Hovnanian Enterprises Reports Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Results

Globe Newswire 24-Feb-2025 9:15 AM

13% Increase in Total Revenues 
Income Before Income Taxes Increased 22% Year-Over-Year 
7% Year-Over-Year Quarterly Growth in Consolidated Contracts 
Total Consolidated Lots Controlled Increased 29% Year-Over-Year

MATAWAN, N.J., Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:HOV), a leading national homebuilder, reported results for its fiscal first quarter ended January 31, 2025.

RESULTS FOR THE THREE-MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2025:

• Total revenues increased 13.4% to $673.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, compared with $594.2 million in the same quarter of the prior year.
  
  
• Sale of homes revenues increased 12.8% to $646.9 million (1,254 homes) in the fiscal 2025 first quarter compared with $573.6 million (1,063 homes) in the previous year's first quarter.
  
  
• Domestic unconsolidated joint ventures⁽¹⁾ sale of homes revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $131.8 million (197 homes) compared with $116.9 million (167 homes) for the three months ended January 31, 2024.
  
  
• Sale of homes revenues, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, increased 12.8% to $778.7 million (1,451 homes) in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with $690.6 million (1,230 homes) during the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  
• Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense and land charges, was 15.2% for the three months ended January 31, 2025, compared with 18.3% during the first quarter a year ago.
  
  
• Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, was 18.3% during the fiscal 2025 first quarter, which was near the high end of the guidance range we provided, compared with 21.8% in last year's first quarter.
  
  
• Total SG&A was $86.9 million, or 12.9% of total revenues, in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with $86.1 million, or 14.5% of total revenues, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  
• Total interest expense as a percent of total revenues decreased to 4.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, as we continue to reduce our leverage, compared with 5.1% for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  
• Income before income taxes for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 22.4% to $39.9 million compared with $32.6 million in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. The year-over-year increase illustrates that delivery growth, SG&A ratio improvements, lower interest and contributions from unconsolidated joint ventures can offset lower gross margins.
  
  
• Income before income taxes excluding land-related charges and gain on extinguishment of debt, net increased 29.9% to $40.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with income before these items of $31.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  
• Net income was $28.2 million, or $3.58 per diluted common share, for the three months ended January 31, 2025, compared with net income of $23.9 million, or $2.91 per diluted common share, in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
  
  
• EBITDA was $71.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with $64.5 million for the first quarter of the prior year.
  
  
• Consolidated contracts in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 6.9% to 1,205 homes ($643.3 million) compared with 1,127 homes ($624.4 million) in the same quarter last year. Contracts, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, for the three months ended January 31, 2025, increased 9.5% to 1,400 homes ($770.8 million) compared with 1,279 homes ($724.5 million) in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  
• As of January 31, 2025, consolidated community count increased 5.9% to 125 communities, compared with 118 communities as of January 31, 2024. Community count, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, increased 9.6% to 148 as of January 31, 2025, compared with 135 communities as of January 31, 2024.
  
  
• Consolidated contracts per community were 9.6 in both the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and the first quarter of fiscal 2024. This is significantly higher than our historical quarterly average for the first quarter since 1997 of 8.0 contracts per community. Contracts per community, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, were 9.5 in both the three months ended January 31, 2025 and the same quarter one year ago.
  
  
• The dollar value of consolidated contract backlog, as of January 31, 2025, decreased 16.1% to $931.9 million compared with $1.11 billion as of January 31, 2024. The dollar value of contract backlog, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, as of January 31, 2025, decreased 9.1% to $1.23 billion compared with $1.35 billion as of January 31, 2024. The year-over-year decrease in backlog is partly due to increased sales of quick move in homes, which are in backlog for a very short period of time.
  
  
• The gross contract cancellation rate for consolidated contracts was 16% for the first quarter ended January 31, 2025, compared with 14% in the fiscal 2024 first quarter. The gross contract cancellation rate for contracts, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, was 16% for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with 14% in the first quarter of the prior year.
  
  
• For the trailing twelve-month period our return on equity (ROE) was 33.0%. For the trailing twelve-month period our net income return on inventory was 15.7% and our adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes return on investment (Adjusted EBIT ROI) was 29.8%. We believe that for the most recently reported trailing twelve-month periods, we had the second highest ROE, and the third highest Adjusted EBIT ROI compared to 14 of our publicly traded peers.
  

