ATLANTA, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) announced today financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $83 million, or $0.24 per share, compared with prior year net income of $55 million, or $0.15 per share.

"PulteGroup has gotten off to a strong start in 2016, with increased investment driving growth in the business as the value of net new orders increased 24% to $2.1 billion and our backlog expanded by 31% to $3.4 billion," said Richard J. Dugas, Jr., Chairman and CEO of PulteGroup. "We continued to deliver strong margin performance through our focus on better community locations, strategic pricing and construction efficiencies, while enhancing our overall liquidity and maintaining a superior balance sheet that gives us the flexibility to capitalize on market opportunities as they develop."

"Looking to the broader housing market, we remain pleased with overall demand and expect new home sales will continue to move higher over the coming years as the industry benefits from an improving economy, ongoing employment and wage gains, low interest rates, a limited supply of homes and the gradual release of pent-up demand," added Dugas. "We believe our business is extremely well positioned to be successful in this type of operating environment given our disciplined investment practices and focus on investing in high returning projects."

Home sale revenues for the first quarter were $1.4 billion, an increase of 28% over the prior year. Higher revenues for the quarter were driven by a 17% increase in closings to 3,945 homes in combination with a 9% increase in average selling price to $353,000.

Home sale gross margin for the quarter was 21.9%, in line with Company guidance. Margins for the period were reduced by approximately 80 basis points associated with the Company's recent purchase of substantially all of the assets of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods.

Homebuilding SG&A expense for the period was $191 million, or 13.7% of home sale revenues, compared with $161 million, or 14.8% of home sale revenues, in the prior year.

"Our SG&A increased due to our investment in the incremental workforce necessary to manage the 41% increase in homes we have under construction and the $4 million of transaction costs associated with the Wieland transaction, but has importantly decreased 110 basis points as a percentage of revenue as we gained overhead leverage due to the increase in our deliveries this quarter," said Bob O'Shaughnessy, Executive Vice President and CFO. "We expect a slight decline in our quarterly SG&A spend through the balance of 2016, and currently project our full year SG&A to be approximately $730 million, or approximately 10% of our revenues."

For the quarter, the dollar value of net new orders increased 24% over the prior year to $2.1 billion, while net new orders increased 10% to 5,652 homes. For the quarter, the Company operated out of 709 communities, which represents an increase of 16% over last year. Community count for the quarter included 49 communities acquired as part of the Wieland transaction. Excluding the acquired Wieland communities, absorption paces in the first quarter were comparable with the prior year quarter.

PulteGroup's backlog at quarter end totaled 8,755 homes valued at $3.4 billion, compared with prior year backlog of 7,624 homes valued at $2.6 billion. The average sales price in backlog of $384,000, which is up 14% over the prior year, reflects the ongoing shift in the mix of homes sold toward more move-up product, as well as the inclusion of luxury homes offered in Wieland communities.

Benefitting from increased closing volumes, the Company's financial services operations reported pretax income of $10 million for the quarter, compared with pretax income of $5 million in the prior year. Mortgage capture rate for the quarter was 81% compared with 82% in the comparable prior year period.

The Company's reported income tax expense of $35 million, which represents an effective tax rate of 29.5%, includes a reduction of approximately $10 million relating to the favorable resolution of certain state income matters. The Company currently estimates that its normalized tax rate for future quarters will be in line with its previous guidance of 38%.

The Company ended the quarter with $1.0 billion of cash, of which $465 million will be used to retire bonds maturing in May 2016. On a pro forma basis, adjusting for the repayment of these bonds, the Company's debt-to-total capital ratio falls to 35%, down from the 39% currently reported.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 3.1 million common shares for $50 million, or an average price of $16.36 per share.

A conference call discussing PulteGroup's first quarter results is scheduled for Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested investors can access the live webcast via PulteGroup's corporate website at www.pultegroupinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements." These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly factual or historical nature and generally discuss or relate to forecasts, estimates or other expectations regarding future events. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "may," "can," "could," "might," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including statements related to expected operating and performing results, planned transactions, planned objectives of management, future developments or conditions in the industries in which we participate and other trends, developments and uncertainties that may affect our business in the future.

Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things: interest rate changes and the availability of mortgage financing; continued volatility in the debt and equity markets; competition within the industries in which PulteGroup operates; the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by PulteGroup in its homebuilding operations; the impact of any changes to our strategy in responding to the cyclical nature of the industry, including any changes regarding our land positions; the availability and cost of insurance covering risks associated with PulteGroup's businesses; shortages and the cost of labor; weather related slowdowns; slow growth initiatives and/or local building moratoria; governmental regulation directed at or affecting the housing market, the homebuilding industry or construction activities; uncertainty in the mortgage lending industry, including revisions to underwriting standards and repurchase requirements associated with the sale of mortgage loans; the interpretation of or changes to tax, labor and environmental laws; economic changes nationally or in PulteGroup's local markets, including inflation, deflation, changes in consumer confidence and preferences and the state of the market for homes in general; legal or regulatory proceedings or claims; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in order to successfully implement our capital allocation priorities; required accounting changes; terrorist acts and other acts of war; and other factors of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature. See PulteGroup's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our businesses. PulteGroup undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in PulteGroup's expectations.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America's largest homebuilding companies with operations in approximately 50 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the Company is one of the industry's most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to www.pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com; www.divosta.com and www.jwhomes.com.




