Forestar Reports Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Results

ARLINGTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forestar Group Inc. (“Forestar”) (NYSE: FOR), a leading national residential lot developer, today reported financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Highlights
All comparisons are year-over-year

• Net income increased 84% to $38.2 million or $0.76 per diluted share
• Pre-tax income increased 84% to $51.2 million
• Pre-tax profit margin improved 380 basis points to 16.7%
• Consolidated revenues increased 41% to $305.9 million
• Residential lots sold increased 39% to 3,150 lots
• Owned and controlled 82,400 lots
• Return on equity of 14.1% for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2023
• Book value per share increased 15% to $28.21
• Net debt to total capital ratio improved to 14.9%

Financial Results
Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 84% to $38.2 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to $20.8 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. Pre-tax income for the quarter increased 84% to $51.2 million from $27.9 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. Revenues for the quarter increased 41% to $305.9 million from $216.7 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023.

The Company’s return on equity was 14.1% for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Return on equity is calculated as net income for the trailing twelve months divided by average stockholders’ equity, where average stockholders’ equity is the sum of ending stockholders’ equity balances of the trailing five quarters divided by five.

Operational Results
Lots sold during the first quarter increased 39% to 3,150 lots compared to 2,263 lots in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, Forestar sold 316 lots to customers other than D.R. Horton, Inc. (“D.R. Horton”), compared to 169 lots in the prior year quarter. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, lots sold to customers other than D.R. Horton included 124 lots that were sold to a lot banker who expects to sell those lots to D.R. Horton at a future date.

The Company’s lot position at December 31, 2023 was 82,400 lots, of which 55,400 were owned and 27,000 were controlled through land and lot purchase contracts. Lots owned at December 31, 2023 included 7,300 that were fully developed. Of the Company’s owned lot position at December 31, 2023, 16,700 lots, or 30%, were under contract to be sold, representing approximately $1.6 billion of future revenue. Another 17,500 lots, or 32%, of the Company’s owned lots were subject to a right of first offer to D.R. Horton based on executed purchase and sale agreements at December 31, 2023.

Capital Structure, Leverage and Liquidity
Forestar ended the quarter with $458.9 million of unrestricted cash and $385.7 million of available borrowing capacity on its senior unsecured revolving credit facility for total liquidity of $844.6 million. Debt at December 31, 2023 totaled $705.3 million, with no senior note maturities until fiscal 2026. The Company’s net debt to total capital ratio at the end of the quarter was 14.9%. Net debt to total capital consists of debt net of unrestricted cash divided by stockholders’ equity plus debt net of unrestricted cash.

Outlook
Donald J. Tomnitz, Chairman of the Board, said, “The Forestar team delivered solid results in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, including an 84% increase in pre-tax income to $51.2 million, a 41% increase in revenues to $305.9 million and a 39% increase in lots sold to 3,150 lots. Forestar delivered attractive double-digit returns and strong profitability, with a pre-tax profit margin of 16.7%.

“The supply of vacant developed lots, particularly at affordable price points, continues to be constrained across most of the country, and Forestar is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the shortage of finished lots in the homebuilding industry. In fiscal 2024, we still expect to deliver between 14,500 and 15,500 lots, generating $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion in revenue.

“We remain focused on growing our platform, turning our inventory, maximizing returns and consolidating market share in the highly fragmented lot development industry. Our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity give us the flexibility to invest in land opportunities that will drive our future growth. We will maintain our disciplined approach when investing capital to enhance the long-term value of Forestar.”

Conference Call and Webcast Details
The Company will host a conference call today (Tuesday, January 23) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The dial-in number is 888-506-0062, the entry code is 156201 and the call will also be webcast from the Company’s website at investor.forestar.com.

About Forestar Group Inc.
Forestar Group Inc. is a residential lot development company with operations in 57 markets and 23 states. Based in Arlington, Texas, the Company delivered more than 14,900 residential lots during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023. Forestar is a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States since 2002.

Forward-Looking Statements
Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Forestar believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Forestar on the date this release was issued. Forestar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this release include the supply of vacant developed lots, particularly at affordable price points, continues to be constrained across most of the country; Forestar is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the shortage of finished lots in the homebuilding industry; and in fiscal 2024, we still expect to deliver between 14,500 and 15,500 lots, generating $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion in revenue. Forward-looking statements also include we remain focused on growing our platform, turning our inventory, maximizing returns and consolidating market share in the highly fragmented lot development industry; our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity give us the flexibility to invest in land opportunities that will drive our future growth; and we will maintain our disciplined approach when investing capital to enhance the long-term value of Forestar.

Factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from the future results expressed by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the effect of D.R. Horton’s controlling level of ownership on us and the holders of our securities; our ability to realize the potential benefits of the strategic relationship with D.R. Horton; the effect of our strategic relationship with D.R. Horton on our ability to maintain relationships with our customers; the cyclical nature of the homebuilding and lot development industries and changes in economic, real estate and other conditions; the impact of significant inflation, higher interest rates or deflation; supply shortages and other risks of acquiring land, construction materials and skilled labor; the effects of public health issues such as a major epidemic or pandemic, on the economy and our business; the impacts of weather conditions and natural disasters; health and safety incidents relating to our operations; our ability to obtain or the availability of surety bonds to secure our performance related to construction and development activities and the pricing of bonds; the strength of our information technology systems and the risk of cybersecurity breaches and our ability to satisfy privacy and data protection laws and regulations; the impact of governmental policies, laws or regulations and actions or restrictions of regulatory agencies; our ability to achieve our strategic initiatives; continuing liabilities related to assets that have been sold; the cost and availability of property suitable for residential lot development; general economic, market or business conditions where our real estate activities are concentrated; our dependence on relationships with national, regional and local homebuilders; competitive conditions in our industry; obtaining reimbursements and other payments from governmental districts and other agencies and timing of such payments; our ability to succeed in new markets; the conditions of the capital markets and our ability to raise capital to fund expected growth; our ability to manage and service our debt and comply with our debt covenants, restrictions and limitations; the volatility of the market price and trading volume of our common stock; and our ability to hire and retain key personnel. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in Forestar’s annual report on Form 10-K and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, both of which are or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

FORESTAR GROUP INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
	December 31, 2023			September 30, 2023
	(In millions, except share data)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	458.9		$	616.0
Real estate		2,009.8			1,790.3
Investment in unconsolidated ventures		0.5			0.5
Property and equipment, net		5.8			5.9
Other assets		58.8			58.0
Total assets	$	2,533.8		$	2,470.7
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	65.3		$	68.4
Accrued development costs		99.9			104.1
Earnest money on sales contracts		140.9			121.4
Deferred tax liability, net		50.2			50.7
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		63.4			61.2
Debt		705.3			695.0
Total liabilities		1,125.0			1,100.8
EQUITY
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share, 200,000,000 authorized shares,
49,909,713 and 49,903,713 shares issued and outstanding at December 31,
2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively		49.9			49.9
Additional paid-in capital		644.9			644.2
Retained earnings		713.0			674.8
Stockholders' equity		1,407.8			1,368.9
Noncontrolling interests		1.0			1.0
Total equity		1,408.8			1,369.9
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,533.8		$	2,470.7

FORESTAR GROUP INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2023				2022
	(In millions, except per share amounts)
Revenues	$	305.9			$	216.7
Cost of sales		233.0				169.2
Selling, general and administrative expense		28.0				22.9
Gain on sale of assets		—				(1.6	)
Interest and other income		(6.3	)			(1.7	)
Income before income taxes		51.2				27.9
Income tax expense		13.0				7.1
Net income	$	38.2			$	20.8
Basic net income per common share	$	0.76			$	0.42
Weighted average number of common shares		50.1				49.9
Diluted net income per common share	$	0.76			$	0.42
Adjusted weighted average number of common shares		50.5				49.9

FORESTAR GROUP INC. Revenues, Residential Lots Sold and Lot Position
	REVENUES
	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2023			2022
	(In millions)
Residential lot sales:
Development projects	$	303.5		$	204.0
Decrease in contract liabilities		0.7			2.7
		304.2			206.7
Deferred development projects		1.3			6.7
		305.5			213.4
Tract sales and other		0.4			3.3
Total revenues	$	305.9		$	216.7
	RESIDENTIAL LOTS SOLD
	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2023			2022
Development projects		3,150			2,263
Average sales price per lot (1)	$	96,400		$	90,100
	LOT POSITION
	December 31, 2023			September 30, 2023
Lots owned		55,400			52,400
Lots controlled under land and lot purchase contracts		27,000			26,800
Total lots owned and controlled		82,400			79,200
Owned lots under contract to sell to D.R. Horton		16,200			14,400
Owned lots under contract to customers other than D.R. Horton		500			600
Total owned lots under contract		16,700			15,000
Owned lots subject to right of first offer with D.R. Horton based on executed
purchase and sale agreements		17,500			17,000
Owned lots fully developed		7,300			6,400

_____________
(1)	Excludes lots sold from deferred development projects and any impact from change in contract liabilities.

 

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Katie Smith, 817-769-1860

Director of Finance & Investor Relations

InvestorRelations@forestar.com

Source: Forestar Group Inc.