SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report: January 27, 2005

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

001-12822

 

54-2086934

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200
Atlanta Georgia 30328
(Address of Principal
Executive Offices)

 

 

 

 

 

(770) 829-3700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

 

 

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



 

Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On January 27, 2005, Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (the “Company”) reported earnings and results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2004.  A copy of this press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1.  For additional information, please see the press release.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)  Exhibits

 

99.1         Press release issued January 27, 2005.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: January 27, 2005

By:

  /s/ James O’Leary

 

 

James O’Leary

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Beazer Homes Reports Record Fiscal First Quarter EPS of $4.70, up 38%

 

ATLANTA, January 27, 2005 — Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) (www.beazer.com) today announced results for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, reporting record earnings.  Highlights of the quarter, compared to the same period of the prior year, are as follows:

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2004

 

                  Record diluted EPS: $4.70 (up 37.8% vs. $3.41 in prior year quarter)

                  Total revenues: $911.8 million (up 12.6%)

                  Gross margin from home construction: 22.7% (up 340 basis points)

                  Operating income margin:  12.2% (up 290 basis points)

                  Net income: $69.7 million (up 47.7%)

                  Home closings: 3,574 (down 0.9%)

                  New orders: 3,545 (up 7.3%)

 

Record Backlog

                  Backlog at 12/31/04: 8,427 homes (up 18.3%), sales value $2.35 billion (up 42.3%)

 

Record Earnings for December Quarter

“We are pleased to announce record financial results for our first quarter of fiscal 2005,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Ian J. McCarthy.  “Our December quarter revenues increased 12.6%, and new orders were up 7.3%, both indicating continued strength and favorable conditions in the housing industry and Beazer Homes’ strong market position.   This was accompanied by record net income for the quarter, up 47.7% year-over-year despite extremely difficult conditions in the Midwest and Charlotte markets.”

 

“Beazer Homes’ backlog now stands at a first quarter record level of 8,427 homes with a sales value of $2.35 billion, up 18.3% and 42.3%, respectively, from the backlog homes and sales value at December 31, 2003.  We believe this sizeable backlog increase provides the basis for continued strong performance as we move forward in fiscal 2005,” added McCarthy.

 

The growth in new home orders for the quarter resulted from increases in the Company’s Southeast, Central and Mid-Atlantic regions.  Order growth in these regions was partially offset by lower orders in the Midwest region, the West region, notably Northern California and Nevada, and Charlotte.

 

Total home closings of 3,574 were down slightly from the prior year. Home closings increased in the Company’s Mid-Atlantic region and in much of the Southeast, but were offset by declines in Nevada and Arizona in the West region, and parts of Florida and the Carolinas that continue to be impacted by production delays associated with hurricane activity in the previous quarter.

 



 

Performance in the Company’s Midwest and Charlotte markets continues to be disappointing.  Soft economic conditions in these markets and a high degree of competition, particularly at entry-level price points, continue to adversely impact results.

 

Strong Financial Position Continues in December Quarter

“Beazer Homes’ financial position remained strong during the December quarter,” said James O’Leary, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “At December 31, 2004, net debt to total capitalization stood at 44.3%, comparable to the prior year, with a cash position of $91.1 million. We achieved record earnings and improved margins this quarter, with an average return on equity for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 of 22.0%, representing a 250 basis point improvement from the same period a year ago.”

 

During the first fiscal quarter of 2005, the Company realized increases over the prior year in its home construction gross margin, total gross margin and operating income margin of 340 basis points, 320 basis points and 290 basis points, respectively, as the Company continued to realize benefits from the execution of its profit improvement and price point diversification initiatives and a strong pricing environment in several markets.  These results include warranty costs associated with construction defect claims from water intrusion at Trinity Homes LLC of $10.0 million, compared to $6.9 million in the same period a year ago.  These costs are primarily associated with homes included in the previously disclosed class action suit against Trinity Homes LLC and Beazer Homes Investment Corp., Trinity’s parent.

 

The Hamilton County Superior Court approved the settlement agreement between the parties in the class action suit related to construction defect claims from water intrusion against Trinity Homes LLC and Beazer Homes Investment Corp., Trinity’s parent, on October 20, 2004.  No appeals of the court’s order approving the settlement were received by the court within the timeframe established by the court.  The Company sent out claims notices on December 17, 2004, and the class members have until February 15, 2005 to file claims.

