Lennar Reports Second Quarter EPS of $0.61

MIAMI, June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

• Net earnings of $137.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $137.4 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, which included a partial reversal of the state deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $41.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share
• Deliveries of 4,987 homes – up 12%
• New orders of 6,183 homes – up 8%; new orders dollar value of $2.0 billion – up 21%
• Backlog of 6,858 homes – up 11%; backlog dollar value of $2.4 billion – up 26%
• Revenues of $1.8 billion – up 27%
• Gross margin on home sales of 25.5% – improved 140 basis points
• S,G&A expenses as a % of revenues from home sales of 10.8% – improved 10 basis points
• Operating margin on home sales of 14.7% – improved 140 basis points
• Lennar Homebuilding operating earnings of $234.5 million, compared to $159.8 million
• Lennar Financial Services operating earnings of $18.3 million, compared to $29.2 million
• Rialto Investments operating earnings of $13.4 million (including an add back of $17.1 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests), compared to $2.8 million (net of $5.7 million of net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests)
• Lennar Multifamily start-up operating loss of $7.2 million, compared to $1.4 million
• Lennar Homebuilding cash and cash equivalents of $628 million
• No outstanding borrowings under the $950 million credit facility
• In June 2014, increased the credit facility to $1.5 billion, including a $263 million accordion feature, and extended maturity to June 2018
• Lennar Homebuilding debt to total capital, net of cash and cash equivalents, of 48.0%

Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's largest homebuilders, today reported results for its second quarter ended May 31, 2014. Second quarter 2014 net earnings attributable to Lennar were $137.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to second quarter 2013 net earnings attributable to Lennar of $137.4 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, which included a partial reversal of the state deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $41.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share.

Stuart Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Lennar Corporation, said, "We are extremely pleased with our operating results in the second quarter. Our core homebuilding business is hitting on all cylinders. Fueled by a 14% increase in our average sales price and continued momentum from our land acquisition strategy, our gross and operating margins increased to 25.5% and 14.7%, respectively, the highest second quarter margins in the Company's history."

Mr. Miller continued, "While the spring selling season was softer than anticipated by us and the investor community, the homebuilding recovery continued its progression at a slow and steady pace. The fundamentals of the homebuilding industry remain strong driven by high affordability levels, favorable monthly payment comparisons to rentals and overall supply shortages. Demand in most of our markets continues to outpace supply, which is constrained by limited land availability."

"Complementing our core homebuilding business, our multifamily rental segment has continued to mature. With a geographically diversified pipeline exceeding $4 billion and 17,000 apartments, this segment is positioned to become a meaningful contributor to our earnings. We expect to sell our first apartment community in the third quarter and should begin to have a more consistent pattern of apartment property sales, starting in the second half of 2015. Meanwhile, Rialto has continued its strategic growth to becoming a best in class asset manager. Rialto's fund investments are poised for strong long term returns and its mortgage conduit business continues to provide steady, current earnings."

Mr. Miller concluded, "While our homebuilding business remains the primary driver of our earnings growth, we are extremely well positioned across all of our platforms to capitalize on the opportunities of a recovering market."

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2014 COMPARED TO
THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2013

Lennar Homebuilding

Revenues from home sales increased 28% in the second quarter of 2014 to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2013. Revenues were higher primarily due to a 12% increase in the number of home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, and a 14% increase in the average sales price of homes delivered. New home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, increased to 4,976 homes in the second quarter of 2014 from 4,449 homes in the second quarter of 2013. There was an increase in home deliveries in all of the Company's Homebuilding segments, except in the Company's Homebuilding Southeast Florida segment. The decrease in home deliveries in the Homebuilding Southeast Florida segment was primarily due to a higher mix of start-up communities. The average sales price of homes delivered increased to $322,000 in the second quarter of 2014 from $283,000 in the second quarter of 2013. Sales incentives offered to homebuyers were $20,300 per home delivered in the second quarter of 2014, or 5.9% as a percentage of home sales revenue, compared to $20,200 per home delivered in the second quarter of 2013, or 6.7% as a percentage of home sales revenue, and $21,300 per home delivered in the first quarter of 2014, or 6.3% as a percentage of home sales revenue.

