M.D.C. Holdings (MDC) Risk Analysis

― Followers

Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

M.D.C. Holdings disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. M.D.C. Holdings reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q4, 2023

Risk Distribution

34% Finance & Corporate

21% Production

17% Legal & Regulatory

17% Macro & Political

7% Ability to Sell

3% Tech & Innovation

Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

M.D.C. Holdings Risk Factors

New Risk (0)

Risk Changed (0)

Risk Removed (0)

No changes from previous report

The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q4, 2023

Main Risk Category

Finance & Corporate

With 10 Risks

Finance & Corporate

With 10 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 32

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 32

Recent Changes

10Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Dec 2023

10Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Dec 2023

Number of Risk Changed

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 4

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 4

See the risk highlights of M.D.C. Holdings in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 29

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 10/29 (34%)Above Sector Average

Share Price & Shareholder Rights3 | 10.3%

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1

Changed

The interests of certain controlling stockholders may be adverse to other investors

Larry A. Mizel and David D. Mandarich beneficially own, directly or indirectly through their affiliates, in the aggregate, approximately 21.2% of our common stock. To the extent they and their affiliates vote their shares in the same manner, their combined stock ownership may effectively give them the power to influence the election of members of our board of directors and other matters reserved for our stockholders. On January 17, 2024, in connection with the Company's execution of the Merger Agreement, Mr. Larry Mizel, Mr. David Mandarich and certain of Mr. Mizel's affiliates and estate planning vehicles (the "Specified Company Stockholders") entered into a Voting Agreement (the "Voting Agreement") with Parent, pursuant to which the Specified Company Stockholders have agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of common stock in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger and any other matters that would reasonably be expected to facilitate the Merger and against, among other things, any other action, proposal or transaction that is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or prevent the consummation of, or otherwise adversely affect, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or Voting Agreement. The Voting Agreement also includes certain restrictions on transfer of shares of common stock by such Specified Company Stockholders. The Voting Agreement will automatically terminate upon certain events, including the termination of the Merger Agreement.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2

Added

The Merger is subject to receipt of approval from our stockholders as well as the satisfaction of other closing conditions, including conditions that may not be satisfied or completed within the expected timeframe, if at all.

The consummation of the Merger is subject to a number of important closing conditions that make the closing and timing of the Merger uncertain. These conditions include, among others, the (i) affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all of the outstanding shares of common stock to adopt the Merger Agreement; (ii) expiration or termination of any waiting period (and extensions thereof) applicable to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iii) absence of any law, order or injunction enacted or issued after the date of the Merger Agreement restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger; and (iv) absence of certain events constituting a material adverse effect on the Company's business following the date of the Merger Agreement. We can provide no assurance that all required consents and approvals will be obtained or that all closing conditions will otherwise be satisfied (or waived, if applicable), and, if all required consents and approvals are obtained and all closing conditions are satisfied (or waived, if applicable), we can provide no assurance as to the terms, conditions and timing of such consents and approvals or the timing of the completion of the Merger. Many of the conditions to completion of the Merger are not within either our or Parent's control, and neither us nor Parent can predict when or if these conditions will be satisfied (or waived, if applicable). Each party's obligation to consummate the Merger is also subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party (subject to customary materiality qualifications) and compliance in all material respects with the covenants and agreements contained in the Merger Agreement as of the closing of the Merger, including, with respect to us, covenants to conduct our business in the ordinary course and to not engage in certain kinds of material transactions prior to closing.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3

Added

Our By-laws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, subject to certain exceptions, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders and designate the federal district courts of the United States as the exclusive forum for actions arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our By-laws, as amended, designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, or other employee or agent of the Company to the Company or its stockholders, or a claim of aiding and abetting any such breach of fiduciary duty, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws, (d) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or (e) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. If the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another court of the State of Delaware or, if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, then the federal district court for the District of Delaware. In addition, the By-laws provide that the federal district courts of the United States are the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint raising a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our By-laws described above. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who, or entity that, holds, purchases or otherwise acquires an interest in stock of the Company shall be deemed to have consented to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in any proceeding brought to enjoin any action by that person or entity that is inconsistent with the exclusive jurisdiction provided for in our By-Laws. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the exclusive forum provisions in our By-Laws is filed in a court other than as specified above in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, another court in the State of Delaware or the federal district court in the District of Delaware, as appropriate, in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the exclusive forum provisions of our By-Laws and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder's counsel in the action as agent for such stockholder. These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our By-laws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Debt & Financing3 | 10.3%

Debt & Financing - Risk 1

Repurchase requirements associated with HomeAmerican's sale of mortgage loans, could negatively impact our business.

