Hovnanian Enterprises(US:HOV)2025-12-04 17:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for the fourth quarter reached $818 million, a 17% decline year-over-year, primarily due to a 13% reduction in deliveries and the absence of a significant land sale from the previous year [5][6] - Adjusted gross margin was 16.3%, showing a year-over-year decline driven by higher incentives to support affordability, with incentives accounting for 12.2% of the average sales price [5][7] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $89 million, exceeding guidance, while adjusted pre-tax income was $49 million, close to the midpoint of guidance [5][6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of contracts in the fourth quarter fell by 8% compared to last year, reflecting overall market conditions [9] - Sales pace for each month in the fourth quarter was lower than the same months last year, with contracts per community declining 16% compared to the 1997-2002 period [10][12] - Quick-moving homes (QMIs) comprised 73% of total sales, down from 79% in prior quarters, indicating a focus on aligning starts with sales pace [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic per community increased significantly in three of the four months of the fourth quarter compared to last year, indicating a positive trend in buyer interest [9] - Despite higher mortgage rates and a slower sales pace nationwide, net prices increased in 36% of communities during the fourth quarter, particularly in stronger markets [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on sales pace over price, prioritizing the clearance of older vintage lots to make way for new land acquisitions with better margins [8][21] - The strategy includes maintaining a robust inventory of QMIs to enable quick sales and optimize inventory levels [14][15] - The company plans to continue using mortgage rate buy-downs and similar incentives to support sales while managing costs through negotiations with suppliers [39][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging market conditions but expressed optimism about performance bottoming out in the upcoming quarter and gradually improving thereafter [45] - The company expects gross margins to bottom in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and to improve in subsequent quarters if market conditions remain stable [25][36] Other Important Information - The company ended the fourth quarter with $404 million in liquidity, well above the targeted range, and completed a significant refinancing, marking a milestone in reducing debt risk [22][23] - The lot count decreased 14% year-over-year, reflecting disciplined land acquisition strategies [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are you doing anything to offset some of the pressure from gross margins? - The company has successfully controlled costs and reduced expenses in some areas, maintaining flat costs despite increases from tariffs [39] Question: When do you expect gross margin to take higher next year? - The improvement in gross margins is expected to be a mix of working through older properties and bringing on newer land deals identified in 2024 and 2025 [41]