Gross margins on home sales were $409.6 million, or 25.5%, in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $303.3 million, or 24.1%, in the second quarter of 2013. Gross margin percentage on home sales improved compared to the second quarter of 2013, primarily due to 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, a greater percentage of deliveries from the Company's new higher margin communities (communities where land was acquired subsequent to November 30, 2008) and $9.6 million of insurance recoveries and other nonrecurring items, partially offset by an increase in materials, labor and land costs. Gross profits on land sales totaled $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2013.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $173.1 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $136.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. As a percentage of revenues from home sales, selling, general and administrative expenses improved to 10.8% in the second quarter of 2014, from 10.9% in the second quarter of 2013.

Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities was $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $13.5 million in the second quarter of 2013. In the second quarter of 2013, Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities related to the Company's share of operating earnings of Lennar Homebuilding unconsolidated entities, primarily as a result of sales of homesites to third parties by one unconsolidated entity that resulted in $13.0 million of equity in earnings.

Lennar Homebuilding other income, net, totaled $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2013.

Lennar Homebuilding interest expense was $49.2 million in the second quarter of 2014 ($38.6 million was included in cost of homes sold, $0.3 million in cost of land sold and $10.3 million in other interest expense), compared to $54.8 million in the second quarter of 2013 ($29.0 million was included in cost of homes sold, $0.7 million in cost of land sold and $25.1 million in other interest expense). Interest expense decreased primarily due to an increase in qualifying assets eligible for interest capitalization, partially offset by an increase in the Company's outstanding debt and an increase in home deliveries.

Lennar Financial Services

Operating earnings for the Lennar Financial Services segment were $18.3 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $29.2 million in the second quarter of 2013. The decrease in profitability was primarily due to a more competitive environment as a result of a significant decrease in refinance transactions, which led to lower profit per transaction in the segment's mortgage operations and a decrease in volume in the segment's title operations.

Rialto Investments

Operating earnings for the Rialto Investments ("Rialto") segment were $13.4 million in the second quarter of 2014 (which is comprised of a $3.7 million operating loss and an add back of $17.1 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests), compared to operating earnings of $2.8 million (which included $8.5 million of operating earnings offset by $5.7 million of net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests) in the second quarter of 2013.

Revenues in this segment were $54.4 million in the second quarter of 2014, which consisted primarily of securitization revenue and interest income from Rialto Mortgage Finance ("RMF"), Rialto's new loan origination and securitization business, which primarily accounted for the increase in revenues in the second quarter of 2014, interest income associated with the Rialto segment's portfolio of real estate loans and fees for managing and servicing assets. This compared to revenues of $25.7 million in the second 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.

Expenses in this segment were $79.6 million in the second quarter of 2014, which consisted primarily of loan impairments of $33.9 million, primarily associated with the segment's FDIC loan portfolio (before noncontrolling interests), costs related to RMF, interest expense and other general and administrative expenses, compared to expenses of $28.3 million in the second quarter of 2013, which consisted primarily of costs related to its portfolio operations, loan impairments of $3.5 million primarily associated with the segment's FDIC loan portfolio (before noncontrolling interests), and other general and administrative expenses. Expenses increased primarily due to an increase in loan impairments due to changes in the estimated cash flows expected to be collected on the segment's loan portfolios, increases in securitization expenses and general and administrative expenses related to RMF and interest expense related to Rialto's issuance of senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Rialto Investments equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities were $17.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2014 and 2013, which were primarily related to the Company's share of earnings from the Rialto real estate funds.

In the second quarter of 2014, Rialto Investments other income, net, was $3.6 million, which consisted primarily of net realized gains on the sale of real estate owned ("REO") of $14.2 million, rental and other income, partially offset by expenses related to owning and maintaining REO and other expenses. In the second quarter of 2013, Rialto Investments other income, net, was $6.6 million, which consisted primarily of net realized gains on the sale of REO of $18.5 million and rental income, partially offset by expenses related to owning and maintaining REO.

Lennar Multifamily

Operating loss for the Lennar Multifamily segment was $7.2 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2013. The operating loss in Lennar Multifamily primarily related to general contractor expenses and general and administrative expenses of the segment, partially offset by general contractor and management fee income.

