ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
M/I Homes, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “we”) is one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes having sold over 125,500 homes since commencing homebuilding activities in 1976. The Company’s homes are marketed and sold primarily under the M/I Homes brand (M/I Homes and Showcase Collection (exclusively by M/I)). In addition, the Hans Hagen brand is used in older communities in our Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota market. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Included in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are the following topics relevant to the Company’s performance and financial condition:
•Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements;
•Application of Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies;
•Results of Operations;
•Discussion of Our Liquidity and Capital Resources;
•Summary of Our Contractual Obligations;
•Discussion of Our Utilization of Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; and
•Impact of Interest Rates and Inflation.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain information included in this report or in other materials we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us) contains or may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future financial performance and financial condition. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “envisions,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statements that we make herein and in future reports and statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including, without limitation, factors relating to the economic environment, the negative impact of COVID-19, interest rates, availability of resources, competition, market concentration, land development activities, integration of acquisitions, construction defects, product liability and warranty claims and various governmental rules and regulations. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “2019 Form 10-K”) and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, as the same may be updated from time to time in our subsequent filings with the SEC, for more information regarding those risk factors.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K should be consulted. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and all of our forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referenced in this section.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and various other factors that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates such estimates and assumptions and makes adjustments as deemed necessary. Actual results could differ from these estimates using different estimates and assumptions, or if conditions are significantly different in the future. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2019 Form 10-K for additional information about our accounting policies.
We believe that there have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as compared to those disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2019 Form 10-K.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our reportable segments are: Northern homebuilding; Southern homebuilding; and financial services operations. The homebuilding operating segments that comprise each of our reportable segments are as follows:
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Northern
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Southern
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Chicago, Illinois
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Orlando, Florida
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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Sarasota, Florida
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Columbus, Ohio
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Tampa, Florida
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Indianapolis, Indiana
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Austin, Texas
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Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
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Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
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Detroit, Michigan
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Houston, Texas
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San Antonio, Texas
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Charlotte, North Carolina
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Raleigh, North Carolina
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Overview
For both the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we achieved record levels of new contracts, homes delivered, revenue and income before income taxes. During the third quarter of 2020, we also achieved all-time quarterly records for income before income taxes, new contracts, homes delivered, number of homes in backlog and backlog sales value. In addition, our financial services operations achieved all-time quarterly records for revenue and income before income taxes and originated a record number of loans during the third quarter, while benefiting from a lower mortgage interest rate environment in both the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Following a substantial decline in new contracts in the latter half of March and April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced a sharp recovery and an increase in sales activity commencing in May as pandemic-related restrictions began to ease. This trend of increasing sales volume continued into our third quarter, resulting in the Company achieving an all-time quarterly record for new contracts in the third quarter, along with all-time quarterly records in a number of other operating and financial metrics described further below. We believe that the homebuilding industry benefited from record-low interest rates, a continued undersupply of available homes and consumers’ desire to move from rental apartments and densely populated areas to single family homes in suburban locations. We believe these factors will continue to support demand for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021, subject to the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the timing and extent of the associated decline in economic activity and subsequent recovery.
During the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we achieved the following record results in comparison to the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019:
•New contracts increased 71% to 2,949 (an all-time quarterly record) and 43% to 7,299, respectively
•Homes delivered increased 29% to 2,137 homes (an all-time quarterly record) and 25% to 5,467 homes, respectively
•Number of homes in backlog at September 30, 2020 increased 54% to an all-time record 4,503 homes
•Total sales value in backlog increased 60% to $1.8 billion, an all-time record for the Company
•Revenue increased 30% to $847.9 million (an all-time quarterly record) and 22% to $2.1 billion, respectively
•Income before income taxes increased 90% to $95.1 million (an all-time quarterly record) and 81% to $208.2 million, respectively
In addition to the results described above, we achieved net income of $73.5 million for the third quarter of 2020, a 94% increase from prior year, and $159.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an 86% increase. Our financial services operations also achieved record income before income taxes for the third quarter, benefiting from an increase in homes closed, the number of mortgages originated and higher margins, as well as technology enabled efficiencies. Our company-wide absorption pace of sales per community for the third quarter of 2020 improved to 4.6 per month compared to 2.6 per month for the prior year’s third quarter. Partially as a result of this accelerated sales pace, our number of active communities declined to 207 from 221 at the end of the third quarter of 2019 and 220 at the end of 2020’s second quarter. We believe we maintain a strong land position, and we continue to place additional land under contract for communities that will be brought online in future periods. However, our ability to replace existing communities timely could impact our ability to meet current demand and negatively impact our recent growth trends in the number of active communities. We continue to work to open new communities, and we are also actively managing sales pace, in part by selectively increasing prices, to better match our availability of lots and production schedule.
Summary of Company Financial Results
Income before income taxes for the third quarter of 2020 increased 90% from $50.1 million in the third quarter of 2019 to an all-time quarterly record $95.1 million in 2020. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, income before income taxes increased 81% from $114.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $208.2 million. Income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was unfavorably impacted by $0.6 million of acquisition-related charges as a result of our acquisition of Pinnacle Homes in March 2018.
We achieved third quarter net income of $73.5 million, or $2.51 per diluted share, in 2020's third quarter, a 94% increase, or $35.7 million, from net income of $37.8 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, in 2019's third quarter. Our effective tax rate was 22.7% in 2020’s third quarter compared to 24.4% in 2019. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we achieved net income of $159.8 million, or $5.50 per diluted share, compared to net income of $85.8 million, or $3.04 per diluted share, in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, which included $0.6 million of pre-tax acquisition-related charges ($0.02 per diluted share) as discussed above. Our effective tax rate was 23.3% in 2020's first nine months compared to 25.2% in the same period in 2019.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we recorded all-time quarterly record total revenue of $847.9 million, of which $813.0 million was from homes delivered, $6.0 million was from land sales and $28.9 million was from our financial services operations. Revenue from homes delivered increased 29% in 2020's third quarter compared to the same period in 2019 driven primarily by a 29% increase in the number of homes delivered (486 units), offset, in part, by a 1% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($2,000 per home delivered), which was primarily the result of the mix of homes delivered. Revenue from land sales decreased $2.5 million from the third quarter of 2019 primarily due to fewer land sales in our Northern region in 2020's third quarter compared to the prior year. Revenue from our financial services segment increased 115% to an all-time quarterly record $28.9 million in the third quarter of 2020 as a result of an increase in loans closed and sold and higher margins on loans sold, in each case, during the period compared to prior year. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded record total revenue of $2.1 billion, of which $2.07 billion was from homes delivered, $11.1 million was from land sales and $61.5 million was from our financial services operations. Revenue from homes delivered increased 22% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 driven primarily by a 25% increase in the number of homes delivered (1,092 units), partially offset by a 3% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($10,000 per home delivered). Revenue from land sales decreased $11.9 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2019 due to fewer land sales in both our Northern and Southern regions in 2020's first nine months compared to the prior year. Revenue from our financial services segment increased 55% to $61.5 million in the first nine months of 2020 as a result of an increase in loans closed and sold in the first nine months of 2020, in addition to higher margins on loans sold during the period compared to the prior year.
