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HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC - Quarter Report: 2023 July (Form 10-Q)

hov20230731_10q.htm
 
 

Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2023

OR

 

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number 1-8551

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

22-1851059 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

90 Matawan Road, 5th Floor, Matawan, NJ 07747 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

732-747-7800 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

N/A (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

HOV

New York Stock Exchange

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights(1)

N/A

New York Stock Exchange

Depositary Shares each representing

1/1,000th of a share of 7.625% Series A

Preferred Stock

HOVNP

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

(1) Each share of Common Stock includes an associated Preferred Stock Purchase Right. Each Preferred Stock Purchase Right initially represents the right, if such Preferred Stock Purchase Right becomes exercisable, to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a share of its Series B Junior Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock. The Preferred Stock Purchase Rights currently cannot trade separately from the underlying Common Stock.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large Accelerated Filer ☐

Accelerated Filer ☒ 

Nonaccelerated Filer ☐  

Smaller Reporting Company ☐

Emerging Growth Company ☐

          

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 5,345,668 shares of Class A Common Stock and 749,081 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of August 29, 2023.

 

true

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.  

 

FORM 10-Q  

 

INDEX

PAGE

NUMBER

  

  

PART I. Financial Information

  

Item l. Financial Statements:

  

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022

3

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022

4

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022

5

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022

7

  

  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

9

  

  

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

28

  

  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

43

  

  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

43

  

  

PART II. Other Information

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

44

   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

44

   
Item 5. Other Information 44
   

Item 6. Exhibits

45

  

  

Signatures

47

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 
  

2023

  

2022

 
         

ASSETS

        

Homebuilding:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $325,182  $326,198 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  8,623   13,382 

Inventories:

        

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

  1,049,802   1,058,183 

Land and land options held for future development or sale

  110,343   152,406 

Consolidated inventory not owned

  251,115   308,595 

Total inventories

  1,411,260   1,519,184 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

  85,260   74,940 

Receivables, deposits and notes, net

  33,016   37,837 

Property and equipment, net

  31,330   25,819 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  58,945   63,884 

Total homebuilding

  1,953,616   2,061,244 
         

Financial services

  115,603   155,993 
         

Deferred tax assets, net

  324,698   344,793 

Total assets

 $2,393,917  $2,562,030 
         

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

        

Homebuilding:

        

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs

 $129,127  $144,805 

Accounts payable and other liabilities

  381,761   439,952 

Customers’ deposits

  63,907   74,020 

Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs

  145,979   202,492 

Senior notes and credit facilities (net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs)

  1,044,779   1,146,547 

Accrued interest

  50,913   32,415 

Total homebuilding

  1,816,466   2,040,231 
         

Financial services

  94,502   135,581 
         

Income taxes payable

  434   3,167 

Total liabilities

  1,911,402   2,178,979 
         

Equity:

        

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity:

        

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022

  135,299   135,299 

Common stock, Class A, $0.01 par value - authorized 16,000,000 shares; issued 6,247,047 shares at July 31, 2023 and 6,159,886 shares at October 31, 2022

  62   62 

Common stock, Class B, $0.01 par value (convertible to Class A at time of sale) - authorized 2,400,000 shares; issued 776,750 shares at July 31, 2023 and 733,374 shares at October 31, 2022

  8   7 

Paid in capital - common stock

  731,285   727,663 

Accumulated deficit

  (251,794)  (352,413)

Treasury stock - at cost – 901,379 shares of Class A common stock at July 31, 2023 and 782,901 shares at October 31, 2022; 27,669 shares of Class B common stock at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022

  (132,382)  (127,582)

Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity

  482,478   383,036 

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

  37   15 

Total equity

  482,515   383,051 

Total liabilities and equity

 $2,393,917  $2,562,030 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

  

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Revenues:

                

Homebuilding:

                

Sale of homes

 $630,371  $736,654  $1,800,724  $1,973,843 

Land sales and other revenues

  4,937   16,406   27,244   18,052 

Total homebuilding

  635,308   753,060   1,827,968   1,991,895 

Financial services

  14,649   14,533   41,016   43,548 

Total revenues

  649,957   767,593   1,868,984   2,035,443 
                 

Expenses:

                

Homebuilding:

                

Cost of sales, excluding interest

  483,990   548,576   1,415,652   1,480,175 

Cost of sales interest

  19,272   22,453   55,719   57,876 

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs

  308   1,173   922   1,837 

Total cost of sales

  503,570   572,202   1,472,293   1,539,888 

Selling, general and administrative

  47,716   50,163   146,090   139,410 

Total homebuilding expenses

  551,286   622,365   1,618,383   1,679,298 
                 

Financial services

  10,345   10,790   29,550   31,982 

Corporate general and administrative

  27,365   24,774   77,934   75,893 

Other interest

  13,502   9,624   43,096   35,442 

Other (income) expense, net (1)

  (18,612)  670   (17,652)  1,679 

Total expenses

  583,886   668,223   1,751,311   1,824,294 

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net

  (4,082)  -   (4,082)  (6,795)

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

  8,401   12,557   20,969   23,919 

Income before income taxes

  70,390   111,927   134,560   228,273 

State and federal income tax provision:

                

State

  (500)  6,385   2,794   11,515 

Federal

  15,126   22,928   23,140   46,901 

Total income taxes

  14,626   29,313   25,934   58,416 

Net income

  55,764   82,614   108,626   169,857 

Less: preferred stock dividends

  2,669   2,669   8,007   8,007 

Net income available to common stockholders

 $53,095  $79,945  $100,619  $161,850 
                 

Per share data:

                

Basic:

                

Net income per common share

 $7.92  $10.92  $14.97  $22.05 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

  6,249   6,485   6,201   6,424 

Assuming dilution:

                

Net income per common share

 $7.38  $10.82  $13.97  $21.77 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

  6,705   6,544   6,642   6,507 

 

(1) Includes gain on consolidation of a joint venture of $19.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 (see Note 18).

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Nine MONTH PERIOD ENDED July 31, 2023

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

  

A Common Stock

  

B Common Stock

  

Preferred Stock

                     
  

Shares

      

Shares

      

Shares

                         
  

Issued and

      

Issued and

      

Issued and

      

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Treasury

  

Noncontrolling

     
  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

 
                                             

Balance, October 31, 2022

  5,376,985  $62   705,705  $7   5,600  $135,299  $727,663  $(352,413) $(127,582) $15  $383,051 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  209                  8            8 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  18,051       14,620               1,487               1,487 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                     4   4 
                                             

Share repurchases

  (118,478)                              (4,800)      (4,800)
                                             

Net income

                              18,716           18,716 
                                             

Balance, January 31, 2023

  5,276,767  $62   720,325  $7   5,600  $135,299  $729,158  $(336,366) $(132,382) $19  $395,797 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  1,720                       59               59 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

                          2,157               2,157 
                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  18       (18)                              - 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                      7   7 
                                             

Net income

                              34,146           34,146 
                                             

Balance, April 30, 2023

  5,278,505  $62   720,307  $7   5,600  $135,299  $731,374  $(304,889) $(132,382) $26  $429,497 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  1,610                       23               23 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  65,372       28,955   1           (112)              (111)
                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  181       (181)                              - 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                      11   11 
                                             

Net income

                              55,764           55,764 
                                             

Balance, July 31, 2023

  5,345,668  $62   749,081  $8   5,600  $135,299  $731,285  $(251,794) $(132,382) $37  $482,515 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Nine MONTH PERIOD ENDED July 31, 2022

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

  

A Common Stock

  

B Common Stock

  

Preferred Stock

                     
  

Shares

      

Shares

      

Shares

                         
  

Issued and

      

Issued and

      

Issued and

      

Paid-In

  

Accumulated

  

Treasury

  

Noncontrolling

     
  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

 
                                             

Balance, October 31, 2021

  5,595,734  $61   659,207  $7   5,600  $135,299  $722,118  $(567,228) $(115,360) $487  $175,384 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  804                       4               4 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  17,654       17,445               (552)              (552)
                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  48       (48)                              - 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                      (88)  (88)
                                             

Net income

                              24,808           24,808 
                                             

Balance, January 31, 2022

  5,614,240  $61   676,604  $7   5,600  $135,299  $721,570  $(545,089) $(115,360) $399  $196,887 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  600                       77               77 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  20,483                       1,672               1,672 
                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  58       (58)                              - 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                      (3)  (3)
                                             

Net income

                              62,435           62,435 
                                             

Balance, April 30, 2022

  5,635,381  $61   676,546  $7   5,600  $135,299  $723,319  $(485,323) $(115,360) $396  $258,399 
                                             

Stock options, amortization and issuances

  759                       30               30 
                                             

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                              (2,669)          (2,669)
                                             

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

  52,898   1   29,196               448               449 
                                             

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

  16       (16)                              - 
                                             

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                                      (76)  (76)
                                             

Net income

                              82,614           82,614 
                                             

Balance, July 31, 2022

  5,689,054  $62   705,726  $7   5,600  $135,299  $723,797  $(405,378) $(115,360) $320  $338,747 

  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). 

 

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net income

  $ 108,626     $ 169,857  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

               

Depreciation

    7,223       4,009  

Stock-based compensation

    9,553       6,404  

Amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs

    1,561       (203 )

Gain on sale of property and assets

    (81 )     (37 )

Gain on consolidation of joint venture

    (19,102 )     -  

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

    (20,969 )     (23,919 )

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures

    13,382       4,197  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    4,082       6,795  

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

    22       225  

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs

    922       1,837  

Decrease (increase) in assets:

               

Inventories

    217,211       (332,858 )

Receivables, deposits and notes

    12,638       (13,464 )

Origination of mortgage loans

    (811,015 )     (882,023 )

Sale of mortgage loans

    841,659       945,541  

Deferred tax assets

    20,095       49,108  

(Decrease) increase in liabilities:

               

Accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities

    (74,050 )     4,089  

Customers’ deposits

    (17,425 )     31,226  

State income tax payable

    (2,733 )     619  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    291,599       (28,597 )

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Proceeds from sale of property and assets

    459       63  

Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets

    (13,203 )     (8,606 )

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures, net of reimbursements

    (78,560 )     (169 )

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures

    12,889       5,427  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (78,415 )     (3,285 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Proceeds from mortgages and notes

    249,041       351,227  

Payments related to mortgages and notes

    (269,453 )     (287,478 )

Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs

    12,412       27,433  

Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs

    (14,551 )     (11,295 )

Proceeds from land bank financing programs

    34,713       140,179  

Payments related to land bank financing programs

    (90,056 )     (39,148 )

Proceeds from partner distributions to consolidated joint venture

    -       40  

Payments for partner distributions to consolidated joint venture

    -       (432 )

Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit

    (32,468 )     (64,257 )

Payments related to senior secured notes

    (101,937 )     (103,875 )

Preferred dividends paid

    (8,007 )     (8,007 )

Treasury stock purchases

    (4,800 )     -  

Deferred financing costs from land banking financing programs and note issuances

    (2,891 )     (5,318 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (227,997 )     (931 )

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents

    (14,813 )     (32,813 )

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

    382,190       311,396  

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

  $ 367,377     $ 278,583  
                 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flows:

               

Cash paid during the period for:

               

Interest, net of capitalized interest (see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

  $ 26,630     $ 17,268  

Income taxes

  $ 8,571     $ 8,689  
                 

Reconciliation of Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

               

Homebuilding: Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 325,182     $ 225,089  

Homebuilding: Restricted cash and cash equivalents

    8,623       15,505  

Financial Services: Cash and cash equivalents, included in financial services assets

    4,119       4,849  

Financial Services: Restricted cash and cash equivalents, included in financial services assets

    29,453       33,140  

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows

  $ 367,377     $ 278,583  

   

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands - Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating and investing activities:

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we consolidated the remaining assets of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures, resulting in a $10.8 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture, and increases of $14.9 million and $5.3 million to inventory and accounts payable, respectively.

