NYSE$MTH

Meritage Homes Corp · Q4 2020 earnings

Q4 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Meritage Homes reported a record fourth quarter with a 420 bps increase in home closing gross margin, a 50% increase in diluted EPS, and a 52% increase in orders compared to the prior year.

Meritage Homes announced record fourth-quarter results, achieving its highest quarterly home closings and revenue in the company's history. The company's strategic focus on entry-level and first move-up markets allowed it to capitalize on significant demand, driving volume, profitability, and return on equity.

  • Total orders for the fourth quarter of 2020 were 52% higher year-over-year, driven by an 87% increase in absorptions per store.
  • Home closing revenue increased by 28% to $1.4 billion, reflecting a 32% higher home closing volume.
  • Home closing gross margin improved by 420 bps to 24.0% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
  • Net earnings were $152.5 million ($3.97 per diluted share) for this quarter, compared to $103.6 million ($2.65 per diluted share) for the same quarter in the prior year.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.41B

Previous: $1.14B+24.0%
EPS (adj)

$1.99

Previous: $1.33+49.6%
Ending backlog (units)

4.7K

Previous: 2.8K+67.9%
Ending backlog value

$1.81B

Previous: $1.1B+65.1%
Average sales price - backlog

$388.00

Previous: $395.00-1.8%
Capital Expenditures

$5.16M

Previous: $6.01M-14.1%
Free Cash Flow

$152M

Previous: $173M-12.3%
Net Income

$153M

Previous: $104M+47.2%
Operating Income

$195M

Previous: $111M+76.7%
Gross Profit

$338M

Previous: $219M+54.0%
Cash & Equivalents

$746M

Previous: $319M+133.4%
Total Assets

$3.86B

Previous: $3.4B+13.7%
Stock-Based Comp

$4.27M

Previous: $3.89M+9.9%

Revenue & EPS history

Meritage Homes · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.41B

Q4 2020+24%vs Q4 2019
Beat estimate in 15 of 16 quarters(94%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Meritage Homes · $23.1M total across 2 segments · Q1 2023

  • Land closing revenue
    $17.4M
  • Financial services revenue
    $5.73M

Forward guidance

For the full year 2021, the company is projecting 11,500-12,500 home closings with home closing revenue between $4.2-4.6 billion, home closing gross margin of 22.0-23.0% and an effective tax rate of about 23.0%.

Tailwinds

  • Projecting 11,500-12,500 home closings for the full year 2021.
  • Expecting home closing revenue between $4.2-4.6 billion for 2021.
  • Anticipating home closing gross margin of 22.0-23.0% for the full year 2021.
  • Expecting an effective tax rate of about 23.0% for 2021.
  • Aiming to close out 2021 with approximately 235-245 communities.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2020

Historical avgQ4 2020

+1.0%

Avg return

Earnings day

+2.0%

Avg return

5 days after

+4.3%

Avg return

30 days after

50%

33 / 66 earnings

Positive

+20.9%

Q2 2019

Best reaction

-11.8%

Q1 2016

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+1.9%+1.0%-6.6%
Q4 2025+1.1%+5.2%+9.0%
Q3 2025-5.9%-7.4%+2.9%
Q2 2025-5.4%-7.1%+7.1%
Q1 2025+1.0%-1.8%-5.8%
Q4 2024+2.8%-1.8%-8.1%
Q3 2024-3.8%-0.6%+2.6%
Q2 2024+1.1%+3.7%+13.9%
Q1 2024+4.3%+7.1%+10.4%
Q4 2023-8.8%-9.9%-5.2%
Q3 2023+9.0%+19.1%+26.2%
Q2 2023+7.0%+6.1%-5.4%
Q1 2023-2.2%+0.7%-6.4%
Q4 2022+8.3%+2.5%+2.1%
Q3 2022+1.6%+4.3%+17.8%
Q2 2022+2.6%+2.4%-6.5%
Q1 2022+4.2%+3.8%+5.9%
Q4 2021-5.6%-2.4%-6.5%
Q3 2021+4.1%+2.2%+9.0%
Q2 2021+10.6%+13.0%+16.1%
Q1 2021+12.6%+13.6%+13.3%
Q4 2020-8.5%-12.0%-10.3%
Q3 2020-11.1%-12.7%-17.1%
Q2 2020+5.3%+15.3%+23.0%
Q1 2020+19.9%+16.3%+59.5%
Q4 2019+3.4%+1.9%-10.5%
Q3 2019-0.6%+0.4%-10.0%
Q2 2019+20.9%+17.8%+20.3%
Q1 2019+5.4%+3.6%+3.9%
Q4 2018+11.5%+10.0%+7.5%
Q3 2018+7.8%+5.4%+15.5%
Q2 2018-0.1%-0.9%+0.8%
Q1 2018+7.0%+4.0%+7.2%
Q4 2017+3.2%-0.3%-8.9%
Q3 2017-0.1%+1.1%+5.9%
Q2 2017+7.9%+7.6%-0.1%
Q1 2017-1.8%-3.8%+1.8%
Q4 2016-6.4%-6.3%-1.2%
Q3 2016-6.9%-8.7%+11.0%
Q2 2016-10.2%-12.9%-12.0%
Q1 2016-11.8%
Q4 2015+17.9%
Q3 2015-10.2%
Q2 2015-2.5%
Q1 2015-3.9%
Q4 2014+9.3%
Q3 2014-5.3%
Q2 2014-7.6%
Q1 2014-7.2%
Q4 2013-1.2%
Q3 2013+6.7%
Q2 2013-7.0%
Q1 2013+9.1%
Q4 2012-3.2%
Q3 2012-8.7%
Q2 2012+14.5%
Q1 2011-2.2%
Q1 2012+2.8%
Q4 2009-1.7%
Q4 2011-1.7%
Q3 2010+0.1%
Q3 2011+0.1%
Q2 2011-1.0%
Q2 2010-1.0%
Q4 2010-1.0%
Q1 2010-4.7%

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