Toll Brothers(US:TOL)2025-05-21 13:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company delivered 2,899 homes at an average price of approximately $934,000, generating record second quarter home sales revenue of $2,710,000,000, which is $236,000,000 better than the midpoint of guidance [4][5] - Adjusted gross margin was 27.5%, and SG&A margin was 9.5%, which were 25 and 80 basis points better than guidance respectively [4][20] - Earnings for the quarter were $352,400,000 or $3.5 per diluted share, marking a record for second quarter earnings per share [5][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average sales price in the quarter was approximately $983,000, down from $1,000,000 in the first quarter and up from $967,000 in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 [7] - The company signed 2,650 net agreements for $2,600,000,000, down approximately 13% in units and 11% in dollars compared to the previous year's second quarter [6][19] - The backlog at the end of the second quarter stood at $6,840,000,000 and 6,063 homes, down 7% in dollars and 15% in units compared to a year ago [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Softer demand was noted in the second quarter due to a decline in consumer confidence driven by increased economic uncertainty [6] - The company experienced a modest increase in incentives, which were approximately 7% of the average sales price, up from a recent average of 5% to 6% [7] - The financial strength of the customer base was highlighted by an industry-low cancellation rate of 2.8% and a high percentage of all-cash buyers at approximately 24% [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on prioritizing price and margin over pace in the current market environment [6][24] - A balanced approach is being maintained to navigate the market effectively, with a strategy of reducing spec starts to match local market conditions [8][11] - The company aims for community count growth, projecting to reach approximately 440 to 450 communities by the end of fiscal year 2025, representing an 8% to 10% increase [11][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The near-term outlook for the housing market remains cloudy due to affordability pressures and macroeconomic volatility, but the long-term outlook for the luxury home market is positive [9] - Management expressed confidence in the financial strength of their customer base and the ability to navigate through challenging markets [10][12] - The company has tightened underwriting standards and reduced land spend on new deals, expecting this to primarily impact fiscal year 2026 [13] Other Important Information - The company controlled approximately 78,600 lots at the end of the second quarter, with 58% optioned, reflecting a focus on capital-efficient land deals [12] - Cash and cash equivalents stood at approximately $686,000,000, with a net debt to capital ratio of 19.8% [13][21] - The company increased its projected share repurchases for fiscal year 2025 from $500,000,000 to $600,000,000 [14][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on spec data and homes under construction - The company has just over 1,000 fully completed spec units and approximately 2,400 in progress, with permits available for another 1,000 to 2,000 [34][36] Question: Thoughts on second half gross margin sustainability - The company expects the fourth quarter margin to be about the same as the third quarter at 27.25%, with some downward pressure from spec sell and settles but offset by a favorable mix [46] Question: Granularity on homes in progress and potential settlements - Approximately 1,900 homes will need to come from spec inventory, with 1,000 completed and more than 900 under construction expected to deliver by the end of the fiscal year [52][54] Question: Demand trends in May compared to previous months - Demand in May was consistent with March and April, with expectations for better sales in June and July, but overall market conditions remain softer than anticipated [62][66] Question: Commentary on foreign national buyers - Less than 5% of buyers are foreign nationals, with no significant changes in demand noted year to date [96]