News

M.D.C. Holdings Reports 35% and 25% Increases in Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Per Share
2005 FOURTH QUARTER
* Earnings per share of $4.29 vs. $3.17 in 2004, up 35%
* Net income of $197.5 million, up 38%
* Total revenues of $1.7 billion, a 29% increase
* Estimated value of home orders up 9%
* SG&A as a percent of home sales revenues 90 basis points lower than 2004
2005 FULL YEAR AND 2006 OUTLOOK
* Earnings per share of $10.99 vs. $8.79 in 2004, up 25%
* Net income of $505.7 million, a 29% increase from 2004
* Total revenues of $4.9 billion, up 22%
PRNewswire-FirstCall
DENVER

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. today announced net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 of $197.5 million, or $4.29 per share, compared with net income of $142.6 million, or $3.17 per share, for the same period in 2004. This earnings growth was derived primarily from increased levels of home closings and average selling prices.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2005 was $505.7 million, or $10.99 per share, 29% higher than the $391.2 million, or $8.79 per share, for the same period in 2004. Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005 reached $4.88 billion, representing an increase of 22% from revenues of $4.01 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004.

"We are pleased to announce our 10th consecutive year of earnings growth, which we concluded with the strongest quarterly results of our 34 years in business," said Larry A. Mizel, MDC's chairman and chief executive officer. "The successful execution of our business model enabled us to produce exceptional returns in 2005, including after-tax returns on average equity and assets of 31% and 16%, respectively. At the same time, we continued to maintain a strong financial position, as represented by our year-end ratio of homebuilding and corporate debt-to-capital, net of cash, of .28, which ranks among the best in the homebuilding industry. In addition, we ended the year with over $1.2 billion in available cash and borrowing capacity, more than at any other time in our history."

Mizel continued, "Our record performance in 2005 continues a long history of earnings growth. Over the last decade, we have withstood a host of national and world-level challenges to increase our earnings at an average year-over-year growth rate of more than 40%. During this 10-year time span, we have generated improved year-over-year earnings in 36 of 40 quarterly periods, while we have grown our stockholders' equity by 850% and improved our after-tax return on average equity by 2,200 basis points. Our robust and quality growth has propelled our Company to its prestigious investment grade status and established us as a performance leader, not only in our industry, but among all public companies in the nation. In 2005, we achieved Fortune 500 status and ranked #6 in the Barron's 500, and we were recently named to the Forbes Platinum 400 as one of 'America's Best Big Companies' for the eighth consecutive year. These accomplishments are a testament to our operating discipline, our conservative and strategic allocation of capital, the strength of our markets and the dedication of our employees and business associates throughout the country."

Mizel concluded, "As always, we remain committed to our goal of increasing long-term shareowner value. Our actions in pursuit of this goal have positioned us well to continue to grow and produce new Company highs for home closings, revenues and earnings in 2006."

Please refer to the last paragraph of this release for a discussion of factors that may impact the Company's estimates of home closings, revenues and earnings.

Growth in Homebuilding Profits

Homebuilding operating profits for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005 were $337.8 million and $902.6 million, respectively, representing increases of 30% and 25% over profits of $260.2 million and $719.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2004. Homebuilding operating margins in the 2005 fourth quarter and full year improved to 19.7% and 18.7%, respectively, from 19.6% and 18.2% for comparable periods in 2004. These 2005 increases largely resulted from increased levels of home closings and higher average selling prices. The Company closed 4,951 homes and 15,307 homes, respectively, in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005, 15% and 10% higher than home closings in the same periods in 2004. Average selling prices reached $345,100 and $313,800, respectively, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005, representing year-over-year increases of 13% and 11%. During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005, the Company's home gross margins were 27.9% and 28.4%, respectively, compared with 28.2% and 27.7% for the comparable periods in 2004.

Paris G. Reece III, MDC's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, "Our record 2005 homebuilding profits are the product of our careful attention to allocating capital to homebuilding projects that generate solid risk-adjusted returns. Increased capital allocations to our long-standing operations in Arizona, Virginia and Maryland, as well as to our relatively new operations in Utah and Florida, enabled us to produce improved fourth quarter results in all of these markets. Significant increases in average selling prices of homes closed and home gross margins contributed to these improvements. As in the 2005 second and third quarters, these fourth quarter gross margin increases were offset by the impact of easing home gross margins in Nevada from last year's extraordinary levels.

