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Meritage Homes Corp (MTH)
:MTH
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Meritage (MTH) AI Stock Analysis

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MTH

Meritage

(NYSE:MTH)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$90.00
▲(14.94% Upside)
Meritage Homes scores well due to its strong valuation and positive technical indicators. Despite financial challenges such as declining revenue and cash flow issues, the company's operational resilience and strategic focus on move-in ready inventory provide a balanced outlook. The earnings call highlighted both strengths and areas needing attention, contributing to a moderate score.
Positive Factors
Community Growth
Meritage Homes expects double-digit community growth in 2025, and when new communities open, the company typically sees 2-4 times higher sales in the first month compared to the normal pace.
Market Position
Meritage Homes is viewed as a strong operator that has consistently gained market share over the last decade.
Valuation
Meritage trades at 0.9X price-to-book, which is considered an attractive valuation and a good entry point for shares.
Negative Factors
Backlog Stability
Backlog conversion ratio was 220% in 1Q25, well above the 125% long-term target, but this level is likely unsustainable.
Demand Environment
The question is what incentive level/margin will be necessary to continue this pace in a softer overall demand environment.
Housing Demand
Risks for Meritage include high mortgage rates, soft housing demand, rising land prices, and tariff uncertainty.

Meritage (MTH) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Meritage Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMeritage (MTH) is a leading homebuilder based in the United States, specializing in the development and construction of single-family homes. The company operates primarily in high-demand markets across the country, focusing on providing innovative and sustainable housing solutions. Meritage is known for its commitment to energy-efficient homebuilding, offering a range of designs that cater to diverse consumer preferences and budgets. In addition to residential construction, the company is involved in land acquisition and development, enhancing its position within the housing sector.
How the Company Makes MoneyMeritage generates revenue primarily through the sale of newly constructed homes. Its revenue model is centered around the construction and delivery of homes to homebuyers, which includes a mix of entry-level, move-up, and luxury homes. Key revenue streams include home sales, as well as ancillary services such as mortgage and title services provided through their in-house subsidiaries. Additionally, the company benefits from strategic partnerships with land developers and suppliers, which help optimize costs and enhance profitability. Factors contributing to its earnings include favorable market conditions, demand for new housing, and the company's focus on energy-efficient building practices that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Meritage Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 23, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 4.71%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Meritage Homes demonstrated operational resilience with increased community count and improved cycle times, yet faced significant challenges with decreased revenue and gross margins due to market conditions and incentives. The sentiment reflects a balanced view of positive operational achievements but significant financial challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Community Count
Meritage Homes ended the second quarter of 2025 with 312 active stores, the highest community count in company history, which is up 9% year-over-year.
Improved Cycle Times
Construction time was reduced from approximately 120 days in Q1 2025 to about 110 days in Q2 2025.
Strong Balance Sheet
The company maintained a healthy balance sheet with cash of $930 million and a net debt to cap of 14.6%.
Shareholder Returns
Meritage Homes increased their quarterly cash dividend by 15% year-over-year and repurchased $45 million of shares in Q2 2025.
Negative Updates
Decreased Revenue and Gross Margin
Q2 2025 home closing revenue was 5% lower compared to the prior year, and the home closing gross margin decreased by 480 basis points year-over-year.
Lower Average Sales Price
The average sales price on orders dropped by 5% from the prior year, primarily due to increased financing incentives.
Higher SG&A Percentage
SG&A as a percentage of home closing revenue increased to 10.2% in Q2 2025 from 9.3% in Q2 2024.
Reduced Full Year Guidance Visibility
Due to the high backlog conversion rate and market volatility, the company did not provide full year guidance.
Company Guidance
During the Meritage Homes Second Quarter 2025 Analyst Call, the company provided forward-looking guidance for the third quarter of 2025, projecting home closings between 3,600 and 3,900 units, with home closing revenue ranging from $1.4 billion to $1.56 billion. The anticipated home closing gross margin is around 20%, with an effective tax rate of approximately 24.5%. The company's diluted EPS is expected to be between $1.51 and $1.86. Despite a challenging market with rising mortgage rates and increased consumer hesitancy, Meritage Homes remains optimistic about its strategy focused on move-in ready inventory and financing incentives. The company reported a 21.1% home closing gross margin in Q2 2025 and a 10% year-over-year increase in book value per share. Additionally, Meritage Homes highlighted its highest community count in company history, ending Q2 2025 with 312 active stores, and projected continued growth in community count for the second half of the year.

