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M.D.C. Holdings Announces Third Quarter Earnings; Reports Quarterly Home Orders and Quarter-end Backlog

  • Diluted earnings per share of $1.06 vs. $2.62 in 2005
  • Net income of $48.7 million, compared with $121.0 million in 2005
  • Pre-tax inventory impairments and project cost write-offs of $29.4 million
  • Total revenues of $1.08 billion; $1.17 billion in 2005
  • Closed 2,955 homes at an average selling price of $358,200
  • Financial services and other profits of $13.0 million vs. $9.6 million in 2005
  • Net orders for 2,120 homes valued at $678.1 million
  • Quarter-end backlog of 5,661 homes valued at $2.10 billion
  • Unrestricted cash and available borrowing capacity of $1.36 billion
  • Cash flow from operations of $70.9 million in 2006 third quarter
  • DENVER, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC; PCX) today announced net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 of $48.7 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared with net income of $121.0 million, or $2.62 per diluted share, for the same period in 2005. Total revenue for the third quarter reached $1.08 billion, compared with revenue of $1.17 billion for the same period in 2005. Operating results for the 2006 third quarter were impacted adversely by non-cash, pre-tax charges for inventory impairments and project cost write-offs of $19.9 million and $9.5 million, respectively.

    Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $220.6 million, or $4.80 per diluted share, compared with net income of $308.2 million, or $6.70 per diluted share, for the same period in 2005. Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reached $3.46 billion, compared with $3.15 billion for the first nine months of 2005.

    Larry A. Mizel, MDC's chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "The challenges experienced by the homebuilding industry during the first half of 2006 remained prevalent during the third quarter, as the operating environment in most markets became increasingly competitive in the face of continued expansion of unsold new and existing home inventories. In meeting these challenges, we have remained committed to the operating and financial disciplines that contributed to the achievement of our 'investment grade' financial position, with a focus on strengthening our balance sheet, generating cash flow and preserving capital for future opportunities to grow when our markets begin to return to more normal conditions."

    Mizel continued, "We have continued to reduce the number of our lots controlled to maintain a level more consistent with our two-year supply objective. For more than a year, we have pursued modifications to pricing and terms of proposed and existing land acquisition contracts to comply with our more stringent underwriting guidelines, and we have continued to terminate contracts that do not meet these heightened standards. These actions have enabled us to reduce our lots under control by more than 25% since the beginning of the year, with less than 3% of our stockholders' equity at risk for our 11,000 optioned lots. In addition, our investment in land declined by almost $100 million in the third quarter alone, which contributed to our generating more than $70 million in cash flow from operations during this period. As a result, we ended the quarter with $1.36 billion in available cash and borrowing capacity, up 25% from last September."

    Homebuilding Results

    Homebuilding income before taxes for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $82.3 million and $385.8 million, respectively, compared with $211.3 million and $559.1 million for the same periods in 2005. The income decreases in the 2006 periods were driven by reduced home closings and significant declines in home gross margins from the all-time high levels achieved during the same periods in 2005, partially offset by the impact of increased average selling prices. In addition, homebuilding income before taxes for both the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was impacted adversely by non-cash, pre-tax inventory impairment charges of $19.9 million and $20.8 million, respectively, while no impairments were realized for the comparable periods in 2005. The Company closed 2,955 homes and produced home gross margins of 22.7% in the 2006 third quarter, compared with 3,686 home closings and home gross margins of 28.8% for the comparable period in 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company closed 9,529 homes and produced home gross margins of 24.4%, compared with 10,356 home closings and home gross margins of 28.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Average selling prices reached $358,200 and $354,000, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, up $46,800 and $55,200 from the same periods in 2005.

    Homebuilding commissions, marketing, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $137.0 million, or 12.9% of home sales revenue, for the 2006 third quarter, compared with $118.9 million, or 10.4% of home sales revenue, for the 2005 third quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, homebuilding SG&A expenses were $418.3 million, or 12.4% of home sales revenue, compared with $329.8 million, or 10.7% of home sales revenue, for the same period in 2005. The SG&A expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 included project cost write-offs of $9.5 million and $23.0 million, respectively, compared with $2.5 million and $5.2 million of such costs for the same periods in 2005.

    Paris G. Reece III, MDC's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, "We experienced reduced home gross margins in each of our markets except Utah and Delaware Valley, with the most significant decreases occurring in Nevada and California, as has been the case in the previous 2006 quarters, as well as in Virginia, due to increased competition and extreme inventory pressures in that market. The $19.9 million in inventory impairment charges we recognized during the third quarter, which are not included in our home gross margins, primarily relate to five projects in California where we experienced a much slower than anticipated home order pace and significantly increased sales incentive requirements."