⁽¹⁾When we refer to "Domestic Unconsolidated Joint Ventures", we are excluding results from our multi-community unconsolidated joint venture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

LIQUIDITY AND INVENTORY AS OF JANUARY 31, 2025:

• During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, land and land development spending increased 7.5% and 84.2% to $247.6 million compared with $230.4 million in the same quarter one year ago and $134.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, respectively.
  
  
• Total liquidity as of January 31, 2025, was $222.4 million, which was finally within our targeted liquidity range of $170 million to $245 million. We are happy that we are fully invested after years of having excess cash.
  
  
• During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, we repurchased 131,460 shares of common stock for $17.9 million or an average price of $135.93 per share.
  
  
• In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, approximately 5,800 lots were put under option or acquired in 41 consolidated communities.
  
  
• As of January 31, 2025, our total controlled consolidated lots were 43,254, an increase of 28.8% compared with 33,576 lots at the end of the previous fiscal year's first quarter. This is the second quarter in a row that 84% of our lots were optioned. The highest percentage of option lots we have ever had continuing our land-light strategic focus. The total controlled consolidated lots also increased sequentially from 41,891 lots as of October 31, 2024. Based on trailing twelve-month deliveries, the current position equaled a 7.8 years' supply.
  

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE⁽²⁾:

The Company is providing guidance for total revenues, adjusted homebuilding gross margin, adjusted income before income taxes and adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Financial guidance below assumes no adverse changes in current market conditions, including deterioration in our supply chain or material increases in mortgage rates, inflation or cancellation rates, and excludes further impact to SG&A expenses from phantom stock expense related solely to stock price movements from the closing price of $132.39 on January 31, 2025.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, total revenues are expected to be between $675 million and $775 million, adjusted homebuilding gross margin is expected to be between 17.5% and 18.5%, adjusted income before income taxes is expected to be between $20 million and $30 million and adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $50 million and $60 million.

Prior to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025, our intention is to redeem early the remaining $26.6 million of the 13.5% senior notes that are maturing in February of 2026.

⁽²⁾The Company cannot provide a reconciliation between its non-GAAP projections and the most directly comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain significant items required for the reconciliation. These items include, but are not limited to, land-related charges, inventory impairments and land option write-offs and loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors and could have a material impact on GAAP reported results.

COMMENTS FROM MANAGEMENT:

"I'm pleased to report that our results for the first quarter were either within or better than the range of expectations we provided, reflecting the strength of our team's efforts and our ability to adapt to the market conditions," stated Ara K. Hovnanian, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite the challenges presented by persistently high mortgage rates and monthly sales volatility, we have experienced healthy demand for our homes. Our consolidated contracts per community were 9.6 for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which is significantly higher than our historical average for the first quarter since 1997 of 8.0 contracts per community. All in all, despite the slower start to the spring selling season and the month to month volatility, we are excited about the long-term fundamentals and our lot count growth as we continue to deliver exceptional homes to our homebuyers."

"As we navigate through the current homebuilding environment, we remain focused on driving strong return on equity and return on investment as key measures of our financial performance. Our recently approved land acquisitions were underwritten at the current sales pace and with a high level of incentives, which should lead to higher returns than land approved before the significant increase in incentives. Our goal is to improve operational efficiencies, optimize capital allocation and maintain disciplined cost management across all aspects of the business, and grow revenues which should enhance profitability without sacrificing our commitment to building quality homes. We are always looking for opportunities to maximize the value of our land assets, as well as reducing our risk through continued use of options and joint ventures. With these efforts in place, we are confident in our ability to generate sustained, strong returns for our shareholders in the long term," concluded Mr. Hovnanian.

WEBCAST INFORMATION:

Hovnanian Enterprises will webcast its fiscal 2025 first quarter financial results conference call at 11:00 a.m. E.T. on Monday, February 24, 2025. The webcast can be accessed live through the "Investor Relations" section of Hovnanian Enterprises' website at http://www.khov.com. For those who are not available to listen to the live webcast, an archive of the broadcast will be available under the "Past Events" section of the Investor Relations page on the Hovnanian website at http://www.khov.com. The archive will be available for 12 months.

