AV Homes Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015


Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights - as compared to the prior year fourth quarter (unless otherwise noted)

  • Net income increased to $15.9 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share 
  • Total revenue increased 117% to $225.7 million
  • Homebuilding revenue increased 123% to $218.5 million
  • Closings increased 91% to 731 units
  • Average selling price for closed homes increased 16% to $299,000 per home
  • Net new order value increased 137% to $154.7 million on a 107% increase in units
  • Backlog value increased 184% to $243.9 million on 799 units
  • Selling communities increased to 62 from 27 and communities with closings increased to 57 from 24


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AV Homes, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVHI), a developer and builder of active adult and primary residential communities in Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas, today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 increased 117% to $225.7 million from $104.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.  Net income and diluted earnings per share increased to $15.9 million and $0.65 per share, respectively, compared to $1.6 million and $0.07 per share in the fourth quarter of 2014.  Results from the fourth quarter of 2015 include the contribution from our acquisition of Bonterra Builders, which closed on July 1, 2015. 

Roger A. Cregg, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our long-term strategy to transform AV Homes produced significant results in 2015.  We effectively deployed capital into our business through homebuilder acquisitions, as well as strategic land and lot acquisitions, which diversified our consumer market segmentation mix and broadened our geographical diversification.  For the second consecutive year, AV Homes has more than doubled its revenue, recording over a half billion dollars in 2015 and closed 1,750 homes.  With $12 million of net income for the year, we improved our gross margins and significantly leveraged our overhead cost structure, positioning us for further growth and success in 2016.” 

Mr. Cregg continued, “Our fourth quarter results improved dramatically as we generated $226 million of revenue, closed 731 homes and produced $15.9 million of net income.  We more than doubled our net new orders in the fourth quarter compared to 2014 and head into 2016 with a strong backlog of sold homes in each of our divisions.”

The increase in total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period included a 123% increase in homebuilding revenue to $218.5 million.  The increase in homebuilding revenue was driven by the acquisition of Bonterra Builders, volume increases due to a greater number of communities with closings in each of our existing markets, and higher average selling prices due to price increases and improvements in the mix of homes sold.  During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company closed 731 homes, a 91% increase from the 382 homes closed during the fourth quarter of 2014, and the average unit price per closing improved 16% to approximately $299,000 from approximately $257,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Homebuilding gross margin improved to 19.2% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 18.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014.  Homebuilding gross margin is inclusive of the impact associated with the expensing of previously capitalized interest of 2.3% and 2.0% in the 2015 and 2014 periods, respectively.  The increase in gross margin year-over-year was primarily due to opportunistically raising prices and changes in the mix of communities as a significant number of new communities in each of our markets came on line within the past year due to both organic and acquisition growth.

Homebuilding SG&A expense as a percentage of homebuilding revenue was 10.0% in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 12.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The improvement was primarily due to the increased scale of the business which allows us to leverage the cost base, particularly in the Carolinas with the acquisition of Bonterra Builders, partially offset by higher commission rates and co-broke percentages.  Corporate general and administrative expenses as a percentage of homebuilding revenue improved to 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 3.8% in the same period a year ago driven by the favorable cost leverage the Company is achieving by effectively managing its costs while growing the revenue of the business.

The number of new housing contracts signed, net of cancellations, during the three months ended December 31, 2015 increased 107% to 504, compared to 243 units during the same period in 2014.  The increase in housing contracts was primarily attributable to the increase in selling communities to 62 from 27 as a result of both acquisition and organic growth.  The average sales price on contracts signed in the fourth quarter of 2015 increased 15% to approximately $307,000 from approximately $268,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The aggregate dollar value of the contracts signed during the fourth quarter increased 137% to $154.7 million, compared to $65.2 million during the same period one year ago.  The backlog value of homes under contract but not yet closed at December 31, 2015 increased 184% to $243.9 million on 799 units, compared to $85.8 million on 331 units at December 31, 2014.

Results for the Year ended December 31, 2015

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported net income of $12.0 million, or $0.54 per share, on revenues of $517.8 million.  This compares to a net loss of $1.9 million, or ($0.09) per share, on revenues of $285.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.  Homebuilding revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased 105% to $498.9 million compared to the prior year, while land sales decreased by $26.1 million.  The increase in homebuilding revenue was driven by strong volume increases and improved selling prices.  During 2015, the Company reported 1,750 home closings, an 84% increase from the 953 homes closed during 2014, and the average unit price per closing increased 12% to approximately $285,000, from approximately $255,000 one year ago. 

