PHM PulteGroup Inc

• Company Provides Update on COVID-19 Impact and Response Strategies
• Company First Quarter Net Income of $0.74 Per Share
• Closings Increased 16% to 5,373 Homes
• Home Sale Gross Margin Increased 30 Basis Points to 23.7%
• Net New Orders Increased 16% to 7,495 Homes; Net New Order Value Increased 19% to $3.3 Billion
• Unit Backlog Higher by 20% to 12,629 Homes; Backlog Value Increased 21% to $5.6 Billion
• Company Maintains Outstanding Liquidity and Balance Sheet Strength

In conjunction with announcing its first quarter financial results today, PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) also discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing demand, its workforce and the Company’s overall homebuilding operations.

“The U.S. housing industry carried tremendous momentum into 2020, until the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the country,” said Ryan Marshall, PulteGroup President and CEO. “As the coronavirus spread and state and local governments implemented various restrictions and stay-in-place orders, we experienced a material slowdown in consumer traffic and sales activity beginning in mid-March.”

Mr. Marshall added, “In response to the pandemic’s impact, we have altered our operating processes and short-term objectives to help protect the health and safety of our customers and employees, while working to properly position our business for the current economic crisis and ultimate business recovery. As part of this effort, we are maximizing the use of technology to enable the virtual selling, design and closing of our homes. Where in-person interactions are required, we have implemented appropriate social-distancing practices and enhanced on-site cleaning and disinfecting processes.”

“Within those markets where residential construction has been deemed an essential service, we have also refined our building practices to help ensure our trades can operate safely and with appropriate distancing within our homes. We are also working closely with our trade partners to maintain building and cost efficiencies during this period of volatility.”

“Benefitting from our success in running a highly profitable and high returning business, we entered this period of economic weakness in an extremely strong financial position. Still, given the severity of the slowdown and the general uncertainty about the speed of recovery in the U.S. economy, we have taken steps to closely manage our cash flows and overall liquidity. Broadly, our focus is on minimizing future cash outflows associated with home construction, land development, land acquisition and general operating costs, while maximizing cash inflows through home closings.”

“Given the extent of business disruption and the uncertainty relating to government efforts to restart local economies, we are withdrawing our previous guidance for PulteGroup’s 2020 financial results and will suspend providing such guidance for the foreseeable future. Beyond the business implications of COVID-19, we are fully aware of the devastating personal impacts this disease is having. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the people impacted by this virus and to all those battling to control its spread.”

First-Quarter Financial Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, PulteGroup reported net income of $204 million, or $0.74 per share, which is an increase over prior year reported net income of $167 million, or $0.59 per share.

Home sale revenues for the first quarter increased 14% to $2.2 billion. The increase in revenue for the period was driven by a 16% increase in the number of homes closed to 5,373, partially offset by a 2% decrease in average selling price to $413,000. The lower average sales price primarily reflects changes in the product and geographic mix of homes closed in this quarter compared with the first quarter of 2019.

Home sale gross profit for the quarter increased to $527 million, or 23.7% of home sale revenues, compared with prior year first quarter gross profit of $457 million, or 23.4% of home sale revenues. SG&A expense for the first quarter was $264 million, or 11.9% of home sale revenues, compared with prior year first quarter SG&A expense of $253 million, or 13.0% of home sale revenues. Operating margin for the period increased by 130 basis points to 11.8%.

Net new orders for the first quarter increased 16% to 7,495 homes, while the value of orders increased 19% to $3.3 billion. For the first quarter, the Company operated from an average of 873 communities, which is an increase of 4% over the first quarter average of 843 communities last year.

Quarter-end backlog increased 20% over last year to 12,629 homes, while related backlog value increased 21% to $5.6 billion. The average sales price in backlog increased $4,000, or 1%, over the prior year to $442,000.

PulteGroup’s financial services operations generated pretax income of $20 million, up from pretax income in the first quarter of last year of $12 million. Mortgage capture rate for the quarter increased to 87%, up from 80% last year.