ABOUT HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.:

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1959 by Kevork S. Hovnanian, is headquartered in Matawan, New Jersey and, through its subsidiaries, is one of the nation's largest homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Company's homes are marketed and sold under the trade name K. Hovnanian^® Homes. Additionally, the Company's subsidiaries, as developers of K. Hovnanian's^® Four Seasons communities, make the Company one of the nation's largest builders of active lifestyle communities.

Additional information on Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. can be accessed through the "Investor Relations" section of the Hovnanian Enterprises' website at http://www.khov.com. To be added to Hovnanian's investor e-mail list, please send an e-mail to IR@khov.com or sign up at http://www.khov.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:

Consolidated earnings before interest expense and income taxes ("EBIT") and before depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and before inventory impairments and land option write-offs and loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net ("Adjusted EBITDA"), the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to interest incurred and EBIT before inventory impairments and land option write-offs and loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net ("Adjusted EBIT") are not U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") financial measures. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net income. The reconciliation for historical periods of EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA to net income are presented in tables attached to this earnings release.

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, and homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, are non-GAAP financial measures. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are homebuilding gross margin and homebuilding gross margin percentage, respectively. The reconciliation for historical periods of homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, and homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, to homebuilding gross margin and homebuilding gross margin percentage, respectively, is presented in a table attached to this earnings release.

Adjusted income before income taxes, which is defined as income before income taxes excluding land-related charges and loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is income before income taxes. The reconciliation for historical periods of adjusted income before income taxes to income before income taxes is presented in a table attached to this earnings release.

Adjusted investment, which is defined as total inventories excluding liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs and interest capitalized and including investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures ("Adjusted Investment"), is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is total inventories. The reconciliation for historical periods of Adjusted Investment to total inventories is presented in a table attached to this earnings release.

The ratio of Adjusted EBIT return on adjusted investment ("Adjusted EBIT ROI"), which is the ratio of Adjusted EBIT for the trailing twelve-months, to the average Adjusted Investment for the prior five fiscal quarters, is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is the ratio of net income return to total inventories. The presentation of the ratios of Adjusted EBIT ROI and net income return on inventory are presented in a table attached to this earnings release.

Total liquidity is comprised of $94.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, $3.1 million of restricted cash required to collateralize letters of credit and $125.0 million available under a senior secured revolving credit facility as of January 31, 2025.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered as "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements related to the Company's goals and expectations with respect to its financial results for future financial periods and statements regarding demand for homes, mortgage rates, inflation, supply chain issues, customer incentives and underlying factors. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are not guarantees of future performance or results and (iii) are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, (1) changes in general and local economic, industry and business conditions and impacts of a significant homebuilding downturn; (2) shortages in, and price fluctuations of, raw materials and labor, including due to geopolitical events, changes in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and duties on homebuilding materials and products and related trade disputes with and retaliatory measures taken by other countries; (3) fluctuations in interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing, including as a result of instability in the banking sector; (4) increases in inflation; (5) adverse weather and other environmental conditions and natural disasters; (6) the seasonality of the Company's business; (7) the availability and cost of suitable land and improved lots and sufficient liquidity to invest in such land and lots; (8) reliance on, and the performance of, subcontractors; (9) regional and local economic factors, including dependency on certain sectors of the economy, and employment levels affecting home prices and sales activity in the markets where the Company builds homes; (10) increases in cancellations of agreements of sale; (11) changes in tax laws affecting the after-tax costs of owning a home; (12) legal claims brought against us and not resolved in our favor, such as product liability litigation, warranty claims and claims made by mortgage investors; (13) levels of competition; (14) utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations; (15) information technology failures and data security breaches; (16) negative publicity; (17) global economic and political instability (18) high leverage and restrictions on the Company's operations and activities imposed by the agreements governing the Company's outstanding indebtedness; (19) availability and terms of financing to the Company; (20) the Company's sources of liquidity; (21) changes in credit ratings; (22) government regulation, including regulations concerning development of land, the home building, sales and customer financing processes, tax laws and the environment; (23) potential liability as a result of the past or present use of hazardous materials; (24) operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with third parties; (25) significant influence of the Company's controlling stockholders; (26) availability of net operating loss carryforwards; (27) loss of key management personnel or failure to attract qualified personnel; and (28) certain risks, uncertainties and other factors described in detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods during fiscal 2025 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

(1)   Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2024

(1) Includes gain on contribution of assets to a joint venture of $22.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2025.