D.R. Horton(DHI) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
D.R. HortonD.R. Horton(US:DHI)2026-01-20 14:30

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - D.R. Horton reported consolidated pre-tax income of $798 million on revenues of $6.9 billion, with a pre-tax profit margin of 11.6% for Q1 2026 [4] - Earnings per diluted share decreased to $2.03 from $2.61 in the prior year quarter, with net income of $595 million [7] - Home sales revenues were $6.5 billion from 17,818 homes closed, down from $7.1 billion from 19,059 homes closed in the prior year quarter [7][8] - The average closing price for homes was $365,500, flat sequentially but down 3% year over year [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales orders increased by 3% year over year to 18,300 homes, while order value remained unchanged at $6.7 billion [10] - The gross profit margin on home sales revenues was 20.4%, up 40 basis points sequentially, primarily due to a recovery of prior-period warranty costs [11] - Home building SG&A expenses decreased by 1% year over year, but as a percentage of revenues, it increased to 9.7% from 8.9% in the prior year quarter [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 64% of mortgage company closings were to first-time home buyers, indicating a focus on affordable housing [6] - The average number of active selling communities increased by 2% sequentially and 12% year over year [10] - The company ended the quarter with 30,400 homes in inventory, of which 20,000 were unsold [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - D.R. Horton is focused on capital efficiency to generate strong operating cash flows and deliver returns to shareholders, with $3.6 billion generated from operations over the past 12 months [5] - The company aims to tailor product offerings and sales incentives based on demand in each market to maximize returns [6] - The strategy includes managing investments in lots, land, and development based on current market conditions, with a focus on relationships with land developers [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that new home demand is impacted by affordability constraints and cautious consumer sentiment, but they are responding with discipline [4] - The company expects consolidated revenues for Q2 2026 to be in the range of $7.3-$7.8 billion and homes closed to be between 19,700-20,200 [24] - For the full year, the company anticipates consolidated revenues of approximately $33.5-$35 billion and homes closed to be in the range of 86,000-88,000 [25] Other Important Information - D.R. Horton repurchased 4.4 million shares for $670 million and paid cash dividends of $0.45 per share, totaling $132 million [21] - The company has a strong balance sheet with $6.6 billion of consolidated liquidity and plans to maintain leverage around 20% over the long term [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about SG&A expenses - Management stated that SG&A was in line with expectations and attributed the increase to lower closings, but they expect it to stabilize over the year [28][29] Question: Capital allocation and cash flow expectations - Management confirmed that cash flow expectations remain reasonable, with a target of over $3 billion for the year [32] Question: Community count growth and future expectations - Management expects community count growth to continue but may drift down to mid-single to high-single digit range [35] Question: Warranty costs impact on gross margin - Management indicated that warranty recovery was unexpected but beneficial, and they expect warranty costs to normalize going forward [59][61] Question: Demand trends and inventory levels - Management noted that demand remains strong despite low job growth, and inventory levels are more balanced compared to the previous year [97][91]