Meritage Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Meritage demonstrates strong profitability and a solid equity base, but faces challenges in cash flow management and declining return on equity. Improvements in cash flow generation are necessary for sustainable growth.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Meritage shows a strong performance in terms of profitability with a stable gross profit margin and a healthy net profit margin over the TTM period. The revenue growth trajectory is moderate, though slightly down from previous years. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also robust, indicating efficient core operations.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
The balance sheet is solid with a strong equity base, as evidenced by an impressive equity ratio. The debt-to-equity ratio is manageable, suggesting a reasonable leverage level. However, return on equity has been declining, which might indicate pressure on profitability or efficiency in using shareholder funds.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Cash flow management appears challenging, with negative free cash flow growth and a negative operating cash flow over the TTM. While the company has managed its financing activities, the negative free cash flow to net income ratio is a concern for liquidity and internal cash generation.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue6.39B6.14B6.30B5.15B4.51B
Gross Profit1.60B1.52B1.80B1.44B976.00M
EBITDA1.03B972.93M1.31B999.59M566.79M
Net Income786.19M738.75M992.19M737.44M423.48M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.16B6.35B5.77B4.81B3.86B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments651.55M921.23M861.56M618.34M745.62M
Total Debt1.39B1.06B1.15B1.16B1.02B
Total Liabilities2.02B1.74B1.82B1.76B1.52B
Stockholders Equity5.14B4.61B3.95B3.04B2.35B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-256.23M317.38M378.30M-177.76M510.43M
Operating Cash Flow-227.58M355.57M405.27M-152.09M530.36M
Investing Cash Flow-44.07M-43.62M-32.29M-26.82M-18.23M
Financing Cash Flow1.98M-252.28M-129.76M51.63M-85.97M

Meritage Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price78.30
Price Trends
50DMA
71.39
Positive
100DMA
68.60
Positive
200DMA
73.72
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.94
Negative
RSI
57.45
Neutral
STOCH
65.56
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MTH, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 78.3 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 74.32, above the 50-day MA of 71.39, and above the 200-day MA of 73.72, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.94 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.45 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 65.56 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MTH.

Meritage Risk Analysis

Meritage disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Meritage reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Meritage Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$3.88B8.0617.56%7.39%-1.37%
79
Outperform
$3.12B9.0811.38%-3.59%-10.82%
77
Outperform
$3.06B8.9822.12%13.87%6.54%
76
Outperform
$5.57B9.1312.58%2.09%-3.72%-23.00%
76
Outperform
$6.72B7.8515.59%13.77%28.57%
73
Outperform
$4.34B8.5714.07%1.58%3.65%-0.61%
61
Neutral
$17.75B12.51-5.49%3.06%1.43%-14.10%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MTH
Meritage
77.18
-19.66
-20.30%
KBH
KB Home
63.16
-18.69
-22.83%
MHO
M/I Homes
145.34
-14.18
-8.89%
TPH
Tri Pointe
35.08
-9.02
-20.45%
TMHC
Taylor Morrison
67.38
0.96
1.45%
GRBK
Green Brick Partners
69.62
-7.73
-9.99%

Meritage Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Meritage Extends Credit Agreement Maturity to 2030
Neutral
Jul 9, 2025

On July 9, 2025, Meritage Homes Corporation entered into the Eleventh Amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, originally dated June 13, 2014. This amendment extends the maturity date of the credit agreement from June 12, 2029, to July 9, 2030, impacting the company’s financial planning and potentially influencing its market strategies.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 23, 2025