                                         PulteGroup, Inc.

                                Consolidated Results of Operations

                             ($000's omitted, except per share data)

                                           (Unaudited)


                                                 Three Months Ended

                                                   March 31,
                                                   ---------

                                        2016                            2015
                                        ----                            ----

    Revenues:

    Homebuilding

    Home sale
     revenues                                   $1,394,243                     $1,088,158

    Land sale
     revenues                          2,487                            17,542
                                       -----                            ------

                                   1,396,730                         1,105,700

    Financial
     Services                         35,848                            27,598
                                      ------                            ------

    Total
     revenues                      1,432,578                         1,133,298
                                   ---------                         ---------


    Homebuilding Cost of
     Revenues:

    Home sale
     cost of
     revenues                      1,089,329                           841,145

    Land sale
     cost of
     revenues                          2,028                            13,378
                                       -----                            ------

                                   1,091,357                           854,523
                                   ---------                           -------

    Financial
     Services
     expenses                         26,119                            22,541

    Selling,
     general,
     and
     administrative
     expenses                        191,015                           161,312

    Other
     expense
     (income),
     net                               5,874                             (883)
                                       -----                              ----

    Income
     before
     income
     taxes                           118,213                            95,805

    Income tax
     expense                          34,913                            40,834
                                      ------                            ------

    Net income                                     $83,300                        $54,971
                                                   =======                        =======


    Per share:

    Basic
     earnings                                        $0.24                          $0.15
                                                     =====                          =====

    Diluted
     earnings                                        $0.24                          $0.15
                                                     =====                          =====

    Cash
     dividends
     declared                                        $0.09                          $0.08
                                                     =====                          =====


    Number of shares used in
     calculation:

    Basic                            347,815                           366,748

    Effect of
     dilutive
     securities                        2,662                             3,362

    Diluted                          350,477                           370,110
                                     =======                           =======



                                     PulteGroup, Inc.

                          Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                     ($000's omitted)

                                       (Unaudited)

                                    March 31,                   December 31,
                                         2016                              2015
                                         ----                              ----


    ASSETS


    Cash and
     equivalents                                  $995,696                          $754,161

     Restricted
     cash                              22,419                              21,274

    House and
     land
     inventory                      6,202,479                           5,450,058

    Land held
     for sale                          85,017                              81,492

     Residential
     mortgage
     loans
     available-
     for-
     sale                             290,578                             442,715

     Investments
     in
     unconsolidated
     entities                          53,090                              41,267

    Other
     assets                           686,163                             660,835

     Intangible
     assets                           163,185                             110,215

    Deferred
     tax
     assets,
     net                            1,344,853                           1,394,879
                                    ---------                           ---------

                                                $9,843,480                        $8,956,896
                                                ==========                        ==========


    LIABILITIES AND
     SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


    Liabilities:

    Accounts
     payable                                      $331,932                          $327,725

    Customer
     deposits                         223,692                             186,141

    Accrued
     and
     other
     liabilities                    1,294,892                           1,284,273

    Income
     tax
     liabilities                       33,460                              57,050

    Financial
     Services
     debt                             118,614                             267,877

    Term loan                         498,817                             498,423

    Senior
     notes                          2,568,546                           1,576,082
                                    ---------                           ---------

                                    5,069,953                           4,197,571

     Shareholders'
     equity                         4,773,527                           4,759,325

                                                $9,843,480                        $8,956,896
                                                ==========                        ==========




                                            PulteGroup, Inc.

                                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                            ($000's omitted)

                                              (Unaudited)

                                                      Three Months Ended

                                                         March 31,
                                                         ---------

                                               2016                          2015
                                               ----                          ----

    Cash flows from operating
     activities:

    Net income                                          $83,300                        $54,971

    Adjustments to reconcile net
     income to net cash from
     operating activities:

    Deferred
     income tax
     expense                                 50,026                          40,805

    Depreciation
     and
     amortization                            13,113                          11,062

    Share-based
     compensation
     expense                                  9,355                           8,280

    Other, net                                4,447                           4,810

    Increase (decrease) in cash
     due to:

    Restricted
     cash                                   (1,145)                        (1,686)

    Inventories                           (381,910)                      (230,993)

    Residential
     mortgage
     loans
     available-
     for-sale                               151,886                         119,976

    Other assets                           (25,133)                        (3,830)

    Accounts
     payable,
     accrued and
     other
     liabilities                             31,999                        (28,792)

    Net cash
     provided by
     (used in)
     operating
     activities                            (64,062)                       (25,397)
                                            -------                         -------

    Cash flows from investing
     activities:

    Capital
     expenditures                           (9,460)                       (14,517)

    Cash used
     for
     business
     acquisition                          (430,011)                              -

    Other
     investing
     activities,
     net                                   (12,281)                          4,632
                                            -------                           -----