Homebuilding gross margin for 2015 improved to 18.7% from 18.2% in 2014.  Homebuilding gross margin includes the negative impact associated with the expensing of previously capitalized interest of 2.2% and 1.9% in the 2015 and 2014 periods, respectively.  Homebuilding SG&A expense as a percentage of homebuilding revenue in 2015 improved to 12.6% from 14.1% in 2014, while corporate general and administrative expenses as a percentage of homebuilding revenue improved to 3.4% in 2015 from 6.6% a year ago. 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported 2,035 new housing contracts signed, net of cancellations, a 105% increase over the 994 contracts signed during 2014.  The dollar value of the contracts signed during 2015 increased 131% to $589.0 million as compared to $254.7 million in 2014.

2016 Outlook

The Company issued the following expectations for its financial performance in 2016:

  • Communities with closings are expected to increase to approximately 65
  • Closings are expected to increase to a range of 2,150 to 2,275 units
  • Average Selling Price (ASP) on homes closed is expected to increase to approximately $310,000
  • Homebuilding Gross Margins are expected to be approximately 17.5%, inclusive of approximately 2.5% of previously capitalized interest cost
  • Homebuilding SG&A is expected to improve to approximately 10.5% of homebuilding revenue
  • Corporate G&A is expected to improve to approximately 2.5% of homebuilding revenue
  • Interest expense is expected to be approximately $6 million to $7 million, after capitalization
  • Pre-tax income is expected to increase to approximately $25 million to $27 million

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast on Friday, February 26, 2016 to discuss its fourth quarter and full year financial results.  The conference call will begin at 8:30 a.m. EST.  The conference call can be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (877) 643-7158 or for international callers by dialing (914) 495-8565; please dial-in 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay will be available on February 26, 2016 beginning at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or for international callers by dialing (404) 537-3406; the conference ID is 51531693. The telephonic replay will be available until March 3, 2016. The webcast, which can be accessed by going to the Investor Relations section of AV Homes’ website at www.avhomesinc.com, is accompanied by an Investor Presentation.  A replay of the original webcast will be available shortly after the call.

AV Homes, Inc. is engaged in homebuilding and community development in Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. Its principal operations are conducted in the greater Orlando, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Charlotte and Raleigh markets. The Company builds communities that serve both active adults (55 years and older) as well as people of all ages. AV Homes common shares trade on NASDAQ under the symbol AVHI. For more information, visit www.avhomesinc.com.

This news release, the conference call, webcast and other related items contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward looking statements, which include references to our outlook for 2016, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others: the cyclical nature of the homebuilding industry and its dependence on broader economic conditions; competition for home buyers, properties, financing, raw materials and skilled labor; overall market supply and demand for new homes; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; conflicts of interest involving our largest stockholder; contractual restrictions under a stockholders agreement with our largest stockholder; our ability to access sufficient capital; our ability to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness and potential need for additional financing; terms of our financing documents that may restrict our operations and corporate actions; fluctuations in interest rates; our ability to purchase outstanding notes upon certain fundamental changes; contingent liabilities that may affect our liquidity; development liabilities that may impose payment obligations on us; the availability of mortgage financing for home buyers; increased regulation of the mortgage industry; changes in federal lending programs and other regulations; cancellations of home sale orders; declines in home prices in our primary regions; inflation affecting homebuilding costs; the prices and supply of building materials and skilled labor; elimination or reduction of tax benefits associated with home ownership; warranty and construction defect claims; health and safety incidents in homebuilding activities; availability and suitability of undeveloped land and improved lots; ability to develop communities within expected timeframes; the seasonal nature of our business; impacts of weather conditions and natural disasters; resource shortages and rate fluctuations; value and costs related to our land and lot inventory; our ability to recover our costs in the event of reduced home sales; dependence on our senior management; effect of our expansion efforts on our cash flows and profitability; effects of government regulation of development and homebuilding projects; raising healthcare costs; our ability to realize our deferred income tax asset; costs of environmental compliance; impact of environmental changes; dependence on digital technologies and potential interruptions; and potential dilution related to future financing activities, all as described in “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which filings are available on www.sec.gov.  Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations, estimates, or projections of management as of the date of this news release, the conference call, the Investor Presentation and the webcast. AV Homes disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events and circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.

