We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
KB Home beat in FQ2 but is cutting back on land acquisitions in a tough market.
KBH bought back $200 million in shares last quarter.
Earnings are expected to fall 22.5% in fiscal 2025 as the housing market struggles.
KB Home (KBH - Free Report) is feeling the brunt of the higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. This Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) is expected to see earnings fall by the double digits this fiscal year.
KB Home is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it operates in 49 markets.
KB Home’s Gross Profit Margins and Revenues Fall Year-Over-Year in Fiscal Q2 2025
On June 23, 2025, KB Home reported its fiscal second quarter 2025 results. It beat on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.05, reporting $1.50 versus the consensus of $1.45.
But that was just part of the story.
Revenue fell to $1.53 billion from $1.71 billion a year ago. Homes delivered also fell 11% to 3,120.
Adjusted gross profit margin, a key metric for the homebuilders, was 19.7%, which was down from 21.2% a year ago, due to price reductions and other homebuyer concessions, higher relative land costs, geographic mix, and reduced operating leverage, partly offset by lower construction costs.
KB Home Scales Back on Land Purchases
Given the tough market conditions, and a cheap stock price, KB Home has decided to scale back its land acquisitions.
Instead, in the second quarter, it bought back $200 million in stock at an average price of $54, as it was below current book value. Investments in land and land development fell 23% from the prior year to $513.9 million.
It expects to continue to buy back shares, while it reduces its land acquisitions.
KB Home was sitting on $1.19 billion in total liquidity at the end of the second quarter, including $308.9 million in cash.
It also continues to pay a dividend, currently yielding 1.80%.
Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates on KB Home
KB Home guided the full year gross profit margin of 19% to 19.4%. That’s lower than in prior years.
It’s not a surprise, given housing market conditions, that analysts are bearish. 4 estimates have been cut for fiscal 2025 in the last 30 days but one has even been cut in the last week.
The fiscal 2025 Zacks Consensus Estimate is now looking for $6.55, down from $7.05 in the last 30 days. That is an earnings decline of 22.5% as KB Home made $8.45 last year.
Analysts are bearish on fiscal 2026 as well. 4 estimates have been cut in the last 30 days for 2026, and one in the last week. The Zacks Consensus has fallen to 6.86 from $7.64 in the last month.
That’s earnings growth of 4%, however.
Here’s what it looks like on the price and consensus chart.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of KB Home Retreat in 2025
Given the tough housing market conditions, it’s not surprising that shares of KB Home have fallen this year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
But they recently bounced off the lows as the mortgage rates have fallen.
KB Home is a cheap stock with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 8.5. A P/E ratio under 10 usually indicates a company is dirt cheap.
However, it’s likely that earnings will be pressured for the remainder of this year but there is always the “hope” trade later this year. That is the “hope” that the spring buying season will be strong.
Watch the gross profit margins for clues about a turnaround in earnings. When they rise back over 20%, earnings will likely improve.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Bear of the Day: KB Home (KBH)
Key Takeaways
KB Home (KBH - Free Report) is feeling the brunt of the higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. This Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) is expected to see earnings fall by the double digits this fiscal year.
KB Home is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it operates in 49 markets.
KB Home’s Gross Profit Margins and Revenues Fall Year-Over-Year in Fiscal Q2 2025
On June 23, 2025, KB Home reported its fiscal second quarter 2025 results. It beat on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.05, reporting $1.50 versus the consensus of $1.45.
But that was just part of the story.
Revenue fell to $1.53 billion from $1.71 billion a year ago. Homes delivered also fell 11% to 3,120.
Adjusted gross profit margin, a key metric for the homebuilders, was 19.7%, which was down from 21.2% a year ago, due to price reductions and other homebuyer concessions, higher relative land costs, geographic mix, and reduced operating leverage, partly offset by lower construction costs.
KB Home Scales Back on Land Purchases
Given the tough market conditions, and a cheap stock price, KB Home has decided to scale back its land acquisitions.
Instead, in the second quarter, it bought back $200 million in stock at an average price of $54, as it was below current book value. Investments in land and land development fell 23% from the prior year to $513.9 million.
It expects to continue to buy back shares, while it reduces its land acquisitions.
KB Home was sitting on $1.19 billion in total liquidity at the end of the second quarter, including $308.9 million in cash.
It also continues to pay a dividend, currently yielding 1.80%.
Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates on KB Home
KB Home guided the full year gross profit margin of 19% to 19.4%. That’s lower than in prior years.
It’s not a surprise, given housing market conditions, that analysts are bearish. 4 estimates have been cut for fiscal 2025 in the last 30 days but one has even been cut in the last week.
The fiscal 2025 Zacks Consensus Estimate is now looking for $6.55, down from $7.05 in the last 30 days. That is an earnings decline of 22.5% as KB Home made $8.45 last year.
Analysts are bearish on fiscal 2026 as well. 4 estimates have been cut in the last 30 days for 2026, and one in the last week. The Zacks Consensus has fallen to 6.86 from $7.64 in the last month.
That’s earnings growth of 4%, however.
Here’s what it looks like on the price and consensus chart.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of KB Home Retreat in 2025
Given the tough housing market conditions, it’s not surprising that shares of KB Home have fallen this year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
But they recently bounced off the lows as the mortgage rates have fallen.
KB Home is a cheap stock with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 8.5. A P/E ratio under 10 usually indicates a company is dirt cheap.
However, it’s likely that earnings will be pressured for the remainder of this year but there is always the “hope” trade later this year. That is the “hope” that the spring buying season will be strong.
Watch the gross profit margins for clues about a turnaround in earnings. When they rise back over 20%, earnings will likely improve.