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we consolidated the remaining assets of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures, resulting in a $53.4 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture, and increases of $95.3 million to inventory, $3.8 million to other assets, $14.5 million to accounts payable, $7.3 million to customer deposits and $4.8 million to nonrecourse mortgages and notes.

 

8

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

  

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries). Historically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and its financial services segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we realigned our homebuilding operating segments and determined that, in addition to our financial services segment, we now had three reportable homebuilding segments comprised of (1) Northeast, (2) Southeast and (3) West (see Note 17). All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified to conform to the new presentation.

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include HEI's accounts and those of all of its consolidated subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions. Noncontrolling interest represents the proportionate equity interest in a consolidated joint venture that is not 100% owned by the Company directly or indirectly.

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year.

 

 

2.

Stock Compensation

 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Board of Directors approved certain grants under a new Long-Term Incentive Program (the “2023 LTIP”) that contain performance-based vesting conditions. The performance period for the 2023 LTIP commenced on November 1, 2022 and will end on October 31, 2025. At the end of the performance period, 50% of the awards, if any, are payable in cash-settled phantom shares and the remaining 50% of the awards, if any, are payable in shares of Company stock, subject to a mandatory two-year post-vesting hold period.

 

For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, stock-based compensation expense was $5.3 million ($4.2 million net of tax) and $9.6 million ($7.7 million net of tax), respectively. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, stock-based compensation expense was $3.0 million ($2.2 million net of tax) and $6.4 million ($4.8 million net of tax), respectively. Included in stock-based compensation expense was $9 thousand and $25 thousand of stock option expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, and $30 thousand and $0.1 million of stock option expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively.

 

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3.

Interest

 

Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Interest capitalized at beginning of period

 $60,274  $63,573  $59,600  $58,159 

Plus interest incurred(1)

  34,214   32,644   103,662   99,299 

Less cost of sales interest expensed

  (19,272)  (22,453)  (55,719)  (57,876)

Less other interest expensed(2)(3)

  (13,502)  (9,624)  (43,096)  (35,442)

Less interest contributed to unconsolidated joint venture(4)

  (6,440)  -   (9,456)  - 

Plus interest acquired from unconsolidated joint venture(5)

  -   -   283   - 

Interest capitalized at end of period(6)

 $55,274  $64,140  $55,274  $64,140 

 

(1)

Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries.

(2)

Other interest expensed includes interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt, which amounted to $2.6 million and $5.0 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $14.5 million and $25.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Other interest also includes interest on completed homes, land in planning and fully developed lots without homes under construction, which does not qualify for capitalization and therefore is expensed as incurred. This component of other interest was $10.9 million and $4.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $28.6 million and $9.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(3)

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest on notes payable, which is calculated as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Other interest expensed

 $13,502  $9,624  $43,096  $35,442 

Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries

  723   404   2,032   1,234 

Increase in accrued interest

  (14,693)  (19,194)  (18,498)  (19,408)

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest

 $(468) $(9,166) $26,630  $17,268 

 

(4)

Represents capitalized interest which was included as part of the assets contributed to joint ventures, as discussed in Note 18. There was no impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of these transactions.

(5)Represents capitalized interest which was included as part of the assets purchased from joint ventures, as discussed in Note 18. There was no impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of these transactions.

(6)

Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating a portion of impairments, if any, to capitalized interest.

   

 

 

4.

Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, we had a total of 359 and 393 communities that were either under development, held for future development or open for sale, which we evaluated for indicators of impairment. We did not identify impairment indicators for any community during the three and nine months ended  July 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

We write off certain costs when communities are redesigned, abandoned or we do not exercise our options. Total aggregate write-offs related to these items were $0.3 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $0.9 million and $1.8 million for the  nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The number of lots walked away from during the three months ended  July 31, 2023 and 2022 were 521 and 1,892, respectively, and 2,918 and 3,025 during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The walk-aways occurred across each of our segments in the first three quarters of both fiscal 2023 and 2022.
 

We sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022 included inventory of $49.5 million and $48.5 million, respectively, recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $49.2 million and $51.2 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

 

We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell our land parcels to land bankers and they provide us with an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022 included inventory of $201.6 million and $260.1 million, respectively, recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $96.8 million and $151.3 million, respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

  

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5.

Variable Interest Entities

 

The Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts to procure land or lots for the construction of homes. Under these contracts, we will fund a stated deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. Under the terms of the option purchase contracts, many of the option deposits are not refundable at our discretion. Certain option purchase contracts may result in the creation of a variable interest in the entity (“VIE”) that owns the land parcel under option.

 

We analyze our option purchase contracts to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Although the Company does not have legal title to the underlying land, we are required to consolidate a VIE if we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers, among other things, whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. As a result of our analyses, we have concluded the Company is not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which it is purchasing land under option purchase contracts.

 

Including deposits on our unconsolidated VIEs, at July 31, 2023, we had total cash deposits amounting to $186.0 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $1.9 billion. The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits plus any pre-development costs invested in the property.

 

 

6.

Warranty Costs

 

We have an owner-controlled insurance program for certain of our subcontractors whereby the subcontractors pay us an insurance premium (through a reduction of amounts we would otherwise owe such subcontractors for their work on our homes) based on the risk type of the trade. We absorb the liability associated with their work on our homes as part of our overall general liability insurance at no additional cost to us because our existing general liability and construction defect insurance policy and related reserves for amounts under our deductible covers construction defects regardless of whether we or our subcontractors are responsible for the defect. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, we received $1.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively, and $3.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively, from subcontractors related to the owner-controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as reductions to inventory.

 

We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. For homes to be delivered in fiscal 2023 and previously delivered in 2022, our deductible under our general liability insurance is or was $25.0 million, aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2023 and 2022 is or was $0.5 million, up to a $5.0 million limit in California and $0.25 million, up to a $5.0 million limit in all other states. Our aggregate retention for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims is or was $25.0 million for fiscal 2023 and 2022. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs at the time each home is closed and control is transferred to the homebuyer. Additions, charges and changes in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Balance, beginning of period

 $90,610  $91,464  $97,719  $94,916 

Additions – Selling, general and administrative

  1,657   1,995   5,451   6,337 

Additions – Cost of sales

  1,445   3,990   4,685   7,083 

Charges incurred during the period

  (3,799)  (3,047)  (17,186)  (12,984)

Changes to pre-existing reserves

  437   (94)  (319)  (1,044)

Balance, end of period

 $90,350  $94,308  $90,350  $94,308 

 

The majority of the charges incurred during the first nine months of fiscal 2023 represented payments for construction defects related to the settlement of three litigation matters. Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid, were $0.1 million for each of the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 for prior year deliveries. 

 

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7.

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and we are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations that affect the development of land and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing. These laws and regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities. This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding. The significant majority of our litigation matters are related to construction defect claims. Our estimated losses from construction defect litigation matters, if any, are included in our construction defect reserves.

 

We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment, including those regulating the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, the management of storm water runoff at construction sites, the handling, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, impacts to wetlands and other sensitive environments, and the remediation of contamination at properties that we have owned or developed or currently own or are developing (“environmental laws”). The particular environmental laws that apply to a site may vary greatly according to the community site, for example, due to the community, the environmental conditions at or near the site, and the present and former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity. In addition, noncompliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties, obligations to remediate or take corrective action, permit revocations or other sanctions; and contamination or other environmental conditions at or in the vicinity of our developments may result in claims against us for personal injury, property damage or other losses.

 

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will continue to be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. In addition, some of these laws and regulations that significantly affect how certain properties may be developed are contentious, attract intense political attention, and may be subject to significant changes over time. For example, regulations governing wetlands permitting under the federal Clean Water Act have been the subject of extensive rulemakings for many years, resulting in several major joint rulemakings by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that have expanded and contracted the scope of wetlands subject to regulation; and such rulemakings have been the subject of many legal challenges, some of which remain pending. It is unclear how these and related developments, including at the state or local level, ultimately may affect the scope of regulated wetlands where we operate. Although we cannot reliably predict the extent of any effect these developments regarding wetlands, or any other requirements that may take effect, may have on us, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, our ability to obtain or renew permits or approvals and the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretations and application.

 

In 2015, the condominium association of the Four Seasons at Great Notch condominium community (the “Great Notch Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Passaic County (the “Court”) alleging various construction defects, design defects, and geotechnical issues relating to the community. The operative complaint (“Complaint”) asserts claims against Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and several of its affiliates, including K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC, K. Hovnanian Construction Management, Inc., and K. Hovnanian Companies, LLC. The Complaint also asserts claims against various other design professionals and contractors. The Special Masters appointed by the Court to decide non-dispositive motions issued an opinion that (a) granted the Great Notch Plaintiff’s motion to permit it to assert a claim to pierce the corporate veil of K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC to hold its alleged parent entities liable for any damages awarded against it, and (b) further stated that the Great Notch Plaintiff is not permitted to pursue that claim until after any trial on the underlying liability claims. To date, the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants have reached a partial settlement with the Great Notch Plaintiff as to a portion of the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claims against them for an amount immaterial to the Company. On its remaining claims against the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants, the Great Notch Plaintiff has asserted damages of approximately $119.5 million, which amount is potentially subject to treble damages pursuant to the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claim under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The trial had been scheduled for April 17, 2023; however, the Court has adjourned the trial and has not yet set a new date. The Hovnanian-affiliated defendants intend to defend these claims vigorously.

 

In December 2020, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") and the Administrator of the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund (the “Spill Fund”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Union County against Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., in addition to other unrelated parties, in connection with contamination at Hickory Manor, a residential condominium development. Alleged predecessors of certain defendants had used the Hickory Manor property for decades for manufacturing purposes. In 1998, NJDEP confirmed that groundwater at this site was impacted from an off-site source. The site was later remediated, resulting in the NJDEP issuing an unconditional site-wide No Further Action determination letter and Covenant Not to Sue in 1999. Subsequently, one of our affiliates was involved in redeveloping the property as a residential community. The complaint asserts claims under the New Jersey Spill Act and other state law claims and alleges that the NJDEP and the Spill Fund have incurred over $5.3 million since 2009 to investigate vapor intrusion at the development and to install vapor mitigation systems. Among other things, the complaint seeks recovery of the costs incurred, an order that defendants perform additional required remediation and disgorgement of profits on our affiliate’s sales of the units in the development. Discovery is ongoing. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. intends to defend these claims vigorously.

   

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8.

Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Customers' Deposits

 

Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury bills and government money–market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased. Our cash balances are held at a few financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts. We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major high credit quality financial institutions. At July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, $11.1 million and $13.4 million, respectively, of our total cash and cash equivalents was in cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents.

 

Homebuilding "Restricted cash and cash equivalents" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $8.6 million and $13.4 million as of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, which primarily consists of cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities (see Note 12).

 

Financial services restricted cash and cash equivalents, which are included in "Financial services" assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $29.5 million and $36.1 million as of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively. Included in these balances were (1) financial services customers’ deposits of $26.9 million at July 31, 2023 and $29.7 million as of  October 31, 2022, respectively, which are subject to restrictions on our use, and (2) restricted cash under the terms of our mortgage warehouse lines of credit of $2.6 million and $6.4 million as of  July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively. 

 

Homebuilding "Customers' deposits" are shown as a liability on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These liabilities are significantly more than the applicable periods’ restricted cash balances because in some states the deposits are not restricted from use and, in other states, we are able to release the majority of these customer deposits to cash by pledging letters of credit or surety bonds.

 

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9.

Leases

 

We rent certain office space for use in our operations. Our lease population at  July 31, 2023 is comprised of operating leases where we are the lessee, primarily for our corporate office and division offices.

 

Lease costs are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, primarily in "Selling, general and administrative" homebuilding expenses, and payments on our lease liabilities are presented in the table below.