Total gross margin (total revenue less total land and housing costs) increased $60.3 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 as a result of a $44.8 million improvement in the gross margin of our homebuilding operations and a $15.5 million improvement in the gross margin of our financial services operations. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our gross margin on homes delivered (housing gross margin) improved $44.7 million primarily as a result of the 29% increase in the number of homes delivered. Our housing gross margin percentage improved 120 basis points from 19.1% in prior year's third quarter to 20.3% in 2020's third quarter, primarily as a result of the mix of homes delivered during 2020's third quarter. Our gross margin on land sales (land sale gross margin) improved $0.1 million in the third quarter
of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019. The gross margin of our financial services operations increased $15.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 as a result of increases in the number of loan originations and the average loan amount, in addition to higher margins on loans sold during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019. Total gross margin increased $120.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 as a result of a $99.0 million improvement in the gross margin of our homebuilding operations and a $21.9 million improvement in the gross margin of our financial services operations. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our gross margin on homes delivered improved $99.3 million as a result of the 25% increase in the number of homes delivered, offset partially by the 3% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered. Our housing gross margin percentage improved 150 basis points from 18.1% in prior year’s first nine months to 19.6% in 2020's first nine months, primarily as a result of the mix of homes delivered during the period. The nine months ended September 30, 2019 includes $0.6 million of acquisition-related charges (as discussed above). Our gross margin on land sales declined $0.3 million in 2020's first nine months compared to the same period in 2019. The gross margin of our financial services operations increased $21.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 as a result of increases in the number of loan originations, in addition to higher margins on loans sold during the first nine months of 2020 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
We opened 51 new communities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. We sell a variety of home types in various communities and markets, each of which yields a different gross margin. The timing of the openings of new replacement communities as well as underlying lot costs varies from year to year. As a result, our new contracts and housing gross margin may fluctuate up or down from quarter to quarter depending on the mix of communities delivering homes. As a result of the record number of sales this year, we are selling through communities faster; therefore, our ability to replace existing communities timely could impact our ability to meet current demand and negatively impact our recent growth trends in number of active communities.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, selling, general and administrative expense increased $18.9 million, which partially offset the increase in our gross margin dollars discussed above, but declined as a percentage of revenue from 12.2% in the third quarter of 2019 to 11.6% in the third quarter of 2020. Selling expense increased $9.4 million from 2019's third quarter but improved as a percentage of revenue to 5.8% in 2020's third quarter from 6.1% for the same period in 2019. Variable selling expense for sales commissions contributed $8.8 million to the increase due to the higher number of homes delivered in the quarter. The increase in selling expense was also attributable to a $0.6 million increase in non-variable selling expense primarily related to increased headcount in our sales offices and models. General and administrative expense increased $9.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2019 but declined as a percentage of revenue from 6.0% in the third quarter of 2019 to 5.8% in the third quarter of 2020. The dollar increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a $5.6 million increase in compensation-related expenses due to our strong performance during the quarter, a $0.7 million increase in professional fees, a $0.6 million increase in corporate home office rent-related expenses, a $0.5 million increase in land-related expenses, a $0.3 million increase in COVID-19-related cleaning expenses, a $0.3 million increase in rent related to our division offices and a $1.5 million increase in miscellaneous expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, selling, general and administrative expense increased $35.9 million, which partially offset the increase in our gross margin dollars discussed above, but declined as a percentage of revenue from 12.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 11.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Selling expense increased $18.3 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2019 but improved as a percentage of revenue to 6.0% in 2020’s first nine months from 6.2% for the same period in 2019. Variable selling expense for sales commissions contributed $18.0 million to the increase due to the higher number of homes delivered year to date. The increase in selling expense was also attributable to a $0.3 million increase in non-variable selling expense primarily related to increased headcount in our sales offices and models. General and administrative expense increased $17.5 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019 but declined as a percentage of revenue from 6.0% in the nine month period ended September 30, 2019 to 5.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The dollar increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a $10.8 million increase in compensation-related expenses due to our increased headcount and our strong financial performance during the period, a $1.3 million increase in corporate home office rent-related expenses, a $1.3 million increase in professional fees, a $1.0 million increase in land-related expenses, a $0.9 million increase in rent related to our division offices, a $0.9 million increase in COVID-19-related cleaning expenses, and a $1.3 million increase in miscellaneous expenses.
Outlook
We believe that new home sales will continue to benefit from record-low interest rates, a continued undersupply of available homes and consumer demographics, including a growing number of homebuyers moving from rental apartments and more densely populated areas to single family homes in suburban locations. However, we also expect that overall economic conditions in the United States will continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, although the magnitude and duration of such impact is uncertain, and such conditions could negatively impact new home sales across our markets for the fourth quarter of 2020 and potentially into subsequent reporting periods.
In both our second and third quarters of 2020, we experienced cost increases in certain construction materials and are actively managing and monitoring those costs. We have been able to raise home prices in many of our communities to offset these cost increases and preserve or increase our margins. During the third quarter, our ability to raise prices, together with cost management, allowed us to achieve a total gross margin percentage of 22.9%, an improvement of 100 basis points compared with 2020’s second quarter. We remain sensitive to changes in market conditions, and continue to focus on controlling overhead leverage and carefully managing our investment in land and land development spending.
We are also closely monitoring mortgage availability and a recent tightening of lending standards related to an expected decline in the economy. Although interest rates remain at historic lows, we have seen a decline in mortgage availability beginning in late March including a tightening of underwriting standards. To date, this tightening has not had a significant impact on our business, although it has had some effect on lower credit quality borrowers and those using non-agency loan programs. We are seeing an impact related to mortgage availability due to layoffs and concerns about employment and business shutdowns, particularly with self-employed borrowers, and to address these concerns, we have reduced the time frames for verifying employment and we are following agency recommendations for pre-closing documentation. In addition, we are aggressively working to deliver and fund loans with investors more quickly.
We expect to emphasize the following strategic business objectives throughout the remainder of 2020:
•managing our land spend and inventory levels;
•accelerating the readiness of new communities wherever possible;
•maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity levels;
•expanding the availability of our more affordable Smart Series homes; and
•emphasizing customer service, product quality and design, and premier locations.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we invested $266.8 million in land acquisitions and $222.6 million in land development. We continue to closely review all of our land acquisition and land development spending and monitor our ongoing pace of home sales and deliveries, including any potential effects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will adjust our land and inventory home investment spend accordingly. As a result, we are not providing land spending estimates for 2020 at this time.
Due to the uncertainty of the current environment, and the unknown effects on the specific timing of opening and closing out communities, we are not providing estimated community count information for 2020 at this time. However, as a result of our accelerated pace of home sales, we are selling through communities at a faster pace, which will make it challenging to achieve an increase in our number of active communities for the full year in 2020. We opened 51 communities and closed 69 communities in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, ending the third quarter with a total of 207 communities, compared to 221 at the end of last year’s third quarter.
We believe our ability to design and develop attractive homes in desirable locations at an affordable cost, and to grow our business while also leveraging our fixed costs, has enabled us to maintain and improve our strong financial results. We further believe that we are well positioned with a strong balance sheet to manage through the current economic environment.
