Investors | News Releases | Beazer Homes Reports Record Second Fiscal Quarter EPS of $3.52, up 24%

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Beazer Homes Reports Record Second Fiscal Quarter EPS of $3.52, up 24%

April 22, 2004 at 6:01 AM EDT
               Company Raises EPS Outlook for Fiscal Year 2004

ATLANTA, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) ( www.beazer.com ) today announced results for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2004, reporting record earnings for the quarter. Highlights of the quarter, compared to the same period of the prior year, are as follows:

    Quarter Ended March 31, 2004
     * Record diluted EPS: $3.52 (up 24% vs. $2.83 in prior year)
     * Home closings: 3,684 (up 12%)
     * Total revenues: $876.6 million (up 32%)
     * Gross Profit: $177.6 million (up 29%)
     * Operating Income:  $77.8 million (up 27%)
     * Net income: $48.9 million (up 29%)
     * New orders: 5,032 (up 10%)
     * Backlog at 3/31/04: 8,470 homes (up 14%), sales value
        $2.04 billion (up 37%)
     * Active Subdivisions at 3/31/04:  508 (up 6%)

    Record Earnings for March Quarter

Ian J. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive officer, said, "We are very pleased to announce record financial results for our second quarter of fiscal 2004. Our March quarter home closings and revenues increased 12% and 32% respectively, and new orders were up 10%, indicating continued strength and favorable conditions in the housing industry and Beazer Homes' strong position in the market. This was accompanied by record March quarter net income, which was up 29% from the prior year, illustrating our ongoing commitment to achieving profitable growth by leveraging our size, scale and geographic reach, and continuing to execute specific growth and profitability initiatives."

"Beazer Homes' backlog now stands at 8,470 homes with a sales value of $2.04 billion, up 14% and 37%, respectively, from the backlog homes and sales value at March 31, 2003. This sizable backlog increase provides excellent visibility as we move into the second half of fiscal 2004," added McCarthy.

Strong Financial Position Continues in March Quarter

"Beazer Homes' financial position remained strong during the second fiscal quarter," said James O'Leary, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "At March 31, 2004, debt to total capitalization and net debt to total capitalization stood at 46% and 44%, respectively, with a cash position of $89.6 million. Our financial results reflect our commitment to improved profitability and focused organic growth within our diverse geographic footprint."

During the second fiscal quarter of 2004, the Company increased its home sales gross margin while total gross and operating profit margins declined slightly compared to the same period a year ago. While the Company continued to realize benefits from the execution of its profit improvement initiatives, such gains were offset by increased marketing expenses of approximately $3.5 million associated with the Company's branding initiative and ongoing warranty costs of approximately $11.4 million associated with construction defect claims from water intrusion at one of its Midwest divisions.

Total inventory of $2.27 billion at March 31, 2004 includes $238.1 million, net of cash deposits, of consolidated inventory not owned, with a corresponding balance of obligations related to consolidated inventory not owned, reflecting the full application of FIN 46R.

Beazer Homes Targets EPS $15.75 - $16.00 in Fiscal 2004

"Our performance for the six months ended March 31, 2004, combined with our significant level of existing backlog and our expectations of continued strength in the housing market provide us confidence in our future growth opportunities," said McCarthy. "In addition, we expect continued execution on our strategic initiatives that leverage our national brand, capitalize on our broad geographic profile through focused product expansion and price-point diversification, and also drive best practices to achieve optimal efficiencies, will place us in a strong position for continued growth. Absent any unanticipated adverse changes, we are raising our outlook for diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $15.75 - $16.00 in fiscal 2004, representing approximately 25% growth over fiscal 2003."

Beazer Homes USA, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta is one of the country's ten largest single-family homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Beazer Homes also provides mortgage origination and title services to its homebuyers.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to changes in general economic conditions, fluctuations in interest rates, increases in raw materials and labor costs, levels of competition, potential liability as a result of construction defect, product liability and warranty claims, the possibility that the Company's improvement plan for the Midwest will not achieve desired results, and other factors described in the Company's Form S- 4/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2004 and Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.


