tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Meritage (MTH)
NYSE:MTH

Meritage (MTH) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
457 Followers

Top Page

MT

Meritage

(NYSE:MTH)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$71.00
▲(10.13%Upside)
The overall score reflects a strong valuation and strategic growth initiatives, offset by technical weakness and cash flow challenges. The company's robust guidance and governance improvements are positives, but operational risks from leadership changes and macroeconomic pressures weigh on the outlook.
Positive Factors
Community Growth and Sales
Meritage Homes expects double-digit community growth, and when new communities open, the company typically sees 2-4 times higher sales in the first month compared to the normal pace.
Market Share and Valuation
Meritage Homes is gaining market share, has improved its return on equity, and its valuation looks attractive with a price-to-book ratio under 1 and low debt-to-capital.
Negative Factors
Backlog Conversion Stability
Backlog conversion ratio was 220% in 1Q25, well above the 125% long-term target, but this level is likely unsustainable.
Demand Environment and Incentives
The question is what incentive level/margin will be necessary to continue this pace in a softer overall demand environment.

Meritage (MTH) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Meritage Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMeritage Homes Corporation (MTH) is a leading designer and builder of single-family homes in the United States. The company primarily operates in the residential construction sector, focusing on building energy-efficient homes tailored to meet the needs of first-time and move-up buyers. With a commitment to quality and innovation, Meritage offers a variety of home styles and communities across several states, providing buyers with sustainable living options and modern amenities.
How the Company Makes MoneyMeritage Homes generates revenue through the construction and sale of single-family homes. The company's primary revenue stream comes from home sales, which encompass the entire process from land acquisition and development to design, construction, and final sale to the consumer. Additionally, Meritage benefits from strategic partnerships with suppliers and contractors to ensure cost-effective sourcing of materials and labor. The company's focus on energy-efficient homes appeals to environmentally conscious consumers and can offer competitive differentiation in the market, potentially leading to increased sales and profitability. Revenue is also influenced by market conditions, including housing demand, interest rates, and economic factors that affect consumer purchasing power.

Meritage Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 23, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -5.48%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Meritage Homes demonstrated strong sales performance and strategic growth in Q1 2025, despite facing macroeconomic challenges and a decrease in home closing revenue and margins. The company maintained its full-year guidance, reflecting confidence in its strategy and market position.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong First Quarter Home Sales
Meritage Homes sold almost 3,900 homes in Q1 2025, marking it the second-highest first quarter in company history with a backlog conversion rate reaching an all-time high of 221%.
Financial Performance and Margins
Q1 2025 home closing revenues reached $1.3 billion with a gross margin of 22%. Despite macroeconomic challenges, diluted EPS was $1.69, and book value per share increased by 11% year-over-year.
Community Expansion and Land Acquisition
Meritage Homes expanded its community count by 8% year-over-year and acquired 2,500 lots in Nashville, demonstrating strategic growth in high-demand areas.
Increased Shareholder Returns
The company increased its quarterly cash dividend by 15% year-over-year and repurchased over 600,000 shares, totaling $45 million in Q1 2025.
Negative Updates
Decreased Home Closing Volume and Revenue
Home closing volume and average selling price decreased, resulting in an 8% year-over-year decline in Q1 2025 home closing revenue.
Reduced Margins
Home closing gross margin decreased by 380 basis points from the previous year, driven by increased use of financing incentives and higher lot costs.
Macroeconomic Challenges
The company faced macroeconomic pressures, including elevated mortgage rates and fragile consumer sentiment, affecting housing market conditions.
Company Guidance
In the Meritage Homes First Quarter 2025 Analyst Call, the company provided forward-looking guidance, maintaining its full-year 2025 target of 16,250 to 16,750 home closings, translating to $6.6 billion to $6.9 billion in home closing revenue. For the second quarter, the guidance included home closings between 3,800 and 4,100 units, with projected home closing revenue of $1.5 billion to $1.65 billion and a gross margin around 21.5%. The company achieved a 14.5% return on equity as of March 31, 2025. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, Meritage's strategic focus on a 60-day move-in-ready inventory commitment and attractive financing incentives helped maintain a healthy absorption pace of 4.4 net sales per month. The company's confidence in achieving its guidance is supported by double-digit community count growth and the ability to maintain consistent sales volumes through strategic pricing and incentives.