See Part II, Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” for further information regarding the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The following table shows, by segment, revenue; gross margin; selling, general and administrative expense; operating income (loss); and interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
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Three Months Ended September 30,
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Nine Months Ended September 30,
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(In thousands)
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2020
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2019
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2020
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2019
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Revenue:
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Northern homebuilding
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$
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350,591
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$
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270,063
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|
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$
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890,201
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|
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$
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723,295
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Southern homebuilding
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468,384
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|
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369,828
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|
|
|
1,188,056
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|
|
995,305
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|
|
Financial services (a)
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28,946
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|
|
13,454
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|
|
|
61,461
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|
|
39,540
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|
Total revenue
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$
|
847,921
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|
|
$
|
653,345
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|
|
$
|
2,139,718
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|
|
$
|
1,758,140
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Gross margin:
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|
|
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Northern homebuilding
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$
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67,644
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|
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$
|
51,768
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(b)
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$
|
167,270
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|
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$
|
131,461
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(b)
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Southern homebuilding
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97,924
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|
|
68,959
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|
|
|
238,865
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|
|
175,651
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|
|
Financial services (a)
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28,946
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|
|
13,454
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|
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|
61,461
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|
|
39,540
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|
|
Total gross margin
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$
|
194,514
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|
|
$
|
134,181
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(b)
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|
$
|
467,596
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|
|
$
|
346,652
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|
(b)
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Selling, general and administrative expense:
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|
|
|
|
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Northern homebuilding
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$
|
29,279
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|
|
$
|
22,181
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|
|
|
$
|
75,783
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|
|
$
|
60,902
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|
|
Southern homebuilding
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42,063
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|
|
36,459
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|
|
|
109,828
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|
|
99,343
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|
|
Financial services (a)
|
9,059
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|
|
6,845
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|
|
|
23,755
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|
|
19,597
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|
Corporate
|
18,017
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|
14,047
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|
|
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41,891
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|
|
35,556
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Total selling, general and administrative expense
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$
|
98,418
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|
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$
|
79,532
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|
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$
|
251,257
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|
|
$
|
215,398
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Operating income (loss):
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Northern homebuilding
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$
|
38,365
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|
|
$
|
29,587
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(b)
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|
$
|
91,487
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|
|
$
|
70,559
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|
(b)
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Southern homebuilding
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55,861
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|
|
32,500
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|
|
|
129,037
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|
|
76,308
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|
|
Financial services (a)
|
19,887
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|
|
6,609
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|
|
|
37,706
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|
|
19,943
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Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expense
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(18,017)
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|
|
(14,047)
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(41,891)
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|
|
(35,556)
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Total operating income
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$
|
96,096
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|
|
$
|
54,649
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(b)
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|
$
|
216,339
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|
|
$
|
131,254
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|
(b)
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Interest expense:
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|
|
|
|
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Northern homebuilding
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$
|
122
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|
|
$
|
1,505
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|
|
|
$
|
2,636
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|
|
$
|
5,360
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|
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Southern homebuilding
|
409
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|
|
2,146
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|
|
|
3,759
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|
|
8,602
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|
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Financial services (a)
|
708
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|
|
986
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|
|
|
2,059
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|
|
2,664
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|
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Total interest expense
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$
|
1,239
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|
|
$
|
4,637
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|
|
|
$
|
8,454
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|
|
$
|
16,626
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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Equity in income of joint venture arrangements
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(252)
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|
|
(52)
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|
|
|
(307)
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|
|
(118)
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Income before income taxes
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$
|
95,109
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|
|
$
|
50,064
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|
|
|
$
|
208,192
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|
|
$
|
114,746
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|
|
(a)Our financial services operational results should be viewed in connection with our homebuilding business as its operations originate loans and provide title services primarily for our homebuying customers, with the exception of a small amount of mortgage refinancing.
(b)Includes $0.1 million of acquisition-related charges taken during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $0.6 million of acquisition-related charges taken during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as a result of our acquisition of Pinnacle Homes in Detroit, Michigan on March 1, 2018.
The following tables show total assets by segment at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
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At September 30, 2020
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(In thousands)
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Northern
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Southern
|
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Corporate, Financial Services and Unallocated
|
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Total
|
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
|
$
|
4,173
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|
|
$
|
33,191
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
37,364
|
|
Inventory (a)
|
832,855
|
|
|
973,190
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|
|
—
|
|
|
1,806,045
|
|
Investments in joint venture arrangements
|
1,324
|
|
|
32,714
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
34,038
|
|
Other assets
|
39,462
|
|
|
64,660
|
|
(b)
|
438,986
|
|
(c)
|
543,108
|
|
Total assets
|
$
|
877,814
|
|
|
$
|
1,103,755
|
|
|
$
|
438,986
|
|
|
$
|
2,420,555
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2019
|
(In thousands)
|
Northern
|
|
Southern
|
|
Corporate, Financial Services and Unallocated
|
|
Total
|
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
|
$
|
3,655
|
|
|
$
|
24,877
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
28,532
|
|
Inventory (a)
|
783,972
|
|
|
957,003
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,740,975
|
|
Investments in joint venture arrangements
|
1,672
|
|
|
36,213
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
37,885
|
|
Other assets
|
21,564
|
|
|
52,662
|
|
(b)
|
223,976
|
|
|
298,202
|
|
Total assets
|
$
|
810,863
|
|
|
$
|
1,070,755
|
|
|
$
|
223,976
|
|
|
$
|
2,105,594
|
|
(a)Inventory includes single-family lots; land and land development costs; land held for sale; homes under construction; model homes and furnishings; community development district infrastructure; and consolidated inventory not owned.
(b)Includes development reimbursements from local municipalities.
(c)Includes a $34.2 million increase in operating lease right-of-use assets due to the commencement of a ten-year renewable lease on June 29, 2020 for the Company’s new corporate headquarters.
Reportable Segments
The following table presents, by reportable segment, selected operating and financial information as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
(Dollars in thousands)
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
Northern Region
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Homes delivered
|
868
|
|
|
651
|
|
|
|
2,190
|
|
|
1,739
|
|
|
New contracts, net
|
1,176
|
|
|
635
|
|
|
|
2,951
|
|
|
2,040
|
|
|
Backlog at end of period
|
1,904
|
|
|
1,231
|
|
|
|
1,904
|
|
|
1,231
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes delivered
|
$
|
402
|
|
|
$
|
406
|
|
|
|
$
|
405
|
|
|
$
|
412
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes in backlog
|
$
|
427
|
|
|
$
|
430
|
|
|
|
$
|
427
|
|
|
$
|
430
|
|
|
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog
|
$
|
813,909
|
|
|
$
|
529,090
|
|
|
|
$
|
813,909
|
|
|
$
|
529,090
|
|
|
Housing revenue
|
$
|
348,774
|
|
|
$
|
264,274
|
|
|
|
$
|
887,662
|
|
|
$
|
716,421
|
|
|
Land sale revenue
|
$
|
1,817
|
|
|
$
|
5,789
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,539
|
|
|
$
|
6,874
|
|
|
Operating income homes (a)
|
$
|
38,308
|
|
|
$
|
29,511
|
|
(b)
|
|
$
|
91,385
|
|
|
$
|
70,428
|
|
(b)
|
Operating income land
|
$
|
57
|
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
|
$
|
131
|
|
|
Number of average active communities
|
90
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
Number of active communities, end of period
|
86
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
Southern Region
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Homes delivered
|
1,269
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
3,277
|
|
|
2,636
|
|
|
New contracts, net
|
1,773
|
|
|
1,086
|
|
|
|
4,348
|
|
|
3,056
|
|
|
Backlog at end of period
|
2,599
|
|
|
1,684
|
|
|
|
2,599
|
|
|
1,684
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes delivered
|
$
|
366
|
|
|
$
|
367
|
|
|
|
$
|
360
|
|
|
$
|
371
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes in backlog
|
$
|
387
|
|
|
$
|
361
|
|
|
|
$
|
387
|
|
|
$
|
361
|
|
|
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog
|
$
|
1,005,322
|
|
|
$
|
608,117
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,005,322
|
|
|
$
|
608,117
|
|
|
Housing revenue
|
$
|
464,225
|
|
|
$
|
367,106
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,179,486
|
|
|
$
|
979,137
|
|
|
Land sale revenue
|
$
|
4,159
|
|
|
$
|
2,722
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,570
|
|
|
$
|
16,168
|
|
|
Operating income homes (a)
|
$
|
55,731
|
|
|
$
|
32,502
|
|
|
|
$
|
128,888
|
|
|
$
|
75,910
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) land
|
$
|
130
|
|
|
$
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
$
|
149
|
|
|
$
|
398
|
|
|
Number of average active communities
|
124
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
127
|
|
|
Number of active communities, end of period
|
121
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
Total Homebuilding Regions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Homes delivered
|
2,137
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
5,467
|
|
|
4,375
|
|
|
New contracts, net
|
2,949
|
|
|
1,721
|
|
|
|
7,299
|
|
|
5,096
|
|
|
Backlog at end of period
|
4,503
|
|
|
2,915
|
|
|
|
4,503
|
|
|
2,915
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes delivered
|
$
|
380
|
|
|
$
|
382
|
|
|
|
$
|
378
|
|
|
$
|
388
|
|
|
Average sales price of homes in backlog
|
$
|
404
|
|
|
$
|
390
|
|
|
|
$
|
404
|
|
|
$
|
390
|
|
|
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog
|
$
|
1,819,231
|
|
|
$
|
1,137,207
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,819,231
|
|
|
$
|
1,137,207
|
|
|
Housing revenue
|
$
|
812,999
|
|
|
$
|
631,380
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,067,148
|
|
|
$
|
1,695,558
|
|
|
Land sale revenue
|
$
|
5,976
|
|
|
$
|
8,511
|
|
|
|
$
|
11,109
|
|
|
$
|
23,042
|
|
|
Operating income homes (a)
|
$
|
94,039
|
|
|
$
|
62,013
|
|
(b)
|
|
$
|
220,273
|
|
|
$
|
146,338
|
|
(b)
|
Operating income land
|
$
|
187
|
|
|
$
|
74
|
|
|
|
$
|
251
|
|
|
$
|
529
|
|
|
Number of average active communities
|
214
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
219
|
|
|
216
|
|
|
Number of active communities, end of period
|
207
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
207
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)Includes the effect of total homebuilding selling, general and administrative expense for the region as disclosed in the first table set forth in this “Outlook” section.