 

  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Operating lease costs

 $2,646  $2,528  $8,510  $7,793 

Cash payments on lease liabilities

 $2,222  $2,432  $6,959  $7,086 

 

Operating right-of-use lease assets ("ROU assets") are included in "Prepaid expenses and other assets" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, while lease liabilities are included in "Accounts payable and other liabilities". During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, the Company recorded a net increase of $7.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively, to both its ROU assets and lease liabilities as a result of new leases and lease renewals that commenced during the period. The following table contains additional information about our leases:

 

(In thousands)

 

July 31, 2023

  

October 31, 2022

 

ROU assets

 $20,085  $17,899 

Lease liabilities

 $20,800  $18,862 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)

  3.6   3.5 

Weighted-average discount rate

  9.7%  9.5%

 

Maturities of our operating lease liabilities as of July 31, 2023 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year Ending October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023 (excluding the nine months ended July 31, 2023)

 $2,344 

2024

  7,733 

2025

  6,400 

2026

  4,782 

2027

  3,239 

2028 and thereafter

  1,018 

Total operating lease payments (1)

  25,516 

Less: imputed interest

  (4,716)

Present value of operating lease liabilities

 $20,800 

 

(1) Lease payments include options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being executed and exclude $10.4 million of legally binding minimum lease payments for office leases signed but not yet commenced as of July 31, 2023. The related ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are not reflected on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

10.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time of origination. Mortgage loans held for sale are collateralized by the underlying property. Loans held for sale are recorded at fair value with changes in the value recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Financial services” revenue. We use forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), interest rate commitments from borrowers and forward commitments to sell loans to third parties to protect us from interest rate fluctuations. 

 

At July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, $76.2 million and $92.5 million, respectively, of mortgages held for sale were pledged against our mortgage warehouse lines of credit (see Note 11). We may incur losses with respect to mortgages that were previously sold that are delinquent and which had underwriting defects, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or the resale value of the home. The reserves for these estimated losses are included in “Financial services” liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, we had specific reserves for 11 and 14 identified mortgage loans, respectively, as well as reserves for an estimate of future losses on mortgages sold but not yet identified to us.

 

The activity in our loan origination reserves during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Loan origination reserves, beginning of period

 $1,906  $1,714  $1,795  $1,632 

Provisions for losses during the period

  50   43   127   133 

Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates

  -   -   34   (8)

Loan origination reserves, end of period

 $1,956  $1,757  $1,956  $1,757 

 

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11.

Mortgages

 

Nonrecourse

 

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $129.1 million and $144.8 million, net of debt issuance costs, at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $373.1 million and $418.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 8.6% and 6.7% at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

 

Mortgage Loans

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are generally sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. K. Hovnanian Mortgage finances the origination of mortgage loans through various master repurchase agreements, which are recorded in "Financial services" liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) is a short-term borrowing facility which was amended on July 31, 2023 to increase the borrowing capacity from $50.0 million to $75.0 million and extend the maturity date to July 31, 2024. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), plus the applicable margin of 2.125% to 2.375%. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $6.3 million and $14.1 million, respectively.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement”), which is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity on March 6, 2024. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current Bloomberg Short Term Bank Yield Index ("BSBY") rate, plus the applicable margin ranging from 2.125% to 4.5% based on the type of loan and the number of days outstanding on the warehouse line. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $37.7 million and $43.1 million, respectively.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage also has a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Comerica Bank (“Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement”) which is a short-term borrowing facility through its maturity on January 10, 2024. The Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement provides up to $60.0 million on the 15th day of the last month of the Company's fiscal quarters and reverts back to up to $50.0 million 30 days thereafter. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly at the daily adjusting BSBY rate, subject to a floor of 0.50%, plus the applicable margin of 1.75% or 3.25% based upon the type of loan. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement was $17.9 million and $37.1 million, respectively.

 

The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement and Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis, the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the applicable agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of July 31, 2023, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

 

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12.

Senior Notes and Credit Facilities

 

Senior notes and credit facilities balances as of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, were as follows:

 

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 

Senior Secured Notes:

        

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 $158,502  $158,502 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  150,000   250,000 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  282,322   282,322 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  162,269   162,269 

Total Senior Secured Notes

 $753,093  $853,093 

Senior Notes:

        

8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2027 (1)

 $-  $- 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  90,590   90,590 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  90,120   90,120 

Total Senior Notes

 $180,710  $180,710 

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 $39,551  $39,551 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 $81,498  $81,498 

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (2)

 $-  $- 

Subtotal senior notes and credit facilities

 $1,054,852  $1,154,852 

Net (discounts) premiums

 $(1,120) $4,079 

Unamortized debt issuance costs

 $(8,953) $(12,384)

Total senior notes and credit facilities, net of discounts, premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

 $1,044,779  $1,146,547 

 

(1) $26.0 million of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "8.0% 2027 Notes") are owned by a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of HEI. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such notes are not reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of HEI.

 

(2) At July 31, 2023, provides for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of senior secured first lien revolving loans. The revolving loans thereunder have a maturity of June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanians option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the undrawn revolving commitments at a rate of 1.00% per annum.

 

General

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding at July 31, 2023 (except for the 8.0% 2027 Notes which are not guaranteed by K. Hovnanian at Sunrise Trail III, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”).

 

The credit agreements governing the term loans and revolving credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit Facilities") and the indentures governing the senior secured and senior notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at July 31, 2023 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of HEI and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repay/repurchase certain indebtedness prior to its respective stated maturity, repurchase (including through exchanges) common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments (including investments), sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Debt Instruments also contain customary events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans (the “Unsecured Term Loans”) made under the Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027 (the “Unsecured Term Loan Facility”), loans (the “Secured Term Loans”) made under the Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028 (the “Secured Term Loan Facility”) and loans (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) made under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement due June 30, 2024 (the "Secured Credit Agreement") or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 2023, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

 

16

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0, as defined in the applicable Debt Instrument, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends (in each such case, our secured debt leverage ratio must also be less than 4.0 to 1.0), and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. Beginning as of October 31, 2021, as a result of our improved operating results, our fixed coverage ratio was above 2.0 to 1.0 and our secured debt leverage ratio was below 4.0 to 1.0, therefore we were no longer restricted from paying dividends. As such, we made dividend payments of $2.7 million to preferred shareholders in every quarter since the first quarter of fiscal 2022. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and, accordingly, if for any reason we do not declare a dividend on the Series A preferred stock for a quarterly dividend period (regardless of our availability of funds), holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that period, and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that period.

 

Under the terms of our Debt Instruments, we have the right to make certain redemptions and prepayments and, depending on market conditions, our strategic priorities and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to actively analyze and evaluate our capital structure and explore transactions to simplify our capital structure and to strengthen our balance sheet, including those that reduce leverage, interest rates and/or extend maturities, and will seek to do so with the right opportunity. We may also continue to make debt or equity purchases and/or exchanges from time to time through tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise, or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

 

Fiscal 2023

 

On May 30, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.125 Lien Notes"). The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $104.2 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million for each of the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, including the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt, net".

 

Fiscal 2022

 

On April 29, 2022, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $105.5 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, including the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt, net".

 

Secured Obligations

 

On October 31, 2019, K. Hovnanian, HEI, the Notes Guarantors, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and affiliates of certain investment managers (the "Investors"), as lenders, entered into the Secured Credit Agreement providing for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of Secured Revolving Loans to be used for general corporate purposes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. Secured Revolving Loans are to be borrowed by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors. The revolving loans under the Secured Credit Agreement have a maturity of June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanian’s option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian pays an unused commitment fee on the undrawn revolving commitments at a rate of 1.00% per annum.

 

The 1.125 Lien Notes have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 7.75% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.125 Lien Notes at 101.937% of principal commencing February 15, 2023 and at 100.0% of principal commencing February 15, 2024.

 

The 10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.25 Lien Notes") have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.25 Lien Notes at 102.625% of principal commencing February 15, 2023 and at 100.0% of principal commencing February 15, 2024.

 

The 10.0% 1.75 Lien Notes due 2025 (the "1.75 Lien Notes") have a maturity of November 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. At any time and from time to time prior to November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.75 Lien Notes at a redemption price equal to 102.50% of their principal amount and at any time and from time to time after November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.75 Lien Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

The 11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.5 Lien Notes") have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 11.25% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 1.5 Lien Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to February 15, 2026 at 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

17

 

On December 10, 2019, K. Hovnanian entered into the Secured Term Loan Facility. The secured term loans under the Secured Term Loan Facility (the “Secured Term Loans”) bear interest at a rate equal to 10.0% per annum and will mature on January 31, 2028, with interest payable in arrears on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. At any time and from time to time prior to November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may voluntarily prepay some or all of the Secured Term Loans at a prepayment price equal to 102.50% of their principal amount and at any time and from time to time after November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may voluntarily prepay some or all of the Secured Term Loans at a prepayment price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

                  Each series of secured notes and the guarantees thereof, the Secured Term Loans and the guarantees thereof and the Secured Credit Agreement and the guarantees thereof are secured by the same assets. Among the secured debt, the liens securing the Secured Credit Agreement are senior to the liens securing all of K. Hovnanian’s other secured notes and the Secured Term Loan. The liens securing the 1.125 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.25 Lien Notes, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.125 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.25 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.25 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.5 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.5 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.75 Lien Notes and the Secured Term Loans (which are secured on a pari passu basis with each other) are senior to any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.75 Lien Notes and the Secured Term Loans, in each case, with respect to the assets securing such debt.

 

As of July 31, 2023, the collateral securing the Secured Credit Agreement, the Secured Term Loan Facility and the secured notes included (1) $332.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, which included $5.3 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit (subsequent to such date, fluctuations as a result of cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments along with cash inflow primarily from deliveries); (2) $463.0 million aggregate book value of real property, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised; and (3) equity interests in joint venture holding companies with an aggregate book value of $82.8 million.

 

Unsecured Obligations

 

The 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “13.5% 2026 Notes”) bear interest at 13.5% per annum and mature on February 1, 2026. Interest on the 13.5% 2026 Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. The 13.5% 2026 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at any time prior to February 1, 2025 at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make Whole Amount”. At any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 2025, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 13.5% 2026 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

The 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 (the “5.0% 2040 Notes”) bear interest at 5.0% per annum and mature on February 1, 2040. Interest on the 5.0% 2040 Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. At any time and from time to time, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 5.0% 2040 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount. 

 

The Unsecured Term Loans bear interest at a rate equal to 5.0% per annum and interest is payable in arrears, on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. The Unsecured Term Loans will mature on February 1, 2027.

 

Other

 

We have certain stand-alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there was a total of $5.1 million and $6.0 million letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. At July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $5.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash and cash equivalents” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

18

 
 

13.

Per Share Calculation

  

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented below were calculated as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Numerator:

                

Net income

 $55,764  $82,614  $108,626  $169,857 

Less: preferred stock dividends

  (2,669)  (2,669)  (8,007)  (8,007)

Less: undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities

  (3,578)  (9,139)  (7,780)  (20,201)

Numerator for basic earnings per share

 $49,517  $70,806  $92,839  $141,649 

Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities

  3,578   9,139   7,780   20,202 

Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities

  (3,582)  (9,141)  (7,801)  (20,214)

Numerator for diluted earnings per share

 $49,513  $70,804  $92,818  $141,637 

Denominator:

                

Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding

  6,249   6,485   6,201   6,424 

Effect of dilutive securities:

                

Stock-based payments

  456   59   441   83 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding

  6,705   6,544   6,642   6,507 

Basic earnings per share

 $7.92  $10.92  $14.97  $22.05 

Diluted earnings per share

 $7.38  $10.82  $13.97  $21.77 

 

In addition, 6 thousand and 80 thousand shares related to out-of-the money stock options, which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 6 thousand and 24 thousand were not included for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for each period.   

 

 

14.

Preferred Stock

 

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A preferred stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. Dividends on Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A preferred stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares. The Series A preferred stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A preferred stock. We paid dividends of $2.7 million and $8.0 million on the Series A preferred stock for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

 

15.

Common Stock

 

Each share of Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share, and each share of Class B common stock generally entitles its holder to ten votes per share. The amount of any regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class A common stock will be an amount equal to 110% of the corresponding regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class B common stock. If a shareholder desires to sell shares of Class B common stock, such stock must be converted into shares of Class A common stock at a one-to-one conversion rate.

