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KB Home (KBH - Free Report) reported stellar results for second-quarter fiscal 2022 (ended May 31, 2022). Its earnings and revenues beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased on a year-over-year basis.
Shares of this leading homebuilder increased 2.17% in the after-market trading session on Jun 22.
Jeffrey Mezger, chairman, president and chief executive officer, stated, “With our ending backlog of over $6 billion, we are rearming our fiscal 2022 guidance, which we believe we are well positioned to achieve.”
Management noted that sales rates are moderating as buyers face inflationary pressures and the impact of higher mortgage rates. Nonetheless, KBH remains confident about its Built-to-Order business model, enabling it to navigate these changing market conditions.
Earnings & Revenue Discussion
KBH reported adjusted earnings of $2.32 per share, which surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.97 by 17.8%. The metric also rose 55% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $1.50 per share. The upside was mainly backed by solid revenues and margin growth.
Total revenues of $1.72 billion topped the consensus mark of $1.61 billion by 7.1% and increased 19% on a year-over-year basis.
Segment Details
Homebuilding: The segment's revenues of $1.71 billion increased 19.4% from the prior-year quarter’s levels. The number of homes delivered of 3,469 units was flat from the year-ago levels. The average selling price or ASP increased 21% from a year ago to $494,300.
Net orders dropped 9% from the prior-year quarter to 3,914 homes. Nonetheless, the value of net orders rose 4% from the year-ago quarter to $2.12 billion. The average community count rose 3% from a year ago to 211 and the ending community count increased 7% to 214.
The cancellation rate, as a percentage of gross orders, was 17% compared with 9% a year ago. Quarter-end backlog totaled 12,331 homes, up 23% from a year ago. Further, potential housing revenues from backlog grew 43% from the prior-year period to $6.12 billion. This marks the highest second-quarter level in the company’s history. It is to be noted that the backlog in all the four regions served increased year over year.
Margins
Within homebuilding, housing gross margin improved 390 basis points (bps) year over year to 25.3%. The increase was attributed to a favorable pricing environment due to robust housing demand, the limited supply of available homes for sale and the lower amortization of previously-capitalized interest. This was partially offset by higher construction costs (especially lumber) and increased expenses to support current operations and expected growth.
Selling, general and administrative expenses — as a percentage of housing revenues — reduced 30 bps from the year-ago figure to 9.8%, thanks to lower external sales commissions and increased operating leverage from higher revenues, partly offset by higher expenses to support growth.
Financial Services revenues rose 7.8% year over year to $5,236 million. Pretax income of $18.7 million, up 75% from a year ago. This reflects significant growth in the equity in income of its mortgage banking joint venture, KBHS Home Loans, LLC, due to an increase in interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”).
Financial Position
KB Home had cash and cash equivalents of $244.2 million as of May 31, 2022, down from $290.8 million in the corresponding period of 2021. The company had total liquidity of $925.6 million, including $681.4 million of available capacity under the unsecured revolving credit facility.
Inventories increased 16% to $5.56 billion at the end of the fiscal second quarter. As of fiscal second quarter-end, the debt to capital ratio was 38.8%, up from 35.8% at fiscal 2021-end and 37.7% at fiscal second-quarter 2021 end.
Fiscal 2022 Guidance
For fiscal 2022, the company now expects housing revenues in the range of $7.30-$7.50 billion, narrower than the previous expectation of $7.20-$7.60 billion. ASP is likely to be $500,000. Homebuilding operating margin (assuming no inventory-related charges) is expected to improve 16-16.6%.
Assuming no inventory-related charges, KB Home expects fiscal 2022 housing gross margin in the range of 25.6-26.2%, narrower than the prior expectation of 25.5-26.3%. SG&A expense, as a percentage of housing revenues, is likely to be in the range of 9.3-9.7% (9.2-9.8% projected earlier). It projects an effective tax rate of approximately 25%, assuming no federal energy tax credit extension is enacted.
The company expects a year-end community count of 250 in fiscal 2022.
Lennar Corporation (LEN - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2022 (ended May 31, 2022) results. Quarterly earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate, despite unprecedented supply-chain challenges.
Lennar has declined 46.8% year to date. That said, earnings are expected to grow 42.7% in 2022. Earnings estimates for 2022 have moved 1.4% north in the past 30 days.
2 Better Ranked Stocks From the Same Industry
Two better-ranked stocks which warrant a look in the same space are Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH - Free Report) and NVR, Inc. (NVR - Free Report) .
Meritage Homes is one of the leading designers and builders of single-family homes. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Meritage Homes has declined 45.8% year to date. That said, earnings are expected to grow 42.7% in 2022. Earnings estimates have moved 1.4% north for 2022 over the past 30 days.
NVR currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. The company is engaged in the construction and sale of single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominium buildings, all of which are primarily constructed on a pre-sold basis.
NVR shares have declined 35.2% over a year. However, earnings are expected to grow 68.4% in 2022. Earnings estimates have increased 20.4% for 2022 in the past 30 days.
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KB Home's (KBH) Q2 Earnings & Revenues Beat, Margins Up Y/Y
KB Home (KBH - Free Report) reported stellar results for second-quarter fiscal 2022 (ended May 31, 2022). Its earnings and revenues beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased on a year-over-year basis.