Liquidity Update

The Company ended the quarter with $1.9 billion of cash, which includes the receipt of $700 million in connection with the Company’s decision to draw on its revolving bank facility in March of this year. During the quarter, the Company repurchased 2.8 million common shares for $96 million, or an average price of $33.86 per share.

“While our strong business results have allowed us to maintain an elevated cash position, we elected to draw on our revolving credit agreement in an abundance of caution due to the dramatic impact and broad economic uncertainties the COVID-19 pandemic has created,” said Bob O’Shaughnessy, Executive Vice President and CFO. “Further, given the economic uncertainties, we have also elected to suspend all stock repurchase activities.”

A conference call to discuss PulteGroup's first quarter results is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested investors can access the live webcast via PulteGroup's corporate website at www.pultegroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes "forward-looking statements." These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly factual or historical nature and generally discuss or relate to forecasts, estimates or other expectations regarding future events. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “might,” "should," “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including statements related to any potential impairment charges and the impacts or effects thereof, expected operating and performing results, planned transactions, planned objectives of management, future developments or conditions in the industries in which we participate and other trends, developments and uncertainties that may affect our business in the future.

Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things: interest rate changes and the availability of mortgage financing; competition within the industries in which we operate; the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by us in our homebuilding operations; the impact of any changes to our strategy in responding to the cyclical nature of the industry, including any changes regarding our land positions and the levels of our land spend; the availability and cost of insurance covering risks associated with our businesses; shortages and the cost of labor; weather related slowdowns; slow growth initiatives and/or local building moratoria; governmental regulation directed at or affecting the housing market, the homebuilding industry or construction activities; uncertainty in the mortgage lending industry, including revisions to underwriting standards and repurchase requirements associated with the sale of mortgage loans; the interpretation of or changes to tax, labor and environmental laws which could have a greater impact on our effective tax rate or the value of our deferred tax assets than we anticipate; economic changes nationally or in our local markets, including inflation, deflation, changes in consumer confidence and preferences and the state of the market for homes in general; legal or regulatory proceedings or claims; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in order to successfully implement our capital allocation priorities; required accounting changes; terrorist acts and other acts of war; the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial position and ability to continue our Homebuilding or Financial Services activities at normal levels or at all in impacted areas; the duration, effect and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; the measures that governmental authorities take to address the COVID-19 pandemic which may precipitate or exacerbate one or more of the above-mentioned and/or other risks and significantly disrupt or prevent us from operating our business in the ordinary course for an extended period of time; and other factors of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature. See PulteGroup's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our businesses. PulteGroup undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in PulteGroup's expectations.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup’s purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup’s brands, go to pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com; www.divosta.com; www.jwhomes.com; and www.americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.

       

PulteGroup, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

($000's omitted, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

       

 

 

 

 

       

Three Months Ended

 

       

March 31,

 

       

2020

 

2019

Revenues:

       

 

 

 

Homebuilding

       

 

 

 

Home sale revenues

       

$

2,221,503

 

 

$

1,949,856

 

Land sale and other revenues

       

18,927

 

 

2,975

 

 

       

2,240,430

 

 

1,952,831

 

Financial Services

       

54,550

 

 

43,862

 

Total revenues

       

2,294,980

 

 

1,996,693

 

 

       

 

 

 

Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:

       

 

 

 

Home sale cost of revenues

       

(1,694,865

)

 

(1,492,791

)

Land sale and other cost of revenues

       

(15,014

)

 

(2,050

)

 

       

(1,709,879

)

 

(1,494,841

)

 

       

 

 

 

Financial Services expenses

       

(34,949

)

 

(31,449

)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

       

(263,669

)

 

(252,727

)

Goodwill impairment

       

(20,190

)

 

—

 

Other expense, net

       

(2,524

)

 

(973

)

Income before income taxes

       

263,769

 

 

216,703

 

Income tax expense

       

(60,058

)

 

(49,946

)

Net income

       

$

203,711

 

 

$

166,757

 

 

       

 

 

 

Per share:

       

 

 

 

Basic earnings

       