  

19

 

On August 4, 2008, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”), which was amended on January 11, 2018 and January 18, 2021, designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A common Stock and Class B common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock without the approval of the Board, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing shareholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s initial adoption on August 4, 2008, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board’s decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 14, 2024, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board’s decision to initially adopt the Rights Plan and the amendments thereto were approved by shareholders. Our shareholders also approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A common stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our NOLs and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% shareholders and holders of Class B common stock, the transfer restrictions in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new “public group” (as defined in the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations). Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold.

 

                On September 1, 2022, the Board authorized a repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the program, repurchases  may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amount repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price, future tax implications and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program  may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date. 

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, we repurchased 118,478 shares under the stock repurchase program, with a market value of $4.8 million, or $40.51 per share, which were added to "Treasury stock" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of July 31, 2023. There were no shares repurchased during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 and the nine months ended July 31, 2022. As of July 31, 2023, $33.0 million of our Class A common stock is available to be purchased under the stock repurchase program.

 

16.

Income Taxes

 

The Company’s income tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was $14.6 million and $25.9 million, respectively, and $29.3 million and $58.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, and both of the prior year periods, the expense was primarily due to federal and state tax expense recorded as a result of our income before income taxes. The state tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 included the release of a $3.9 million valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law. The federal tax expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 included a $6.2 million benefit from energy efficient tax credits. The federal tax expense is not paid in cash as it is offset by the use of our existing NOL carryforwards.

 

We have remaining federal NOL carryforwards of $812.9 million that expire between 2030 and 2038, and $15.7 million have an indefinite carryforward period. Our total remaining state NOL carryforwards are $2.3 billion: $412.4 million that expire between 2023 through 2027; $1.4 billion that expire between 2028 through 2032; $369.7 million that expire between 2033 through 2037; $73.7 million that expire between 2038 through 2042; and $51.6 million that have an indefinite carryforward period.

 

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, related to NOL carryforwards, tax credits and temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. Our deferred tax assets, net as of July 31, 2023 were $324.7 million compared to $344.8 million at October 31, 2022. A valuation allowance is provided to offset deferred tax assets ("DTAs") if, based upon available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the DTAs will not be realized. We had a valuation allowance of $91.8 million as of July 31, 2023 compared to $95.7 million as of October 31, 2022 related to DTAs for tax credits and state NOL carryforwards that are expected to expire before they can be used.

 

We considered all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, the valuation allowance for our DTAs was appropriate. Overall, the positive evidence, both objective and subjective, outweighed the negative evidence. The significant improvement in our profitability over the last three years, coupled with our current contract backlog, provided positive evidence to support the conclusion that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the future and a full valuation allowance is not necessary.

  

20

  
 

17.

Operating and Reporting Segments

 

We currently have homebuilding operations in 14 states that are aggregated into reportable segments based primarily upon geographic proximity.

 

Historically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and its financial services segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we reevaluated our reportable segments as a result of changes in the business and our management thereof. In particular, we considered the fact that, since our segments were last established, the Company had exited the Minnesota, North Carolina and Tampa markets and is currently in the process of exiting the Chicago market. Applying the principles set forth under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 280, including that our business trends are reflective of economic conditions in markets with general geographic proximity, we realigned our homebuilding operating segments.

 

HEI’s reportable segments now consist of the following three homebuilding segments and a financial services segment.

 

Homebuilding:

 

 

(1)

Northeast (Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia)

 (2)Southeast (Florida, Georgia and South Carolina)
 (3)West (Arizona, California and Texas)

  

All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified throughout to conform to the new presentation.

 

Operations of the homebuilding segments primarily include the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, urban infill and active lifestyle homes in planned residential developments. In addition, from time to time, operations of the homebuilding segments include sales of land. Operations of the financial services segment include mortgage banking and title services provided to the homebuilding operations’ customers. Our financial services subsidiaries do not typically retain or service mortgages that we originate but sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors.

 

Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on income (loss) before income taxes. Income (loss) before income taxes for the homebuilding segments consist of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, income (loss) from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. Income (loss) before income taxes for the financial services segment consist of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the cost of such services and corporate general and administrative expenses.

 

21

 

Financial information relating to our reportable segments was as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Revenues:

                

Northeast

 $201,814  $305,577  $625,323  $721,442 

Southeast

  121,240   71,542   296,084   200,359 

West

  309,147   375,784   898,882   1,069,917 

Total homebuilding

  632,201   752,903   1,820,289   1,991,718 

Financial services

  14,649   14,533   41,016   43,548 

Corporate and unallocated

  3,107   157   7,679   177 

Total revenues

 $649,957  $767,593  $1,868,984  $2,035,443 
                 

Income before income taxes:

                

Northeast

 $29,088  $59,958  $86,311  $117,796 

Southeast

  23,431   15,263   49,902   36,185 

West

  27,873   61,948   65,981   169,372 

Total homebuilding

  80,392   137,169   202,194   323,353 

Financial services

  4,304   3,743   11,466   11,566 

Corporate and unallocated (1)

  (14,306)  (28,985)  (79,100)  (106,646)

Income before income taxes

 $70,390  $111,927  $134,560  $228,273 

 

(1)

Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2023 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $27.4 million, interest expense of $2.6 million (a component of Other interest in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), $(19.8) million of other expense (income), and loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $78.0 million, interest expense of $14.4 million, $(17.4) million of other expense (income), and loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $24.8 million, interest expense of $5.0 million, and $(0.8) million of other expense (income). Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $75.9 million, interest expense of $25.5 million, loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million, and $(1.6) million of other expense (income).

 

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Assets:

        

Northeast

 $514,319  $530,884 

Southeast

  298,871   330,894 

West

  745,531   802,704 

Total homebuilding

  1,558,721   1,664,482 

Financial services

  115,603   155,993 

Corporate and unallocated

  719,593   741,555 

Total assets

 $2,393,917  $2,562,030 

 

22

 
 

18.

Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures

 

We enter into homebuilding and land development joint ventures from time to time as a means of accessing lot positions, expanding our market opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, managing our risk profile, leveraging our capital base and enhancing returns on capital.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we contributed four communities we owned, including one active selling community, to one new unconsolidated joint venture for $41.1 million of net cash.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, one of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures was dissolved, and we assumed control of the remaining assets and liabilities.

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we contributed 16 communities we owned, including eight active selling communities, to one new unconsolidated joint venture for $75.7 million of net cash.

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we assumed control of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures after the partner received their final cash distribution. We consolidated the remaining assets and liabilities that were in the unconsolidated joint venture at fair value on the date of distribution. Upon consolidation, we recorded a gain of $19.1 million in "Other (income) expense, net" for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023. Subsequent to consolidation, we contributed the same three active selling communities to an unconsolidated joint venture for $48.0 million of net cash.

 

                  The tables set forth below summarize the combined financial information related to our unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method.

 

(In thousands)

 

July 31, 2023

 
      

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 

Assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

 $133,631  $829  $134,460 

Inventories

  643,489   -   643,489 

Other assets

  23,628   -   23,628 

Total assets

 $800,748  $829  $801,577 
             

Liabilities and equity:

            

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $515,034  $616  $515,650 

Notes payable

  90,652   -   90,652 

Total liabilities

  605,686   616   606,302 

Equity of:

            

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

  82,916   209   83,125 

Others

  112,146   4   112,150 

Total equity

  195,062   213   195,275 

Total liabilities and equity

 $800,748  $829  $801,577 

Debt to capitalization ratio

  32%  0%  32%

  

(In thousands)

 

October 31, 2022

 
      

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 

Assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

 $153,176  $868  $154,044 

Inventories

  441,140   -   441,140 

Other assets

  20,037   -   20,037 

Total assets

 $614,353  $868  $615,221 
             

Liabilities and equity:

            

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $471,813  $651  $472,464 

Notes payable

  34,880   -   34,880 

Total liabilities

  506,693   651   507,344 

Equity of:

            

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

  73,142   209   73,351 

Others

  34,518   8   34,526 

Total equity

  107,660   217   107,877 

Total liabilities and equity

 $614,353  $868  $615,221 

Debt to capitalization ratio

  24%  0%  24%

 

23

 

As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, we had outstanding advances to unconsolidated joint ventures of $2.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively. These amounts were included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” in the tables above. In some cases, our net investment in unconsolidated joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of equity reflected in the tables above because of differences between asset impairments recorded against our unconsolidated joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable unconsolidated joint venture. During the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not write-down any of our unconsolidated joint venture investments.

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2023

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $122,579  $-  $122,579 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (106,873)  (1)  (106,874)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $15,706  $(1) $15,705 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $8,401  $-  $8,401 

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $80,745  $-  $80,745 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (74,303)  (3)  (74,306)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $6,442  $(3) $6,439 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $12,570  $(13) $12,557 

 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $283,710  $-  $283,710 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (260,110)  (4)  (260,114)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $23,600  $(4) $23,596 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $20,969  $-  $20,969 

 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $237,732  $113  $237,845 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (218,171)  (34)  (218,205)

Joint venture net income

 $19,561  $79  $19,640 

Our share of net income

 $23,887  $32  $23,919 

 

The reason “Our share of net income” in homebuilding joint ventures is higher or lower than the “Joint venture net income” in the tables above is a result of our varying ownership percentages in each investment. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, we had investments in eight unconsolidated joint ventures and our ownership in these joint ventures ranged from 20% to over 50% for both periods. Therefore, depending on mix, if the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have higher sharing percentages are more profitable than our other unconsolidated joint ventures, that results in us having a higher overall percentage of income in the aggregate than would occur if all joint ventures had the same sharing percentage; conversely, if the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have lower sharing percentages are more profitable than our other unconsolidated joint ventures, that results in us having a lower overall percentage of income in the aggregate than would occur if all joint ventures had the same sharing percentage. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, "Our share of net income" was less than the "Joint venture net income" due to two unconsolidated joint ventures with increased income during the period for which we currently recognize a lower profit-sharing percentage as well as a third newly formed unconsolidated joint venture that we are currently recognizing all of the net loss. In addition, homebuilding joint venture net income for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was negatively impacted by an unconsolidated joint venture that was generating losses but such losses did not impact our share of net income because we had previously written off our investment in such joint venture.

 

24

 

To compensate us for the administrative services we provide as the manager of certain unconsolidated joint ventures, we receive a management fee based on a percentage of the applicable unconsolidated joint ventures' revenues. These management fees, which totaled $4.5 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $11.2 million and $8.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are recorded in “Selling, general and administrative” homebuilding expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

    

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing. For some of our unconsolidated joint ventures, obtaining financing was challenging; therefore, some of our unconsolidated joint ventures are capitalized only with equity. Any unconsolidated joint venture financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental warranties and indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing. In some instances, the unconsolidated joint venture entity is considered a VIE due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

 

 

19.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides companies with optional expedients to ease the potential accounting burden on contracts affected by the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. This guidance was effective for the Company beginning on March 12, 2020 and we may elect to apply the amendments prospectively. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848”, to extend the temporary accounting rules under ASC 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, but we do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 

 

25

 
 

20.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

We use a fair-value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

 

Level 1:

Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

 

 

Level 2:

Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs.

 

 

Level 3:

Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

   

Our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

   

Fair Value at

  

Fair Value at

 
 

Fair Value

 

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

Hierarchy

 

2023

  

2022

 
          

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

Level 2

 $80,656  $110,548 

Forward contracts

Level 2

  -   752 

Total

 $80,656  $111,300 

 

(1)  The aggregate unpaid principal balance was $80.0 million and $110.2 million at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively.

 

We elected the fair value option for our mortgage loans held for sale. Management believes the fair value option improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting. Fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage loans with similar characteristics.

