Lennar Reports First Quarter EPS of $0.26

MIAMI, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Net earnings of $57.5 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $15.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share
• Deliveries of 3,186 homes – up 28%
• New orders of 4,055 homes – up 34%; cancellation rate of 15%
• Backlog of 4,922 homes – up 82%; backlog dollar value of $1.5 billion – up 105%
• Revenues of $989.9 million – up 37%
• Gross margin on home sales of 22.1% – improved 120 basis points
• S,G&A expenses as a % of revenues from home sales of 12.0% – improved 290 basis points
• Operating margin on home sales of 10.1% – improved 410 basis points
• Lennar Homebuilding operating earnings of $67.1 million, compared to $20.0 million
• Lennar Financial Services operating earnings of $16.1 million, compared to $8.3 million
• Rialto Investments operating earnings totaled $1.7 million (including an add back of $0.3 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests), compared to $9.4 million (including an add back of $4.3 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests)
• Lennar Homebuilding cash and cash equivalents of $1.1 billion
• Issued $275 million of 4.125% senior notes due 2018 and an additional $175 million of the 4.750% senior notes due 2022
• No outstanding borrowings under the $525 million credit facility
• Lennar Homebuilding debt to total capital, net of cash and cash equivalents, of 49.3%

Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's largest homebuilders, today reported results for its first quarter ended February 28, 2013. First quarter net earnings attributable to Lennar in 2013 were $57.5 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to first quarter net earnings attributable to Lennar of $15.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in 2012.

Stuart Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Lennar Corporation, said, "Our first quarter results clearly reflect continued improvement in the marketplace. Current market conditions are driven by strong demand resulting from low interest rates and attractive home prices, which have led to very affordable monthly payments, compared to increasing rental rates. Supply continues to be limited by low home inventories and fewer competing homebuilders. Accordingly, pricing trends have been positive, as shown by a 13% increase in the average sales price of homes in our backlog at quarter-end, compared to last year."

Mr. Miller continued, "Against this backdrop of recovery in the housing market, we have continued to be a very active land purchaser spending almost $500 million on land in the first quarter. We are well positioned for 2013 and 2014 so our land focus is now primarily on homesites for 2015 and beyond."

"We've seen the operating leverage in our business improve significantly as evidenced by a 410 basis point improvement in operating margin, compared to last year. Our new orders, deliveries and backlog have also shown strong increases backed by the improved market conditions."

Mr. Miller concluded, "Our homebuilding business together with our financial services operations continue to be the primary drivers of our quarterly results and earnings growth. Concurrently, our businesses of Rialto, Lennar Multi-Family and FivePoint Communities continue to mature and position our company for even stronger, long-term value creation."

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2013 COMPARED TO
THREE MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Lennar Homebuilding

Revenues from home sales increased 40% in the first quarter of 2013 to $855.1 million from $610.7 million in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues were higher primarily due to a 28% increase in the number of home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, and a 9% increase in the average sales price of homes delivered. New home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, increased to 3,174 homes in the first quarter of 2013 from 2,472 homes in the first quarter of 2012. There was an increase in home deliveries in all the Company's Homebuilding segments and Homebuilding Other. The average sales price of homes delivered increased to $269,000 in the first quarter of 2013 from $246,000 in the same period last year. Sales incentives offered to homebuyers were $23,300 per home delivered in the first quarter of 2013, or 8.0% as a percentage of home sales revenue, compared to $34,200 per home delivered in the same period last year, or 12.2% as a percentage of home sales revenue, and $25,800 per home delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012, or 9.0% as a percentage of home sales revenue.

Gross margins on home sales were $189.0 million, or 22.1%, in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $127.9 million, or 20.9%, in the first quarter of 2012. Gross margin percentage on home sales improved compared to last year, primarily due to a greater percentage of deliveries from the Company's new higher margin communities (communities where land was acquired subsequent to November 30, 2008), a decrease in sales incentives offered to homebuyers as a percentage of revenue from home sales, an increase in the average sales price of homes delivered and lower valuation adjustments, partially offset by an increase in materials and labor costs. Gross profits on land sales totaled $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $102.2 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $91.1 million in the first quarter of 2012. As a percentage of revenues from home sales, selling, general and administrative expenses improved to 12.0% in the first quarter of 2013, from 14.9% in the first quarter of 2012, due to improved operating leverage as a result of increased absorption per community.

Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities was ($0.9) million in the first quarter of 2013, related to the Company's share of operating losses of Lennar Homebuilding unconsolidated entities, compared to Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings (loss) of $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Lennar Homebuilding other income, net, totaled $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2013,  compared to Lennar Homebuilding other income, net, of $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Lennar Homebuilding interest expense was $46.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 ($19.4 million was included in cost of homes sold, $0.8 million in cost of land sold and $26.0 million in other interest expense), compared to $41.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($16.1 million was included in cost of homes sold, $0.4 million in cost of land sold and $24.8 million in other interest expense). Interest expense increased due to an increase in the Company's outstanding debt and an increase in deliveries, partially offset by a lower weighted average interest rate compared to the same period last year.