Corporate General and Administrative Expenses

Corporate general and administrative expenses were $38.3 million, or 2.1% as a percentage of total revenues, in the second quarter of 2014, compared to $33.9 million, or 2.4% as a percentage of total revenues, in the second quarter of 2013. As a percentage of total revenues, corporate general and administrative expenses improved due to increased operating leverage.

Noncontrolling Interests

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests were ($15.1) million and $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were primarily related to net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests associated with the FDIC's interest in the portfolio of real estate loans that the Company acquired in partnership with the FDIC.

Income Taxes

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company had an $81.0 million provision for income taxes, compared to a $19.5 million net tax provision in the second quarter of 2013, which included a tax provision of $60.8 million primarily related to second quarter 2013 pre-tax earnings, partially offset by the reversal of $41.3 million of its valuation allowance.

Credit Facility

In June 2014, the Company increased the aggregate principal amount of its unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") from $950 million to $1.5 billion, which includes a $263 million accordion feature, subject to additional commitments, and extended the Credit Facility's maturity to June 2018. The proceeds available under the Credit Facility, which are subject to specified conditions for borrowing, may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2014 COMPARED TO
SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2013

Lennar Homebuilding

Revenues from home sales increased 30% in the six months ended May 31, 2014 to $2.7 billion from $2.1 billion in 2013. Revenues were higher primarily due to a 12% increase in the number of home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, and a 15% increase in the average sales price of homes delivered. New home deliveries, excluding unconsolidated entities, increased to 8,573 homes in the six months ended May 31, 2014 from 7,623 homes in the six months ended May 31, 2013. There was an increase in home deliveries in all of the Company's Homebuilding segments, except in the Company's Homebuilding Southeast Florida segment. The decrease in home deliveries in the Homebuilding Southeast Florida segment was primarily due to a higher mix of start-up communities. The average sales price of homes delivered increased to $320,000 in the six months ended May 31, 2014 from $277,000 in the six months ended May 31, 2013. Sales incentives offered to homebuyers were $20,700 per home delivered in the six months ended May 31, 2014, or 6.1% as a percentage of home sales revenue, compared to $21,500 per home delivered in the six months ended May 31, 2013, or 7.2% as a percentage of home sales revenue.

Gross margins on home sales were $695.7 million, or 25.3%, in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $492.3 million, or 23.3%, in the six months ended May 31, 2013. Gross margin percentage on home sales improved compared to the six months ended May 31, 2013, primarily due to 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, a greater percentage of deliveries from the Company's new higher margin communities (communities where land was acquired subsequent to November 30, 2008) and $15.1 million of insurance recoveries and other nonrecurring items, partially offset by an increase in materials, labor and land costs. Gross profits on land sales totaled $21.7 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $5.7 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013. The increase in gross profits on land sales included two land sale transactions related to land not currently under development that generated $65.4 million of revenues and $8.0 million of gross profits.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $308.2 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $238.9 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013. As a percentage of revenues from home sales, selling, general and administrative expenses improved to 11.2% in the six months ended May 31, 2014, from 11.3% in the six months ended May 31, 2013.

Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities was $5.4 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $12.6 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013. In the six months ended May 31, 2014, Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities included our share of operating earnings related to a third-party land sale. In the six months ended May 31, 2013, Lennar Homebuilding equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities related to the Company's share of operating earnings of Lennar Homebuilding unconsolidated entities, primarily as a result of sales of homesites to third parties by one unconsolidated entity that resulted in $13.0 million of equity in earnings.

Lennar Homebuilding other income, net, totaled $5.2 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $9.9 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013.

Lennar Homebuilding interest expense was $90.2 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014 ($65.0 million was included in cost of homes sold, $2.2 million in cost of land sold and $23.0 million in other interest expense), compared to $101.1 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013 ($48.4 million was included in cost of homes sold, $1.6 million in cost of land sold and $51.1 million in other interest expense). Interest expense decreased primarily due to an increase in qualifying assets eligible for interest capitalization, partially offset by an increase in the Company's outstanding debt and an increase in home deliveries.

Lennar Financial Services

Operating earnings for the Lennar Financial Services segment were $22.8 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $45.3 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013. The decrease in profitability was primarily due to a more competitive environment as a result of a significant decrease in refinance transactions, which led to a decrease in volume in the segment's mortgage and title operations, as well as lower profit per transaction in the segment's mortgage operations.