$

0.75

 

 

$

0.59

 

Diluted earnings

       

$

0.74

 

 

$

0.59

 

Cash dividends declared

       

$

0.12

 

 

$

0.11

 

 

       

 

 

 

Number of shares used in calculation:

       

 

 

 

Basic

       

270,000

 

 

277,637

 

Effect of dilutive securities

       

1,218

 

 

1,003

 

Diluted

       

271,218

 

 

278,640

 

         

PulteGroup, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

       

March 31,

2020

 

December 31,

2019

 

       

 

 

 

ASSETS

       

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

       

$

1,816,778

 

 

$

1,217,913

 

Restricted cash

       

34,475

 

 

33,543

 

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

       

1,851,253

 

 

1,251,456

 

House and land inventory

       

7,857,664

 

 

7,680,614

 

Land held for sale

       

31,636

 

 

24,009

 

Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale

       

363,854

 

 

508,967

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

       

54,495

 

 

59,766

 

Other assets

       

935,532

 

 

895,686

 

Intangible assets

       

178,553

 

 

124,992

 

Deferred tax assets, net

       

150,387

 

 

170,107

 

 

       

$

11,423,374

 

 

$

10,715,597

 

 

       

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

       

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

Liabilities:

       

 

 

 

Accounts payable

       

$

429,724

 

 

$

435,916

 

Customer deposits

       

344,973

 

 

294,427

 

Accrued and other liabilities

       

1,319,808

 

 

1,399,368

 

Income tax liabilities

       

72,546

 

 

36,093

 

Financial Services debt

       

270,000

 

 

326,573

 

Revolving credit facility

       

700,000

 

 

—

 

Notes payable

       

2,755,932

 

 

2,765,040

 

 

       

5,892,983

 

 

5,257,417

 

Shareholders' equity

       

5,530,391

 

 

5,458,180

 

 

       

$

11,423,374

 

 

$

10,715,597

 

         

PulteGroup, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

       

Three Months Ended

 

       

March 31,

 

       

2020

 

2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

       

 

 

 

Net income

       

$

203,711

 

 

$

166,757

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

       

 

 

 

Deferred income tax expense

       

19,955

 

 

24,690

 

Land-related charges

       

9,729

 

 

2,979

 

Goodwill impairment

       

20,190

 

 

—

 

Depreciation and amortization

       

15,149

 

 

13,210

 

Share-based compensation expense

       

11,479

 

 

9,019

 

Other, net

       

(903

)

 

(39

)

Increase (decrease) in cash due to:

       

 

 

 

Inventories

       

(189,364

)

 

(259,865

)

Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale

       

145,113

 

 

134,217

 

Other assets

       

(3,534

)

 

64,533

 

Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities

       

(26,910

)

 

3,404

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

       

204,615

 

 

158,905

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

       

(20,139

)

 

(16,070

)

Investments in unconsolidated entities

       

5,837

 

 

(1,289

)

Business acquisition

       

(83,200

)

 

—

 

Other investing activities, net

       

1,706

 

 

291

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

       

(95,796

)

 

(17,068

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

       

 

 

 

Repayments of notes payable

       

(9,245

)

 

(3,605

)

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

       

700,000

 

 

—

 

Financial Services borrowings (repayments)

       

(56,573

)

 

(126,273

)

Stock option exercises

       

50

 

 

1,445

 

Share repurchases

       

(95,676

)

 

(24,999

)

Cash paid for shares withheld for taxes

       

(14,838

)

 

(10,350

)

Dividends paid

       

(32,740

)

 

(30,802

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

       

490,978

 

 

(194,584

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

       

599,797

 

 

(52,747

)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period

       

1,251,456

 

 

1,133,700

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

       

$

1,851,253

 

 

$

1,080,953

 

 

       

 

 

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

       

 

 

 

Interest paid (capitalized), net

       

$

14,019

 

 

$

17,164

 

Income taxes paid (refunded), net

       

$

5,540

 

 

$

(30,850

)

         

PulteGroup, Inc.