 
AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
     
     
  December 31,
   2015   2014 
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents$  46,898  $  180,334 
Restricted cash    26,948     16,447 
Land and other inventories   582,531     383,184 
Receivables    7,178     2,906 
Property and equipment, net   34,973     36,922 
Investments in unconsolidated entities   1,172     17,991 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   23,021     20,980 
Assets held for sale   -      4,051 
Goodwill    19,295     6,071 
Total assets $  742,016  $  668,886 
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   
     
Liabilities    
Accounts payable$  33,606  $  16,087 
Accrued and other liabilities   38,826     28,134 
Customer deposits   8,629     4,966 
Estimated development liability   32,551     33,003 
Notes payable    326,723     299,956 
Total liabilities   440,335     382,146 
     
Stockholders' equity   
Common stock, par value $1 per share   
Authorized:50,000,000 shares   
Issued:22,444,028 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015   
 22,182,972 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2014   22,444     22,183 
Additional paid-in capital   399,719     396,989 
Accumulated deficit   (117,463)    (129,413)
     304,700     289,759 
Treasury stock, at cost, 110,874 shares as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively   (3,019)    (3,019)
Total stockholders’ equity   301,681     286,740 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  742,016  $  668,886 
     

 

AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
(in thousands, except per share amounts) 
         
         
 Three Months Ended
December 31
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31
 
  2015   2014   2015   2014  
Revenues        
Homebuilding$  218,534  $  98,015  $  498,915  $  243,171  
Amenity and other   4,190     2,516     12,385     10,146  
Land sales   2,996     3,428     6,466     32,596  
Total revenues   225,720     103,959     517,766     285,913  
         
Expenses        
Homebuilding   198,577     92,180     468,224     233,249  
Amenity and other   3,668     2,734     10,702     10,949  
Land sales   438     1,093     823     22,003  
Total real estate expenses   202,683     96,007     479,749     266,201  
General and administrative expenses   5,144     3,677     16,900     15,941  
Interest income and other   11     (189)    (154)    (447) 
Interest expense   1,536     2,853     9,039     5,805  
Total expenses   209,374     102,348     505,534     287,500  
Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities   (6)    (6)    154     (16) 
Income (loss) before income taxes   16,340     1,605     12,386     (1,603) 
Income tax expense   (436)    -      (436)    -   
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)   15,904     1,605     11,950     (1,603) 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities   -      -      -      329  
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AV Homes stockholders$  15,904  $  1,605  $  11,950  $  (1,932) 
         
Net income (loss) per share:        
Basic$  0.72  $  0.07  $  0.54  $  (0.09) 
Diluted$  0.65  $  0.07  $  0.54  $  (0.09) 
         
Number of shares used in calculation:        
Basic   22,021,301     21,953,484     22,010,201     21,945,491  
Effect of dilutive securities   5,696,012     117,752     120,183     -   
Diluted 27,717,313   22,071,236   22,130,384   21,945,491  
         

 

          
AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
Segment Operating Income (Loss)  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)  
   
You should read the following information in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 (when filed).  
   
The following table provides a comparison of certain financial data related to our operations in each of our geographic segments for the three months and years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):  
          
 Three Months Ended
December 31
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31
  
   2015     2014     2015     2014    
Operating income (loss):         
Florida         
Revenues         
Homebuilding$  114,776  $  78,617  $  300,260  $  193,218   
Amenity and other   4,190     2,510     12,385     10,140   
Land sales   2,996     2,858     6,466     18,158   
Total revenues   121,962     83,985     319,111     221,516   
          
Expenses         
Homebuilding   89,968     63,321     239,001     156,439   
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative   12,328     8,465     38,500     24,388   
Amenity and other   3,649     2,636     10,587     10,524   
Land sales   438     927     823     10,316   
Segment operating income   15,579     8,636     30,200     19,849   
          