Rialto Investments

Operating earnings for the Rialto segment were $15.9 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014 (which is comprised of a $0.2 million operating loss and an add back of $16.1 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests), compared to operating earnings of $4.5 million (which included $9.9 million of operating earnings offset by $5.4 million of net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests) in the six months ended May 31, 2013.

Revenues in this segment were $101.3 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, which consisted primarily of securitization revenue and interest income from RMF, interest income associated with the Rialto segment's portfolio of real estate loans and fees for managing and servicing assets. This compared to revenues of $51.3 million in the six months ended May 31, 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. Revenues increased primarily due to RMF and an increase in fees for managing and servicing assets.

Expenses in this segment were $127.2 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, which consisted primarily of loan impairments of $40.6 million, net of recoveries, primarily associated with the segment's FDIC loan portfolio (before noncontrolling interests), costs related to RMF, interest expense and other general and administrative expenses, compared to expenses of $60.1 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013, which consisted primarily of costs related to its portfolio operations, loan impairments of $10.6 million primarily associated with the segment's FDIC loan portfolio (before noncontrolling interests), and other general and administrative expenses. Expenses increased primarily due to an increase in loan impairments due to changes in the estimated cash flows expected to be collected on the segment's loan portfolios, increases in securitization expenses and general and administrative expenses related to RMF and interest expense related to Rialto's issuance of senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Rialto Investments equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities were $23.3 million and $10.7 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were primarily related to the Company's share of earnings from the Rialto real estate funds.

In the six months ended May 31, 2014, Rialto Investments other income, net, was $2.4 million, which consisted primarily of net realized gains on the sale of REO of $23.7 million, rental and other income, partially offset by expenses related to owning and maintaining REO and other expenses. In the six months ended May 31, 2013, Rialto Investments other income, net, was $8.0 million, which consisted primarily of net realized gains on the sale of REO of $27.2 million and rental income, partially offset by expenses related to owning and maintaining REO.

Lennar Multifamily

Operating loss for the Lennar Multifamily segment was $13.4 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $4.9 million in the six months ended May 31, 2013. The operating loss in Lennar Multifamily primarily related to general contractor expenses and general and administrative expenses of the segment, partially offset by general contractor and management fee income.

Corporate General and Administrative Expenses

Corporate general and administrative expenses were $76.4 million, or 2.4% as a percentage of total revenues, in the six months ended May 31, 2014, compared to $65.1 million, or 2.7% as a percentage of total revenues, in the six months ended May 31, 2013. As a percentage of total revenues, corporate general and administrative expenses improved due to increased operating leverage.

Noncontrolling Interests

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests were ($13.3) million and $4.8 million in the six months ended May 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were primarily related to net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests associated with the FDIC's interest in the portfolio of real estate loans that the Company acquired in partnership with the FDIC.

Income Taxes

During the six months ended May 31, 2014, the Company had a $126.9 million provision for income taxes, compared to a $15.9 million net tax provision in the six months ended May 31, 2013, which included an $82.3 million tax provision primarily related to pre-tax earnings for the six months ended May 31, 2013, partially offset by the reversal of $66.4 million of its valuation allowance.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's largest 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 a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a national developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. 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.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: 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, including statements regarding the Company's belief regarding its pipeline in the Multifamily segment and the ability of that segment to become a meaningful contributor to earnings, the Company's belief regarding apartment sales in the Multifamily segment, the Company's belief regarding the Rialto segment's ability to provide strong long term returns, and the Company's belief regarding its ability to capitalize on the opportunities of a recovering market. 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. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration given to the many risks and uncertainties inherent in our business that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include a slow-down in the recovery of real estate markets across the nation, or any downturn in such markets, including a slow-down or downturn in the multifamily rental market; the inability of the Rialto segment to profit from the investments it makes; increases in operating costs, including costs related to real estate taxes, construction materials, labor and insurance, and our ability to manage our cost structure; natural disasters or catastrophic events for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; a decline in the value of the land and home inventories we maintain or possible future write-downs of the book value of our real estate assets; reduced availability of mortgage financing and increased interest rates; changes in laws, regulations or the regulatory environment affecting our business, and the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

A conference call to discuss the Company's second quarter earnings will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 26, 2014. 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 203-369-1907 and entering 5723593 as the confirmation number.

SOURCE Lennar Corporation