    Reece continued, "Similar to our 2006 second quarter, we deferred $18.5 million in profits related to certain homes closed in the third quarter for which the Company's mortgage subsidiary originated high loan-to-value loans for our homebuyers and still held the loans in inventory at the end of the quarter. However, we more than offset this deferral by recognizing $30.7 million in profits that had been deferred in the second quarter, resulting in a net increase to homebuilding profits for the 2006 third quarter of $12.2 million. This net increase in profits raised third quarter home gross margins by 90 basis points and average selling prices by $4,100."

    Reece concluded, "Our SG&A expenses increased year-over-year in the 2006 third quarter, primarily due to higher advertising expenses and commissions to outside brokers required in response to the more competitive home selling environment in most of our markets, as well as higher model home costs. Also, write-offs of project costs, which include option deposits and other costs related to lots that we have chosen not to acquire, increased by $7.0 million from the 2005 third quarter. Nevertheless, we experienced a sequential decline in our general and administrative expenses from the 2006 second quarter of almost $10.0 million, primarily reflecting reduced employee-related costs resulting from our efforts to right-size our homebuilding operations in view of current market conditions."

    Improved Financial Services and Other Results

    Income before taxes from the Company's financial services and other segment for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006 increased to $13.0 million and $35.2 million, respectively, compared with $9.6 million and $18.9 million, respectively, during the same periods in the previous year. The profit improvements primarily resulted from higher gains on sales of mortgage loans, compared with the same periods in 2005. Increased dollar volumes of mortgage loan originations and mortgage loans sold during the 2006 periods drove the higher gains. The Company achieved these increased volumes by improving its mortgage capture rate, largely as a result of expanding the mortgage loan products that it could originate directly for its customers, and increasing its average loan amounts in connection with the Company's higher average selling prices.

    Home Orders and Backlog

    MDC received orders, net of cancellations, for 2,120 homes with an estimated sales value of $678.1 million during the 2006 third quarter, compared with net orders for 3,551 homes with an estimated sales value of $1.22 billion during the same period in 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company received net orders for 8,658 homes with an estimated sales value of $2.95 billion, compared with 12,929 net orders with an estimated sales value of $4.40 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The Company ended the third quarter of 2006 with a backlog of 5,661 homes, compared with a backlog of 9,078 homes at September 30, 2005. The estimated sales value of backlog at the end of the 2006 third quarter was $2.10 billion, compared with $3.29 billion at September 30, 2005.

    MDC, whose subsidiaries build homes under the name "Richmond American Homes," is one of the top ten homebuilders in the United States, based on 2005 revenues. The Company also provides mortgage financing, primarily for MDC's homebuyers, through its wholly owned subsidiary HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation. MDC, a Fortune 500 Company, is a major regional homebuilder with a significant presence in Colorado, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Maryland, Northern California, Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Southern California and Tucson. MDC also has established operating divisions in Chicago, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and West Florida. For more information about our Company, please visit RichmondAmerican.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this release, including statements regarding future home closings, revenue and earnings, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the 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 factors include, among other things, (1) general economic and business conditions, including changes in cancellation rates, net home orders, home gross margins, and land and home values; (2) interest rate changes; (3) the relative stability of debt and equity markets; (4) competition; (5) the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by the Company in its homebuilding operations; (6) the availability and cost of performance bonds and insurance covering risks associated with our business; (7) shortages and the cost of labor; (8) weather related slowdowns; (9) slow growth initiatives; (10) building moratoria; (11) governmental regulation, including the interpretation of tax, labor and environmental laws; (12) changes in consumer confidence and preferences; (13) required accounting changes; (14) terrorist acts and other acts of war; and (15) other factors over which the Company has little or no control. Additional information about the risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company's business is contained in the Company's reports on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, and Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, which were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this press release will increase with the passage of time. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent filings, releases or presentations should be consulted.