"Home gross margins in the 2005 fourth quarter were impacted negatively relative to the 2005 third quarter and the 2004 fourth quarter by the greater mix of homes closed in California, where our average selling prices were 50% above the Company average and our home gross margins were below the Company average. Notwithstanding our lower home gross margins, our 2005 fourth quarter homebuilding operating margins were higher than margins in both the 2005 third quarter and the 2004 fourth quarter. Lower selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues, resulting from the increased revenue production in most of our long-standing and newer markets, was the primary driver of these improved operating margins."

Reece continued, "Although the number of our 2005 fourth quarter home orders received was lower than orders received in the same 2004 period, the estimated sales value of our 2005 fourth quarter orders was 9% higher, resulting from the 21% increase in the average selling price of home orders, compared with the year ago average price. Average home order prices rose year-over-year in almost all of our markets, with the most significant increases in Arizona, Nevada, Maryland and Florida. The extraordinary home price increases experienced in several of our markets over the past two years have moderated to more normalized levels. Nevertheless, we believe that the overall demand for new homes in most of our markets remains strong, as evidenced by the year-over-year increase in the sales value of our home orders."

Reece concluded, "Consistent with our commitment to create long-term value for our shareowners, we are reallocating capital from Texas to investment opportunities in other markets where we expect to generate higher risk-adjusted returns for our Company. We are continuing to build on or sell the lots we control in Texas, which we anticipate we will complete by the fall of 2006. However, we currently have no plans to enter into new contracts for the acquisition of additional land in this market. "

Improved Financial Services Results

Operating profits from the Company's financial services business for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005, increased to $11.5 million and $24.7 million, respectively, compared with $5.1 million and $18.5 million for the same periods in 2004. The increases in profits for both periods primarily were due to increases in loan origination fees earned in conjunction with record levels of mortgage loans originated. The 2005 fourth quarter also benefited from higher gains on sales of mortgage loans and loan servicing, compared with the same period in 2004.

Combination of Units Release With Earnings Release Beginning in the 2006 First Quarter

Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, MDC will combine its announcement of quarterly home orders, home closings and backlog with the release of its quarterly earnings in an effort to provide more detailed information when releasing its quarterly results. In addition, this approach should enable the Company to provide a broader picture of its operating results and the overall trends in the market for new homes on a quarterly basis.

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, including statements regarding future home closings, revenues and earnings, 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.
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                            Three Months Ended          Year Ended
                               December 31,             December 31,
                            2005        2004         2005        2004
  REVENUES
    Homebuilding         $1,713,910  $1,328,019  $4,820,638  $3,951,644
    Financial Services       22,154      15,588      62,035      56,610
    Corporate                    28         249       1,487         818

       Total Revenues    $1,736,092  $1,343,856  $4,884,160  $4,009,072

  OPERATING PROFITS
    Homebuilding           $337,791    $260,176    $902,576    $719,197
    Financial Services       11,492       5,108      24,730      18,483
       Operating Profit     349,283     265,284     927,306     737,680

    Corporate general
     and administrative
     expense, net           (33,752)    (33,344)   (118,543)   (100,766)

  Income before income
   taxes                    315,531     231,940     808,763     636,914
  Provision for income
   taxes                   (118,052)    (89,317)   (303,040)   (245,749)

       Net Income          $197,479    $142,623    $505,723    $391,165

  EARNINGS PER SHARE
       Basic                  $4.43       $3.31      $11.48       $9.19
       Diluted                $4.29       $3.17      $10.99       $8.79

  WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
   SHARES OUTSTANDING
       Basic                 44,605      43,117      44,046      42,560
       Diluted               46,068      44,960      46,036      44,498

  DIVIDENDS DECLARED
   PER SHARE                  $.250       $.115       $.760       $.434



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                       Information on Business Segments
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                             Three Months Ended          Year Ended
                                December 31,            December 31,
                             2005        2004        2005        2004
  Homebuilding
    Home sales           $1,708,734  $1,316,913  $4,802,875  $3,932,013
    Land sales                  430       7,059       2,995       8,898
    Other revenues            4,746       4,047      14,768      10,733
       Total
        Homebuilding
        Revenues          1,713,910   1,328,019   4,820,638   3,951,644