(b)Includes $0.1 million of acquisition-related charges taken during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $0.6 million of acquisition-related charges taken during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as a result of our acquisition of Pinnacle Homes in Detroit, Michigan on March 1, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
(Dollars in thousands)
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Financial Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of loans originated
|
1,636
|
|
|
1,243
|
|
|
4,142
|
|
|
3,078
|
|
Value of loans originated
|
$
|
513,456
|
|
|
$
|
388,033
|
|
|
$
|
1,287,426
|
|
|
$
|
959,022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
|
28,946
|
|
|
$
|
13,454
|
|
|
$
|
61,461
|
|
|
$
|
39,540
|
|
Less: Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
9,059
|
|
|
6,845
|
|
|
23,755
|
|
|
19,597
|
|
Less: Interest expense
|
708
|
|
|
986
|
|
|
2,059
|
|
|
2,664
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
$
|
19,179
|
|
|
$
|
5,623
|
|
|
$
|
35,647
|
|
|
$
|
17,279
|
|
A home is included in “new contracts” when our standard sales contract is executed. “Homes delivered” represents homes for which the closing of the sale has occurred. “Backlog” represents homes for which the standard sales contract has been executed, but which are not included in homes delivered because closings for these homes have not yet occurred as of the end of the period specified.
The composition of our homes delivered, new contracts, net and backlog is constantly changing and may be based on a dissimilar mix of communities between periods as new communities open and existing communities wind down. Further, home types and individual homes within a community can range significantly in price due to differing square footage, option selections, lot sizes and quality and location of lots. These variations may result in a lack of meaningful comparability between homes delivered, new contracts, net and backlog due to the changing mix between periods.
Cancellation Rates
The following table sets forth the cancellation rates for each of our homebuilding segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Northern
|
8.2
|
%
|
|
10.9
|
%
|
|
9.7
|
%
|
|
10.6
|
%
|
Southern
|
10.4
|
%
|
|
13.5
|
%
|
|
12.6
|
%
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cancellation rate
|
9.5
|
%
|
|
12.6
|
%
|
|
11.5
|
%
|
|
12.9
|
%
|
Seasonality
Typically, our homebuilding operations experience significant seasonality and quarter-to-quarter variability in homebuilding activity levels. In general, homes delivered increase substantially in the second half of the year compared to the first half of the year. We believe that this seasonality reflects the tendency of homebuyers to shop for a new home in the spring with the goal of closing in the fall or winter, as well as the scheduling of construction to accommodate seasonal weather conditions. Our financial services operations also experience seasonality because loan originations correspond with the delivery of homes in our homebuilding operations. Additionally, given the disruption in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that we may achieve in future periods.
Year Over Year Comparison
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Northern Region. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, homebuilding revenue in our Northern region increased $80.5 million, from $270.1 million in the third quarter of 2019 to $350.6 million in the third quarter of 2020. This 30% increase in homebuilding revenue was primarily the result of a 33% increase in the number of homes delivered (217 units), offset partially by a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($4,000 per home delivered) which was due to the mix of communities delivering homes. Operating income in our Northern region increased $8.8 million from $29.6 million in the third quarter of 2019 to $38.4 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2020. This increase in operating income was the result of a $15.9 million improvement in our gross margin, offset partially by a $7.1 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our housing gross margin improved $15.9 million primarily due to the 33% increase in the number of homes delivered noted above. Our housing gross margin percentage declined 20 basis points to 19.4% in the third quarter of 2020 from 19.6% in the prior year’s third quarter. The decline in
housing gross margin percentage was primarily due to changes in product type and market mix of homes delivered compared to 2019's same period. Our land sale gross margin remained flat in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.1 million, from $22.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 to $29.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 8.4% in 2020's third quarter from 8.2% in 2019's third quarter. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was attributable, in part, to a $4.8 million increase in selling expense due to (1) a $4.0 million increase in variable selling expenses resulting from increases in sales commissions produced by the higher number of homes delivered, and (2) a $0.8 million increase in non-variable selling expenses primarily related to costs associated with our additional sales offices and models as a result of increased headcount. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was also attributable to a $2.3 million increase in general and administrative expense primarily related to a $0.9 million increase in land-related expenses, a $0.7 million increase in incentive compensation as a result of our improved performance, a $0.5 million increase in professional fees and a $0.2 million increase in COVID-19-related cleaning expenses.
During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we experienced an 85% increase in new contracts in our Northern region, from 635 in the third quarter of 2019 to 1,176 in the third quarter of 2020, and a 55% increase in homes in backlog from 1,231 homes at September 30, 2019 to 1,904 homes at September 30, 2020. The increases in new contracts and homes in backlog were primarily due to improving demand in our newer communities compared to prior year. Average sales price in backlog decreased, however, to $427,000 at September 30, 2020 compared to $430,000 at September 30, 2019 which was primarily due to changes in product type and market mix. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we opened five new communities in our Northern region compared to opening six communities during 2019's third quarter. Our monthly absorption rate in our Northern region improved to 4.4 per community in the third quarter of 2020 compared to 2.4 per community in 2019's third quarter.
Southern Region. During the three month period ended September 30, 2020, homebuilding revenue in our Southern region increased $98.6 million, from $369.8 million in the third quarter of 2019 to $468.4 million in the third quarter of 2020. This 27% increase in homebuilding revenue was the result of a 27% increase in the number of homes delivered (269 units), offset partially by a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($1,000 per home delivered) which was due to the mix of communities delivering homes. Operating income in our Southern region increased $23.4 million from $32.5 million in the third quarter of 2019 to $55.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2020. This increase in operating income was the result of a $29.0 million improvement in our gross margin, partially offset by a $5.6 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expense. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our housing gross margin improved $28.8 million, due primarily to the 27% increase in the number of homes delivered noted above. Our housing gross margin percentage improved from 18.8% in prior year’s third quarter to 21.1% in the third quarter of 2020, largely due to the more affordable mix of communities delivering homes and construction efficiencies. Our land sale gross margin improved $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019. We did not record any additional warranty charges for stucco-related repair costs in our Florida communities during the third quarter of 2020. With respect to this matter, during the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we identified 20 additional homes in need of repair and completed repairs on 22 homes, and, at September 30, 2020, we have 113 homes in various stages of repair. See Note 6 to our financial statements for further information.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $5.6 million from $36.5 million in the third quarter of 2019 to $42.1 million in the third quarter of 2020 but declined as a percentage of revenue to 9.0% from 9.9% in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was attributable, in part, to a $4.6 million increase in selling expense due to a $4.8 million increase in variable selling expenses resulting from increases in sales commissions produced by the higher number of homes delivered, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in non-variable selling expenses primarily related to the timing of sales office and model openings and a reduction in marketing costs. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was also attributable to a $1.0 million increase in general and administrative expense primarily related to an increase in incentive compensation due to our improved performance.