We are subject to risks associated with mortgage loans, including conventional mortgage loans, FHA and VA mortgage loans, second mortgage loans, high loan-to-value mortgage loans and jumbo mortgage loans (mortgage loans with principal balances that exceed various thresholds in our markets). These risks may include, among other things, compliance with mortgage loan underwriting criteria and the associated homebuyers' performance, which could require HomeAmerican to repurchase certain of those mortgage loans or provide indemnification. Repurchased mortgage loans and/or the settlement of claims associated with such loans could have a negative impact on HomeAmerican's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Debt & Financing - Risk 2

In the ordinary course of business, we are required to obtain surety bonds, the unavailability of which could adversely affect our business.

As is customary in the homebuilding industry, we often are required to provide surety bonds to secure our performance under construction contracts, development agreements and other arrangements. Our ability to obtain surety bonds primarily depends upon our credit rating, capitalization, working capital, past performance, management expertise and certain external factors, including the overall capacity of the surety market and the underwriting practices of surety bond issuers. The ability to obtain surety bonds also can be impacted by the willingness of insurance companies to issue surety bonds. If we are unable to obtain surety bonds when required, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

Debt & Financing - Risk 3

If mortgage interest rates continue to rise, if down payment requirements are increased, if loan limits are decreased, or if mortgage financing otherwise becomes less available, it could adversely affect our business.

Mortgage liquidity influenced by governmental entities like the FHA, VA, USDA and Ginnie Mae or government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs") like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to be an important factor in marketing our homes. Financial losses or other factors may limit, restrict or otherwise curtail their ability or willingness to insure mortgage loans, offer insurance at rates and on terms that are not prohibitive, or purchase mortgage loans. Should this occur, it may negatively impact the availability of mortgage financing and our sales of new homes. We believe that the liquidity provided by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae to the mortgage industry has been very important to the housing market. Any reduction in the availability of the liquidity provided by these institutions could adversely affect interest rates, mortgage availability and our sales of new homes and mortgage loans. Loans sold to or insured by the GSEs are subject to various loan limits. Decreases in these loan limits may require homebuyers to make larger down payments or obtain more restrictive non-conforming or "jumbo" mortgages, which could adversely impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Even if potential customers do not need financing, changes in the availability of mortgage products may make it harder for them to sell their current homes to potential buyers who need financing. If interest rates continue to increase, the costs of owning a home may continue to be affected and could result in further reductions in the demand for our homes. During fiscal 2022 and into 2023, the increase in mortgage interest rates had a significant impact on the demand for our homes.

Corporate Activity and Growth4 | 13.8%

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1

Added

In certain instances, the Merger Agreement requires us to pay a termination fee to Parent, which could affect the decisions of a third party considering making an alternative acquisition proposal.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we may be required to pay Parent a termination fee under specified conditions, including in the event Parent terminates the Merger Agreement before receipt of our stockholders' approval due to a change in recommendation by our Board of Directors, in the event we terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a superior proposal, or in the event we enter into a definitive agreement providing for or consummate an alternative transaction within twelve months of termination of the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances. This payment could affect the structure, pricing and terms proposed by a third party seeking to acquire or merge with us and could discourage a third party from making a competing acquisition proposal, including a proposal that may be deemed to offer greater value to our stockholders than the Merger.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2

Added

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that could discourage a third party from making a competing acquisition proposal.