Segment Data

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

       

 

 

 

 

       

Three Months Ended

 

       

March 31,

 

       

2020

 

2019

HOMEBUILDING:

       

 

 

 

Home sale revenues

       

$

2,221,503

 

 

$

1,949,856

 

Land sale and other revenues

       

18,927

 

 

2,975

 

Total Homebuilding revenues

       

2,240,430

 

 

1,952,831

 

 

       

 

 

 

Home sale cost of revenues

       

(1,694,865

)

 

(1,492,791

)

Land sale and other cost of revenues

       

(15,014

)

 

(2,050

)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses ("SG&A")

       

(263,669

)

 

(252,727

)

Goodwill impairment

       

(20,190

)

 

—

 

Other expense, net

       

(2,474

)

 

(969

)

Income before income taxes

       

$

244,218

 

 

$

204,294

 

 

       

 

 

 

FINANCIAL SERVICES:

       

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

       

$

19,551

 

 

$

12,409

 

 

       

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED:

       

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

       

$

263,769

 

 

$

216,703

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

OPERATING METRICS:

       

 

 

 

Gross margin % (a)(b)

       

23.7

%

 

23.4

%

SG&A % (a)

       

(11.9

)%

 

(13.0

)%

Operating margin % (a)

       

11.8

%

 

10.5

%

 

(a) As a percentage of home sale revenues

(b) Gross margin represents home sale revenues minus home sale cost of revenues

         

PulteGroup, Inc.

Segment Data, continued

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

       

 

 

 

 

       

Three Months Ended

 

       

March 31,

 

       

2020

 

2019

 

       

 

 

 

Home sale revenues

       

$

2,221,503

 

 

$

1,949,856

 

 

       

 

 

 

Closings - units

       

 

 

 

Northeast

       

310

 

 

219

 

Southeast

       

928

 

 

897

 

Florida

       

1,210

 

 

1,008

 

Midwest

       

708

 

 

726

 

Texas

       

1,128

 

 

849

 

West

       

1,089

 

 

936

 

 

       

5,373

 

 

4,635

 

Average selling price

       

$

413

 

 

$

421

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net new orders - units

       

 

 

 

Northeast

       

448

 

 

361

 

Southeast

       

1,141

 

 

1,073

 

Florida

       

1,685

 

 

1,346

 

Midwest

       

1,019

 

 

1,024

 

Texas

       

1,509

 

 

1,366

 

West

       

1,693

 

 

1,293

 

 

       

7,495

 

 

6,463

 

Net new orders - dollars

       

$

3,268,749

 

 

$

2,735,852

 

 

       

 

 

 

Unit backlog

       

 

 

 

Northeast

       

727

 

 

612

 

Southeast

       

2,078

 

 

1,786

 

Florida

       

2,781

 

 

2,227

 

Midwest

       

1,851

 

 

1,700

 

Texas

       

2,231

 

 

2,009

 

West

       

2,961

 

 

2,216

 

 

       

12,629

 

 

10,550

 

Dollars in backlog

       

$

5,583,051

 

 

$

4,622,145

 

         

PulteGroup, Inc.

Segment Data, continued

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

       

 

 

 

 

       

Three Months Ended

 

       

March 31,

 

       

2020

 

2019

MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS:

       

 

 

 

Origination volume

       

3,870

 

 

2,998

 

Origination principal

       

$

1,213,266

 

 

$

914,711

 

Capture rate

       

86.8

%

 

79.7

%

         

Supplemental Data

($000's omitted)

(Unaudited)

 

     

 

 

 

 

     

Three Months Ended

 

     

March 31,

 

     

2020

 

2019

 

     

 

 

 

Interest in inventory, beginning of period

     

$

210,383

 

 

$

227,495

 

Interest capitalized

     

39,913

 

 

42,381

 

Interest expensed

     

(36,871

)

 

(34,563

)

Interest in inventory, end of period

     

$

213,425

 

 

$

235,313

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005154/en/

Company Contact Investors: Jim Zeumer (404) 978-6434 Email: jim.zeumer@pultegroup.com