 

The financial services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $662.6 million at July 31, 2023. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled $89.2 million as of July 31, 2023. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments are expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

The financial services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory MBS to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is primarily managed by entering into MBS forward commitments and option contracts. In the event of default by the purchaser, our risk is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At July 31, 2023, we had no open mandatory investor commitments to sell MBS.

 

Changes in fair value that are included in income are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below: 

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2023

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $(64) $8  $2 

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2022

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $36  $364  $(781)

 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $662  $-  $- 

 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2022

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $1,602  $78  $(287)

 

We did not have any assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

26

 

The fair value of our cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and customers' deposits approximates their carrying amount, based on Level 1 inputs.

 

The fair value of each series of our Notes and Credit Facilities are listed below. Level 2 measurements are estimated based on recent trades or quoted market prices for the same issues or based on recent trades or quoted market prices for our debt of similar security and maturity to achieve comparable yields. Level 3 measurements are estimated based on third-party broker quotes or management's estimate of the fair value based on available trades for similar debt instruments. As shown in the table below, our Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes, 1.125 Lien Notes, 1.25 Lien Notes, 13.5% 2026 Senior Notes, and 5.0% 2040 Senior Notes were a Level 2 measurement at July 31, 2023 due to recent trades for the same notes.

  

Fair Value as of  July 31, 2023

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

                

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

  -   162,601   -   162,601 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   147,887   -   147,887 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   287,920   -   287,920 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   -   162,569   162,569 

Senior Notes:

                

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  -   91,949   -   91,949 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  -   43,258   -   43,258 

Senior Credit Facilities:

                

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

  -   -   31,487   31,487 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

  -   -   83,606   83,606 

Total fair value

 $-  $733,615  $277,662  $1,011,277 

 

Fair Value as of  October 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

                

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

  -   -   165,844   165,844 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   -   240,393   240,393 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   -   272,966   272,966 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  -   -   162,566   162,566 

Senior Notes:

                

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  -   -   94,282   94,282 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  -   -   55,654   55,654 

Senior Credit Facilities:

                

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

  -   -   31,301   31,301 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

  -   -   85,247   85,247 

Total fair value

 $-  $-  $1,108,253  $1,108,253 

 

The Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility is not included in the above tables because there were no borrowings outstanding thereunder as of  July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022.

 

 

21.

Transactions with Related Parties

 

From time to time, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of Ara K. Hovnanian, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, provides services to the Company. During the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, the services provided by such engineering firm to the Company totaled $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. During the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, the services provided by such engineering firm to the Company totaled $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor Mr. Hovnanian has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided.

 

 

22.

Subsequent Events

 

On August 29, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $102.2 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. As a result of the redemption, the remaining aggregate principal amount of the 1.125 Lien Notes is $50.0 million.

 

27

  
 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries).

 

Segments

 

Historically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and a financial services segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we reevaluated our reportable segments as a result of changes in the business and our management thereof. In particular, we considered the fact that, since our segments were last established, the Company had exited the Minnesota, North Carolina and Tampa markets and is currently in the process of exiting the Chicago market. Applying the principles set forth under Accounting Standards Codification 280, Segment Reporting, including that our business trends are reflective of economic conditions in markets with general geographic proximity, we realigned our homebuilding operating segments and determined that, in addition to our financial services segment, we now have three reportable homebuilding segments comprised of (1) Northeast, (2) Southeast and (3) West, as noted below. All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified to conform to the new presentation.

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

The following key performance indicators are commonly used in the homebuilding industry and by management as a means to better understand our operating performance and trends affecting our business and compare our performance with the performance of other homebuilders. We believe these key performance indicators also provide useful information to investors in analyzing our performance:

 

 

Net contracts is a volume indicator which represents the number of new contracts executed during the period for the purchase of homes, less cancellations of contracts in the same period. The dollar value of net contracts represents the dollars associated with net contracts executed in the period. These values are an indicator of potential future revenues;

 

 

Contract backlog is a volume indicator which represents the number of homes that are under contract, but not yet delivered as of the stated date. The dollar value of contract backlog represents the dollar amount of the homes in contract backlog. These values are an indicator of potential future revenues;

 

 

Active selling communities is a volume indicator which represents the number of communities which are open for sale with ten or more home sites available as of the end of a period. We identify communities based on product type; therefore, at times there are multiple communities at one land site. These values are an indicator of potential revenues;

 

 

Net contracts per average active selling community is used to indicate the pace at which homes are being sold (put into contract) in active selling communities and is calculated by dividing the number of net contracts in a period by the average number of active selling communities in the same period. Sales pace is an indicator of market strength and demand; and

 

 

Contract cancellation rates is a volume indicator which represents the number of sales contracts cancelled in the period divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed during the period. Contract cancellation rates as a percentage of backlog is calculated by dividing the number of cancelled contracts in the period by the contract backlog at the beginning of the period. Cancellation rates as compared to prior periods can be an indicator of market strength or weakness.

 

Overview

 

Market Conditions and Operating Results 

 

The demand for new and existing homes is dependent on a variety of demographic and economic factors, including job and wage growth, household formation, consumer confidence, mortgage financing, interest rates, inflation and overall housing affordability.

 

From early January 2022, 30-year mortgage rates increased rapidly from 3.2% to a high of 7.1% at the end of October 2022, and were 6.8% at the end of July 2023. The rapid and sharp increase in interest rates from 2021 to 2022, persistently high levels of inflation and doubt about the stability of the economy, negatively impacted housing demand in the second half of fiscal 2022 and into early fiscal 2023. During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we were aggressive in our pricing, incentives and concessions in order to increase affordability, which had a positive effect on our sales pace, but due to the general uncertainty potential buyers still remained cautious about their decision to purchase a home. Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we saw an increase in customer demand and we have used our inventory of quick move in ("QMI") homes to help meet this demand. The time between contract signing and closing is shorter with QMI homes as compared to a to be built home, which provides customers with more certainty on their mortgage pricing. In addition, existing home sales listings are at all-time low levels, further increasing the demand for new homes. As a result, home pricing power has improved and we increased prices in approximately 71% of our communities during the three months ended July 31, 2023. As the market for new homes has continued to strengthen during the fiscal year, gross margin improved compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2023. We continue to experience lingering supply chain issues but have shortened our build times by over 30 days in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2023. We remain focused on building on our national initiatives to drive down costs with our material providers and trade partners.

 

Although our net contracts and net contracts per average active selling community remained adversely impacted compared to the stronger than normal first half of fiscal 2022, we have seen a recovery and positive sequential improvement in our sales pace throughout the first nine months of fiscal 2023. Our gross contract cancellation rate for the three months ended July 31, 2023 improved from the three months ended July 31, 2022, and was in line with the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

 

We have seen the housing market normalize beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 but there still remains a great degree of uncertainty due to inflation, the continued possibility of an economic recession, employment risk and the potential for further mortgage rate increases. The changing conditions in the housing market make it difficult to predict how strongly our business will be impacted by these external factors over the remainder of fiscal 2023 and beyond.

  

 

Information on our operating results for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 are as follows:

 

● Sale of homes revenues decreased to $630.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $736.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and decreased to $1.8 billion for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $2.0 billion for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. There was a 15.2% and 14.7% decrease in the number of home deliveries for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared to the prior year periods due to prior year deliveries being unusually high as a result of an extremely strong sales pace in late fiscal 2021 and early fiscal 2022 driven by post-COVID demand. Partially offsetting the decrease in home deliveries was an increase in average prices of 0.9% and 6.9% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared to the prior year periods, as home prices increased across a majority of our markets since the beginning of the current fiscal year, along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries.

 

● Gross margin dollars decreased for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period of the prior year, as a result of the decrease in gross margin percentage to 20.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from 23.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and decreased to 18.8% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from 22.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. Gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, decreased from 26.3% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 to 23.2% for the three months ended July 31, 2023, and decreased from 25.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 to 21.9% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023. The decreases during the first nine months of the current fiscal year were primarily due to our increased use of incentives and concessions when necessary to make our homes more affordable for buyers in certain markets in which we operate.

 

● Selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) ("Total SGA") was $75.1 million, or 11.6% of total revenues, in the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared with $74.9 million, or 9.8% of total revenues, in the three months ended July 31, 2022. For the nine months ended July 31, 2023, Total SGA was $224.0 million, or 12.0% of total revenues, compared with $215.3 million, or 10.6% of total revenues, in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Total SGA dollars for the three months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period of the prior year was relatively flat. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in phantom stock compensation expense, along with higher-than-normal wage increases as a result of inflationary pressures, and costs incurred in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 related to overhead reductions, as well as fees incurred on unused builder forward commitments we are offering to lower mortgage rates for our customers, and an increase in depreciation expense from the close out of design centers in the Northeast. The increase in Total SGA as a percentage of total revenues is also due to the decrease in revenues for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, as compared to the same periods of the prior year, as discussed above.

 

● Other interest increased to $13.5 million and $43.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $9.6 million and $35.4 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, primarily due to additional inventory financing resulting from an increase in average inventory not owned.

 

● Income before income taxes decreased to $70.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $111.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and decreased to $134.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $228.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. Net income decreased to $55.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $82.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and decreased to $108.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $169.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. Net income for the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 included a $19.1 million gain on the consolidation of a previously unconsolidated joint venture, a $6.2 million tax benefit from energy efficient home credits and a $3.9 million tax benefit from the release of a state valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, decreased to $7.92 and $7.38, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $10.92 and $10.82, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2022. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, decreased to $14.97 and $13.97, respectively, for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $22.05 and $21.77, respectively, for the nine months ended July 31, 2022.

 

● Net contracts increased 80.7% and decreased 4.3% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, compared to the same periods of the prior year. The increase for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in customer demand, partially due to the availability of QMI homes. During the fiscal third quarter of 2023 we also executed 259 build-for-rent contracts in three communities in our Southeast segment. The decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was due to the slower sales pace across the industry during the second half of fiscal 2022 that continued into early fiscal 2023, primarily as a result of fluctuating interest rates and a continuing uncertain economic outlook. Subsequently, the pace of contracts per community has greatly improved throughout fiscal 2023.

 

● Net contracts per average active selling community increased to 13.4 for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to 7.6 for the same period of the prior year and decreased slightly to 32.3 for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to 34.9 in the same period of the prior year. The increase for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was due to the increase in net contracts discussed above.

 

● Contract backlog decreased from 3,183 homes at July 31, 2022 to 2,403 homes at July 31, 2023, and the dollar value of contract backlog decreased to $1.3 billion, a 26.0% decrease in dollar value compared to the prior year. The decreases were primarily attributed to lower sales in the second half of fiscal 2022 and into the first quarter of fiscal 2023, as discussed above.