The Merger Agreement contains certain customary restrictions on our ability to solicit proposals from third parties for an acquisition of the Company prior to obtaining the approval of the Merger Agreement from our stockholders. In addition, subject to certain customary "fiduciary out" exceptions, the Board is required to recommend that our stockholders vote in favor of the approval of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. We may, under certain circumstances, be obligated to pay a termination fee to Parent and/or reimburse Parent for its expenses. These costs could require us to use cash that would have otherwise been available for other uses. These provisions might discourage an otherwise-interested third party from considering or proposing an acquisition of the Company, including proposals that may be deemed to offer greater value to our stockholders than as provided in the Merger Agreement. Furthermore, even if a third party elects to propose an acquisition, the requirement that we must pay a termination fee to accept any such proposal may cause that third party to offer a lower price to our stockholders than such third party might otherwise have offered.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3

Added

We will be subject to various uncertainties while the Merger is pending that may cause disruption and may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, clients, customers, and others with whom we do business.

Our efforts to complete the Merger could cause substantial disruptions in, and create uncertainty surrounding, our business, which may materially adversely affect our results of operation and our business. In connection with the Merger, our current and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with the combined company following the Merger, which may materially adversely affect our ability to attract and retain key personnel while the Merger is pending. Key employees may depart because of issues relating to the uncertainty and difficulty of integration or a desire not to remain with the combined company following the Merger. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we will be able to attract and retain key employees to the same extent that we have been able to in the past. If we do not succeed in attracting, hiring, and integrating excellent personnel, or retaining and motivating existing personnel, we may be unable to grow and operate our business effectively. As mentioned above, some amount of our management's and employees' attention is being directed toward the completion of the Merger and thus is being diverted from our day-to-day operations. The Merger further could cause disruptions to our business or business relationships, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Parties with which we have business relationships may experience uncertainty as to the future of such relationships and may delay or defer certain business decisions, seek alternative relationships with third parties or seek to alter their present business relationships with us. Parties with whom we otherwise may have sought to establish business relationships may seek alternative relationships with third parties. The pursuit of the Merger and the preparation for the integration may also place a significant burden on management and internal resources. The diversion of management's attention away from day-to-day business concerns could adversely affect our financial results.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 4

Added

Failure to complete the Merger in a timely manner, or at all, could negatively impact our future business and our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Merger may not be completed within the expected timeframe, or at all, as a result of various factors and conditions, some of which may be beyond our control. If the Merger is not completed for any reason, including as a result of our stockholders failing to adopt the Merger Agreement, our stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares in connection with the Merger. Instead, the Company will remain an independent public company, and its shares will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange and registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and we will be required to continue to file periodic reports with the SEC. Moreover, our ongoing business may be materially adversely affected and we would be subject to a number of risks, including the following: - we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on our stock price, and it is uncertain when, if ever, the price of the shares would return to the prices at which the shares currently trade;- we may experience negative publicity, which could have an adverse effect on our ongoing operations including, but not limited to, retaining and attracting employees, customers, partners, suppliers and others with whom we do business;- we will still be required to pay certain significant costs relating to the Merger, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor, printing and other professional services fees, which may relate to activities that we would not have undertaken other than in connection with the Merger;- we may be required to pay a cash termination fee to Parent, as required under the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances;- while the Merger Agreement is in effect, we are subject to restrictions on the conduct of our business, including restrictions on our ability to engage in certain kinds of material transactions, which could prevent us from pursuing strategic business opportunities, taking actions with respect to our business that we may consider advantageous and responding effectively and/or timely to competitive pressures and industry developments, and may as a result materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition;- matters relating to the Merger require substantial commitments of time and resources by our management, which could result in the distraction of management from ongoing business operations and pursuing other opportunities that could have been beneficial to us; and - litigation related to the Merger or related to any enforcement proceeding commenced against us to perform our obligations under the Merger Agreement. If the Merger is not consummated, the risks described above may materialize and they may have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial results and stock price, especially to the extent that the current market price of our common stock reflects an assumption that the Merger will be completed.

Production

Total Risks: 6/29 (21%)Above Sector Average

Employment / Personnel1 | 3.4%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

We are dependent on the services of key employees, and the loss of their services could hurt our business.

Although we believe that we have made provision for adequately staffing current operations, because of competition for experienced homebuilding industry personnel, retaining our skilled people is an important area of focus. Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to attract, train and retain skilled personnel. If we are unable to retain our key employees or attract, train and retain other skilled personnel in the future, it could have an adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Supply Chain1 | 3.4%

Supply Chain - Risk 1

Supply shortages and other risks related to the demand for skilled labor and building materials could continue to increase costs and delay deliveries.