Meritage Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Meritage demonstrates strong profitability and a solid equity base. However, cash flow issues and declining return on equity are areas of concern, suggesting the need for improved cash flow management and efficient use of equity.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Meritage shows a strong performance in terms of profitability with a stable gross profit margin and a healthy net profit margin over the TTM period. The revenue growth trajectory is moderate, though slightly down from previous years. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also robust, indicating efficient core operations.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
The balance sheet is solid with a strong equity base, as evidenced by an impressive equity ratio. The debt-to-equity ratio is manageable, suggesting a reasonable leverage level. However, return on equity has been declining, which might indicate pressure on profitability or efficiency in using shareholder funds.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Cash flow management appears challenging, with negative free cash flow growth and a negative operating cash flow over the TTM. While the company has managed its financing activities, the negative free cash flow to net income ratio is a concern for liquidity and internal cash generation.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
6.28B6.39B6.14B6.30B5.15B4.51B
Gross Profit
1.52B1.60B1.52B1.80B1.44B976.00M
EBIT
883.56M958.35M902.39M1.29B973.34M535.74M
EBITDA
943.57M1.03B972.93M1.31B999.59M566.79M
Net Income Common Stockholders
722.98M786.19M738.75M992.19M737.44M423.48M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.01B651.55M921.23M861.56M618.34M745.62M
Total Assets
7.70B7.16B6.35B5.77B4.81B3.86B
Total Debt
1.89B1.39B1.06B1.15B1.16B1.02B
Net Debt
881.22M740.15M141.03M289.09M541.70M274.46M
Total Liabilities
2.51B2.02B1.74B1.82B1.76B1.52B
Stockholders Equity
5.19B5.14B4.61B3.95B3.04B2.35B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-380.07M-256.23M317.38M378.30M-177.76M510.43M
Operating Cash Flow
-352.08M-227.58M355.57M405.27M-152.09M530.36M
Investing Cash Flow
-47.72M-44.07M-43.62M-32.29M-26.82M-18.23M
Financing Cash Flow
506.16M1.98M-252.28M-129.76M51.63M-85.97M

Meritage Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price64.47
Price Trends
50DMA
66.25
Negative
100DMA
70.19
Negative
200DMA
80.39
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.48
Negative
RSI
45.65
Neutral
STOCH
44.64
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MTH, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 64.47 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 65.23, below the 50-day MA of 66.25, and below the 200-day MA of 80.39, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.48 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.65 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.64 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MTH.

Meritage Risk Analysis

Meritage disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Meritage reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Meritage Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$5.96B6.7515.97%12.19%23.15%
MHMHO
77
Outperform
$2.96B5.6619.02%8.68%8.39%
77
Outperform
$2.69B7.1824.29%21.22%24.90%
TPTPH
74
Outperform
$2.83B6.7613.28%10.82%19.34%
MTMTH
71
Outperform
$4.74B6.5314.58%2.61%-0.68%-7.99%
KBKBH
68
Neutral
$3.86B6.4015.58%1.86%5.54%11.12%
62
Neutral
$6.90B11.052.80%4.27%2.67%-24.92%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MTH
Meritage
64.47
-17.56
-21.41%
KBH
KB Home
52.44
-16.06
-23.45%
MHO
M/I Homes
107.02
-17.39
-13.98%
TPH
Tri Pointe
30.37
-7.52
-19.85%
TMHC
Taylor Morrison
58.03
1.99
3.55%
GRBK
Green Brick Partners
59.48
1.16
1.99%

Meritage Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Meritage Homes Implements Board Declassification Amendments
Positive
May 22, 2025

On May 22, 2025, Meritage Homes Corporation’s Board of Directors implemented amendments to their bylaws to declassify the Board, following stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting. This change is part of a broader effort to enhance governance and transparency within the company. During the same meeting, stockholders elected new directors, ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent accounting firm for 2025, approved executive compensation, and supported a proposal for transparency in political spending. These decisions reflect a commitment to accountability and strategic governance, potentially impacting the company’s operational and market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (MTH) stock is a Hold with a $98.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Meritage stock, see the MTH Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Meritage COO Clint Szubinski Announces Resignation
Negative
May 13, 2025

On May 7, 2025, Clint Szubinski, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Meritage Homes, announced his resignation for personal reasons. His departure, effective May 16, 2025, marks a significant change in the company’s leadership, potentially impacting its operational strategies and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (MTH) stock is a Hold with a $98.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Meritage stock, see the MTH Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.