Investors | News Releases | Beazer Homes Announces All-Time Record Quarterly EPS of $2.59, Up 25% Over June 2001

INVESTOR
RELATIONS

Investor Relations

News Releases

Beazer Homes Announces All-Time Record Quarterly EPS of $2.59, Up 25% Over June 2001

July 23, 2002 at 4:17 PM EDT
ATLANTA, Jul 23, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) (www.beazer.com) today announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, the third quarter of its 2002 fiscal year. Highlights of the quarter, compared to the same period of the prior year, are as follows:

    *  All-time record quarterly diluted EPS: $2.59 (up 25% vs. $2.07 in prior
       year)
    *  Home closings: 3,960 (up 74%); total revenues $744 million (up 66%)
    *  Operating profit margin: 7.2% (up 10 basis points)
    *  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
       (EBITDA): $72.6 million (up 68%)
    *  EBITDA Margin: 9.8% (up 10 basis points)
    *  Net income: $34.6 million (up 81%)
    *  Debt to total capitalization: 50% (down from 54% at June 30, 2001)
    *  Equity book value: $745.8 million (up 131%) or $55.71 per share (up
       59%)
    *  Diluted shares outstanding: 13.4 million (up 45%)
    *  All-time record quarterly new orders: 4,227 (up 47%)
    *  All-time record backlog 7,627 homes (up 65%), sales value $1.4 billion
       (up 62%)
All-Time Record EPS For June Quarter

Ian J. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Beazer Homes, said, "We are extremely pleased to announce all-time record results for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, our first quarter including Crossmann Communities. These results demonstrate the growth and improved profitability that we expect to achieve both from this acquisition and from the expansion of our existing Beazer operations."

Mr. McCarthy continued, "All-time record EPS of $2.59 for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, was up 25% over EPS in June 2001 (up 20% over EPS before an extraordinary loss for early extinguishment of debt in the June 2001 quarter). This increase in EPS was achieved on a 45% higher diluted share count, which includes the shares issued in connection with the Crossmann acquisition."

Increased New Orders and Record Backlog Demonstrate Continued Strong

Demand

Mr. McCarthy said, "During the June quarter we had 4,227 new orders for homes, a 47% increase over the June 2001 quarter. New orders for the quarter include 1,299 new orders from Crossmann operations. Excluding Crossmann, Beazer's new orders for the quarter would have been 2,928, setting a new June quarter record. New orders for Beazer's existing operations would have been up 2% over June 2001, which was a very strong quarter when new orders were up 31% over June 2000."

Mr. McCarthy also said, "At June 30, 2002, we had 7,627 homes in backlog (up 65%) with a sales value of $1.4 billion (up 62%), both all-time Company records. We believe that our record new orders and backlog demonstrate the continued strength of the U.S. housing market. Demand remains strong, especially in the first-time homebuyer segment. In addition, the inventory of homes available for sale in the U.S. remains near all-time lows, especially in lower price points. We continue to believe that the most significant factors supporting housing activity over the coming years will be strong demand, driven by population growth, along with a supply of housing constrained by land restrictions. Such land restrictions favor larger homebuilders and are accelerating consolidation in the industry."

Operating Profit Margin Improves

David S. Weiss, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said, "Our results for the June quarter demonstrate the continuing improvement that we are achieving in our profitability. Our operating profit margin increased 10 basis points relative to last year's June quarter, as did our margin of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). This improvement takes into account a $10.8 million negative impact (1.5% of total revenues) of purchase accounting adjustments related to the Crossmann acquisition. These purchase accounting adjustments are included as a reduction to gross margin during the June 2002 quarter and reflect principally the write-up of homes under construction to fair value."

Mr. Weiss continued, "Our operating profit margin, including the impact of Crossmann purchase accounting adjustments, was 7.2%, up 10 basis points from the year ago June quarter. As the impact of purchase accounting diminishes over the next two quarters, we expect to report significant year-over-year increases in our operating profit margin. These increases reflect our continued ability to raise prices in many communities while our costs remain stable, along with the higher profitability that we expect from our combination with Crossmann Communities."

Beazer's Financial Position Strengthens in June Quarter

Mr. Weiss also said, "We ended our June quarter in an extremely strong financial position. At June 30, 2002, our ratio of debt to total capitalization was 50%, an improvement from the 54% level at June 30, 2001. Interest coverage (EBITDA divided by interest incurred) for the last twelve months was 5.1 times, compared to 4.4 times a year ago. We have improved our financial statistics while completing a major acquisition. This reflects our commitment to maintaining a strong balance sheet and conservative financial position. Recognizing this commitment, Standard & Poor's upgraded our senior debt from BB- to BB during the quarter."

Mr. Weiss concluded, "We expect our financial position to improve further during our fourth fiscal quarter and expect to end our fiscal year at September 30 with a debt to total capitalization ratio below 50%."

Beazer Sets Target For 2003 Earnings

Mr. McCarthy said, "The integration of Crossmann Communities and Beazer Homes is proceeding extremely well, as demonstrated by our strong operating results for the June quarter. We expect the benefits of this acquisition to accelerate over the coming year and we target achieving profit margin improvement in fiscal 2003 relative to 2002."