 

As the Company receives and evaluates claims pursuant to the settlement, it will accrue estimated costs to resolve those claims.  The Company expects to know substantially the number of claims that will ultimately be filed pursuant to the settlement during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

 

EITF 04-8

As a result of EITF 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share,” which became effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2004, the 1,166,400 shares issuable upon conversion of the Company’s convertible senior notes have been included in the first quarter fiscal 2005 diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share.  Correspondingly, after-tax interest and amortization of debt issuance costs related to the notes of approximately $1.3 million has been added back to net income for the same period for the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share. The impact of the adoption of EITF 04-08 was to reduce diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 by $0.30.  Since the Company’s convertible senior notes were not outstanding at December 31, 2003, the adoption of EITF 04-08 had no impact on diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

 

Fiscal 2005 EPS Outlook

“Our strong backlog coupled with expectations of continued strength in the housing market give us confidence in our future growth opportunities,” said McCarthy.  “In addition, we expect continued execution on strategic initiatives that utilize our size, scale and capabilities to continue to achieve greater profitability and increased market penetration through focused product expansion, price point diversification and by leveraging our national brand.  Our outlook contemplates continued strength in our core markets and the absence of further deterioration in the results and prospects of the Midwest and Charlotte markets.  We reiterate our outlook for fiscal 2005 diluted earnings per share of $20.00 - - $21.00 per share absent any unanticipated adverse changes.”

 

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, Virginia and West 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-3/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2004 and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

 

 

Contact:

Leslie H. Kratcoski

 

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

 

(770) 829-3764

 

lkratcos@beazer.com

 

-Tables Follow-

 



 

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

 

FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

INCOME STATEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

911,827

 

$

810,108

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Home construction and land sales

 

696,355

 

644,949

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

104,594

 

89,507

 

Operating income

 

110,878

 

75,652

 

Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

(102

)

557

 

Other income

 

2,564

 

1,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

113,340

 

77,354

 

Income taxes

 

43,636

 

30,168

 

Net income

 

$

69,704

 

$

47,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

5.19

 

$

3.55

 

Diluted

 

$

4.70

 

$

3.41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding, in thousands:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

13,432

 

13,281

 

Diluted*

 

15,100

 

13,829

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest incurred

 

$

20,389

 

$

16,871

 

Interest amortized to cost of sales

 

$

15,959

 

$

13,687

 

After-tax interest add back for diluted EPS computation

 

$

1,325

 

$

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

4,493

 

$

4,014

 

 

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash

 

$

91,107

 

$

102,267

 

Inventory

 

2,585,479

 

1,960,408

 

Total assets

 

3,161,938

 

2,450,391

 

Total debt

 

1,130,270

 

948,465

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

1,305,128

 

1,043,254

 

 


*                  Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 includes 1,166,400 shares issuable upon conversion of the Company's convertible senior notes.

 



 

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

 

OPERATING DATA

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

SELECTED OPERATING DATA

 

 

 

 

 

Closings:

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast region

 

1,239

 

1,257

 

West region

 

1,192

 

1,214

 

Central region

 

190

 

240

 

Mid-Atlantic region

 

370

 

318

 

Midwest region

 

583

 

579

 

Total closings

 

3,574

 

3,608

 

New orders, net of cancellations:

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast region

 

1,191

 

1,043

 

West region

 

1,329

 

1,454

 

Central region

 

237

 

185

 

Mid-Atlantic region

 

507

 

316

 

Midwest region

 

281

 

306

 

Total new orders

 

3,545

 

3,304

 

Backlog units at end of period:

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast region

 

2,581

 

2,107

 

West region

 

3,277

 

2,527

 

Central region

 

476

 

341

 

Mid-Atlantic region

 

1,184

 

1,115

 

Midwest region

 

909

 

1,032

 

Total backlog units

 

8,427

 

7,122

 

Dollar value of backlog at end of period

 

$

2,350,457

 

$

1,651,319

 

Active subdivisions:

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast region

 

170

 

178

 

West region

 

107

 

105

 

Central region

 

46

 

40

 

Mid-Atlantic region

 

57

 

48

 

Midwest region

 

128

 

135

 

Total active subdivisions

 

508

 

506

 

 



 

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

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Home sales

 

$

902,874

 

$

793,297

 

Land and lot sales

 

1,215

 

7,735

 

Mortgage origination revenue

 

10,854

 

12,146

 

Intercompany elimination - mortgage

 

(3,116

)

(3,070

)

Total revenues

 

$

911,827

 

$

810,108

 

Cost of home construction and land sales

 

 

 

 

 

Home sales

 

$

698,299

 

$

640,117

 

Land and lot sales

 

1,172

 

7,902

 

Intercompany elimination - mortgage

 

(3,116

)

(3,070

)

Total costs of home construction and land sales

 

$

696,355

 

$

644,949

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

 

 

 

Homebuilding operations

 

$

96,813

 

$

82,113

 

Mortgage origination operations

 

7,781

 

7,394

 

Total selling, general and administrative

 

$

104,594

 

$

89,507