 

● Our cash position allowed us to spend $459.7 million on land purchases and land development during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and still have total liquidity of $455.5 million, including $325.2 million of homebuilding cash and cash equivalents as of July 31, 2023 and $125.0 million of borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Total Revenues

 

Compared to the same period in the prior year, revenues (decreased) increased as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
                                 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

   

Dollar

   

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

   

Change

   

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                               

Sale of homes

  $ 630,371     $ 736,654     $ (106,283 )     (14.4 )%

Land sales and other revenues

    4,937       16,406       (11,469 )     (69.9 )%

Financial services

    14,649       14,533       116       0.8 %
                                 

Total revenues

  $ 649,957     $ 767,593     $ (117,636 )     (15.3 )%

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
                                 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

   

Dollar

   

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

   

Change

   

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                               

Sale of homes

  $ 1,800,724     $ 1,973,843     $ (173,119 )     (8.8 )%

Land sales and other revenues

    27,244       18,052       9,192       50.9 %

Financial services

    41,016       43,548       (2,532 )     (5.8 )%
                                 

Total revenues

  $ 1,868,984     $ 2,035,443     $ (166,459 )     (8.2 )%

 

Homebuilding: Sale of Homes

 

For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, sale of homes revenues decreased 14.4% and 8.8%, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year. Sale of homes revenue decreased due to a 15.2% and 14.7% decrease in homes delivered, respectively, partially offset by an 0.9% and 6.9% increase in the average price per home for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared with the prior year period. The average price per home increased to $526,186 in the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $521,710 in the three months ended July 31, 2022. The average price per home increased to $535,770 in the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $501,103 in the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increase in average price was the result of increases in home prices in a majority of our markets since the beginning of fiscal 2022, along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries. Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future. For further detail on changes in segment revenues see “Homebuilding: Operations by Segment” below. For further detail on land sales and other revenues, see “Homebuilding: Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

 

Information on the sale of homes is set forth in the table below:

 

   

Three Months Ended July 31,

   

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

   

2022

   

% Change

   

2023

   

2022

   

% Change

 
                                                 

Consolidated total:

                                               

Housing revenues

  $ 630,371     $ 736,654       (14.4 )%   $ 1,800,724     $ 1,973,843       (8.8 )%

Homes delivered

    1,198       1,412       (15.2 )%     3,361       3,939       (14.7 )%

Average sales price

  $ 526,186     $ 521,710       0.9 %   $ 535,770     $ 501,103       6.9 %
                                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures (1)

                                               

Housing revenues

  $ 120,984     $ 78,390       54.3 %   $ 280,331     $ 228,984       22.4 %

Homes delivered

    171       121       41.3 %     399       372       7.3 %

Average sales price

  $ 707,509     $ 647,851       9.2 %   $ 702,584     $ 615,548       14.1 %

 

(1) Represents housing revenues and home deliveries for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

 

Homebuilding: Land Sales and Other Revenues

 

Land sales and other revenues decreased $11.5 million and increased $9.2 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. Other revenues include interest income, which increased as a result of higher rates on cash and cash equivalent accounts beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. In addition, other revenues include income from contract cancellations where deposits have been forfeited due to contract terminations, which increased due to higher cancellations in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2022. Revenue associated with land sales can vary significantly due to the mix of land parcels sold. There were zero and two land sales in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, and one and four land sales in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively, and land sales revenues decreased $15.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year.

 

Homebuilding: Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales includes expenses for consolidated housing and land and lot sales, including inventory impairments and land option write-offs (defined as “land charges” in the tables below). A breakout of such expenses for homebuilding and land and lot sales and the gross margins for each is set forth below.

 

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges is a non-GAAP financial measure. This measure should not be considered as an alternative to homebuilding gross margin determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP as an indicator of operating performance.

 

Management believes this non-GAAP measure enables investors to better understand our operating performance. This measure is also useful internally, helping management evaluate our operating results on a consolidated basis and relative to other companies in our industry. In particular, the magnitude and volatility of land charges for the Company, and for other homebuilders, have been significant and, as such, have made comparable financial analysis of our industry more difficult. Homebuilding metrics excluding land charges, as well as interest amortized to cost of sales, and other similar presentations prepared by analysts and other companies are frequently used to assist investors in understanding and comparing the operating characteristics of homebuilding activities by eliminating many of the differences in companies’ respective levels of impairments and debt.

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Sale of homes

  $ 630,371     $ 736,654     $ 1,800,724     $ 1,973,843  

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges

    483,990       543,064       1,405,712       1,474,403  

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    146,381       193,590       395,012       499,440  

Cost of sales interest expense, excluding land sales interest expense

    19,271       22,453       54,793       57,855  

Homebuilding gross margin, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

    127,110       171,137       340,219       441,585  

Land charges

    308       1,173       922       1,837  

Homebuilding gross margin

  $ 126,802     $ 169,964     $ 339,297     $ 439,748  

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

    20.1 %     23.1 %     18.8 %     22.3 %

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    23.2 %     26.3 %     21.9 %     25.3 %

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

    20.2 %     23.2 %     18.9 %     22.4 %

 

Cost of sales as a percentage of consolidated home sales revenues are presented below:

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Sale of homes

    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                 

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges:

                               

Housing, land and development costs

    68.1 %     66.3 %     68.5 %     66.8 %

Commissions

    3.4 %     3.2 %     3.4 %     3.4 %

Financing concessions

    1.8 %     0.8 %     2.1 %     0.9 %

Overheads

    3.5 %     3.4 %     4.1 %     3.6 %

Total cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges

    76.8 %     73.7 %     78.1 %     74.7 %

Cost of sales interest

    3.0 %     3.1 %     3.0 %     2.9 %

Land charges

    0.1 %     0.1 %     0.1 %     0.1 %
                                 

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

    20.1 %     23.1 %     18.8 %     22.3 %

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

    23.2 %     26.3 %     21.9 %     25.3 %

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

    20.2 %     23.2 %     18.9 %     22.4 %

 

We sell a variety of home types in various communities, each yielding a different gross margin. The decrease in gross margins for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to the increase in our use of incentives and concessions to make our homes more affordable. 

 

 

Land and lot sale expenses and gross margins are set forth below:

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Land and lot sales

  $ 429     $ 15,788     $ 16,042     $ 16,187  

Cost of sales, excluding interest

    -       5,512       9,940       5,772  

Land and lot sales gross margin, excluding interest

    429       10,276       6,102       10,415  

Land and lot sales interest expense

    1       -       926       21  

Land and lot sales gross margin, including interest

  $ 428     $ 10,276     $ 5,176     $ 10,394  

 

Land sales are ancillary to our residential homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may fluctuate significantly.

 

Homebuilding: Inventory Impairments and Land Option Write-Offs

 

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs reflects certain inventories we have either written off or written down to their estimated fair value totaling $0.3 million and $1.1 million in expense for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $0.9 million and $1.8 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no inventory impairments during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022. During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, we wrote-off residential land option, approval and engineering costs. Such write-offs occurred across each of our segments in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022.

 

Homebuilding: Selling, General and Administrative

 

Homebuilding selling, general and administrative (“SGA”) expenses decreased $2.4 million to $47.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and increased $6.7 million to $146.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The decrease for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due a decrease in total compensation as a result of overall workforce reductions and a decrease in insurance expense as a result of lower total deliveries. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to costs associated with workforce reductions and fees incurred on unused builder forward commitments we are offering to lower mortgage rates for our customers. We began using the builder forward commitments to offer lower rates in the second half of fiscal 2022. Also, contributing to the increase in SGA for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was an increase in compensation expense related to merit-based salary increases, an increase in depreciation expense from the close out of design centers in the Northeast, and an increase in selling overhead and advertising costs. 

 

Homebuilding: Key Performance Indicators

 

Net Contracts Per Average Active Selling Community

 

Net contracts per average active selling community for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 were 13.4 and 32.3, respectively, compared to 7.6 and 34.9, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. Our reported level of sales contracts (net of cancellations) were impacted by an increase in customer demand during the three months ended July 31, 2023, partially due to the availability of QMI homes. The slight decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to the slower sales pace across the industry during the second half of fiscal 2022 that continued into early fiscal 2023, primarily as a result of higher levels of inflation, increases in mortgage rates from the prior year and continued concern about an economic recession.

 

Contract Cancellation Rates

 

The following table provides historical quarterly cancellation rates, which represents the number of cancelled contracts in the quarter divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed in the quarter, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

 

Quarter

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 
                                         

First

  30 %   14 %   17 %   19 %   24 %

Second

  18 %   17 %   16 %   23 %   19 %

Third

  16 %   27 %   16 %   18 %   19 %

Fourth

            41 %     15 %     18 %     21 %

 

The following table provides quarterly contract cancellations as a percentage of the beginning backlog, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

 

Quarter

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 
                                         

First

  16 %   8 %   11 %   14 %   16 %

Second

  16 %   9 %   9 %   20 %   20 %

Third

  12 %   8 %   6 %   21 %   16 %

Fourth

            13 %     6 %     14 %     14 %

 

Most cancellations occur within the legal rescission period, which varies by state but is generally less than two weeks after the signing of the contract. Cancellations also occur as a result of a buyer’s failure to qualify for a mortgage, which generally occurs during the first few weeks after signing. As shown in the tables above, contract cancellations over the past several years have generally been within what we believe to be a normal range, with fiscal 2021 and first half of fiscal 2022 cancellation rates, in particular, being below historical norms as a result of the strong market conditions. However, during the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2022 and the first quarter of fiscal 2023, due to the sharp decline in gross sales and an increase in cancellations, our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross sales increased significantly to 27%, 41% and 30%, respectively, which is higher than our historical normal range. For the second and third quarters of fiscal 2023 the cancellation rate returned to a more normalized level of 18% and 16%, respectively. Our cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 12%, which is below our historical normal range of 13%. When sales pace is increasing, the cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog tends to lag the changes seen in our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross sales. Although market conditions improved in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, uncertainty remains and it is difficult to predict what cancellation rates will be in the future.

 

Contract Backlog

 

Our consolidated sales contracts and homes in contract backlog, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, by segment is set forth below:

 

   

Net Contracts for the

   

Net Contracts for the

                 
   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

   

Contract Backlog as of

 
   

July 31,

   

July 31,

   

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                                 

Northeast:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 239,425     $ 168,208     $ 685,595     $ 711,424     $ 478,477     $ 681,617  

Number of homes

    366       265       1,090       1,228       794       1,236  
                                                 

Southeast:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 155,655     $ 67,402     $ 370,800     $ 326,727     $ 353,023     $ 348,019  

Number of homes

    373       114       812       555       710       574  
                                                 

West:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 349,145     $ 232,329     $ 888,650     $ 1,088,595     $ 494,758     $ 761,974  

Number of homes

    705       420       1,807       2,092       899       1,373  
                                                 

Total:

                                               

Dollars

  $ 744,225     $ 467,939     $ 1,945,045     $ 2,126,746     $ 1,326,258     $ 1,791,610  

Number of homes

    1,444       799       3,709       3,875       2,403       3,183  

 

Contract backlog dollars decreased 26.0% as of July 31, 2023 compared to July 31, 2022, and the number of homes in backlog decreased 24.5% for the same period. The decrease in contract backlog dollars and number of homes as of July 31, 2023 compared to as of July 31, 2022 was driven by the slower sales environment in the second half of fiscal 2022 through the first quarter of fiscal 2023. 

 

 

Homebuilding: Operations by Segment

 

Financial information relating to our homebuilding operations by segment was as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended July 31,

 
                                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

   

2022

   

Variance

   

Variance %

 
                                 

Northeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 201,814     $ 305,577     $ (103,763 )     (34.0 )%

Income before income taxes

  $ 29,088     $ 59,958     $ (30,870 )     (51.5 )%

Homes delivered

    357       495       (138 )     (27.9 )%

Average sales price

  $ 562,499     $ 585,287     $ (22,788 )     (3.9 )%
                                 

Southeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 121,240     $ 71,542     $ 49,698       69.5 %

Income before income taxes

  $ 23,431     $ 15,263     $ 8,168       53.5 %

Homes delivered

    230       148       82       55.4 %

Average sales price

  $ 526,404     $ 483,000     $ 43,404       9.0 %
                                 

West

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 309,147     $ 375,784     $ (66,637 )     (17.7 )%

Income before income taxes

  $ 27,873     $ 61,948     $ (34,075 )     (55.0 )%

Homes delivered

    611       769       (158 )     (20.5 )%

Average sales price

  $ 504,887     $ 488,235     $ 16,652       3.4 %

 

   

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 
                                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

   

2022

   

Variance

   

Variance %

 
                                 

Northeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 625,323     $ 721,442     $ (96,119 )     (13.3 )%

Income before income taxes

  $ 86,311     $ 117,796     $ (31,485 )     (26.7 )%

Homes delivered

    1,086       1,277       (191 )     (15.0 )%

Average sales price

  $ 573,868     $ 551,948     $ 21,920       4.0 %
                                 

Southeast

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 296,084     $ 200,359     $ 95,725       47.8 %

Income before income taxes

  $ 49,902     $ 36,185     $ 13,717       37.9 %

Homes delivered

    545       402       143       35.6 %

Average sales price

  $ 542,594     $ 497,843     $ 44,751       9.0 %
                                 

West

                               

Homebuilding revenue

  $ 898,882     $ 1,069,917     $ (171,035 )     (16.0 )%

Income before income taxes

  $ 65,981     $ 169,372     $ (103,391 )     (61.0 )%

Homes delivered

    1,730       2,260       (530 )     (23.5 )%

Average sales price

  $ 509,705     $ 472,952     $ 36,753       7.8 %

 

Homebuilding Results by Segment 

 

Northeast - Homebuilding revenue decreased 34.0% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was attributed to a $14.9 million decrease in land sales and other revenue, a 27.9% decrease in homes delivered and a 3.9% decrease in average sales price. The decrease in average sales price in the three months ended July 31, 2023 was the result of new communities delivering lower priced, smaller single family homes in lower-end submarkets of the segment compared to some communities delivering higher priced, larger single family homes and townhomes in higher-end submarkets of the segment in the three months ended July 31, 2023 that are no longer delivering. Also impacting the decrease in the average sales price were increased use of concessions in certain communities to make our homes more affordable.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $30.9 million to $29.1 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $3.3 million decrease in income from unconsolidated joint ventures, and a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

 

Homebuilding revenue decreased 13.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was attributed to a $14.5 million decrease in land sales and other revenue, a 15.0% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 4.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $31.5 million to $86.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $1.3 million decrease in income from unconsolidated joint ventures, and a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

 

 

Southeast – Homebuilding revenue increased 69.5% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 55.4% increase in homes delivered and an 9.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

 

Income before income taxes increased $8.2 million to $23.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, partially offset by a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

 

Homebuilding revenue increased 47.8% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 35.6% increase in homes delivered and a 9.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

 

Income before income taxes increased $13.7 million to $49.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a slight increase in gross margin percentage.