    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                          Consolidated Statements of Income
                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                         Three Months             Nine Months
                                      Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                                       2006        2005        2006        2005
        REVENUE
    
           Home sales revenue      $1,058,408  $1,147,757  $3,372,799  $3,094,141
           Land sales revenue           3,336       1,269      18,812       2,565
           Other revenue               21,149      18,786      66,912      51,362
                 Total Revenue      1,082,893   1,167,812   3,458,523   3,148,068
    
        COSTS AND EXPENSES
           Home cost of sales         818,015     817,330   2,550,018   2,208,882
           Land cost of sales           3,210         706      18,124       1,496
           Inventory impairments       19,915          --      20,775          --
           Marketing expenses          31,296      26,106      91,899      73,432
           Commission expenses         36,390      30,736     106,627      85,262
           General and
            administrative
            expenses                   97,558      99,557     318,053     285,550
           Related party expenses          88          51       1,891         214
                 Total Costs and
                  Expenses          1,006,472     974,486   3,107,387   2,654,836
        Income before income taxes     76,421     193,326     351,136     493,232
        Provisions for income
         taxes                        (27,715)    (72,336)   (130,518)   (184,988)
    
        NET INCOME                    $48,706    $120,990    $220,618    $308,244
    
        EARNINGS PER SHARE
              Basic                     $1.08       $2.73       $4.91       $7.03
              Diluted                   $1.06       $2.62       $4.80       $6.70
    
        WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES
              Basic                    44,972      44,379      44,911      43,849
              Diluted                  45,868      46,258      45,932      46,006
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                             Consolidated Balance Sheets
                   (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                               September 30,      December 31,
                                                    2006              2005
        ASSETS
           Cash and cash equivalents               $132,844          $214,531
           Restricted cash                            5,082             6,742
           Home sales receivables                    75,120           134,270
           Mortgage loans held in inventory         203,375           237,376
           Inventories, net
              Housing completed or under
               construction                       1,578,696         1,320,106
              Land and land under development     1,662,034         1,677,948
           Property and equipment, net               45,560            49,119
           Deferred income taxes                     77,259            54,319
           Prepaid expenses and other assets,
            net                                     176,073           165,439
    
                     Total Assets                $3,956,043        $3,859,850
    
        LIABILITIES
           Accounts payable                        $200,703          $201,747
           Accrued liabilities                      424,436           442,409
           Income taxes payable                      14,821           102,656
           Related party liabilities                     --             8,100
           Homebuilding line of credit                   --                --
           Mortgage line of credit                  152,369           156,532
           Senior notes, net                        996,583           996,297
    
                     Total Liabilities            1,788,912         1,907,741
    
        COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                    --                --
    
        STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
           Preferred stock, $0.01 par value;
            25,000,000 shares authorized; none
              issued or outstanding                      --                --
           Common stock, $0.01 par value;
            250,000,000 shares authorized;
            44,995,000 and 44,981,000
            issued and outstanding,
            respectively, at
            September 30, 2006 and
            44,642,000 and 44,630,000
            issued and outstanding, respectively,
            at December 31, 2005                        450               447
           Additional paid-in capital               750,013           722,291
           Retained earnings                      1,419,886         1,232,971
           Unearned restricted stock                 (1,937)           (2,478)
           Accumulated other comprehensive
            loss                                       (622)             (622)
           Less treasury stock, at cost; 14,000
            and 12,000 shares, respectively, at
            September 30, 2006 and
             December 31, 2005                         (659)             (500)
                     Total Stockholders'
                      Equity                      2,167,131         1,952,109
    
                     Total Liabilities and
                      Stockholders' Equity       $3,956,043        $3,859,850
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                               Information on Segments
                                (Dollars in thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                      Three Months               Nine Months
                                   Ended September 30,       Ended September 30,
                                    2006         2005         2006         2005
        REVENUE
          West                    $653,932     $631,171   $2,061,708   $1,734,412
          Mountain                  168,193      228,024      519,107      603,756
          East                     137,050      185,504      444,765      470,220
          Other Homebuilding       105,553      105,558      374,299      293,266
    
                Total
                  Homebuilding   1,064,728    1,150,257    3,399,879    3,101,654
    
          Financial Services
           and Other                18,105       17,318       57,969       44,955
          Corporate                     60          237          675        1,459
    
          Consolidated          $1,082,893   $1,167,812   $3,458,523   $3,148,068
    
        INCOME BEFORE TAXES
          West                     $53,762     $135,954     $274,642     $385,522
          Mountain                   9,320       19,161       25,183       49,496
          East                      23,911       54,467       85,691      123,009
          Other Homebuilding        (4,660)       1,732          237        1,099
    
               Total
                Homebuilding        82,333      211,314      385,753      559,126
    
        Financial Services
         and Other                  12,989        9,600       35,161       18,897
        Corporate                  (18,901)     (27,588)     (69,778)     (84,791)
    