Arizona         
Revenues         
Homebuilding   39,182     18,110     84,378     48,665   
Amenity and other   -      6     -      6   
Land sales   -      570     -      14,438   
Total Revenues   39,182     18,686     84,378     63,109   
          
Expenses         
Homebuilding   32,601     15,622     71,305     41,261   
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative   4,135     2,598     11,981     7,747   
Amenity and other   19     98     115     425   
Land sales   -      166     -      11,688   
Segment operating income (loss)   2,427     202     977     1,988   
          
Carolinas         
Revenues         
Homebuilding   64,576     1,288     114,277     1,288   
Total Revenues   64,576     1,288     114,277     1,288   
          
Expenses         
Homebuilding   54,058     1,183     95,232     1,183   
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative   5,487     991     12,205     2,230   
Segment operating income (loss)   5,031     (886)    6,840     (2,125)  
          
Operating income   23,037     7,952     38,017     19,712   
          
Unallocated income (expenses):         
Interest income and other   (11)    189     154     447   
Equity in earnings (loss) in unconsolidated entities   (6)    (6)    154     (16)  
Corporate general and administrative expenses   (5,144)    (3,677)    (16,900)    (15,941)  
Interest expense   (1,536)    (2,853)    (9,039)    (5,805)  
Income (loss) before income taxes   16,340     1,605     12,386     (1,603)  
Income tax expense   (436)    -      (436)    -    
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   -      -      -      329   
Net income (loss) attributable to AV Homes$  15,904  $  1,605  $  11,950  $  (1,932)  
          
          

 

  
AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Closings 
(dollars in thousands) 
  
Data from closings for the Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas segments for the three months and years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands): 
     
For the Years ended December 31,Number of UnitsRevenuesAverage Price Per Unit 
     
2015    
Florida  1,124$  300,260 $  267  
Arizona  298   84,378    283  
Carolinas  328   114,277    348  
Total  1,750$  498,915    285  
     
2014    
Florida  755$  193,218 $  256  
Arizona  193   48,665    252  
Carolinas  5   1,288    258  
Total  953$  243,171    255  
     
For the Three Months ended December 31,Number of UnitsRevenuesAverage Price Per Unit 
     
2015    
Florida  420$  114,777 $  273  
Arizona  128   39,182    306  
Carolinas  183   64,575    353  
Total  731$  218,534    299  
     
2014    
Florida  304$  78,617 $  259  
Arizona  73   18,110    248  
Carolinas  5   1,288    258  
Total  382$  98,015    257  
     

 

  
  
AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Contracts Signed 
(dollars in thousands) 
  
Data from contracts signed for the Florida, Arizona and Carolinas segments for the three months and years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands): 
       
For the Years ended December 31,Gross SalesCancellationsNet Sales Dollar Value  Average Price Per Unit  
       
2015      
Florida  1,509   (242)  1,267$  344,171 $  272  
Arizona  590   (111)  479   142,004    296  
Carolinas  331   (42)  289   102,851    356  
Total  2,430   (395)  2,035$  589,026    289  
       
2014      
Florida  929   (121)  808$  206,503 $  256  
Arizona  216   (41)  175   45,012    257  
Carolinas  13   (2)  11   3,212    292  
Total  1,158   (164)  994$  254,727    256  
       
For the Three Months ended December 31,Gross SalesCancellationsNet Sales Dollar Value  Average Price Per Unit  
       
2015      
Florida  366   (66)  300$  83,679 $  279  
Arizona  130   (32)  98   31,815    325  
Carolinas  122   (16)  106   39,216    370  
Total  618   (114)  504$  154,710    307  
       
2014      
Florida  256   (51)  205$  54,241 $  265  
Arizona  39   (9)  30   8,473    282  
Carolinas  10   (2)  8   2,438    305  
Total  305   (62)  243$  65,152    268  
       

 

 
 
AV HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Backlog
(dollars in thousands)
 
Backlog for the Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas segments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
    
As of December 31,Number of UnitsDollar VolumeAverage Price Per Unit
    
2015   
Florida  416$  116,061 $  279 
Arizona  233   71,459    307 
Carolinas  150   56,427    376 
Total  799$  243,947    305 
    
2014   
Florida  273$  70,194 $  257 
Arizona  52   13,635    262 
Carolinas  6   1,924    321 
Total  331$  85,753    259 
    

            

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