Shares of this leading homebuilder increased 2.17% in the after-market trading session on Jun 22.
Jeffrey Mezger, chairman, president and chief executive officer, stated, “With our ending backlog of over $6 billion, we are rearming our fiscal 2022 guidance, which we believe we are well positioned to achieve.”
Management noted that sales rates are moderating as buyers face inflationary pressures and the impact of higher mortgage rates. Nonetheless, KBH remains confident about its Built-to-Order business model, enabling it to navigate these changing market conditions.
Earnings & Revenue Discussion
KBH reported adjusted earnings of $2.32 per share, which surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.97 by 17.8%. The metric also rose 55% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $1.50 per share. The upside was mainly backed by solid revenues and margin growth.
KB Home Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
KB Home price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | KB Home Quote
Total revenues of $1.72 billion topped the consensus mark of $1.61 billion by 7.1% and increased 19% on a year-over-year basis.
Segment Details
Homebuilding: The segment's revenues of $1.71 billion increased 19.4% from the prior-year quarter’s levels. The number of homes delivered of 3,469 units was flat from the year-ago levels. The average selling price or ASP increased 21% from a year ago to $494,300.
Net orders dropped 9% from the prior-year quarter to 3,914 homes. Nonetheless, the value of net orders rose 4% from the year-ago quarter to $2.12 billion. The average community count rose 3% from a year ago to 211 and the ending community count increased 7% to 214.
The cancellation rate, as a percentage of gross orders, was 17% compared with 9% a year ago. Quarter-end backlog totaled 12,331 homes, up 23% from a year ago. Further, potential housing revenues from backlog grew 43% from the prior-year period to $6.12 billion. This marks the highest second-quarter level in the company’s history. It is to be noted that the backlog in all the four regions served increased year over year.
Margins
Within homebuilding, housing gross margin improved 390 basis points (bps) year over year to 25.3%. The increase was attributed to a favorable pricing environment due to robust housing demand, the limited supply of available homes for sale and the lower amortization of previously-capitalized interest. This was partially offset by higher construction costs (especially lumber) and increased expenses to support current operations and expected growth.
Selling, general and administrative expenses — as a percentage of housing revenues — reduced 30 bps from the year-ago figure to 9.8%, thanks to lower external sales commissions and increased operating leverage from higher revenues, partly offset by higher expenses to support growth.
Homebuilding operating margin (excluding inventory-related charges) increased 410 bps to 15.4%.
Financial Services revenues rose 7.8% year over year to $5,236 million. Pretax income of $18.7 million, up 75% from a year ago. This reflects significant growth in the equity in income of its mortgage banking joint venture, KBHS Home Loans, LLC, due to an increase in interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”).
Financial Position
KB Home had cash and cash equivalents of $244.2 million as of May 31, 2022, down from $290.8 million in the corresponding period of 2021. The company had total liquidity of $925.6 million, including $681.4 million of available capacity under the unsecured revolving credit facility.
Inventories increased 16% to $5.56 billion at the end of the fiscal second quarter. As of fiscal second quarter-end, the debt to capital ratio was 38.8%, up from 35.8% at fiscal 2021-end and 37.7% at fiscal second-quarter 2021 end.
Fiscal 2022 Guidance
For fiscal 2022, the company now expects housing revenues in the range of $7.30-$7.50 billion, narrower than the previous expectation of $7.20-$7.60 billion. ASP is likely to be $500,000. Homebuilding operating margin (assuming no inventory-related charges) is expected to improve 16-16.6%.
Assuming no inventory-related charges, KB Home expects fiscal 2022 housing gross margin in the range of 25.6-26.2%, narrower than the prior expectation of 25.5-26.3%. SG&A expense, as a percentage of housing revenues, is likely to be in the range of 9.3-9.7% (9.2-9.8% projected earlier). It projects an effective tax rate of approximately 25%, assuming no federal energy tax credit extension is enacted.
The company expects a year-end community count of 250 in fiscal 2022.
Zacks Rank & Peer Release
KB Home currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Lennar Corporation (LEN - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2022 (ended May 31, 2022) results. Quarterly earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate, despite unprecedented supply-chain challenges.
Lennar has declined 46.8% year to date. That said, earnings are expected to grow 42.7% in 2022. Earnings estimates for 2022 have moved 1.4% north in the past 30 days.
2 Better Ranked Stocks From the Same Industry
Two better-ranked stocks which warrant a look in the same space are Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH - Free Report) and NVR, Inc. (NVR - Free Report) .
Meritage Homes is one of the leading designers and builders of single-family homes. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Meritage Homes has declined 45.8% year to date. That said, earnings are expected to grow 42.7% in 2022. Earnings estimates have moved 1.4% north for 2022 over the past 30 days.
NVR currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. The company is engaged in the construction and sale of single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominium buildings, all of which are primarily constructed on a pre-sold basis.
NVR shares have declined 35.2% over a year. However, earnings are expected to grow 68.4% in 2022. Earnings estimates have increased 20.4% for 2022 in the past 30 days.