The residential construction industry experiences price fluctuations and shortages in labor and materials from time to time. Shortages in labor can be due to: competition for labor, work stoppages, labor disputes, shortages in qualified trades people, lack of availability of adequate utility infrastructure and services, or our need to rely on local subcontractors who may not be adequately capitalized or insured. Labor and material shortages can be more severe during periods of strong demand for housing or during periods in which the markets where we operate experience natural disasters that have a significant impact on existing residential and commercial structures. Additionally, we could experience labor shortages as a result of subcontractors going out of business or leaving the residential construction market due to low levels of housing production and volumes. Pricing for labor and materials can be affected by the factors discussed above, changes in energy prices, and various other national, regional and local economic factors. In addition, environmental and other regulations and import tariffs and trade restrictions have had, and in the future could continue to have, an adverse impact on the cost of certain raw materials such as lumber. Recalls of materials driven by manufacturing defects can drive shortages in materials and delay the delivery of homes. Any of these circumstances could give rise to delays in the start or completion of our residential communities, increase the cost of developing one or more of our residential communities and/or increase the construction cost of our homes. We generally are unable to pass on increases in construction costs on build-to-order homes to customers who have already entered into sales contracts, as those sales contracts fix the price of the homes at the time the contracts are signed, which generally is in advance of the construction of the home. With our increase in the number of spec homes due to spec construction starts, we may see an increase in our ability to pass on increases in construction costs to customers should market conditions permit. To the extent that market conditions prevent the recovery of increased costs, including, among other things, subcontracted labor, finished lots, building materials, and other resources, through higher selling prices, our financial position, cash flows and operating results, including our gross margin from home sales, could be negatively impacted.

Costs4 | 13.8%

Costs - Risk 1

If land is not available at reasonable prices or terms, we could be required to scale back our operations in a given market and/or we may operate at lower levels of profitability.

Our operations depend on our homebuilding subsidiaries' ability to obtain land for the development of our residential communities at reasonable prices and with terms that meet our underwriting criteria. Our ability to obtain land for new residential communities may be adversely affected by changes in the general availability of land, the willingness of land sellers to sell land at reasonable prices, competition for available land, availability of financing to acquire land, zoning, regulations that limit housing density, and other market conditions. If the supply of land, and especially finished lots, appropriate for development of residential communities is limited because of these factors, or for any other reason, the number of homes that our homebuilding subsidiaries build and sell may decline. To the extent that we are unable to purchase land timely or enter into new contracts for the purchase of land at reasonable prices, due to the lag time between the time we acquire land and the time we begin selling homes, we may be required to scale back our operations in a given market and/or we may operate at lower levels of profitability. As a result, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted.

Costs - Risk 2

A decline in the market value of our homes or carrying value of our land could continue to have a negative impact on our business.

Our homebuilding subsidiaries acquire land for the replacement of land inventory and/or expansion within our current markets and may, from time to time, purchase land for expansion into new markets. The fair value of our land and land under development inventory and housing completed or under construction inventory depends on market conditions. Factors that can impact our determination of the fair value of our inventory primarily include home sale prices, levels of home sale incentives and home construction and land costs. Our home sale prices and/or levels of home sale incentives can be impacted by, among other things, uncertainty in the homebuilding and mortgage industries or the United States/global economy overall, decreased demand for new homes, decreased home prices offered by our competitors, home foreclosure and short-sale levels, decreased ability of our homebuyers to obtain suitable mortgage loan financing and high levels of home order cancellations. Under such circumstances, we may be required to record impairments of our inventory. Any such inventory impairments would have a negative impact on our financial position and results of operations. During fiscal 2022 and into 2023, the increase in mortgage interest rates had a significant impact on the homebuilding industry causing home sale prices to decrease and home sale incentives to increase across the industry. This has resulted in inventory impairments in certain of our communities due to the decline in the market value of our housing completed or under construction and land and land under development inventory.

Costs - Risk 3

Changes in energy prices or regulations may have an adverse effect on our cost of building homes.