    Home cost of sales    1,231,976     945,385   3,440,858   2,843,543
    Land cost of sales          365       7,467       1,861       8,783
    Marketing                77,628      60,864     236,322     198,541
    General and
     administrative          66,150      54,127     239,021     181,580
       Total
        Homebuilding
        Expenses          1,376,119   1,067,843   3,918,062   3,232,447
          Homebuilding
           Operating
           Profit           337,791     260,176     902,576     719,197

  Financial Services
    Interest revenues           772       1,015       2,782       3,838
    Origination fees         11,048       7,264      32,476      24,728
    Gains on sales of
     mortgage servicing       1,631         550       4,221       2,093
    Gains on sales of
     mortgage loans, net      7,327       5,752      18,699      22,657
    Mortgage servicing
     and other                1,376       1,007       3,857       3,294
       Total Financial
        Services Revenues    22,154      15,588      62,035      56,610

  General and
   administrative            10,662      10,480      37,305      38,127
       Financial
        Services
        Operating Profit     11,492       5,108      24,730      18,483

  Total Operating Profit    349,283     265,284     927,306     737,680

  Corporate
    Interest and other
     revenues                    28         249       1,487         818
    Other general and
     administrative
     expenses               (33,780)    (33,593)   (120,030)   (101,584)

  Income Before Income
   Taxes                   $315,531    $231,940    $808,763    $636,914



                          M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                         Selected Financial Data
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                   December 31,  December 31, December 31,
                                       2005         2004         2003
  BALANCE SHEET DATA
    Stockholders' Equity Per
     Share Outstanding                 $43.74       $32.80       $24.06
    Stockholders' Equity           $1,952,109   $1,418,821   $1,015,920
    Homebuilding and
     Corporate Debt                   996,297      746,310      500,179
    Total Capital (excluding
     mortgage lending debt)        $2,948,406   $2,165,131   $1,516,099

    Cash and Cash Equivalents        $221,273     $408,150     $173,565
    Unrestricted Cash and
     Available Borrowing
     Capacity Under Lines
     of Credit                     $1,231,340   $1,050,954     $779,407

    Ratio of Homebuilding and
     Corporate Debt to Equity             .51          .53          .49
    Ratio of Homebuilding and
     Corporate Debt to Capital            .34          .34          .33
    Ratio of Homebuilding and
     Corporate Debt to Capital
     (net of cash)                        .28          .19          .24

    Housing Completed or Under
     Construction Inventories      $1,266,901     $851,628     $732,744
    Land and Land Under
     Development Inventories       $1,656,198   $1,109,953     $763,569

    Corporate and Homebuilding
     Interest Capitalized
       Interest Capitalized in
        Inventories at Beginning
        of Year                       $24,220      $20,043      $17,783
          Interest Incurred
           During the Year             51,872       32,879       26,779
          Interest in Home and
           Land Cost of Sales for
           the Year                   (34,093)     (28,702)     (24,519)
       Interest Capitalized in
        Inventories at End of Year    $41,999      $24,220      $20,043
       Interest Capitalized as a
        Percent of Inventories           1.4%         1.2%         1.3%


                              Three Months Ended          Year Ended
                                 December 31,            December 31,
                              2005        2004        2005        2004
  OPERATING DATA
    Interest in Home Cost
     of Sales as a Percent
     of Home Sales Revenues    0.7%        0.6%        0.7%        0.7%
    Homebuilding and
     Corporate SG&A as a
     Percent of Home Sales
     Revenues                 10.4%       11.3%       12.4%       12.3%
    Depreciation and
     Amortization           $19,907     $13,150     $54,425     $41,906

    Home Gross Margins        27.9%       28.2%       28.4%       27.7%

    Cash Provided by
     (Used in) Operating
     Activities            $128,498    $170,368   $(425,378)   $(23,864)
    Cash Provided by
     (Used in) Investing
     Activities             $(4,771)    $(2,834)   $(22,889)   $(29,917)
    Cash Provided by
     (Used in) Financing
     Activities           $ (32,575)   $187,533   $ 261,390    $288,366

    After-Tax Return
     on Revenues              11.4%       10.6%       10.4%        9.8%
    After-Tax Return
     on Average Assets          N/A         N/A       15.8%       17.0%
    After-Tax Return
     on Average Equity          N/A         N/A       30.6%       33.0%