Mr. McCarthy concluded, "Given our strong profitability, increased level of backlog and prospects for future growth, we are now able to both raise our target for earnings per share in fiscal 2002 and establish a target for significant growth in fiscal 2003. Our target for earnings in fiscal 2002 is now $10.25 per share, up from our prior guidance of $10.00 per share. Recognizing both continuing growth in our current operations as well as accretion from our Crossmann acquisition, we are establishing a target of $12.00 for EPS in fiscal 2003, up 17% from our revised target for fiscal 2002. This EPS target is based on achieving over $3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2003."

Beazer Homes USA, Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the country's ten largest single-family homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, 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.

Note: 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 and other factors described in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended September 30, 2001.

                            Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
                  Consolidated Operating And Financial Data
               (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


    Financial Data
                               Quarter Ended              Nine Months Ended
                                   June 30,                    June 30,
                              2002          2001         2002          2001

    Income Statement
    Revenues              $743,813      $448,825   $1,736,842    $1,188,172
    Costs and Expenses:
      Home construction
       and land sales      597,706       357,071    1,391,753       948,764
      Interest              12,887         8,651       28,825        22,715
      Selling, general and
       administrative
       expenses             79,499        51,218      187,190       132,742
    Operating income        53,721        31,885      129,074        83,951
    Other income             3,550           780        5,782           909

    Income before income
     taxes and extraordinary
     item                   57,271        32,665      134,856        84,860
    Income taxes            22,622        12,740       52,880        33,096
    Net income before
     extraordinary item     34,649        19,925       81,976        51,764
    Extraordinary item -
     loss on early
     extinguishment of
     debt (net of taxes
     of $469)                  ---           733          ---           733
    Net income             $34,649       $19,192      $81,976       $51,031

    Basic:
      Net income per share
       before extraordinary
       item                  $2.76         $2.43        $8.35         $6.35
      Extraordinary item       ---         (0.09)         ---         (0.09)
      Net income per common
       share                 $2.76         $2.34        $8.35         $6.26

    Diluted:
      Net income per share
       before extraordinary
       item                  $2.59         $2.15        $7.63         $5.67
      Extraordinary item       ---         (0.08)         ---         (0.08)
      Net income per
       common share          $2.59         $2.07        $7.63         $5.59

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding in thousands:
      Basic                 12,545         8,195        9,823         8,149
      Diluted               13,388         9,250       10,742         9,124

    Interest incurred      $16,729       $10,306      $34,518       $26,578
    Depreciation and
     amortization           $2,485        $2,043       $6,322        $6,171


    SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA
                                                             June 30,
                                                        2002           2001

    Cash                                              $5,682        $11,911
    Inventory                                      1,343,660        785,234
    Goodwill                                         250,201          6,649
    Total assets                                   1,736,838        872,362
    Total debt                                       738,782        386,809
    Shareholders' equity                             745,814        323,070




                            Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
            Consolidated Operating And Financial Data (Continued)
                            (Dollars in thousands)


    Operating Data
                               Quarter Ended             Nine Months Ended
                                   June 30,                   June 30,
    Selected Operating data   2002          2001         2002          2001

    Closings:
      Southeast region       1,350           951        2,856         2,231
      West region            1,105           806        3,170         2,323
      Central region           298           253          790           561
      Mid-Atlantic region      347           266        1,088           877
    Midwest region             860           ---          860           ---
    Total closings           3,960         2,276        8,764         5,992
    New orders, net of
     cancellations:
      Southeast region       1,387         1,006        3,438         2,914
      West region            1,248         1,204        3,494         2,943
      Central region           327           288          917           737
      Mid-Atlantic region      337           375        1,102         1,105
      Midwest region           928           ---          928           ---
    Total new orders         4,227         2,873        9,879         7,699
    Backlog at end of period 7,627         4,636
    Dollar value at end
     of period          $1,447,144      $891,898
    Active subdivisions:
      Southeast region         181           130
      West region               73            73
      Central region            32            32
      Mid-Atlantic region       39            41
      Midwest region           133           ---
    Total active subdivisions  458           276


    Supplemental Financial Data
                                Quarter Ended            Nine Months Ended
                                   June 30,                    June 30,
                              2002          2001         2002          2001
    Revenues
      Home sales          $732,269      $440,866   $1,709,362    $1,161,042
      Land and lot sales     4,105         3,528        9,629        15,476
      Mortgage origination
       revenue              10,957         6,522       26,317        17,300
      Intercompany
       elimination -
       mortgage             (3,518)       (2,091)      (8,466)       (5,646)
    Total revenues        $743,813      $448,825   $1,736,842    $1,188,172
    Cost of home
     construction and
     land sales
      Home sales          $597,422      $355,861   $1,392,409      $942,320
      Land and lot sales     3,802         3,301        7,810        12,090
      Intercompany
       elimination -
       mortgage             (3,518)       (2,091)      (8,466)       (5,646)
    Total costs of home
     construction and
     land sales           $597,706      $357,071   $1,391,753      $948,764
    Selling, general and
     administrative
      Homebuilding
       operations          $73,161       $47,636     $172,339      $123,082
      Mortgage origination
       operations            6,338         3,582       14,851         9,660
    Total selling, general
     and administrative    $79,499       $51,218     $187,190      $132,742


                    
SOURCE Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

CONTACT:          David S. Weiss, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                  Officer of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., +1-404-250-3420, or dweiss@beazer.com