News
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
Increased Home Closings and Backlog
During the 2005 fourth quarter and full year, MDC closed 4,951 homes and 15,307 homes, respectively, representing increases of 15% and 10% from the 4,323 and 13,876 home closings, respectively, for the same periods in 2004. The Company ended the fourth quarter of 2005 with a backlog of 6,532 homes, compared with the backlog of 6,505 homes at December 31, 2004. The estimated sales value of backlog at the end of the 2005 fourth quarter was $2.44 billion, 27% higher than the $1.92 billion estimated sales value of backlog at December 31, 2004.
Home Orders
The Company received orders, net of cancellations, for 2,405 homes and 15,334 homes, respectively, during the 2005 fourth quarter and full year, compared with net orders for 2,662 homes and 14,248 homes during the same periods in 2004.
As was the case in the 2005 second and third quarters, net home orders received in the fourth quarter were lower year-over-year in Arizona. This decline primarily resulted from a sharp reduction in the number of net home orders per active subdivision, from the unsustainably high levels experienced in this market during the last nine months of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, to a level more consistent with those experienced in the fourth quarters of 2003, 2002 and 2001. Net home orders received per active subdivision in the 2004 fourth quarter were more than twice the levels recorded in any of these comparable periods.
MDC also experienced lower net home orders in Virginia in the 2005 fourth quarter. In this market, the Company's number of gross home orders (excluding cancellations) received per active subdivision in the 2005 fourth quarter was approximately the same as in the fourth quarter of 2004. However, higher home order cancellations and a temporary decline in the number of active subdivisions during the 2005 fourth quarter, compared with the same period in 2004, led to the reduced number of net home orders. In addition, similar to the previous three quarters of 2005, fourth quarter home orders declined in Colorado, primarily due to a more competitive environment for new homes in this market.
Although the substantial rates of home price increases experienced in Arizona and Virginia over the past two years have moderated to more normalized levels, MDC believes that both markets provide favorable environments for continued strength in the demand for new homes. Therefore, the Company has allocated significant capital for growth in these markets in 2006.
The order decreases noted above partially were offset by fourth quarter increases in home orders in Nevada and California of 173% and 20%, respectively, due to increases in the number of active subdivisions and continued strong demand for new homes in these two states. In addition, fourth quarter home orders increased 18% in Utah. This increase was achieved despite a temporary decrease in active subdivisions of approximately 25% that resulted from certain subdivisions selling out earlier than expected due to the strength of demand for new homes in this market.
Earnings Conference Call to be held on January 17, 2006
A synchronized slide show and audio presentation will be broadcast over the Internet on Tuesday, January 17, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in conjunction with MDC's 2005 fourth quarter and full year earnings conference call. The presentation can be accessed by entering MDC's website, www.richmondamerican.com, clicking on "Investors" and selecting "M.D.C. Holdings 2005 Fourth Quarter Conference Call." Minimum requirements to listen to the broadcast are as follows: Windows Media Player software, downloadable free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx, and at least a 28.8Kbps connection to the Internet. If problems are experienced while listening to the broadcast, an email should be sent to
MDC, whose subsidiaries build homes under the name "Richmond American Homes," is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. The Company also provides mortgage financing, primarily for MDC's homebuyers, through its wholly owned subsidiary HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation. MDC is a major regional homebuilder with a significant presence in some of the country's best housing markets. The Company is the largest homebuilder in Colorado; among the top five homebuilders in Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Jacksonville and Salt Lake City; and among the top ten homebuilders in Northern California and Southern California. MDC also has established operating divisions in West Florida, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. For more information about our Company, please visit www.richmondamerican.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the 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 factors include, among other things, (1) general economic and business conditions; (2) interest rate changes; (3) the relative stability of debt and equity markets; (4) competition; (5) the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by the Company in its homebuilding operations; (6) the availability and cost of performance bonds and insurance covering risks associated with our business; (7) shortages and the cost of labor; (8) weather related slowdowns; (9) slow growth initiatives; (10) building moratoria; (11) governmental regulation, including the interpretation of tax, labor and environmental laws; (12) changes in consumer confidence and preferences; (13) required accounting changes; (14) terrorist acts and other acts of war; and (15) other factors over which the Company has little or no control. Additional information about the risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company's business is contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this press release will increase with the passage of time. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent filings, releases or presentations should be consulted.
M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
Homebuilding Operational Data
Three Months Full Year
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2005 2004 2005 2004
Orders For Homes,
net (units)
Arizona 587 962 3,627 4,066
California 323 270 2,060 2,034
Colorado 348 465 2,075 2,276
Florida 127 154 1,044 446
Illinois 35 12 148 20
Maryland 58 86 423 341
Nevada 505 185 3,293 2,596
Philadelphia/
Delaware Valley 35 22 191 23
Texas 109 160 781 807
Utah 212 180 953 753
Virginia 66 166 739 886
Total 2,405 2,662 15,334 14,248
Order Cancellation Rate 33.8% 32.0% 23.7% 25.3%
Homes Closed (units)
Arizona 1,121 913 3,671 3,256
California 864 704 2,102 2,346
Colorado 575 715 2,190 2,318
Florida 251 201 1,083 452
Illinois 46 2 86 2
Maryland 137 134 397 385
Nevada 1,165 849 3,016 2,736
Philadelphia/
Delaware Valley 15 -- 33 --
Texas 183 254 799 694
Utah 264 199 904 615
Virginia 330 352 1,026 1,072
Total 4,951 4,323 15,307 13,876
M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
Homebuilding Operational Data
(Dollars in Thousands)
December 31, December 31,
2005 2004
Backlog (units)
Arizona 2,099 2,143
California 765 807
Colorado 577 692
Florida 599 638
Illinois 80 18
Maryland 251 225
Nevada 1,023 746
Philadelphia/Delaware Valley 181 23
Texas 238 256
Utah 338 289
Virginia 381 668
Total 6,532 6,505
Backlog Estimated Sales Value $2,440,000 $1,920,000
Estimated Average Selling Price
of Homes in Backlog $373.5 $295.2
Active Subdivisions at
Beginning of Month 280 228
Beginning of Month 289 236
SOURCE: M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Paris G. Reece III, Chief Financial Officer, +1-303-804-7706,
Rubenstein Communications, +1-212-843-8267,
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
Web site: https://www.richmondamerican.com/
