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Interest amortized to cost of sales and interest expense

   $ 9,390      $ 9,952      $ 19,139      $ 20,171   

Depreciation and amortization

     1,921        1,817        3,614        3,573   
     Pro forma (2)
June 30,  2012
    June 30, 2012     December 31, 2011     June 30, 2011  

Notes payable and other borrowings

   $ 596,054      $ 596,054      $ 606,409      $ 606,095   

Less: cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments and securities

     (291,755     (204,687     (333,187     (377,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net debt

     304,299        391,367        2 273,222        229,042   

Stockholders’ equity

     583,726        496,658        488,912        498,797   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capital

   $ 888,025      $ 888,025      $ 762,134      $ 727,839   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net debt-to-capital

     34.3     44.1     35.8     31.5

 

(2) Proforma June 30, 2012 includes $87.1M net cash proceeds from the issuance of stock in a follow-on offering completed in July 2012.

 

7


Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Operating results

        

Net income/(loss)

   $ 8,005      $ 562      $ 3,251      $ (6,097

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     5,772        —          5,772        —     

Real-estate related impairments

     863        590        1,156        1,254   

Deferred tax valuation benefit

     (7,705     —          (7,705     —     

Equity in earnings from JVs and distributions of JV earnings—net

     (485     240        (656     520   

Increase in real estate and deposits, net

     (87,615     (20,432     (140,238     (39,693

Other operating activities

     31,620        10,868        33,513        11,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (49,545     (8,172     (104,907     (32,735
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

     61,015        71,952        32,313        94,552   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of new debt

     300,000        —          300,000        —     

Debt issuance costs

     (5,334     —          (5,334     —     

Repayments of senior notes

     (315,080     —          (315,080     —     

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net

     167        280        1,222        1,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/ provided by financing activities

     (20,247     280        (19,192     1,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash

     (8,777     64,060        (91,786     63,615   

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     90,603        103,508        173,612        103,953   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending cash and cash equivalents (3)

   $ 81,826      $ 167,568      $ 81,826      $ 167,568   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(3) Ending cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 excludes investments and securities and restricted cash totaling $122.9 million and $209.5 million, respectively.

 

8


Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Operating Data

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended June 30,  
     2012      2011  
     Homes      Value      Homes      Value  

Homes Closed:

           

California

     148       $ 50,521         83       $ 28,051   

Nevada

     11         2,093         15         3,159   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     159         52,614         98         31,210   

Arizona

     208         54,772         154         34,949   

Texas

     439         101,744         475         115,605   

Colorado

     80         26,877         58         18,628   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     727         183,393         687         169,182   

North Carolina

     26         9,507         —           —     

Florida

     130         35,826         71         19,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     156         45,333         71         19,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,042       $ 281,340         856       $ 220,131   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Homes Ordered:

           

California

     279       $ 100,432         94       $ 30,564   

Nevada

     31         5,615         22         4,868   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     310         106,047         116         35,432   

Arizona

     260         70,331         161         41,566   

Texas

     482         117,028         445         104,447   

Colorado

     87         28,774         70         22,448   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     829         216,133         676         168,461   

North Carolina

     40         14,053         —           —     

Florida

     174         49,596         118         32,121   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     214         63,649         118         32,121   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,353       $ 385,829         910       $ 236,014   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

9


Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Operating Data

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2012      2011  
     Homes      Value      Homes      Value  

Homes Closed:

           

California

     245       $ 83,827         145       $ 49,222   

Nevada

     17         3,289         30         6,138   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     262         87,116         175         55,360   

Arizona

     350         93,671         281         66,916   

Texas

     756         173,395         829         200,415   

Colorado

     144         48,177         107         34,257   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     1,250         315,243         1,217         301,588   

North Carolina

     44         16,054         —           —     

Florida

     245         66,949         142         40,672   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     289         83,003         142         40,672   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,801       $ 485,362         1,534       $ 397,620   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Homes Ordered:

           

California

     466       $ 163,079         172       $ 57,713   

Nevada

     39         7,071         41         8,890   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     505         170,150         213         66,603   

Arizona

     509         129,943         310         75,908   

Texas

     945         225,891         891         214,128   

Colorado

     178         59,087         141         44,630   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     1,632         414,921         1,342         334,666   

North Carolina

     73         26,132         —           —     

Florida

     287         82,955         195         55,357   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     360         109,087         195         55,357   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,497       $ 694,158         1,750       $ 456,626   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Order Backlog:

           

California

     303       $ 106,900         72       $ 23,786   

Nevada

     27         4,858         23         5,121   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     330         111,758         95         28,907   

Arizona

     317         81,504         154         40,972   

Texas

     585         145,990         525         125,320   

Colorado

     104         34,403         86         27,337   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     1,006         261,897         765         193,629   

North Carolina

     53         18,694         —           —     

Florida

     222         65,301         134         38,286   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     275         83,995         134         38,286   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,611       $ 457,650         994       $ 260,822   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Meritage Homes Corporation and Subsidiaries

Operating Data

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     June 30, 2012      June 30, 2011  
     Beg.      End      Beg.      End  

Active Communities:

           

California

     21         20         14         18   

Nevada

     2         2         4         3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     23         22         18         21   

Arizona

     32         32         32         35   

Texas

     67         68         73         68   

Colorado

     8         8         9         8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     107         108         114         111   

North Carolina

     4         5         —           —     

Florida

     16         16         9         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     20         21         9         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     150         151         141         145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended  
     June 30, 2012      June 30, 2011  
     Beg.      End      Beg.      End  

Active Communities:

           

California

     20         20         14         18   

Nevada

     2         2         4         3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

West Region

     22         22         18         21   

Arizona

     37         32         32         35   

Texas

     67         68         82         68   

Colorado

     10         8         9         8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Central Region

     114         108         123         111   

North Carolina

     3         5         —           —     

Florida

     18         16         10         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

East Region

     21         21         10         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     157         151         151         145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

About Meritage Homes Corporation

Meritage Homes is the ninth-largest public homebuilder in the United States based on homes closed in 2011. 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 June 30, 2012, the company had 151 actively selling communities in 15 metropolitan areas, including Northern California, East Bay/Central Valley and Southern California, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Orlando, Tampa and Raleigh-Durham. In 2012, Meritage also announced its entry into the Charlotte market.

 

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Meritage is an industry leader in innovation and energy efficiency. Meritage was the first national homebuilder to be 100 percent ENERGY STAR® qualified in every home it builds, and far exceeds ENERGY STAR standards in most of its communities. Meritage has designed and built more than 75,000 homes in its 27-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and positive customer experience.

For more information, visit meritagehomes.com.

The Meritage Homes Corporation logo is available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2624

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include those regarding the Company’s expected 2012 closings, revenue and earnings growth, its profitability in 2012, future growth opportunities and the potential uses of proceeds from the offering of its common stock, all of which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. 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 economic conditions; 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; availability of materials and labor and resulting inflation in the cost to construct homes; the adverse effect of slower order absorption rates; potential write-downs or write-offs of assets, including pre-acquisition costs and deposits; the availability of finished lots and undeveloped land; 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; 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; our exposure to information technology failures and security breaches; 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, 2011 and most recent 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors,” which can be found on our website.

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