During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we experienced a 63% increase in new contracts in our Southern region, from 1,086 in the third quarter of 2019 to 1,773 in the third quarter of 2020, and a 54% increase in homes in backlog from 1,684 homes at September 30, 2019 to 2,599 homes at September 30, 2020. The increases in new contracts and backlog were primarily due to improving demand in our more affordable communities compared to prior year. Average sales price in backlog also increased to $387,000 at September 30, 2020 from $361,000 at September 30, 2019 due to changes in product type and market mix. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we opened seven new communities in our Southern region compared to opening 10 communities during 2019's third quarter. Our monthly absorption rate in our Southern region improved to 4.8 per community in the third quarter of 2020 compared to 2.7 per community in the third quarter of 2019.
Financial Services. Revenue from our mortgage and title operations increased 115% to a third quarter record of $28.9 million in the third quarter of 2020 from $13.5 million in the third quarter of 2019 due to a 32% increase in the number of loan originations from 1,243 in 2019's third quarter to 1,636 in the third quarter of 2020 as well as an increase in the average loan amount from $312,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2019 to $314,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2020. We also experienced higher margins on loans sold during the period compared to prior year’s third quarter.
We experienced a $13.3 million increase in operating income in the third quarter of 2020 compared to 2019's third quarter, which was primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above, offset partially by a $2.2 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense compared to the third quarter of 2019. This increase was primarily due to an increase in compensation expense related to our increase in employee headcount due to new mortgage locations.
At September 30, 2020, M/I Financial, LLC (“M/I Financial”) provided financing services in all of our markets.
Approximately 85% of our homes delivered during the third quarter of 2020 were financed through M/I Financial, the same as in the third quarter of 2019. Capture rate is influenced by financing availability and competition in the mortgage market, and can fluctuate from quarter to quarter.
Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense. Corporate selling, general and administrative expense increased $4.0 million from $14.0 million for the third quarter of 2019 to $18.0 million for the third quarter of 2020. This increase primarily resulted from a $2.0 million increase in compensation expense due to our improved performance, a $0.7 million increase in computer costs related to our investment in new information systems, a $0.5 million increase in rent-related expense due to our new home office headquarters and a $0.8 million increase in miscellaneous expenses.
Equity in Income from Joint Venture Arrangements. Equity in income from joint venture arrangements represents our portion of pre-tax earnings from our joint venture arrangements where a special purpose entity is established (“LLCs”) with the other partners. The Company earned $0.3 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively, of equity in income from its LLCs during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Interest Expense - Net. Interest expense for the Company decreased $3.4 million from $4.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in average borrowings under our Credit Facility (as defined below) during the third quarter of 2020 compared to prior year. Our weighted average borrowings decreased from $848.9 million in 2019's third quarter to $736.3 million in 2020's third quarter. Our weighted average borrowing rate decreased from 6.13% in the third quarter of 2019 to 5.57% for third quarter of 2020.
Income Taxes. Our overall effective tax rate was 22.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 24.4% for the same period in 2019. The decrease in the effective rate from the three months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily attributable to a $2.5 million tax benefit related to the retroactive reinstatement of energy efficient homes tax credits (see Note 10 to our financial statements for more information).
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Northern Region. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, homebuilding revenue in our Northern region increased $166.9 million, from $723.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $890.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This 23% increase in homebuilding revenue was the result of a 26% increase in the number of homes delivered (451 units), partially offset by a 2% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($7,000 per home delivered) and a $4.3 million decrease in land sale revenue. Operating income in our Northern region increased $20.9 million, from $70.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $91.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in operating income was primarily the result of a $35.8 million increase in our gross margin, offset, in part, by a $14.9 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expense. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our housing gross margin improved $35.8 million, primarily due to the 26% increase in the number of homes delivered. Our housing gross margin percentage improved 50 basis points from 18.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 18.8% for the same period in 2020, primarily due to a change in product type and market mix of homes delivered compared to the prior year. Our housing gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was unfavorably impacted by $0.6 million of acquisition-related charges from our Detroit acquisition. Our land sale gross margin improved slightly by 10 basis points in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $14.9 million, from $60.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $75.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and increased slightly as a percentage of revenue to 8.5% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to 8.4% in the same period in 2019. The increase in selling, general and
administrative expense was attributable, in part, to a $10.3 million increase in selling expense due to (1) an $8.0 million increase in variable selling expenses resulting from increases in sales commissions produced by the higher number of homes delivered, and (2) a $2.3 million increase in non-variable selling expenses primarily related to costs associated with our additional sales offices and models as a result of our increased average community count. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was also attributable to a $4.6 million increase in general and administrative expense, which was primarily related to a $1.9 million increase in compensation-related expense due to increased headcount as well as our improved performance during the period, a $1.4 million increase in professional fees, a $0.8 million increase in land-related expenses and a $0.5 million increase in COVID-19-related cleaning expenses.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we experienced a 45% increase in new contracts in our Northern region, from 2,040 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 2,951 in the first nine months of 2020, and a 55% increase in homes in backlog from 1,231 homes at September 30, 2019 to 1,904 homes at September 30, 2020. The increases in new contracts and homes in backlog were due to improving demand in our newer communities compared to prior year and an increase in our average number of communities during the period. Average sales price in backlog decreased, however, to $427,000 at September 30, 2020 compared to $430,000 at September 30, 2019, which was primarily due to product type and market mix. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we opened 21 new communities in our Northern region compared to 14 during the same period in 2019. Our monthly absorption rate in our Northern region improved to 3.5 per community in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 2.5 per community in the same period in 2019.
Southern Region. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, homebuilding revenue in our Southern region increased $192.8 million from $995.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $1.19 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This 19% increase in homebuilding revenue was the result of a 24% increase in the number of homes delivered (641 units), offset partially by a $7.6 million decrease in land sale revenue and a 3% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered ($11,000 per home delivered). Operating income in our Southern region increased $52.7 million from $76.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $129.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This increase in operating income was the result of a $63.2 million improvement in our gross margin offset, in part, by a $10.5 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expense. With respect to our homebuilding gross margin, our gross margin on homes delivered improved $63.5 million, due primarily to the 24% increase in the number of homes delivered noted above. Our housing gross margin percentage improved 230 basis points from 17.9% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 20.2% in the same period in 2020, largely due to the more affordable mix of communities delivering homes. construction efficiencies and decreased lot costs. Our land sale gross margin declined $0.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $10.5 million from $99.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $109.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 but declined as a percentage of revenue to 9.2% compared to 10.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was attributable to an $8.0 million increase in selling expense due to a $10.0 million increase in variable selling expenses resulting from increases in sales commissions produced by the higher number of homes delivered, offset partially by a $2.0 million decrease in non-variable selling expenses primarily related to the timing of sales office and model openings and a reduction in marketing costs. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was also attributable to a $2.5 million increase in general and administrative expense, which was primarily related to an increase in incentive compensation due to our improved performance.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we experienced a 42% increase in new contracts in our Southern region, from 3,056 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 4,348 in the first nine months of 2020, and a 54% increase in backlog from 1,684 homes at September 30, 2019 to 2,599 homes at September 30, 2020. The increases in new contracts and backlog were primarily due to improving demand in our more affordable communities compared to prior year. Average sales price in backlog also increased from $361,000 at September 30, 2019 to $387,000 at September 30, 2020 due to a change in product type and market mix. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we opened 30 communities in our Southern region compared to 44 during the same period in 2019. Our monthly absorption rate in our Southern region improved to 3.9 per community in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 2.7 per community in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Financial Services. Revenue from our mortgage and title operations increased $22.0 million (55%) from $39.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $61.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to a 35% increase in the number of loan originations from 3,078 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to 4,142 in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, offset partially by a decrease in the average loan amount from $312,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $311,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. We also experienced higher margins on loans sold during the period compared to 2019's first nine months. Revenue was reduced by a $0.5 million impairment charge on our
mortgage servicing rights caused by the disruption in the mortgage industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. See Note 4 to our financial statements for further information.