                          M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                         Selected Financial Data
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                  Year Ended December 31,
                   2005        2004        2003        2002       2001
  FIVE-YEAR TRENDS
    Total
     Revenues  $4,884,160  $4,009,072  $2,920,070  $2,318,524  $2,125,874
      Year-Over-
       Year
       Increase     21.8%       37.3%       25.9%        9.1%      21.4%

    Net Income   $505,723    $391,165    $212,229    $167,305    $155,715
      Year-Over-
       Year
       Increase     29.3%       84.3%       26.9%        7.4%      26.3%

    Diluted
     Earnings Per
     Share         $10.99       $8.79       $4.90       $3.83       $3.64
      Year-Over-
       Year
       Increase     25.0%       79.4%       27.9%        5.2%      23.4%

    After-Tax
     Return on
     Revenues       10.4%        9.8%        7.3%        7.2%       7.3%

    After-Tax
     Return on
     Average Assets 15.8%       17.0%       12.1%       12.0%       13.3%

    After-Tax
     Return on
     Average Equity 30.6%       33.0%       24.0%       23.0%       27.4%



                          M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                      Homebuilding Operational Data
                          (Dollars in thousands)
                               (Unaudited)

                                   December 31, December 31, December 31,
                                        2005         2004         2003
  LOTS OWNED AND CONTROLLED
    Lots Owned                         23,445       20,760       16,351
    Lots Under Option                  18,819       21,164       12,251
    Homes Under Construction
     (including models)                 6,891        5,573        4,754

  LOTS OWNED AND CONTROLLED
   BY MARKET
    (excluding homes under
     construction)
    Arizona                            11,035       11,151        5,258
    California                          5,372        4,428        3,512
    Colorado                            5,837        5,859        5,206
    Florida                             4,403        3,574          875
    Illinois                              616          711           --
    Maryland                            1,852        1,856        1,767
    Nevada                              5,455        5,775        5,359
    Philadelphia/Delaware Valley        1,754        1,035           --
    Texas                                 551        2,336        2,203
    Utah                                1,382        1,078        1,220
    Virginia                            4,007        4,121        3,202
      Total Company                    42,264       41,924       28,602

  ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS
    Arizona                                54           32           38
    California                             34           22           26
    Colorado                               57           53           49
    Florida                                19           18            9
    Illinois                                8            1           --
    Maryland                               11           11            9
    Nevada                                 43           31           17
    Philadelphia/Delaware Valley            7            2           --
    Texas                                  21           24           11
    Utah                                   18           22           11
    Virginia                               20           26           28
      Total Company                       292          242          198
      Average for Quarter Ended           287          237          200



                           Three Months Ended            Year Ended
                              December 31,              December 31,
                            2005        2004         2005          2004
  AVERAGE SELLING PRICE
   PER HOME CLOSED
    Arizona                $255.0      $194.0       $227.2       $192.7
    California              517.5       534.3        512.6        459.5
    Colorado                288.0       266.6        286.3        265.3
    Florida                 268.2       182.0        219.9        180.6
    Illinois                357.2       496.9        389.4        496.9
    Maryland                528.8       448.1        482.8        419.6
    Nevada                  318.2       279.6        305.8        247.2
    Philadelphia/
     Delaware Valley        379.4          --        369.6           --
    Texas                   165.7       156.9        160.6        157.7
    Utah                    244.4       199.0        226.4        184.7
    Virginia                577.0       450.4        527.1        436.8

      Company Average      $345.1      $304.6       $313.8       $283.4



                          M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                      Homebuilding Operational Data
                          (Dollars in Thousands)
                               (Unaudited)

                            Three Months Ended            Year 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

  Estimated Value of
   Orders for Homes,
   net                   $830,000    $760,000
  Estimated Average
   Selling Price of
   Orders for Homes,
   net                     $345.1      $285.5

      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

  Backlog (units)       December 31, December 31,
                             2005        2004
    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

SOURCE: M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

CONTACT: Paris G. Reece III, Chief Financial Officer, +1-303-804-7706,
greece@mdch.com, or Robert N. Martin, Investor Relations, +1-720-977-3431,
bnmartin@mdch.com, both of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.; or Richard Matthews of
Rubenstein Communications, +1-212-843-8267, rmatthews@rubenstein.com, for
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.