Some of the markets in which we operate are impacted by regulations related to energy, such as setbacks required from oil / gas drilling operations or restrictions on the use of land. To the extent that these regulations are modified, the value of land we already own or the availability of land we are looking to purchase may decline, which may adversely impact the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our business. Furthermore, pricing offered by our suppliers and subcontractors can be adversely affected by increases in various energy costs resulting in a negative impact to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our business.

Costs - Risk 4

Added

We have incurred, and will continue to incur, direct and indirect costs as a result of the Merger.

We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant costs and expenses, including regulatory costs, fees for professional services and other transaction costs in connection with the Merger, for which we will have received little or no benefit if the Merger is not completed. There are a number of factors beyond our control that could affect the total amount or the timing of these costs and expenses. Many of these fees and costs will be payable by us even if the Merger is not completed and may relate to activities that we would not have undertaken other than to complete the Merger.

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 5/29 (17%)Above Sector Average

Regulation2 | 6.9%

Regulation - Risk 1

Our business is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning land development, construction of homes, sales, mortgage lending, environmental and other aspects of our business. These laws and regulations could give rise to additional liabilities or expenditures, or restrictions on our business.

Our operations are subject to continuing compliance requirements mandated by applicable federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, including zoning and land use ordinances, building, plumbing and electrical codes, contractors' licensing laws, state insurance laws, federal and state human resources laws and regulations, and health and safety laws and regulations. Various localities in which we operate have imposed (or may impose in the future) fees on developers to fund schools, road improvements and low and moderate-income housing. Availability of and costs related to permit, water/sewer tap, and impact fees can impact our homebuilding operations. From time to time, various municipalities in which our homebuilding subsidiaries operate restrict or place moratoria on the availability of utilities, including water and sewer taps. Additionally, certain jurisdictions in which our homebuilding subsidiaries operate have proposed or enacted "slow growth" or "no growth" initiatives and other measures that may restrict the number of building permits available in any given year. These initiatives or other similar measures could reduce our ability to open new subdivisions and build and sell homes in the affected markets. The availability issues previously discussed and any increases in costs of these fees may negatively impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Our homebuilding operations also are affected by regulations pertaining to availability of water, municipal sewage treatment capacity, land use, dust controls, oil and gas operations, building materials, population density and preservation of endangered species, natural terrain and vegetation. We are subject to growing local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the protection of public health and the environment. These include regulating the emission or discharge of materials into the environment such as greenhouse gas emissions, storm water runoff, the handling, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, and impacts to wetlands and other sensitive environments. These restrictions and requirements could increase our operating costs and require additional capital investment, which could negatively impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Further, we have extensive operations in the western United States, where some of the most extensive environmental laws and building construction standards in the country have been enacted. We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with existing governmental environment restrictions, standards and regulations applicable to our business, and such compliance has not had a material impact on our business. Given the emerging and rapid changes of environmental laws and other matters that may arise that are not currently known, we cannot predict our future exposure, and our future costs to achieve compliance or remedy potential violations could be significant. The particular environmental laws and regulations that apply to any given homebuilding project vary greatly according to a particular site's location, the site's environmental conditions and the present and former uses. These environmental laws may result in project delays, cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs and/or prohibit or severely restrict homebuilding activity in certain environmentally sensitive locations. Environmental laws and regulations may also have a negative impact on the availability and price of certain raw materials, such as lumber. Our revolving credit facility contains representations regarding anti-corruption and sanctions laws, a violation of which could result in an event of default. We also are subject to rules and regulations with respect to originating, processing, selling and servicing mortgage loans, which, among other things: prohibit discrimination and establish underwriting guidelines; provide for audits and inspections; require appraisals and/or credit reports on prospective borrowers and disclosure of certain information concerning credit and settlement costs; establish maximum loan amounts; prohibit predatory lending practices; and regulate the referral of business to affiliated entities. The regulatory environment for mortgage lending is complex and ever changing and has led to an increase in the number of audits and examinations in the industry. These examinations can include consumer lending practices, sales of mortgages to financial institutions and other investors and the practices in the financial services segments of homebuilding companies. New rules and regulations or revised interpretations of existing rules and regulations applicable to our mortgage lending operations could result in more stringent compliance standards, which may substantially increase costs of compliance.