We experienced a $17.8 million increase in operating income in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, which was primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above offset partially by a $4.2 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to an increase in compensation expense related to an increase in employee headcount and an increase in incentive compensation due to improved results.
At September 30, 2020, M/I Financial provided financing services in all of our markets. Approximately 84% of our homes delivered during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were financed through M/I Financial, compared to 81% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Capture rate is influenced by financing availability and can fluctuate from quarter to quarter.
Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense. Corporate selling, general and administrative expense increased $6.3 million from $35.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $41.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $3.0 million increase in incentive compensation expense due to improved results during the period, a $1.2 million increase in corporate home office rent-related expense, a $0.9 million increase due to computer costs, a $0.3 million increase in charitable contributions and a $0.9 million increase in miscellaneous expenses.
Equity in Income from Joint Venture Arrangements. The Company earned $0.3 million and $0.1 million of equity in income from its LLCs during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Interest Expense - Net. Interest expense for the Company decreased $8.2 million from $16.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $8.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in average borrowings under our Credit Facility (as defined below) during the first nine months of 2020 compared to prior year, the redemption of our 6.75% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Senior Notes”) at the beginning of the first quarter of 2020, and the issuance of our new 2028 Senior Notes, which were not outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and have a lower interest rate than the 2021 Senior Notes. Our weighted average borrowings decreased from $845.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to $783.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and our weighted average borrowing rate declined from 6.21% in 2019's first nine months to 5.51% in 2020's first nine months.
Income Taxes. Our overall effective tax rate was 23.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 25.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in the effective rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to a $3.7 million tax benefit related to the retroactive reinstatement of energy efficient homes tax credits and a $0.4 million increase in tax benefit from equity compensation taken during 2020's first nine months (see Note 10 to our financial statements for more information).
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Overview of Capital Resources and Liquidity.
At September 30, 2020, we had $202.5 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, with $202.3 million of this amount comprised of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, which represents a $196.5 million increase in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2019. Our principal uses of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were investment in land and land development, construction of homes, mortgage loan originations, investment in joint ventures, operating expenses, short-term working capital, debt service requirements, including the redemption of our 2021 Senior Notes and the repayment of amounts outstanding under our credit facilities, and the repurchase of $1.9 million of our outstanding common shares under our 2018 Share Repurchase Program (as defined below) during the first quarter of 2020. In order to fund these uses of cash, we used proceeds from home deliveries and the sale of mortgage loans, as well as excess cash balances, proceeds from the issuance of our 2028 Senior Notes (as described below), borrowings under our credit facilities, and other sources of liquidity.
The Company is a party to three primary credit agreements: (1) a $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility, dated July 18, 2013, as amended most recently on June 30, 2020 (the “Credit Facility”), with M/I Homes, Inc. as borrower and guaranteed by the Company’s wholly owned homebuilding subsidiaries; (2) a $125 million secured mortgage warehousing agreement (which increases to $160 million from September 25, 2020 to October 15, 2020 and to $185 million from November 15, 2020 to February 4, 2021), dated June 24, 2016, as amended most recently on May 29, 2020, with M/I Financial as borrower (the
“MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement”); and (3) a $90 million mortgage repurchase agreement, dated October 30, 2017, as amended most recently on October 26, 2020, with M/I Financial as borrower (the “MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility”).
In January 2020, we issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of our 2028 Senior Notes at par, for net proceeds of approximately $393.9 million. We used $300.4 million of the net proceeds to redeem all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 2021 Senior Notes, at par, and we used the remaining net proceeds to repay a portion of our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2020, there were no borrowings outstanding and $66.6 million of letters of credit outstanding under our $500 million Credit Facility, leaving $433.4 million available.
We expect to continue managing our balance sheet and liquidity carefully by managing our spending on land acquisition and development and construction of inventory homes, as well as overhead expenditures, relative to our ongoing volume of home deliveries, and we expect to meet our current and anticipated capital requirements from cash receipts and availability under our Credit Facility.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we delivered 5,467 homes, started 6,193 homes, and spent $266.8 million on land purchases and $222.6 million on land development. We are selectively acquiring and developing lots in our markets to replenish our lot supply and will continue to monitor market conditions and our pace of home sales and deliveries and adjust our land spending accordingly. Pursuant to our land option agreements, as of September 30, 2020, we had a total of 24,532 lots under contract, with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $801.4 million to be acquired during the remainder of 2020 through 2028.
Operating Cash Flow Activities. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, we generated $197.2 million of cash from operating activities, compared to generating $1.0 million of cash in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The cash generated from operating activities in the first nine months of 2020 was primarily a result of net income of $159.8 million, $14.3 million of proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans net of mortgage loan originations, and an increase in accounts payable, other liabilities and customer deposits totaling $92.9 million, offset, in part, by a $62.5 million increase in inventory and an increase in other assets of $18.5 million. The $1.0 million of cash generated in operating activities in 2019's first nine months was primarily a result of net income of $85.8 million, $38.3 million of proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans net of mortgage loan originations, and an increase in accounts payable and customer deposits totaling $42.2 million, offset partially by a $156.1 million increase in inventory and a decrease in accrued compensation and other liabilities of $22.2 million.
Investing Cash Flow Activities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we used $31.3 million of cash in investing activities, compared to using $25.7 million of cash in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in purchases of property and equipment during the period compared to prior year.
Financing Cash Flow Activities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we generated $30.5 million of cash from financing activities, compared to generating $36.7 million of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The cash generated from financing activities in 2020 was primarily due to the issuance of our 2028 Senior Notes, net of debt issuance costs, for $391.5 million, offset partially by the redemption of all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our then outstanding 2021 Senior Notes, and repayments of $66.0 million (net of proceeds from borrowings) under our Credit Facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The cash generated from financing activities during the first nine months of 2019 was primarily due to higher borrowings under our Credit Facility, partially offset by net repayments of borrowings under our two M/I Financial credit facilities.
On August 14, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program (the “2018 Repurchase Program”) pursuant to which the Company may purchase up to $50 million of its outstanding common shares (see Note 13 to our financial statements). During the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased 80,000 common shares with an aggregate purchase price of $1.9 million which was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under our Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2020, the Company is authorized to repurchase an additional $17.2 million of outstanding common shares under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program.
At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our ratio of homebuilding debt to capital was 36% and 38%, respectively, calculated as the carrying value of our outstanding homebuilding debt divided by the sum of the carrying value of our outstanding homebuilding debt plus shareholders’ equity. We believe that this ratio provides useful information for understanding our financial position and the leverage employed in our operations, and for comparing us with other homebuilders.
We fund our operations with cash flows from operating activities, including proceeds from home deliveries, land sales and the sale of mortgage loans. We believe that these sources of cash, along with our balance of unrestricted cash and borrowings available under our credit facilities, will be sufficient to fund our currently anticipated working capital needs, investment in land and land development, construction of homes, operating expenses, planned capital spending, and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months. In addition, we routinely monitor current and anticipated operational and debt service requirements, financial market conditions, and credit relationships, and we may choose to seek additional capital by issuing new debt and/or equity securities or engaging in other financial transactions to strengthen our liquidity or our long-term capital structure. The financing needs of our homebuilding and financial services operations depend on anticipated sales volume in the current year as well as future years, inventory levels and related turnover, forecasted land and lot purchases, debt maturity dates, and other factors. If we seek such additional capital or engage in such other financial transactions, there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain such additional capital or consummate such other financial transactions on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and such additional equity or debt financing or other financial transactions could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders, add operational limitations and/or increase our interest costs.