                              BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
                    CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA
                 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

    FINANCIAL DATA
                                       Quarter Ended        Six Months Ended
                                         March 31,              March 31,
                                      2004      2003        2004        2003
    INCOME STATEMENT
    Revenues                       $876,581  $665,567  $1,686,689  $1,365,727
    Costs and expenses:
        Home construction and land
         sales                      699,020   527,733   1,343,969   1,091,450
        Selling, general and
         administrative expense      99,717    76,347     189,224     153,724
    Operating income                 77,844    61,487     153,496     120,553
    Other income                      2,250     1,277       3,952       3,236

    Income before income taxes       80,094    62,764     157,448     123,789
    Income taxes                     31,236    24,792      61,404      48,897
    Net income                      $48,858   $37,972     $96,044     $74,892

    Net income per common share:
        Basic                         $3.66     $2.96       $7.22       $5.85
        Diluted                       $3.52     $2.83       $6.94       $5.59

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding, in thousands:
        Basic                        13,331    12,815      13,306      12,813
        Diluted                      13,865    13,403      13,846      13,403

    Interest incurred               $18,532   $16,916     $35,403     $33,498
    Interest amortized to cost of
     sales                          $15,187   $12,200     $28,874     $24,100
    Depreciation and amortization    $4,021    $2,905      $8,035      $5,684


    SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA                            March 31,
                                                     2004              2003
    Cash                                           $89,559           $18,818
    Inventory                                    2,273,855         1,541,815
    Total assets                                 2,764,900         1,953,434
    Total debt                                     948,979           739,735
    Shareholders' equity                         1,094,032           870,958


                             BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
              CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA (Continued)
                             (Dollars in thousands)

    OPERATING DATA

                                               Quarter Ended  Six Months Ended
                                                  March 31,       March 31,
    SELECTED OPERATING DATA                   2004        2003   2004   2003
    Closings:
             Southeast region                1,197       1,093  2,454  2,186
             West region                     1,404       1,095  2,618  2,135
             Central region                    208         272    448    538
             Mid-Atlantic region               367         233    685    528
             Midwest region                    508         604  1,087  1,392
    Total closings                           3,684       3,297  7,292  6,779
    New orders, net of cancellations:
             Southeast region                1,636       1,628  2,679  2,643
             West region                     1,885       1,277  3,339  2,216
             Central region                    351         296    536    528
             Mid-Atlantic region               403         496    719    948
             Midwest region                    757         882  1,063  1,385
    Total new orders                         5,032       4,579  8,336  7,720
    Backlog units at end of period:
             Southeast region                2,546       2,324
             West region                     3,008       1,914
             Central region                    484         497
             Mid-Atlantic region             1,151       1,120
             Midwest region                  1,281       1,605
    Total backlog units                      8,470       7,460
    Dollar value of backlog at end of
     period                             $2,036,493  $1,485,401
    Active subdivisions:
             Southeast region                  184         186
             West region                        98          89
             Central region                     44          33
             Mid-Atlantic region                51          39
             Midwest region                    131         131
    Total active subdivisions                  508         478


                              BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
              CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA (Continued)
                             (Dollars in thousands)

                                      Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended
                                         March 31,             March 31,
    SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA:      2004      2003        2004        2003

    Revenues
        Home sales                 $853,638  $655,614  $1,646,935  $1,344,384
        Land and lot sales           13,831       842      21,566       3,337
        Mortgage origination
         revenue                     12,294    12,926      24,440      25,410
        Intercompany elimination -
         mortgage                    (3,182)   (3,815)     (6,252)     (7,404)
    Total revenues                 $876,581  $665,567  $1,686,689  $1,365,727
    Cost of home construction and
     land sales
        Home sales                 $690,210  $530,841  $1,330,327  $1,096,205
        Land and lot sales           11,992       707      19,894       2,649
        Intercompany elimination -
         mortgage                    (3,182)   (3,815)     (6,252)     (7,404)
    Total costs of home
     construction and land sales   $699,020  $527,733  $1,343,969  $1,091,450
    Selling, general and
     administrative
        Homebuilding operations     $91,994   $69,330    $174,107    $139,846
        Mortgage origination
         operations                   7,723     7,017      15,117      13,878
    Total selling, general and
     administrative                 $99,717   $76,347    $189,224    $153,724
SOURCE  Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
CONTACT: Leslie H. Kratcoski, Director, Investor Relations of Beazer
Homes USA, Inc., +1-770-829-3764, or lkratcos@beazer.com