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Beazer Homes Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results with
Record Backlog And Raises Outlook for Fiscal 2005
ATLANTA , April 28, 2005--Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) (www.beazer.com)
today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Summary
results for the quarter are as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31, 2005
-- Total revenues: $976.2 million (up 11.4%)
-- Reported net loss of ($84.3) million, or ($2.09) per share,
which includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of
($130.2) million, or ($3.22) per share, and charges associated
with the class action settlement for Trinity Homes of ($45.0)
million, or ($0.69) per share. The Company preliminarily
announced estimates for both of these charges on March 29,
2005 of approximately $131.0 million and $40.0 million,
respectively.
-- Home closings: 3,602 (down 2.2%)
-- New orders: 5,239 (up 4.1%)
-- Backlog at 3/31/05: 10,064 homes (up 18.8%), sales value $2.9
billion (up 42.3%)
March Quarter Results
"Our March quarter revenues increased 11%, and new orders were up 4%, both
indicating continued strength and favorable conditions in the housing
industry and Beazer Homes' strong market position," said president and chief
executive officer, Ian J. McCarthy. "While our results this quarter were
adversely impacted by the goodwill impairment charge and additional charges
related to Trinity Homes, the fundamentals of our business continue to be
robust and we remain committed to achieving profitable growth by leveraging
our size, scale and geographic reach through our national brand."
"Beazer Homes' backlog now stands at an all-time record level of 10,064
homes with a sales value of $2.9 billion, up 19% and 42%, respectively, from
the backlog homes and sales value at March 31, 2004. This sizeable backlog
increase provides the basis for strong performance in the second half of
fiscal 2005 and provides us with a high degree of confidence in raising our
outlook for the year," added McCarthy.
The growth in new home orders for the quarter resulted from increases in the
Company's Southeast, Central, West and Mid-Atlantic regions. Order growth in
these regions was partially offset by decreased orders in the Midwest region
and the Charlotte market.
Total home closings of 3,602 were down 2% from the prior year, as weather
related closing delays in the Southeast and West regions have shifted a
significant portion of the year's expected results to the second half of the
fiscal year. Increased closings in several markets across the country this
quarter were more than offset by these delays and continued weak performance
in the Midwest and Charlotte.
Results for the second quarter include $45.0 million in charges associated
with the settlement agreement between the parties in the previously
disclosed class action suit related to construction defect claims from water
intrusion against Trinity Homes LLC ("Trinity") and Beazer Homes Investment
Corp., Trinity's parent. The Company preliminarily announced an estimate for
these charges of approximately $40.0 million on March 29, 2005. The charges
taken this quarter to adjust recorded liabilities are the Company's best
estimate of the ultimate liability for this matter at the present time.
Goodwill Impairment Charge
As previously announced on March 29, 2005, the Company and its Board of
Directors concluded that substantially all of the goodwill allocated to
certain underperforming operations in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and
Charlotte, North Carolina, which was recorded upon the acquisition of
Crossmann Communities in April 2002, was impaired. The Company recently
conducted impairment testing of goodwill in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets, and results for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 reflect
a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $130.2 million. This non-cash
impairment charge does not impact the Company's ability to generate cash
flow in the future or its compliance with its debt covenants. In addition,
this charge is not tax deductible.
While the Company remains committed to the Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and
Charlotte, North Carolina markets, they presently suffer from weaker than
anticipated local economies, particularly in the Midwest markets, and severe
price competition, particularly at entry level price points. The Company has
put in place several strategies to broaden its target price points and to
reduce its investment in and exposure to the entry level segment in these
markets.
The Company's financial position remained strong during the March quarter
with net debt to total capitalization standing at 48.2%.
Fiscal 2005 EPS Outlook
"Record backlog coupled with expectations of continued strength in the
housing market and our continued execution on our strategic initiatives give
us confidence in our future growth opportunities," said McCarthy. "As such,
we are raising our outlook for earnings per share from a range of $6.67 -
$7.00 to a range of $7.00 - $7.25 in fiscal 2005 before the goodwill
impairment charge recorded this quarter but taking into account the charges
associated with the class action settlement for Trinity Homes." Although
closing delays in the Southeast and West regions have shifted a significant
portion of the year's expected results to the second half of the fiscal
year, performance to date, coupled with extremely strong backlog, gives the
Company a high degree of confidence in its near term performance. While the
Midwest and Charlotte, NC markets are weaker than originally anticipated,
strength in the Company's other major markets is currently expected to more
than offset any shortfall in operating contribution from the Midwest and
Charlotte.
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call today, April 28, 2005, at 11:00 AM
ET to discuss the results and take questions. You may listen to the
conference call and view the Company's slide presentation over the internet
by going to the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at
www.beazer.com. To access the conference
call by telephone, listeners should dial 800-369-1904. To be admitted to the
call, verbally supply the passcode "BZH". A replay of the call will be
available shortly after the conclusion of the live call. To directly access
the replay, dial 866-497-7585 (available until midnight on May 5, 2005), or
visit www.beazer.com.
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta is one of the country's ten
largest single-family homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California,
Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,
Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Beazer Homes also provides mortgage origination and title services to its
homebuyers.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks,
uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, changes in
general economic conditions, fluctuations in interest rates, increases in
raw materials and labor costs, levels of competition, potential liability as
a result of construction defect, product liability and warranty claims, the
possibility that the Company's improvement plan for the Midwest and
strategies to broaden target price points and lessen dependence on the
entry-level segment in certain markets will not achieve desired results, and
other factors described in the Company's Form S-3/A filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2004 and Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.
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