Regulation - Risk 2

Added

We are subject to certain restrictions in the Merger Agreement that may hinder operations pending the consummation of the Merger.

The Merger Agreement generally requires us to operate our business in the ordinary course pending consummation of the Merger and restricts us, without Parent's consent, from taking certain specified actions until the Merger is completed, subject to certain exceptions. These restrictions may affect our ability to execute our business strategies and attain our financial and other goals and may impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. These restrictions could be in place for an extended period of time if the consummation of the Merger is delayed, which may delay or prevent us from undertaking business opportunities that, absent the Merger Agreement, we might have pursued, or from effectively responding to competitive pressures or industry developments. Whether or not the Merger is completed, the pending Merger may disrupt our current plans and operations, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results. For these and other reasons, the pendency of the Merger could adversely affect our business and financial results.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities2 | 6.9%

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1

Product liability litigation and warranty claims that arise in the ordinary course of business may be costly.

As a homebuilder, we are subject to construction defect and home warranty claims, as well as claims associated with the sale and financing of our homes arising in the ordinary course of business. These types of claims can be costly. The costs of insuring against or directly paying for construction defect and product liability claims can be high and the amount of coverage offered by insurance companies may be limited. If we are not able to obtain adequate insurance against these claims, we may incur additional expenses that would have a negative impact on our results of operations in future reporting periods. Additionally, changes in the facts and circumstances of our pending litigation matters could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2

Added

Litigation challenging the Merger Agreement may prevent the Merger from being consummated within the expected timeframe or at all.

Lawsuits may be filed against us, our Board of Directors or other parties to the Merger Agreement, challenging our acquisition by Parent or making other claims in connection therewith. Such lawsuits may be brought by our purported stockholders and may seek, among other things, to enjoin consummation of the Merger. One of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger is that the consummation of the Merger is not restrained, made illegal, enjoined or prohibited by any order or legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition of a court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental entity. As such, if the plaintiffs in such potential lawsuits are successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting the defendants from completing the Merger on the agreed upon terms, then such injunction may prevent the Merger from becoming effective, or from becoming effective within the expected timeframe.

Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 3.4%

Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1

Changes to tax laws, incentives or credits currently available to our customers may negatively impact our business.

Many homeowners receive substantial tax benefits in the form of tax deductions against their personal taxable income for mortgage interest and property tax payments and the loss or reduction of these deductions could affect homeowners' net cost of owning a home. Significant changes to existing tax laws, such as the ability to deduct mortgage interest and real property taxes, may result in an increase in the total cost of home ownership and may make the purchase of a home less attractive to buyers. This could adversely impact demand for and/or sales prices of new homes, which would have a negative impact on our business.

Macro & Political

Total Risks: 5/29 (17%)Above Sector Average

Economy & Political Environment2 | 6.9%

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1

Changes in general economic, real estate and other business conditions may have an adverse effect on the homebuilding and mortgage industries, which could have a negative impact on our business.

