Forestar (FOR) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues for the first quarter increased by 9% to $273 million compared to $250.4 million in the prior year quarter [4][5] - Net income was $15.4 million or $0.30 per diluted share, down from $16.5 million or $0.32 per diluted share in the prior year quarter [5] - Book value per share increased by 10% from a year ago to $35.10 [4][13] - Pre-tax income decreased to $20.8 million from $21.9 million in the prior year quarter, with a pre-tax profit margin of 7.6% compared to 8.7% [5][6] - Gross profit margin for the quarter was 20.1%, down from 22% in the same quarter last year [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company sold 1,944 lots in the quarter with an average sales price of $121,000, influenced by a mix of lot deliveries from higher price point communities [4][5] - SG&A expense was $36.5 million, representing 13.4% of revenues, compared to $36 million or 14.4% in the prior year quarter [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for new homes is impacted by affordability constraints and cautious consumer sentiment, although mortgage rate buy-down incentives are helping to spur demand [8] - The company’s total lot position was 101,000 lots, with 65% owned and 35% controlled through purchase contracts [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to consolidate market share in the fragmented lot development industry while maintaining financial strength and operational expertise [5][12] - The focus remains on developing lots for entry-level and first-time buyers, which is the largest segment of the new home market [8][25] - The company plans to invest approximately $1.4 billion in land acquisition and development in fiscal 2026, subject to market conditions [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges that home affordability constraints and cautious consumer sentiment will continue to be near-term headwinds for new home demand [15][16] - The company maintains its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion and lot delivery guidance of 14,000 to 15,000 lots [15] - The company is confident in the long-term demand for finished lots and its ability to gain market share [16] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with approximately $820 million of liquidity, including an unrestricted cash balance of $212 million [13] - The capital structure provides operational flexibility and positions the company to take advantage of attractive opportunities [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the gross margins and expectations for the next few quarters? - Management indicated that the biggest impact on margin was due to the mix of projects delivering lots, and they expect gross margins to remain in the historical range of 21%-23% [18] Question: What are you seeing from your customers regarding pricing and takedown schedules? - Management noted a shift from large bulk takedowns to more structured quarterly takedowns, with no significant changes in pricing observed [21] Question: Is SG&A spend expected to remain stable? - Management confirmed that headcount is down slightly and expects SG&A to remain stable for the remainder of the year [22] Question: How does your inventory break out between entry-level and move-up homes? - Management stated that the strategy remains focused on entry-level homes, which is the largest market segment [25] Question: Are you looking to rebalance exposure in Texas and Florida? - Management is being selective in development activities in Texas and Florida due to higher resale inventory but believes in the long-term fundamentals of these markets [27] Question: How does pulling back on phased developments impact your cost structure? - Management indicated that there is no significant impact on cost structure, and pulling back helps reduce cycle times and development costs [28]