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Meritage (MTH)
NYSE:MTH

Meritage (MTH) AI Stock Analysis

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Meritage

(NYSE:MTH)

72Outperform
Meritage's strong profitability and solid valuation are offset by cash flow challenges and declining margins. While macroeconomic pressures pose risks, the company's strategic initiatives and maintained guidance reflect resilience in the residential construction market.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Stronger gross margin, higher delivery volume, and ASP, plus a lower tax rate drove the beat.
Strategic Initiatives
Meritage Homes' strategy of offering quick close, move-in ready new homes leaves it well-positioned for above average growth as it offers a more compelling alternative to existing units.
Negative Factors
Affordability Challenges
The rating on MTH is downgraded to Market Perform due to near-term pressures on entry-level homebuilders, whose core first-time buyers are likely to face greater affordability challenges.
Market Competition
MTH is experiencing pressure from a more competitive inventory environment, rising rates, and buyer anxiety over election uncertainty.

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

Meritage Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMeritage Homes Corporation (MTH) is a leading American homebuilding company that specializes in the design and construction of single-family homes across the United States. With a focus on energy-efficient innovations, Meritage offers a range of home styles and sizes tailored to meet the needs of first-time and move-up buyers. The company operates in key markets including California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Florida, among others, delivering high-quality residential communities with an emphasis on sustainability and modern living.
How the Company Makes MoneyMeritage Homes Corporation generates revenue primarily through the sale of homes. The company purchases land, develops residential communities, and constructs homes that are then sold to consumers. Key revenue streams include the sale of single-family homes, with prices varying based on location, size, and features. Meritage also benefits from strategic partnerships with suppliers and contractors, which help reduce construction costs and improve operational efficiency. Additionally, the company may generate revenue from financial services related to home sales, such as mortgage origination and title services, although its primary focus remains on homebuilding. Market conditions, such as interest rates and regional housing demand, significantly influence Meritage's earnings.

Meritage Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Meritage exhibits strong profitability and a robust equity base. However, cash flow challenges and a declining return on equity indicate areas that need improvement.
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
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
6.39B6.14B6.30B5.15B4.51B
Gross Profit
1.60B1.52B1.80B1.44B976.00M
EBIT
958.35M902.39M1.29B973.34M535.74M
EBITDA
1.03B972.93M1.31B999.59M566.79M
Net Income Common Stockholders
786.19M738.75M992.19M737.44M423.48M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
651.55M921.23M861.56M618.34M745.62M
Total Assets
7.16B6.35B5.77B4.81B3.86B
Total Debt
1.39B1.06B1.15B1.16B1.02B
Net Debt
740.15M141.03M289.09M541.70M274.46M
Total Liabilities
2.02B1.74B1.82B1.76B1.52B
Stockholders Equity
5.14B4.61B3.95B3.04B2.35B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-256.23M317.38M378.30M-177.76M510.43M
Operating Cash Flow
-227.58M355.57M405.27M-152.09M530.36M
Investing Cash Flow
-44.07M-43.62M-32.29M-26.82M-18.23M
Financing Cash Flow
1.98M-252.28M-129.76M51.63M-85.97M

Meritage Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price68.68
Price Trends
50DMA
69.75
Negative
100DMA
74.07
Negative
200DMA
84.35
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.47
Negative
RSI
52.16
Neutral
STOCH
55.47
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MTH, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 68.68 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 66.21, below the 50-day MA of 69.75, and below the 200-day MA of 84.35, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.47 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.16 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 55.47 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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 (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$5.91B6.8515.97%12.19%23.15%
TPTPH
77
Outperform
$2.86B7.0113.28%10.82%19.34%
76
Outperform
$2.64B7.2724.29%21.22%24.90%
MHMHO
73
Outperform
$2.96B5.8419.02%8.68%8.39%
MTMTH
72
Outperform
$4.93B6.9514.58%2.26%-0.68%-7.99%
KBKBH
63
Neutral
$3.94B6.7015.58%1.82%5.54%11.12%
61
Neutral
$6.65B11.713.09%3.98%2.65%-20.82%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MTH
Meritage
68.68
-17.35
-20.17%
KBH
KB Home
54.93
-14.14
-20.47%
MHO
M/I Homes
110.53
-13.41
-10.82%
TPH
Tri Pointe
31.50
-8.05
-20.35%
TMHC
Taylor Morrison
58.90
0.28
0.48%
GRBK
Green Brick Partners
60.21
3.81
6.76%

Meritage Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 23, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 0.69%|
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 Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Meritage Appoints Geisha Williams to Board of Directors
Positive
Jan 6, 2025

Meritage Homes Corporation has appointed Geisha Williams as an independent Class II Director to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. This appointment highlights the company’s commitment to board diversity and refreshment, with Williams bringing over three decades of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Her extensive leadership background, including her role as former CEO of PG&E Corporation, is expected to enhance the board’s expertise and operational leadership, contributing to Meritage’s strategic growth and industry positioning.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

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.