The homebuilding industry is cyclical and is significantly affected by changes in industry conditions, the national political environment and general economic conditions such as: - employment levels;- availability of financing for homebuyers;- interest rates;- consumer confidence and spending;- wage growth;- inflation;- household formations;- levels of new and existing homes for sale;- cost of land, labor and construction materials;- demographic trends; and - housing demand. These conditions may exist on a national level or may affect some of the regions or markets in which we operate more than others. When adverse conditions affect any of our larger markets, they could have a proportionately greater impact on us than on some other homebuilding companies. Changes to monetary policy or other actions by the Federal Reserve could have an adverse effect on interest rates (including mortgage interest rates), equity markets and consumer confidence. Adverse effects could cause and have caused us to experience declines in the market value of our inventory and the demand for our homes, resulting in a negative impact to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. An oversupply of alternatives to new homes, including foreclosed homes, homes held for sale or rent by investors and speculators, other existing homes, and rental properties, can also reduce our ability to sell new homes, depress new home prices and reduce our margins on the sale of new homes. High levels of foreclosures and short-sales not only contribute to additional inventory available for sale, but also can reduce appraisal valuations for new homes, potentially resulting in lower sales prices. Terrorist attacks, acts of war, other acts of violence or threats to national security, and any corresponding response by the United States or others, or related domestic or international instability, may adversely affect general economic conditions or cause a slowdown of the economy. As a result of the foregoing matters, potential customers may be less willing or able to buy our homes. In the future, our pricing strategies may be limited by market conditions. We may be unable to change the mix of our home offerings, reduce the costs of the homes we build or offer more affordable homes to maintain our gross margins or satisfactorily address changing market conditions in other ways. In addition, cancellations of home sales contracts in backlog may increase as homebuyers choose to not honor their contracts. Additionally, the factors discussed above may increase our counterparty risk, which may include, among others, banks under our credit facilities and mortgage purchasers who may not be willing or able to perform on obligations to us. To the extent a third-party is unable or unwilling to meet its obligations, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted. Our mortgage operations are closely related to our homebuilding business, as HomeAmerican originates mortgage loans principally to purchasers of the homes we build. Therefore, a decrease in the demand for our homes because of the preceding matters may also adversely affect the financial results of this segment of our business. Furthermore, any adverse changes in the economic conditions discussed previously could increase the default rate on the mortgages we originate, which may adversely affect our ability to sell the mortgages, the pricing we receive upon the sale of mortgages, or our potential exposure to recourse regarding mortgage loan sales. These challenging conditions are complex and interrelated. We cannot predict their occurrence or severity, nor can we provide assurance that our responses would be successful.

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2

Added

Financial industry turmoil could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and consolidated financial statements.

The banking industry has experienced certain bank failures and other turmoil in 2023. The failure of other banks or financial institutions, if it occurs, could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or consolidated financial statements if we have placed cash or other deposits at such banks or financial institutions, or if such banks or financial institutions, or any substitute or additional banks or financial institutions, participate in our Revolving Credit Facility. Under our Revolving Credit Facility, non-defaulting lenders are not obligated to cover or acquire a defaulting lender's respective commitment to fund loans or to issue letters of credit and may be unwilling to issue additional letters of credit if we do not enter into arrangements to address the risk with respect to the defaulting lender (which may include cash collateral). If the non-defaulting lenders are unable or unwilling to cover or acquire a defaulting lender's respective commitment, we may not be able to access the Revolving Credit Facility's full borrowing or letter of credit capacity to support our business needs. In addition, if a buyer under our Mortgage Repurchase Facility, which is used to fund mortgage originations, fails or is unable or unwilling to fulfill its obligations, HomeAmerican may be limited in its ability to provide mortgage loans to our homebuyers, which may prevent them from closing on their homes at the time expected or at all.

Natural and Human Disruptions2 | 6.9%

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1

Public health issues such as a pandemic or epidemic could harm business and results of operations of the Company.

Demand for our homes is dependent on a variety of macroeconomic factors, such as employment levels, availability of financing for homebuyers, interest rates, consumer confidence and spending, wage growth and inflation, household formations, levels of new and existing homes for sale, cost of land, labor and construction materials, demographic trends and housing demand. These factors, in particular consumer confidence, can be significantly and adversely affected by a variety of factors beyond our control. Specifically, an epidemic, pandemic, or similar public health issue could significantly disrupt us from operating our business in the ordinary course for an extended period, and thereby, along with associated economic and/or consumer confidence instability, have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the global economy. The effects of the pandemic contributed to disrupting our supply chain, which has resulted in shortages of certain building materials and tightness in the labor market. There is still significant uncertainty as a result of the pandemic and its continuing potential to negatively impact the U.S. economy. The degree to which the pandemic will impact our financial results in the coming periods depends on future developments that are highly uncertain, including whether there are additional outbreaks of COVID-19 and related variants and the actions taken to contain or address the virus. If the pandemic continues to cause significant negative impacts to the U.S. economy and consumer confidence, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be significantly and adversely impacted.

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2

Natural disasters could cause an increase in home construction costs, as well as delays, and could negatively impact our business.

The climates and geology of many of the markets in which we operate present increased risks of natural disasters. To the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, heavy or prolonged precipitation, wildfires or other natural disasters or similar events occur, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our business may be negatively impacted.

