Hovnanian Enterprises(HOV) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for the second quarter were $686 million, closer to the low end of guidance, primarily due to a mix of deliveries with higher-priced home deliveries slipping into future quarters [7] - Adjusted gross margin was 17.3%, just below the low end of guidance, impacted by increased incentives which rose to 10.5% [7][8] - Adjusted EBITDA was $61 million, slightly above the high end of guidance, while adjusted pretax income was $29 million, near the high end of guidance [10] - Year-over-year total revenues declined despite flat deliveries, primarily due to lower average sales prices [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Contracts for the second quarter, including domestic unconsolidated joint ventures, decreased by 7% year-over-year, with significant monthly sales volatility observed [13] - The company reported 11.2 contracts per community, which is higher than the quarterly average since 2008, despite a year-over-year decline in contracts per community [14][15] - The percentage of home buyers utilizing mortgage rate buy downs was 75%, indicating continued reliance on these incentives to combat affordability [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 12% increase in the total number of open for sale communities year-over-year, ending the quarter with 148 communities [29] - Controlled lots increased by 15% year-over-year, equating to a 7.7-year supply of controlled lots [30] - The company noted that 60.3% of communities with price increases were in better-performing markets such as Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on pace over price, resulting in an above-average number of contracts per community compared to peers, despite a challenging sales environment [16] - A strategic decision was made to burn through less profitable land parcels at lower gross margins to clear the way for recent land acquisitions that meet target return metrics [26] - The company is actively engaging with land sellers to find mutually beneficial solutions in a slow market [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed satisfaction with the quarter's performance given the difficult environment, while remaining vigilant about economic uncertainties [49] - The company expects to return to more favorable performance metrics as it replaces certain land positions with newer acquisitions that meet return targets [26] - Guidance for the next quarter assumes no adverse changes in current market conditions, with total revenues expected between $750 million and $850 million [42] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $2 billion in liquidity, within its targeted range, and has made significant progress in reducing debt and improving its balance sheet [38][40] - The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Housing in Saudi Arabia to expand activities and partnerships in the region [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you seen lower land prices on recent acquisitions? - Management indicated that land sellers are slow to adjust prices, but they are finding opportunities to replenish land supply at better returns [56] Question: What markets are yielding better results with land sellers? - Management mentioned markets such as Delaware, Virginia, Southeast Coastal Charleston, New Jersey, and Maryland as currently yielding better results [57] Question: What is the current incentive structure? - The company utilizes a mix of mortgage rate buy downs, price reductions, and other incentives depending on the delivery timeline of homes [63] Question: Is the focus still on spec building? - Management confirmed that the strategy remains focused on quick move-in homes, which allows for affordable mortgage rate buy downs [64] Question: How long will it take to clear older vintage land? - Management noted that the timeline varies by geography, with some areas already cleared out while others may take two to three years [70] Question: What are the expectations for construction costs in the back half of the year? - Management expressed optimism about maintaining or slightly reducing construction costs, barring any significant increases in lumber prices [77]