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LGI Homes, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results and Releases 2020 Guidance

February 25, 2020 7:01 AM

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LGI Homes, Inc. (Nasdaq: LGIH) today announced results for the fourth quarter 2019 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Results and Comparisons to Fourth Quarter 2018

Please see “Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP measure) to Gross Margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Full Year 2019 Results and Comparisons to Full Year 2018

Please see “Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP measure) to Gross Margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Management Comments
“The fourth quarter completes another outstanding year at LGI Homes,” said Eric Lipar, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “We finished the year with a record-breaking 7,690 home closings, achieved significant growth in home sales revenues generating $1.8 billion, increased community count by 20%, and delivered industry leading absorptions and strong operating margins resulting in $178.6 million in net income.”

“As we turn our attention to 2020, we remain disciplined in our approach and focused on delivering strong results. Building off the momentum of 2019 and the sustained strength in housing demand, we believe we are poised for continued growth and believe we are well positioned to increase closings, revenues, and community count, allowing LGI Homes to achieve our long-term goal of generating market leading returns for our stockholders. Assuming that general economic conditions, including interest rates and mortgage availability, in 2020 are similar to those experienced so far in the first quarter of 2020, we believe we will close between 8,400 and 9,400 homes and end the year between 120 and 130 active selling communities,” Lipar concluded.

2019 Fourth Quarter Results

Home closings during the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled 2,515, an increase of 35.8%, from 1,852 home closings during the fourth quarter of 2018. At the end of the fourth quarter, active selling communities increased to 106, up from 88 communities at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.

Home sales revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $605.6 million, an increase of $180.5 million, or 42.5%, over the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in home sales revenues is primarily due to the increase in home closings and an increase in the average home sales price during the fourth quarter of 2019.

The average home sales price for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $240,815, an increase of $11,247, or 4.9%, over the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in average home sales price was primarily due to changes in product mix, higher price points in certain new markets and a favorable pricing environment.

Gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 23.5% as compared to 24.4% for the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 25.5% as compared to 26.2% for the fourth quarter of 2018. The decreases in gross margin and adjusted gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues are primarily due to higher lot costs and higher capitalized interest costs recognized for the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Please see “Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) to gross margin, the most comparable GAAP measure.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $64.9 million, or $2.69 per basic share and $2.52 per diluted share, an increase of $22.2 million, or 52.1%, from $42.7 million, or $1.89 per basic share and $1.72 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in net income is primarily attributed to operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues and higher average home sales price, partially offset by lower gross margin percentage and higher capitalized interest costs recognized during the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.

Full Year 2019 Results

Home closings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased 18.1% to 7,690 from 6,512 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in homes closed was largely due to the increase in the number of active selling communities in 2019.

Home sales revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased 22.2% to $1.8 billion compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in home sales revenues is primarily due to the increase in the number of homes closed and an increase in the average home sales price.

The average home sales price was $239,032 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $8,012, or 3.5%, over the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in the average home sales price was primarily due to changes in product mix, higher price points in certain new markets and a favorable pricing environment.

Gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was 23.7% as compared to 25.3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was 25.8% as compared to 27.0% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The decreases in gross margin and adjusted gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues are primarily due to higher lot costs and higher capitalized interest costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and, to a lesser extent, to 583 wholesale home closings during 2019, compared to 466 wholesale home closings during 2018. Please see “Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) to gross margin, the most comparable GAAP measure.

Net income of $178.6 million, or $7.70 per basic share and $7.02 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased $23.3 million, or 15.0%, from $155.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. This increase is primarily attributed to operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues and higher average sales price, offset by lower gross margin percentage during 2019 as compared to 2018.