        Consolidated               $76,421     $193,326     $351,136     $493,232
    
    
                              September 30,  December 31,
                                   2006          2005
        TOTAL ASSETS
          West                  $2,185,038   $2,113,384
          Mountain                 552,551      466,362
          East                     395,879      368,848
          Other Homebuilding       323,079      359,151
    
                Total
                 Homebuilding    3,456,547    3,307,745
    
          Financial Services
           and Other               261,610      253,365
          Corporate                237,886      298,740
    
          Consolidated          $3,956,043   $3,859,850
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                               Selected Financial Data
                                (Dollars in thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                           Three Months          Nine Months
                                        Ended September 30,   Ended September 30,
                                         2006        2005      2006       2005
        SELECTED OPERATING DATA
    
           General and Administrative
            Expenses
                 Homebuilding
                  Operations             69,317      62,017   219,820    171,133
                 Financial Services
                  and Other Operations    9,295       9,765    29,598     28,381
                 Corporate               18,946      27,775    68,635     86,036
                     Total               97,558      99,557   318,053    285,550
    
           SG&A as a Percent of Home
            Sales Revenues
                 Homebuilding
                  Operations               12.9%       10.4%     12.4%      10.7%
                 Corporate                  1.8%        2.4%      2.1%       2.7%
                     Total Homebuilding
                      and Corporate        14.7%       12.8%     14.5%      13.4%
    
           Depreciation and
            Amortization                $13,028     $12,932   $41,537    $34,518
    
           Home Gross Margins (1)          22.7%       28.8%     24.4%      28.6%
    
           Cash Provided by (Used in)
            Operating Activities        $70,928   $(228,992) $(41,343) $(557,036)
           Cash Used in Investing
            Activities                  $(2,893)    $(6,394)  $(7,224)  $(18,118)
           Cash Provided by (Used in)
            Financing Activities       $(26,675)   $293,799  $(33,120)  $293,965
    
           Ending Unrestricted Cash
            and Available Borrowing
            Capacity                 $1,356,532  $1,084,347       N/A        N/A
    
           After-Tax Return on
            Average Capital (2)            13.1%       18.7%      N/A        N/A
           After-Tax Return on
            Average Assets (2)             10.8%       15.4%      N/A        N/A
           After-Tax Return on
            Average Equity (2)             20.8%       29.8%      N/A        N/A
    
           Interest in Home Cost of
            Sales as a Percent
               of Home Sales Revenue        1.2%        0.6%      1.1%       0.7%
    
           Corporate and Homebuilding
            Interest Capitalized
                   Interest Capitalized
                    in Inventories at
                    Beginning of
                    Period              $48,569     $30,293   $41,999    $24,220
                   Interest Capitalized
                    During the Period    14,150      14,615    43,993     36,540
                 Interest in Home
                  and Land Cost of Sales
                  for the Period         12,574       7,030    35,847     22,882
           Interest Capitalized
            in Inventories at End
            of Period                   $50,145     $37,878   $50,145    $37,878
    
           Interest Capitalized as a
            Percent of Inventories          1.5%        1.3%      N/A        N/A
    
    
        (1)  Home sales revenue less home cost of sales (excluding commissions,
             amortization of deferred marketing and inventory impairments) as a
             percent of home sales revenue.
    
        (2)  Based on last twelve months data.
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                            Homebuilding Operational Data
                                (Dollars in thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                      September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
                                           2006           2005            2005
        LOTS OWNED AND CONTROLLED
            Lots Owned                      20,613         23,445          21,660
            Lots Under Option               10,952         18,819          22,327
            Homes Completed or Under
             Construction                    6,594          6,891           9,217
    
        LOTS OWNED BY MARKET
            (excluding homes completed or
             under construction)
            Arizona                          6,958          7,385           7,229
            California                       3,051          3,367           2,632
            Colorado                         3,325          3,639           3,560
            Delaware Valley                    283            471             367
            Florida                          1,220          1,201             970
            Illinois                           300            430             474
            Maryland                           505            679             734
            Nevada                           3,096          4,055           3,482
            Texas                               69            471             569
            Utah                             1,132            964             881
            Virginia                           674            783             762
                Total Company               20,613         23,445          21,660
    
        LOTS UNDER OPTION BY MARKET
            Arizona                          1,283          3,650           3,830
            California                       1,053          2,005           3,139
            Colorado                         1,304          2,198           3,187
            Delaware Valley                    874          1,283           1,111
            Florida                          1,999          3,202           3,411
            Illinois                            47            186             186
            Maryland                         1,034          1,173           1,156
            Nevada                             627          1,400           1,639
            Texas                               --             80             951
            Utah                               272            418             568
            Virginia                         2,459          3,224           3,149
                Total Company               10,952         18,819          22,327
    