Lennar Financial Services

Operating earnings for the Lennar Financial Services segment were $16.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2012. The increase in profitability was primarily due to increased volume and margins in the segment's mortgage operations as a result of an increase in refinance transactions and homebuilding deliveries.

Rialto Investments

Operating earnings for the Rialto Investments segment were $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2013 (which included $1.4 million of operating earnings and an add back of $0.3 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests), compared to operating earnings of $9.4 million (which included $5.1 million of operating earnings and an add back of $4.3 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests) in the same period last year. Revenues in this segment were $25.6 million in the first quarter of 2013, which consisted primarily of accretable interest income associated with the segment's portfolio of real estate loans and fees for managing and servicing assets, compared to revenues of $32.2 million in the same period last year. Revenues decreased primarily due to lower interest income as a result of a decrease in the portfolio of loans. Expenses in this segment were $31.8 million in the first quarter of 2013, which consisted primarily of costs related to its portfolio operations, loan impairments of $7.1 million primarily associated with the segment's FDIC loan portfolio (before noncontrolling interests) and other general and administrative expenses, compared to expenses of $33.4 million, which consisted primarily of costs related to its portfolio operations, due diligence expenses related to both completed and abandoned transactions, and other general and administrative expenses in the same period last year. Expenses decreased primarily due to a decrease in loan servicing expenses.

Rialto Investments equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities was $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2013, which included $6.4 million of equity in earnings related to the Company's share of earnings from the Rialto Real Estate Fund (the "Fund I"). Equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities was $18.5 million in the first quarter of 2012, which included $8.4 million of net gains primarily related to unrealized gains for the Company's share of the mark-to-market adjustments of the investment portfolio underlying the AllianceBernstein L.P. ("AB") fund formed under the Federal government's Public-Private Investment Program ("PPIP"), $2.6 million of interest income earned by the AB PPIP fund and $7.6 millions of equity in earnings related to Fund I.

The segment also had other income (expense), net, of $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2013, which consisted primarily of rental income and gains realized on the sale of real estate owned ("REO"), partially offset by expenses related to owning and maintaining REO. Rialto Investments other income (expense), net, was ($12.2) million in the first quarter of 2012, which consisted primarily of expenses related to owning and maintaining REO, partially offset by rental income and gains from the acquisitions of REO through foreclosure.

Corporate General and Administrative Expenses

Corporate general and administrative expenses were $31.3 million, or 3.2% as a percentage of total revenues, in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $26.8 million, or 3.7% as a percentage of total revenues, in the first quarter of 2012. The increase in corporate general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel related expenses as a result of variable compensation expense.

Noncontrolling Interests

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests were ($0.5) million and ($7.0) million, respectively, in the first quarter of 2013 and 2012, primarily attributable to non controlling interests related to the Company's homebuilding and Rialto Investments segments.

Income Taxes

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a portion of its state deferred tax assets would be utilized. This conclusion was based on additional positive evidence including actual and forecasted earnings. Accordingly, during the first quarter of 2013, the Company reversed $25.1 million of its valuation allowance against its state deferred tax assets. This reversal was offset by a tax provision of $21.5 million primarily related to first quarter 2013 pre-tax earnings. Therefore, the Company had a $3.6 million net benefit for income taxes in the first quarter of 2013. As of February 28, 2013, the Company's remaining valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets was $63.7 million, which is primarily state net operating loss carryforwards, and in future periods could be reversed if additional sufficient positive evidence is present indicating that it is more likely than not that such assets would be realized.

Debt Transactions

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company issued $275 million of 4.125% senior notes due 2018 and an additional $175 million of the 4.750% senior notes due 2022 in a private offering under SEC Rule 144A. The net proceeds of the sale will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include repayment or repurchase of its other outstanding senior notes.

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations.  The Company builds affordable, move-up and retirement homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of the Company's homes and others. Lennar's Rialto Investments segment is focused on distressed real estate asset investments, asset management and workout strategies. Previous press releases and further information about the Company may be obtained at the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, www.lennar.com.

Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies and prospects. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended November 30, 2012. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by Federal securities laws.

A conference call to discuss the Company's first quarter earnings will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.  The call will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed through the Company's website at www.lennar.com.  If you are unable to participate in the conference call, the call will be archived at www.lennar.com for 90 days.  A replay of the conference call will also be available later that day by calling 203-369-0508 and entering 5723593 as the confirmation number.

SOURCE Lennar Corporation