Included in the table below is a summary of our available sources of cash from the Credit Facility, the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement and the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility as of September 30, 2020:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
Expiration
Date
|
Outstanding
Balance
|
Available
Amount
|
Notes payable – homebuilding (a)
|
(a)
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
433,434
|
|
Notes payable – financial services (b)
|
(b)
|
$
|
136,119
|
|
$
|
964
|
|
(a)The available amount under the Credit Facility is computed in accordance with the borrowing base calculation under the Credit Facility, which applies various advance rates for different categories of inventory and totaled $829.6 million of availability for additional senior debt at September 30, 2020. As a result, the full $500 million commitment amount of the facility was available, less any borrowings and letters of credit outstanding. There were no borrowings outstanding and $66.6 million of letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2020, leaving $433.4 million available. The Credit Facility has an expiration date of July 18, 2023 for $475.0 million of commitments and July 18, 2021 for $25.0 million of commitments.
(b)The available amount is computed in accordance with the borrowing base calculations under the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement and the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility, each of which may be increased by pledging additional mortgage collateral. The maximum aggregate commitment amount of M/I Financial’s warehousing agreements as of September 30, 2020 was $225 million. The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement has an expiration date of May 28, 2021. Subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2020, M/I Financial entered into an amendment to the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility which extended its term for an additional year to October 25, 2021 and also increased the maximum borrowing availability to $90 million from $65 million.
Notes Payable - Homebuilding.
Homebuilding Credit Facility. The Credit Facility provides for an aggregate commitment amount of $500 million, and also includes an accordion feature pursuant to which the maximum borrowing availability may be increased to an aggregate of $600 million, subject to obtaining additional commitments from lenders. The Credit Facility matures on July 18, 2023 for $475.0 million of commitments and July 18, 2021 for $25.0 million of commitments. Interest on amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility is payable at a rate which is adjusted daily and is equal to the sum of one-month LIBOR (subject to a floor of 0.75%) plus a margin of 250 basis points (subject to adjustment in subsequent quarterly periods based on the Company’s leverage ratio).
Borrowings under the Credit Facility constitute senior, unsecured indebtedness and availability is subject to, among other things, a borrowing base calculated using various advance rates for different categories of inventory. The Credit Facility also provides for a $125 million sub-facility for letters of credit. The Credit Facility contains various representations, warranties and covenants which require, among other things, that the Company maintain (1) a minimum level of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of $779.1 million (subject to increase over time based on earnings and proceeds from equity offerings), (2) a leverage ratio not in excess of 60%, and (3) either a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of 1.5 to 1.0 or a minimum amount of available liquidity. In addition, the Credit Facility contains covenants that limit the Company’s number of unsold housing units and model homes, as well as the amount of Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures (each as defined in the Credit Facility).
The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries, with the exception of subsidiaries that are primarily engaged in the business of mortgage financing, title insurance or similar financial businesses relating to the homebuilding and home sales business, certain subsidiaries that are not 100%-owned by the Company or another subsidiary, and other subsidiaries designated by the Company as Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as defined in Note 12 to our financial statements), subject to limitations on the aggregate amount invested in such Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The guarantors for the Credit Facility are the same subsidiaries that guarantee our $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.95% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Senior Notes”) and our $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”).
As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Facility, including financial covenants. The following table summarizes the most significant restrictive covenant thresholds under the Credit Facility and our compliance with such covenants as of September 30, 2020:
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|
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|
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Financial Covenant
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|
Covenant Requirement
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Actual
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions)
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Consolidated Tangible Net Worth
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≥
|
$
|
779.1
|
|
|
$
|
1,091.4
|
|
Leverage Ratio
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≤
|
0.60
|
|
0.32
|
Interest Coverage Ratio
|
≥
|
1.5 to 1.0
|
|
7.7 to 1.0
|
Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures
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≤
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$
|
327.4
|
|
|
$
|
2.3
|
|
Unsold Housing Units and Model Homes
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≤
|
2,780
|
|
|
905
|
|
Notes Payable - Financial Services.
MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement. The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement is used to finance eligible residential mortgage loans originated by M/I Financial. The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement provides a maximum borrowing availability of $125 million, which increases to $160 million from September 25, 2020 to October 15, 2020 and to $185 million from November 15, 2020 to February 4, 2021, which are periods of expected increases in the volume of mortgage originations. The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement expires on May 28, 2021. Interest on amounts borrowed under the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement is payable at a per annum rate equal to the one-month LIBOR rate (subject to a floor of 1.0%) plus a spread of 200 basis points.
The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement is secured by certain mortgage loans originated by M/I Financial that are being “warehoused” prior to their sale to investors. The MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement provides for limits with respect to certain loan types that can secure outstanding borrowings. There are currently no guarantors of the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement.
As of September 30, 2020, there was $97.8 million outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement and M/I Financial was in compliance with all covenants thereunder. The financial covenants, as more fully described and defined in the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement, are summarized in the following table, which also sets forth M/I Financial’s compliance with such covenants as of September 30, 2020:
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
Financial Covenant
|
|
Covenant Requirement
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions)
|
Leverage Ratio
|
≤
|
10.0 to 1.0
|
|
3.5 to 1.0
|
Liquidity
|
≥
|
$
|
6.25
|
|
|
$
|
43.2
|
|
Adjusted Net Income
|
>
|
$
|
0.0
|
|
|
$
|
25.5
|
|
Tangible Net Worth
|
≥
|
$
|
12.5
|
|
|
$
|
46.0
|
|
MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility. The MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility is used to finance eligible residential mortgage loans originated by M/I Financial and is structured as a mortgage repurchase facility. The MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility provides for a maximum borrowing availability of $65 million. The MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility was scheduled to expire on October 26, 2020. M/I Financial pays interest on each advance under the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility at a per annum rate equal to the one-month LIBOR rate plus 175 or 200 basis points depending on the loan type.
Subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2020, M/I Financial entered into an amendment to the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility with an effective date of October 26, 2020. The amendment, among other things, extends the term of the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility for an additional year to October 25, 2021, increases the maximum borrowing availability to $90 million, and establishes a floor on one-month LIBOR of 1.0%.
The covenants in the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility are substantially similar to the covenants in the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement. The MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility provides for limits with respect to certain loan types that can secure outstanding borrowings, which are substantially similar to the restrictions in the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement. There are no guarantors of the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility. As of September 30, 2020, there was $38.3 million outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility. M/I Financial was in compliance with all financial covenants under the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility as of September 30, 2020.
Senior Notes.
4.95% Senior Notes. On January 22, 2020, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.95% Senior Notes due 2028. The 2028 Senior Notes contain certain covenants, as more fully described and defined in the indenture governing the 2028 Senior Notes, which limit the ability of the Company and the restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness; make certain payments, including dividends, or repurchase any shares, in an aggregate amount exceeding our “restricted payments basket”; make certain investments; and create or incur certain liens, consolidate or merge with or into other companies, or liquidate or sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications as described in the indenture governing the 2028 Senior Notes. As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all terms, conditions, and covenants under the indenture.
The Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2028 Senior Notes to redeem all of its outstanding 2021 Senior Notes at 100.000% of the principal amount outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on January 22, 2020. See Note 8 to our financial statements for more information regarding the 2028 Senior Notes.
5.625% Senior Notes. In August 2017, the Company issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025. The 2025 Senior Notes contain certain covenants, as more fully described and defined in the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes, which limit the ability of the Company and the restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness; make certain payments, including dividends, or repurchase any shares, in an aggregate amount exceeding our “restricted payments basket”; make certain investments; and create or incur certain liens, consolidate or merge with or into other companies, or liquidate or sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications as described in the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes. As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all terms, conditions, and covenants under the indenture. See Note 8 to our financial statements for more information regarding the 2025 Senior Notes.