    Net cash
     used in
     investing
     activities                           (451,752)                        (9,885)
                                           --------                          ------

    Cash flows from financing
     activities:

    Proceeds
     from debt
     issuance                               991,575                               -

    Repayments
     of debt                                  (702)                              -

    Borrowings
     under
     revolving
     credit
     facility                               220,000                               -

    Repayments
     under
     revolving
     credit
     facility                             (220,000)                              -

    Financial
     Services
     borrowings
     (repayments)                         (149,263)                       (72,678)

    Stock option
     exercises                                   52                           6,596

    Share
     repurchases                           (52,745)                      (107,955)

    Dividends
     paid                                  (31,568)                       (29,616)
                                            -------                         -------

    Net cash
     provided by
     (used in)
     financing
     activities                             757,349                       (203,653)
                                            -------                        --------

    Net increase
     (decrease)
     in cash and
     equivalents                            241,535                       (238,935)

    Cash and
     equivalents
     at
     beginning
     of period                              754,161                       1,292,862
                                            -------                       ---------

    Cash and
     equivalents
     at end of
     period                                            $995,696                     $1,053,927
                                                       ========                     ==========


    Supplemental Cash Flow
     Information:

    Interest
     paid
     (capitalized),
     net                                              $(23,124)                     $(21,412)
                                                       ========                       ========

    Income taxes
     paid
     (refunded),
     net                                                 $1,212                       $(1,997)
                                                         ======                        =======



                            PulteGroup, Inc.

                              Segment Data

                            ($000's omitted)

                               (Unaudited)


                                      Three Months Ended

                                        March 31,
                                        ---------

                             2016                           2015
                             ----                           ----

    HOMEBUILDING:

    Home sale revenues               $1,394,243                    $1,088,158

    Land sale revenues      2,487                           17,542
                            -----                           ------

    Total Homebuilding
     revenues           1,396,730                        1,105,700


    Home sale cost of
     revenues           1,089,329                          841,145

    Land sale cost of
     revenues               2,028                           13,378

    Selling, general,
     and administrative
     expenses             191,015                          161,312

    Other expense
     (income), net          5,925                            (883)
                            -----

    Income before
     income taxes                      $108,433                       $90,748
                                       ========                       =======


    FINANCIAL SERVICES:

    Income before
     income taxes                        $9,780                        $5,057
                                         ======                        ======


    CONSOLIDATED:

    Income before
     income taxes                      $118,213                       $95,805
                                       ========                       =======




                                    PulteGroup, Inc.

                                 Segment Data, continued

                                    ($000's omitted)

                                       (Unaudited)


                                         Three Months Ended

                                           March 31,
                                           ---------

                                  2016                      2015
                                  ----                      ----


    Home sale revenues                   $1,394,243                $1,088,158
                                         ==========                ==========


    Closings - units

    Northeast                      262                         248

    Southeast (a)                  826                         612

    Florida                        745                         601

    Midwest                        552                         569

    Texas                          775                         746

    West                           785                         589


                                 3,945                       3,365
                                 =====                       =====

    Average selling price                      $353                      $323
                                               ====                      ====


    Net new orders - units

    Northeast                      378                         437

    Southeast (a)                1,052                         938

    Florida                        923                         911

    Midwest                        994                         763

    Texas                        1,121                       1,117

    West                         1,184                         973

                                 5,652                       5,139
                                 =====                       =====

    Net new orders - dollars (b)         $2,113,973                $1,708,390
                                         ==========                ==========


    Unit backlog

    Northeast                      560                         650

    Southeast (a)                1,689                       1,294

    Florida                      1,452                       1,312

    Midwest                      1,531                       1,382

    Texas                        1,691                       1,644

    West                         1,832                       1,342


                                 8,755                       7,624
                                 =====                       =====

    Dollars in backlog                   $3,359,157                $2,564,092
                                         ==========                ==========

(a) Southeast includes the acquisition in January 2016 of substantially all of the assets of JW Homes ("Wieland").
(b) Net new orders excludes backlog acquired from Wieland in January 2016. Net new order dollars represent a composite of new order dollars combined with other movements of the dollars in backlog related to cancellations and change orders.




                               PulteGroup, Inc.

                            Segment Data, continued

                               ($000's omitted)

                                  (Unaudited)


                                  Three Months Ended

                                     March 31,
                                     ---------

                               2016                  2015
                               ----                  ----

    MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS:

    Origination volume        2,548                           2,116
                              =====                           =====

    Origination
     principal                         $666,647                     $514,788
                                       ========                     ========

    Capture rate              81.1%                          81.6%
                               ====                            ====



                           Supplemental Data

                           ($000's omitted)

                              (Unaudited)


                                Three Months Ended

                                     March 31,
                                     ---------

                               2016                  2015
                               ----                  ----


    Interest in
     inventory,
     beginning of
     period                            $149,498                     $167,638

    Interest
     capitalized             35,284                          30,803

    Interest expensed      (26,129)                       (31,554)

    Interest in
     inventory, end of
     period                            $158,653                     $166,887
                                       ========                     ========

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SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.