 

West – Homebuilding revenue decreased 17.7% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 20.5% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 3.4% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $34.1 million to $27.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a decrease in gross margin percentage.

 

Homebuilding revenue decreased 16.0% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 23.5% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 7.8% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

 

Income before income taxes decreased $103.4 million to $66.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a decrease in gross margin percentage.

 

Financial Services

 

Financial services consist primarily of originating mortgages from our home buyers, selling such mortgages in the secondary market, and title insurance activities. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans. For the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration (“FHA/VA”) loans represented 30.4% and 24.0%, respectively, of our total loans. For the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year, our conforming conventional loan originations as a percentage of our total loans decreased from 75.2% to 68.8%. The origination of loans which exceed conforming conventions was 0.8% for both the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, financial services provided $4.3 million and $11.5 million of income before income taxes, respectively, compared to $3.7 million and $11.6 million, respectively, for the same period in the prior year. The increase in financial services income before income taxes for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to an increase in the amount of loans closed and a slight increase in the basis point spread between the loans originated and the implied rate from our sale of the loans. Financial services income before income taxes was flat for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period of the prior year. In the markets served by our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiaries, 70.1% and 52.5% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 67.8% and 59.0% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

Corporate General and Administrative 

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses include operations at our headquarters in New Jersey. These expenses include payroll, stock compensation, facility costs and rent and other costs associated with our executive offices, legal expenses, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, national and digital marketing, construction services and administration of insurance, quality and safety. Corporate general and administrative expenses increased to $27.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $24.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and increased to $77.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $75.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increase for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to a $1.6 million and $1.7 million increase, respectively, in the net cost for self-insured medical claims, which fluctuate based on actual claims. The increases were also due to an increase in compensation expense, mainly related to the grants of phantom stock awards under our 2019 long-term incentive plan, for which expense is impacted by the change in our stock price each period. During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, stock awards were granted under a new Long-Term Incentive Program (the “2023 LTIP”) that consists of 50% cash-settled phantom shares and 50% equity-settled shares. The 2023 LTIP included phantom shares based on analysis that demonstrated a higher likelihood of dilution to our book value per share if the entire award was settled in shares rather than cash via phantom shares.

 

Other Interest

 

Other interest increased $3.9 million to $13.5 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year and increased $7.7 million to $43.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. Our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) are less than our debt, and therefore the portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets is directly expensed. Other interest increased for both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 primarily due to additional inventory financing resulting from an increase in average inventory not owned.

  

 

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt, Net

 

On May 30, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $104.2 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts, financing costs and fees.

 

On April 29, 2022, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $105.5 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts, financing costs and fees. 

 

Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

 

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures consists of our share of the earnings or losses of our unconsolidated joint ventures. Income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $4.2 million to $8.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and decreased $3.0 million to $21.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The decrease for both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to a reduction in our share of income from one of our unconsolidated joint ventures; since we began receiving distributions from the joint venture, the Company recognized a lower share of the unconsolidated joint ventures' income than the prior year. Also contributing to the decrease is the recognition of losses from two of our recently formed joint ventures as they incur initial operating overhead and development costs.

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

Other (income) expense, net, fluctuated $19.3 million from expense to income of $18.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and fluctuated $19.3 million from expense to income of $17.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we assumed control of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures after the partner received their final cash distribution. We consolidated the remaining assets and liabilities that were in the unconsolidated joint venture at fair value on the date of distribution. Upon consolidation, we recorded a gain of $19.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company’s income tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was $14.6 million and $25.9 million, respectively, and $29.3 million and $58.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, and each of the prior year periods, the expense was primarily due to federal and state tax expense recorded as a result of our income before income taxes. The state tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 included the release of a $3.9 million valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law, which partially offset state tax expense. The federal tax expense for the nine months ended July 31,2023 included a $6.2 million benefit from energy efficient tax credits, which partially offset federal tax expense.

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

Overview

 

Our total liquidity at July 31, 2023 was $455.5 million, including $325.2 million in homebuilding cash and cash equivalents and $125.0 million of borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility. We believe that our cash on hand together with available borrowings on our senior secured revolving credit facility will be sufficient for at least the next 12 months to finance our working capital requirements.

 

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, the issuance of new debt and equity securities, and other financing activities. We may not be able to obtain desired financing even if market conditions, including then-current market available interest rates (in recent years, we have not been able to access the traditional capital and bank lending markets at competitive interest rates due to our highly leveraged capital structure), would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business. 

 

Operating, Investing and Financing Cash Flow Activities 

 

We spent $459.7 million on land and land development during the first three quarters of fiscal 2023, along with $104.2 million for the $100.0 million partial redemption of our 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. After land and land development spending and all other operating activities, including revenue received from deliveries, cash provided by operations was $291.6 million. During the first three quarters of fiscal 2023, cash used in investing activities was $78.4 million, primarily due to new unconsolidated joint ventures entered into during the period, along with the acquisition of certain fixed assets, partially offset by distributions from existing unconsolidated joint ventures. Cash used in financing activities was $228.0 million during the first three quarters of fiscal 2023, which in addition to the $100.0 million debt redemption mentioned above, was primarily due to net payments related to our mortgage warehouse lines of credit, net payments for nonrecourse mortgage financings, land banking financings and model sale leaseback financings, repurchases of common stock and the payment of preferred dividends. We intend to continue to use nonrecourse mortgages, model sale leasebacks, joint ventures, and, subject to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments, land banking programs as our business needs dictate.

 

Our cash uses during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, land development, construction spending, model sale leasebacks, state income taxes, interest payments, preferred dividends, equity repurchases, litigation matters and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. During these periods, we provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, land banking transactions, income from unconsolidated joint ventures, financial service revenues and other revenues.

 

Our net income historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities. The difference between net income and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, mortgage loans held for sale, accrued interest, deferred income taxes, accounts payable and other liabilities, and noncash charges relating to depreciation, stock compensation and impairments. When we are expanding our operations, inventory levels, prepaid expenses and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease. Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory, prepaid expenses and other assets. Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increases, but for cash flow purposes, net income is partially offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities. The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, causing us to generate positive cash flow from operations. 

 

 

Debt Transactions

 

Senior notes and credit facilities balances as of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, were as follows:

 

   

July 31,

   

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

   

2022

 

Senior Secured Notes

  $ 753,093     $ 853,093  

Senior Notes

  $ 180,710     $ 180,710  

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

  $ 39,551     $ 39,551  

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

  $ 81,498     $ 81,498  

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (1)

  $ -     $ -  

Less: Net (discounts), premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

  $ (10,073 )   $ (8,305 )

Total senior notes and credit facilities, net of discounts, premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

  $ 1,044,779     $ 1,146,547  

 

(1) At July 31, 2023, provides for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of senior secured first lien revolving loans. The revolving loans thereunder have a maturity of June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanians option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the undrawn revolving commitments at a rate of 1.00% per annum.

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding at July 31, 2023 (except for the 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027 which are not guaranteed by K. Hovnanian at Sunrise Trail III, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”).

 

The credit agreements governing the term loans and revolving credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit Facilities") and the indentures governing the senior secured and senior notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at July 31, 2023 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of HEI and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repay/repurchase certain indebtedness prior to its respective stated maturity, repurchase (including through exchanges) common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments (including investments), sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Debt Instruments also contain customary events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans (the “Unsecured Term Loans”) made under the Senior Unsecured Term Loan Facility due February 1, 2027, loans (the “Secured Term Loans”) made under the Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028 and loans (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) made under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement due June 30, 2024 or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 2023, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0, as defined in the applicable Debt Instrument, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends (in each such case, our secured debt leverage ratio must also be less than 4.0 to 1.0), and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. Beginning as of October 31, 2021, as a result of our improved operating results, our fixed coverage ratio was above 2.0 to 1.0 and our secured debt leverage ratio was below 4.0 to 1.0, therefore we were no longer restricted from paying dividends. As such, we made dividend payments of $2.7 million to preferred shareholders in every quarter since the first quarter of fiscal 2022. As discussed above, our sales pace improved during fiscal 2023 and assuming the improved current market conditions and our operating results continue, we currently believe our ratios will permit us to continue to make dividend payments on our preferred stock. However, with general economic uncertainty, it is difficult to predict long-term market conditions and the effects on our business and if and when we may be restricted under our Debt Instruments from continuing to pay dividends on our Series A preferred stock. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and, accordingly, if for any reason we do not declare a dividend on the Series A preferred stock for a quarterly dividend period (regardless of availability of funds), holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that period, and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that period.

 

Under the terms of our Debt Instruments, we have the right to make certain redemptions and prepayments and, depending on market conditions, our strategic priorities and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to actively analyze and evaluate our capital structure and explore transactions to simplify our capital structure and to strengthen our balance sheet, including those that reduce leverage, interest rates and/or extend maturities, and will seek to do so with the right opportunity. We may also continue to make debt or equity purchases and/or exchanges from time to time through tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise, or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions. As discussed in Note 12 and Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, on each of May 30, 2023 and August 29, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026.

 

Any liquidity-enhancing or other capital raising or refinancing transaction will depend on identifying counterparties, negotiation of documentation and applicable closing conditions and any required approvals. Due to covenant restrictions in our Debt Instruments, we are limited in the amount of debt we can incur, even if market conditions, including then-current market available interest rates (in recent years, we have not been able to access the traditional capital and bank lending markets at competitive interest rates due to our highly leveraged capital structure), would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business.

 

See Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of K. Hovnanian’s Credit Facilities, senior secured notes and senior notes, including information with respect to the collateral securing our secured Debt Instruments.

 

 

Mortgages and Notes Payable

 

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $129.1 million and $144.8 million, net of debt issuance costs, at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $373.1 million and $418.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 8.6% and 6.7% at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. K. Hovnanian Mortgage finances the origination of mortgage loans through various master repurchase agreements, which are recorded in "Financial services" liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The loans are secured by the mortgages held for sale and are repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, we had an aggregate of $61.9 million and $94.3 million, respectively, outstanding under several of K. Hovnanian Mortgage’s short-term borrowing facilities.

 

See Note 11 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these agreements.

 

Equity

 

On September 1, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the program, repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amount repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price, future tax implications and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date.