Outlook

Subject to the caveats in the Forward-Looking Statements section of this press release, the Company offers the following guidance for 2020. The Company believes it will have between 120 and 130 active selling communities at the end of 2020 and close between 8,400 and 9,400 homes in 2020. In addition, the Company believes 2020 gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues will be in the range of 22.5% and 24.5% and 2020 adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues will be in the range of 24.5% and 26.5% with capitalized interest accounting for substantially all of the difference between gross margin and adjusted gross margin. The Company also believes that the average home sales price in 2020 will be between $235,000 and $245,000. This outlook assumes that general economic conditions, including interest rates and mortgage availability, in the remainder of 2020 are similar to those experienced so far in the first quarter of 2020 and that average home sales price, construction costs, availability of land, land development costs and overall absorption rates in the remainder of 2020 are consistent with the Company’s recent experience.

Earnings Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call via live webcast for investors and other interested parties beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 (the “Earnings Call”). The Earnings Call will be hosted by Eric Lipar, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and Charles Merdian, Chief Financial Officer.

Participants may access the live webcast by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.LGIHomes.com. The Earnings Call can also be accessed by dialing (855) 433-0929, or (970) 315-0256 for international participants.

An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 12 months. A replay of the Earnings Call will also be available later that day by calling (855) 859-2056, or (404) 537-3406, using conference id “5670736”. This replay will be available until March 3, 2020.

About LGI Homes, Inc.

Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, LGI Homes, Inc. engages in the design, construction and sale of homes in Texas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Tennessee, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Alabama, California, Oregon, Nevada, West Virginia and Virginia. Recently recognized as the 10th largest residential builder in America, based on units closed, the Company has a notable legacy of more than 16 years of homebuilding operations, over which time it has closed more than 35,000 homes. For more information about the Company and its new home developments, please visit the Company’s website at www.LGIHomes.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements made in this press release or on the Earnings Call that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning projected 2020 home closings, year-end active selling communities, gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues, adjusted gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenue, and average home sales price, as well as market conditions and possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of the Company’s business plan and strategies. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “should,” “will” or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements please refer to the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, including the “Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements” subsection within the “Risk Factors” section, and subsequent filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company bases these forward-looking statements or projections on its current expectations, plans and assumptions that it has made in light of its experience in the industry, as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances and at such time. As you read and consider this press release or listen to the Earnings Call, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. The forward-looking statements and projections are subject to and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or projections. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements and projections are based on reasonable assumptions at the time they are made, you should be aware that many factors could affect the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and projections. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, there should be no inference that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
December 31,
2019 2018
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $38,345 $46,624
Accounts receivable 56,390 42,836
Real estate inventory 1,499,624 1,228,256
Pre-acquisition costs and deposits 37,244 45,752
Property and equipment, net 1,632 1,432
Other assets 16,241 15,765
Deferred tax assets, net 4,621 2,790
Goodwill 12,018 12,018
Total assets $1,666,115 $1,395,473
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable $12,495 $9,241
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 117,868 76,555
Notes payable 690,559 653,734
Total liabilities 820,922 739,530
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY
Common stock, par value $0.01, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 26,398,409 shares issued and 25,359,409 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 23,746,385 shares issued and 22,707,385 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018 264 237
Additional paid-in capital 252,603 241,988
Retained earnings 610,382 431,774
Treasury stock, at cost 1,039,000 shares (18,056) (18,056)
Total equity 845,193 655,943
Total liabilities and equity $1,666,115 $1,395,473


LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2019 2018 2019 2018
Home sales revenues $605,649 $425,160 $1,838,154 $1,504,400
Cost of sales 463,435 321,602 1,401,675 1,124,484
Selling expenses 37,395 29,320 131,561 109,460
General and administrative 20,822 18,809 77,380 70,345
Operating income 83,997 55,429 227,538 200,111
Loss on extinguishment of debt 169 3,599
Other income, net (874) (780) (4,463) (2,586)
Net income before income taxes 84,871 56,209 231,832 199,098
Income tax provision 20,001 13,556 53,224 43,812
Net income $64,870 $42,653 $178,608 $155,286
Earnings per share:
Basic $2.69 $1.89 $7.70 $6.89
Diluted $2.52 $1.72 $7.02 $6.24
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 24,143,124 22,737,294 23,191,595 22,551,762
Diluted 25,718,111 24,743,108 25,430,841 24,892,274

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to the results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has provided information in this press release relating to adjusted gross margin.

Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management as a supplemental measure in evaluating operating performance. The Company defines adjusted gross margin as gross margin less capitalized interest and adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in the cost of sales. Management believes this information is useful because it isolates the impact that capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments have on gross margin. However, because adjusted gross margin information excludes capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments, which have real economic effects and could impact results, the utility of adjusted gross margin information as a measure of operating performance may be limited. In addition, other companies may not calculate adjusted gross margin information in the same manner that the Company does. Accordingly, adjusted gross margin information should be considered only as a supplement to gross margin information as a measure of the Company’s performance.

The following table reconciles adjusted gross margin to gross margin, which is the GAAP financial measure that management believes to be most directly comparable (dollars in thousands, unaudited):

Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2019 2018 2019 2018
Home sales revenues $605,649 $425,160 $1,838,154 $1,504,400
Cost of sales 463,435 321,602 1,401,675 1,124,484
Gross margin 142,214 103,558 436,479 379,916
Capitalized interest charged to cost of sales 11,336 7,226 35,230 24,311
Purchase accounting adjustments (1) 1,067 561 3,324 1,408
Adjusted gross margin $154,617 $111,345 $475,033 $405,635
Gross margin % (2) 23.5% 24.4% 23.7% 25.3%
Adjusted gross margin % (2) 25.5% 26.2% 25.8% 27.0%
(1) Adjustments result from the application of purchase accounting for acquisitions and represent the amount of the fair value step-up adjustments included in cost of sales for real estate inventory sold after the acquisition dates.
(2) Calculated as a percentage of home sales revenues.

Home Sales Revenues, Home Closings, Average Home Sales Price (ASP), Average Community Count and Average Monthly Absorption Rates by Reportable Segment
(Revenues in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
Revenues Home
Closings
ASP Average
Community
Count
Average
Monthly
Absorption
Rate
Central $217,030 962 $225,603 32.7 9.8
Southeast 126,131 582 216,720 28.7 6.8
Northwest 96,802 260 372,315 13.7 6.3
West 96,993 389 249,339 13.7 9.5
Florida 68,693 322 213,332 15.7 6.9
Total $605,649 2,515 $240,815 104.3 8.0


Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Revenues Home
Closings
ASP Average
Community
Count
Average
Monthly
Absorption
Rate
Central $182,613 865 $211,113 31.3 9.2
Southeast 92,089 445 206,942 21.0 7.1
Northwest 62,676 171 366,526 11.3 5.0
West 43,043 156 275,917 9.0 5.8
Florida 44,739 215 208,088 12.7 5.7
Total $425,160 1,852 $229,568 85.3 7.2


Year Ended December 31, 2019
Revenues Home
Closings
ASP Average
Community
Count
Average
Monthly
Absorption
Rate
Central $724,981 3,304 $219,425 33.0 8.3
Southeast 347,817 1,592 218,478 24.5 5.4
Northwest 304,294 827 367,949 12.4 5.6
West 271,186 1,056 256,805 12.8 6.9
Florida 189,876 911 208,426 13.1 5.8
Total $1,838,154 7,690 $239,032 95.7 6.7


Year Ended December 31, 2018
Revenues Home
Closings
ASP Average
Community
Count
Average
Monthly
Absorption
Rate
Central $623,751 2,937 $212,377 30.7 8.0
Southeast 271,073 1,324 204,738 18.7 5.9
Northwest 277,567 760 365,220 10.3 6.1
West 151,059 627 240,923 9.3 5.6
Florida 180,950 864 209,433 11.6 6.2
Total $1,504,400 6,512 $231,020 80.6 6.7


CONTACT:Investor Relations:
Caitlin Stiles, (281) 210-2619
[email protected]


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