Weighted Average Borrowings. For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our weighted average borrowings outstanding were $736.3 million and $848.9 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 5.57% and 6.13%, respectively. The decrease in our weighted average borrowings and our weighted average interest rate related to decreased borrowings under our Credit Facility during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 as well as the issuance of our 2028 Senior Notes on January 22, 2020, which have a lower interest rate than our 2021 Senior Notes which were redeemed on January 22, 2020.
At September 30, 2020, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility compared to $66.0 million of borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2019. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company used the Credit Facility for investment in land and land development, construction of homes, operating expenses, working capital requirements and share repurchases under our 2018 Share Repurchase Program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average daily amount outstanding under the Credit Facility was $23.1 million and the maximum amount outstanding under the Credit Facility was $111.3 million. Based on our currently anticipated spending on home construction, land acquisition and development during the remainder of 2020, offset by expected cash receipts from home deliveries, we do not expect to borrow under the Credit Facility through the end of 2020. Our expectation not to borrow under the Credit Facility during the remainder of 2020 is based on numerous assumptions, including homebuilding conditions not materially changing during the period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. To the extent our assumptions or market conditions change, we may borrow under the Credit Facility and the actual amount borrowed during the remainder of 2020 and the related timing would be subject to numerous factors, which are subject to significant variation as a result of the timing and amount of land and house construction expenditures, payroll and other general and administrative expenses, and cash receipts from home deliveries. The amount borrowed would also be impacted by other cash receipts and payments, any capital markets transactions or other additional financings by the Company, any repayments or redemptions of outstanding debt, any additional share repurchases under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program and any other extraordinary events or transactions, including the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company may also experience significant variation in cash and Credit Facility balances from week to week due to the timing of such receipts and payments.
There were $66.6 million of letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility at September 30, 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average daily amount of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility was $67.4 million and the maximum amount of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility was $69.9 million.
At September 30, 2020, M/I Financial had $97.8 million outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average daily amount outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Warehousing Agreement was $37.3 million and the maximum amount outstanding was $109.2 million, which occurred during April.
At September 30, 2020, M/I Financial had $38.3 million outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the average daily amount outstanding under the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility was $31.7 million and the maximum amount outstanding was $59.9 million, which occurred during August.
Universal Shelf Registration. In June 2019, the Company filed a $400 million universal shelf registration statement with the SEC, which registration statement became effective upon filing and will expire in June 2022. Pursuant to the registration statement, the Company may, from time to time, offer debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, warrants to purchase debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares or units of two or more of those securities, rights to purchase debt securities, common shares, preferred shares or depositary shares, stock purchase contracts and units. The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations appearing in the Contractual Obligations section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, except for the Third Amendment to the Credit Facility entered into on June 30, 2020, the Fourth Amendment to the MIF Warehousing Agreement, dated May 29, 2020, and the Third Amendment to the MIF Mortgage Repurchase Facility, dated October 26, 2020, as described above in Note 8 of our financial statements and the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Notes 3, 5 and 6 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements discuss our off-balance sheet arrangements with respect to land acquisition contracts and option agreements, and land development joint ventures, including the nature and amounts of financial obligations relating to these items. In addition, these Notes discuss the nature and amounts of certain types of commitments that arise in the ordinary course of our land development and homebuilding operations, including commitments of land development joint ventures for which we might be obligated.
Our off-balance sheet arrangements relating to our homebuilding operations include joint venture arrangements, land option agreements, guarantees and indemnifications associated with acquiring and developing land, and the issuance of letters of credit and completion bonds. Our use of these arrangements is for the purpose of securing the most desirable lots on which to build homes for our homebuyers in a manner that we believe reduces the overall risk to the Company. Additionally, in the ordinary course of its business, M/I Financial issues guarantees and indemnities relating to the sale of loans to third parties.
Land Option Agreements. In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into land option or purchase agreements for which we generally pay non-refundable deposits. Pursuant to these land option agreements, the Company provides a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices. In accordance with ASC 810, we analyze our land option or purchase agreements to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are variable interest entities (“VIE”) and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires a company to consolidate a VIE if the company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In cases where we are the primary beneficiary, even though we do not have title to such land, we are required to consolidate these purchase/option agreements and reflect such assets and liabilities as Consolidated Inventory not Owned in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we have concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we are purchasing under land option or purchase agreements.
In addition, we evaluate our land option or purchase agreements to determine for each contract if (1) a portion or all of the purchase price is a specific performance requirement, or (2) the amount of deposits and prepaid acquisition and development costs have exceeded certain thresholds relative to the remaining purchase price of the lots. If either is the case, then the remaining purchase price of the lots (or the specific performance amount, if applicable) is recorded as an asset and liability in Consolidated Inventory Not Owned on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
At September 30, 2020, “Consolidated Inventory Not Owned” was $0.4 million. At September 30, 2020, the corresponding liability of $0.4 million has been classified as Obligation for Consolidated Inventory Not Owned on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Other than the Consolidated Inventory Not Owned balance, the Company currently believes that its maximum exposure as of September 30, 2020 related to our land option agreements is equal to the amount of the Company’s outstanding deposits and prepaid acquisition costs, which totaled $61.6 million, including cash deposits of $37.4 million, prepaid acquisition costs of $9.8 million, letters of credit of $11.0 million and $3.4 million of other non-cash deposits.
Letters of Credit and Completion Bonds. The Company provides standby letters of credit and completion bonds for development work in progress, deposits on land and lot purchase agreements and miscellaneous deposits. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had outstanding $267.7 million of completion bonds and standby letters of credit, some of which were issued to various local governmental entities, that expire at various times through November 2027. Included in this total are: (1) $194.1 million of performance and maintenance bonds and $55.1 million of performance letters of credit that serve as completion bonds for land development work in progress; (2) $11.5 million of financial letters of credit; and (3) $7.0 million of financial bonds. The development agreements under which we are required to provide completion bonds or letters of credit are generally not subject to a required completion date and only require that the improvements are in place in phases as houses are built and sold. In locations where development has progressed, the amount of development work remaining to be completed is typically less than the remaining amount of bonds or letters of credit due to timing delays in obtaining release of the bonds or letters of credit.
Guarantees and Indemnities. In the ordinary course of business, M/I Financial enters into agreements that guarantee purchasers of its mortgage loans that M/I Financial will repurchase a loan if certain conditions occur. The risks associated with these guarantees are offset by the value of the underlying assets, and the Company accrues its best estimate of the probable loss on these loans. Additionally, the Company has provided certain other guarantees and indemnities in connection with the acquisition and development of land by our homebuilding operations. See Note 5 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details relating to our guarantees and indemnities.
INTEREST RATES AND INFLATION
Our business is significantly affected by general economic conditions within the United States and, particularly, by the impact of interest rates and inflation. Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of land, materials and labor can result in a need to increase the sales prices of homes. In addition, inflation is often accompanied by higher interest rates, which can have a negative impact on housing demand and the costs of financing land development activities and housing construction. Higher interest rates also may decrease our potential market by making it more difficult for homebuyers to qualify for mortgages or to obtain mortgages at interest rates that are acceptable to them. The impact of increased rates can be offset, in part, by offering variable rate loans with lower interest rates. In conjunction with our mortgage financing services, hedging methods are used to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations between the commitment date of the loan and the time the loan closes. Rising interest rates, as well as increased materials and labor costs, may reduce gross margins. An increase in material and labor costs is particularly a problem during a period of declining home prices. Conversely, deflation can impact the value of real estate and make it difficult for us to recover our land costs. Therefore, either inflation or deflation could adversely impact our future results of operations.