Capital Markets1 | 3.4%

Capital Markets - Risk 1

We have financial needs that we meet through the capital markets, including the debt and secondary mortgage markets, and disruptions in these markets could have an adverse impact on the results of our business.

We have financial needs that we meet through the capital markets, including the debt and secondary mortgage markets. Our requirements for additional capital, whether to finance operations or to service or refinance our existing indebtedness, fluctuate as market conditions and our financial performance and operations change. We cannot provide assurance that we will maintain cash reserves and generate sufficient cash flow from operations in an amount to enable us to service our debt or to fund other liquidity needs. The availability of additional capital, whether from private capital sources or the public capital markets, fluctuates as our financial condition and market conditions in general change. There may be times when the private capital markets and the public debt or equity markets lack sufficient liquidity or when our securities cannot be sold at attractive prices, in which case we would not be able to access capital from these sources. Additionally, any reduction in our credit ratings and/or a weakening of our financial condition, could adversely affect our ability to obtain necessary funds. Even if financing is available, it could be costly or have other adverse consequences. In addition, the sources and terms and conditions of our mortgage repurchase facility are subject to change. These changes may impact, among other things, availability of capital, cost of borrowings, collateral requirements and collateral advance rates.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 2/29 (7%)Above Sector Average

Competition1 | 3.4%

Competition - Risk 1

Increased competition levels in the homebuilding and mortgage lending industries could have a negative impact on our homebuilding and mortgage operations.

The homebuilding industry is fragmented and highly competitive. Our homebuilding subsidiaries compete with numerous public and private homebuilders, including a number that are substantially larger than us and may have greater financial resources than we do. Our homebuilding subsidiaries also compete with subdivision developers and land development companies, some of which are themselves homebuilders or affiliates of homebuilders. Homebuilders compete for customers, land, building materials, subcontractor labor and desirable financing. Competition for home orders is based primarily on home sales price, location of property, home style, financing available to prospective homebuyers, quality of homes built, customer service and general reputation in the community, and may vary market-by-market and/or submarket-by-submarket. Additionally, competition within the homebuilding industry can be impacted by an excess supply of new and existing homes available for sale resulting from a number of factors, including, among other things, increases in the number of new home communities, increases in speculative homes available for sale and increases in home foreclosures. Increased competition can result in a decrease in our net new home orders, a decrease in our home sales prices and/or an increase in our home sales incentives in an effort to generate new home sales and maintain homes in backlog until they close. These competitive pressures may negatively impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Our mortgage lending subsidiary, HomeAmerican, experiences competition from numerous banks and other mortgage bankers and brokers, many of which are larger and may have greater financial resources. As a result, these competitors may be able to offer better pricing and/or mortgage loan terms, more relaxed underwriting criteria and a greater range of products, which could negatively impact the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our mortgage operations.

Demand1 | 3.4%

Demand - Risk 1

Because of the seasonal nature of our business, our quarterly operating results can fluctuate.

We may experience noticeable seasonality and quarter-to-quarter variability in homebuilding activity levels. In general, the number of homes delivered and the associated home sale revenues increase during the third and fourth quarters, compared with the first and second quarters. We believe that this type of seasonality reflects the historical tendency of homebuyers to purchase new homes in the spring and summer with deliveries scheduled in the fall or winter, as well as the scheduling of construction to accommodate seasonal weather conditions in certain markets.

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 1/29 (3%)Above Sector Average

Cyber Security1 | 3.4%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Information technology failures and cybersecurity breaches could harm our business.

We use information technology and other computer resources to carry out important operational activities and to maintain our business records. These information technology systems are dependent upon electronic systems and other aspects of the internet infrastructure. A material breach in the security of our information technology systems or other data security controls could result in third parties obtaining or corrupting customer, employee or company data. To date, we have not had a material breach of data security, however such occurrences could have a material and adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?

Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.

They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.

It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.

How do companies disclose their risk factors?

Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.

Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.

Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.

According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.

How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?

Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.

You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.

Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.

A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.

What are all the risk factor categories?

TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.

1. Financial & Corporate

Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.

2. Legal & Regulatory

Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.

3. Production

Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.

4. Technology & Innovation

Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.

5. Ability to Sell

Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.

6. Macro & Political

Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.

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