            Non-refundable Option Deposits
                Cash                       $34,034        $48,157         $50,050
                Letters of Credit           16,069         23,142          25,728
                    Total Non-refundable
                     Option Deposits       $50,103        $71,299         $75,778
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                            Homebuilding Operational Data
                                (Dollars in Thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                          Three Months             Nine Months
                                       Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                                        2006        2005        2006        2005
        HOMES CLOSED (UNITS)
            Arizona                       716         895       2,337       2,550
            California                    383         475       1,252       1,238
            Colorado                      334         599       1,154       1,615
            Delaware Valley                50          17         122          18
            Florida                       195         252         702         832
            Illinois                       46          19         119          40
            Maryland                      104         106         290         260
            Nevada                        696         616       2,109       1,851
            Texas                          75         214         366         616
            Utah                          206         239         580         640
            Virginia                      150         254         498         696
                Total Company           2,955       3,686       9,529      10,356
    
        AVERAGE SELLING PRICE PER
         HOME CLOSED
            Arizona                    $311.8      $221.2      $303.6      $215.0
            California                  520.7       510.5       542.8       509.2
            Colorado                    301.4       287.7       302.2       285.7
            Delaware Valley             394.3       362.2       396.5       361.3
            Florida                     275.6       226.2       290.1       205.3
            Illinois                    365.6       411.7       367.7       426.5
            Maryland                    576.1       513.5       573.8       458.6
            Nevada                      317.8       307.6       320.6       298.1
            Texas                       164.0       162.7       167.1       159.1
            Utah                        321.5       226.9       293.0       219.0
            Virginia                    486.2       515.9       555.2       503.4
                Company Average        $358.2      $311.4      $354.0      $298.8
    
        ORDERS FOR HOMES, NET
         (UNITS)
            Arizona                       680         798       2,278       3,040
            California                    273         504       1,209       1,737
            Colorado                      196         469         938       1,727
            Delaware Valley                36          56         110         156
            Florida                        81         238         530         917
            Illinois                       20          53          82         113
            Maryland                       70          89         320         365
            Nevada                        436         829       1,734       2,788
            Texas                           1         162         158         672
            Utah                          251         257         916         741
            Virginia                       76          96         383         673
                Total Company           2,120       3,551       8,658      12,929
    
        Estimated Value of Orders
         for Homes, net              $678,110  $1,223,834  $2,952,362  $4,402,203
        Estimated Average Selling
         Price of Orders for Homes,
         net                           $319.9      $344.6      $341.0      $340.5
        Order Cancellation Rate (3)      48.5%       25.7%       40.1%       21.5%
    
    
        (3)  Gross number of cancellations received divided by gross number of
             orders received.
    
    
    
                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                            Homebuilding Operational Data
                                (Dollars in Thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)
    
                                   September 30,    December 31,   September 30,
        BACKLOG (UNITS)                 2006            2005            2005
            Arizona                       2,040           2,099           2,633
            California                      722             765           1,306
            Colorado                        361             577             804
            Delaware Valley                 169             181             161
            Florida                         427             599             723
            Illinois                         43              80              91
            Maryland                        281             251             330
            Nevada                          648           1,023           1,683
            Texas                            30             238             312
            Utah                            674             338             390
            Virginia                        266             381             645
                Total Company             5,661           6,532           9,078
    
        Backlog Estimated Sales
         Value                       $2,100,000      $2,440,000      $3,290,000
        Estimated Average Selling
         Price of Homes in Backlog       $371.0          $373.5          $362.4
    
        ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS
            Arizona                          65              54              46
            California                       46              34              28
            Colorado                         45              57              56
            Delaware Valley                   7               7               6
            Florida                          29              19              19
            Illinois                          7               8               8
            Maryland                         17              11              10
            Nevada                           37              43              47
            Texas                             2              21              24
            Utah                             21              18              16
            Virginia                         19              20              20
                Total Company               295             292             280
                Average for Quarter Ended   296             287             281
    
    

    SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
    10/24/2006

    CONTACT:
    Paris G. Reece III,
    Chief Financial Officer,
    +1-303-804-7706,
    greece@mdch.com,
    or
    Robert N. Martin,
    Investor Relations,
    +1-720-977-3431,
    bob.martin@mdch.com,
    or
    Alison Schuller,
    Corporate Communications,
    +1-720-977-3554,
    alison.schuller@mdch.com,
    all of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

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