 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, we repurchased 118,478 shares under the stock repurchase program, with a market value of $4.8 million, or $40.51 per share, which were added to "Treasury stock" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of July 31, 2023. There were no shares repurchased during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 and the nine months ended July 31, 2022. As of July 31, 2023, $33.0 million of our Class A common stock is available to be purchased under the stock repurchase program.

 

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A preferred stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. Dividends on Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A preferred stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares. The Series A preferred stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A preferred stock. We paid dividends of $2.7 million and $8.0 million on the Series A preferred stock in each of the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

 

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures 

 

We have investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures increased $10.3 million to $85.3 million at July 31, 2023 compared to October 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to two new joint ventures formed during the first nine months of fiscal 2023, along with income recognized in excess of our current sharing percentage for one of our existing unconsolidated joint ventures during the period, partially offset by the consolidation of a previously unconsolidated joint venture, and the net impact of consolidation and subsequent recapitalization of another unconsolidated joint venture. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, we had investments in seven and six unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures, respectively, and one unconsolidated land development joint venture for both periods. We have no guarantees associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures, other than guarantees limited to performance and completion of development activities, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy.

 

Inventories

 

Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, decreased $50.4 million to $1.2 billion at July 31, 2023 compared to October 31, 2022. Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, decreased by $33.8 million in the West, $7.8 million in the Southeast and $8.8 million in the Northeast. The decreases were primarily attributable to home deliveries, along with inventory contributed to two new joint ventures and land sales, partially offset by new land purchases and land development during the period. In the last few years, we have been able to acquire new land parcels at prices that we believe will generate reasonable returns under current homebuilding market conditions. This trend may not continue in either the near or the long term. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at July 31, 2023 are expected to be delivered during the next six to nine months. 

 

Consolidated inventory not owned, which consists of options related to land banking and model financing, decreased $57.5 million from October 31, 2022 to July 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in land banking transactions, partially offset by an increase in the sale and leaseback of certain model homes during the period. We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell land parcels to land bankers and they provide us with an option to purchase finished lots on a predetermined schedule. On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at July 31, 2023, inventory of $201.6 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $96.8 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from land banking transactions. We also sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third-party at the end of the respective lease. On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at July 31, 2023, inventory of $49.5 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $49.2 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from sale and leaseback transactions.

 

 

The following tables summarize home sites included in our total residential real estate. The decrease in total home sites available at July 31, 2023 compared to October 31, 2022 is attributable to delivering homes and terminating certain option agreements during the period, partially offset by acquiring new land parcels.

 

           

Active Selling

   

Proposed

         
   

Active Selling

   

Communities

   

Developable

   

Total

 
   

Communities(1)

   

Homes

   

Homes

   

Homes

 

July 31, 2023:

                               
                                 

Northeast

    33       3,913       9,980       13,893  

Southeast

    11       1,369       2,667       4,036  

West

    58       6,766       4,879       11,645  
                                 

Consolidated total

    102       12,048       17,526       29,574  
                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

    21       4,472       3,254       7,726  
                                 

Owned

            6,473       1,416       7,889  

Optioned

            5,488       16,110       21,598  

Construction to permanent financing lots

            87       -       87  
                                 

Consolidated total

            12,048       17,526       29,574  

 

           

Active Selling

   

Proposed

         
   

Active Selling

   

Communities

   

Developable

   

Total

 
   

Communities(1)

   

Homes

   

Homes

   

Homes

 

October 31, 2022:

                               
                                 

Northeast

    32       4,296       10,726       15,022  

Southeast

    21       1,898       2,823       4,721  

West

    68       6,909       5,148       12,057  
                                 

Consolidated total

    121       13,103       18,697       31,800  
                                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

    13       3,355       -       3,355  
                                 

Owned

            6,634       2,388       9,022  

Optioned

            6,187       16,309       22,496  

Construction to permanent financing lots

            282       -       282  
                                 

Consolidated total

            13,103       18,697       31,800  

 

 

(1)

Active selling communities are open for sale communities with ten or more home sites available. We identify communities based on product type. Therefore, at times there are multiple communities at one land site.

 

 

 

 

(2)

Represents active selling communities and home sites for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures. 

 

 

The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, in active selling communities and substantially completed communities.

 

   

July 31, 2023

   

October 31, 2022:

 
                                                 
   

Unsold

                   

Unsold

                 
   

Homes

   

Models

   

Total

   

Homes

   

Models

   

Total

 
                                                 

Northeast

    126       33       159       92       32       124  

Southeast

    88       8       96       72       5       77  

West

    467       19       486       516       22       538  
                                                 

Total

    681       60       741       680       59       739  
                                                 
                                                 

Started or completed unsold homes and models per active selling communities (1)

    6.7       0.6       7.3       5.6       0.5       6.1  

 

(1)

Active selling communities (which are communities that are open for sale with ten or more home sites available) were 102 and 121 at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively. This ratio does not include substantially completed communities, which are communities with less than ten home sites available.

  

Financial Services Assets and Liabilities

 

Financial services assets decreased $40.4 million to $115.6 million at July 31, 2023, compared to October 31, 2022. Financial services assets consist primarily of residential mortgage receivables held for sale of which $80.7 million and $108.6 million at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively, were being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market. The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 2022 was primarily related to a decrease in the volume of loans originated during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, partially offset by an increase in the average loan value. 

 

Financial services liabilities decreased $41.1 million to $94.5 million at July 31, 2023 compared to October 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in amounts outstanding under our mortgage warehouse lines of credit and directly correlates to the decrease in the volume of mortgage loans held for sale during the period.

 

Inflation

 

The annual rate of inflation in the United States was 3.2% in July 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, which while higher than recent years, is much improved from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022. Inflation has a long-term effect, because higher costs for land, materials and labor results in increasing sales prices of our homes. Historically, these price increases have been commensurate with the general rate of inflation in our housing markets and have not had a significant adverse effect on the sale of our homes. A significant risk faced by the housing industry generally is that rising house construction costs, including land and interest costs, could substantially outpace increases in the income of potential purchasers and therefore limit our ability to raise home sale prices, which may result in lower gross margins.

 

Inflation has a lesser short-term effect, because we generally negotiate fixed-price contracts with many, but not all, of our subcontractors and material suppliers for the construction of our homes. These prices usually are applicable for a specified number of residential buildings or for a time period of between three to 12 months. Construction costs for residential buildings represented approximately 56.6% of our homebuilding cost of sales for the nine months ended July 31, 2023.

 

For fiscal 2023, elevated inflation created economic uncertainty and had an impact on interest rates, which in turn adversely impacted our home sales. During the fiscal year, inflation has started to stabilize and interest rates have become less volatile, which has given homebuyers time to adjust to the current higher rate environment.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, our most critical accounting policies relate to inventories, unconsolidated joint ventures, warranty and construction defect reserves and income taxes. Since October 31, 2022, there have been no significant changes to those critical accounting policies.

 

 

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

All statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts should be considered as “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements related to the Company's goals and expectations with respect to its financial results for future financial periods. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are not guarantees of future performance or results and (iii) are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to:

  

 

Changes in general and local economic, industry and business conditions and impacts of a significant homebuilding downturn;   

 

Shortages in, and price fluctuations of, raw materials and labor, including due to geopolitical events, changes in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and duties on homebuilding materials and products, and related trade disputes with, and retaliatory measures taken by other countries;

 

Fluctuations in interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing, including as a result of bank sector instability;

 

Adverse weather and other environmental conditions and natural disasters;

 

● 

The seasonality of the Company’s business;

 

The availability and cost of suitable land and improved lots and sufficient liquidity to invest in such land and lots;

 

Reliance on, and the performance of, subcontractors; 

 

● 

Regional and local economic factors, including dependency on certain sectors of the economy, and employment levels affecting home prices and sales activity in the markets where the Company builds homes;

 

Increases in cancellations of agreements of sale;

 

Increases in inflation;

 

Changes in tax laws affecting the after-tax costs of owning a home; 

 

Legal claims brought against us and not resolved in our favor, such as product liability litigation, warranty claims and claims made by mortgage investors;

 

Levels of competition; 

  Utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations;
  Information technology failures and data security breaches; 
  Negative publicity; 
  High leverage and restrictions on the Company’s operations and activities imposed by the agreements governing the Company’s outstanding indebtedness;
  Availability and terms of financing to the Company;
  The Company’s sources of liquidity;
  Changes in credit ratings;
  Government regulation, including regulations concerning development of land, the home building, sales and customer financing processes, tax laws and the environment;
  Operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with third parties;
 

Significant influence of the Company’s controlling stockholders;

 

Availability of net operating loss carryforwards; and

  Loss of key management personnel or failure to attract qualified personnel.

    

Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors are described in detail in Part I, Item 1 “Business” and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

 

 

Item 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Substantially all of our long-term debt requires fixed interest payments and we have limited exposure to variable rates. In connection with our mortgage operations, mortgage loans held for sale and the associated mortgage warehouse lines of credit under our Master Repurchase Agreements are subject to interest rate risk; however, such obligations reprice frequently and are short-term in duration. In addition, we are able to hedge the interest rate risk on mortgage loans by obtaining forward commitments from private investors. Accordingly, the interest rate risk from mortgage loans is not significant. We do not use financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk except with respect to mortgage loans. The following table sets forth as of July 31, 2023, our long-term debt obligations, principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted-average interest rates and estimated fair value (“FV”).

  

   

Long Term Debt as of July 31, 2023 by Fiscal Year of Maturity Date

 
                                                           

FV at

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

   

2024

   

2025

   

2026

   

2027

   

Thereafter

   

Total

   

7/31/23

 
                                                                 

Long term debt(1):

                                                               

Fixed rate

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 843,683     $ 39,551     $ 171,618     $ 1,054,852     $ 1,011,277  

Weighted average interest rate

    - %     - %     - %     10.38 %     5.00 %     7.37 %     9.69 %        

 

(1) Does not include:
  ● the mortgage warehouse lines of credit made under our Master Repurchase Agreements;

 

● $129.1 million of nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, which have various maturities spread over the next two to three years and are paid off as homes are delivered; and 
  ● our $125.0 million Secured Credit Facility under which there were no borrowings outstanding as of July 31, 2023. 

.

Item 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2023. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to accomplish their objectives.

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended July 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

For information with respect to our legal proceedings, see Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

  

Item 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

 

None.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

No repurchases of our common stock were made during the three months ended July 31, 2023. For a description of the Company's stock repurchase program, see "Part I. Financial Information - Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Resources and Liquidity – Equity".

 

 

Item 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

During the three months ended July 31, 2023, no director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or terminated a "Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement" or "non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement," as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

 

44

 

 

Item 6.

EXHIBITS 

 

 

3(a)

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

   

3(b)

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 28, 2023).

   

4(a)

Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

   

4(b)

Specimen Class B Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

   

4(c)

Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated July 12, 2005.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on July 13, 2005).

   

4(d)

Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated August 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended July 31, 2008).

   

4(e)

Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2008, between Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Certificate of Designation as Exhibit A, Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant filed on August 14, 2008).

   

4(f)

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2018, between Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to National City Bank), as Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit 1 and the amended and restated Summary of Rights as Exhibit 2 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on January 11, 2018).

   

4(g)

Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2021, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to National City Bank), as Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit 1 and the amended and restated Summary of Rights as Exhibit 2 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed January 19, 2021).

   
10(a)* Form of 2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT Class A.
   
10(b)* Form of 2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT Class B.
   
10(c)* Form of 2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT ROI Class A.
   
10(d)* Form of 2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT ROI Class B.
   

 

 

   

31(a)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

   

31(b)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

   

32(a)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

   

32(b)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

   

101

 

The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2023, formatted in inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (Inline XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

   
104 Cover Page from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended July 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL (and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

 

  * Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Registrant)

 

 

DATE:

September 1, 2023

 

  

/s/J. LARRY SORSBY

 

  

J. Larry Sorsby

 

  

Executive Vice President,

 

  

Chief Financial Officer and Director

 

  

  

 

DATE:

September 1, 2023

 

  

/s/BRAD G. O’CONNOR

 

  

Brad G. O’Connor

 

  

Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

47