Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 20222023

OR

 

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number 1-8551

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

22-1851059 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

90 Matawan Road, 5th Floor, Matawan, NJ 07747 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

732-747-7800 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

N/A (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

HOV

New York Stock Exchange

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights(1)

N/A

New York Stock Exchange

Depositary Shares each representing

1/1,000th of a share of 7.625% Series A

Preferred Stock

HOVNP

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

(1) Each share of Common Stock includes an associated Preferred Stock Purchase Right. Each Preferred Stock Purchase Right initially represents the right, if such Preferred Stock Purchase Right becomes exercisable, to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a share of its Series B Junior Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock. The Preferred Stock Purchase Rights currently cannot trade separately from the underlying Common Stock.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large Accelerated Filer ☐

Accelerated Filer ☒ 

Nonaccelerated Filer ☐  

Smaller Reporting Company ☐

Emerging Growth Company ☐

          

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 5,689,0545,345,668 shares of Class A Common Stock and 705,726749,081 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of August 31, 2022.29, 2023.

 

1

true

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.  

 

FORM 10-Q  

 

INDEX

PAGE

NUMBER

  

  

PART I. Financial Information

  

Item l. Financial Statements:

  

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022

3

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022

4

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Deficit) (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022

5

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022

7

  

  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

9

  

  

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

3228

  

  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

5543

  

  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

5543

  

  

PART II. Other Information

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

5644

  

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, and Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

5644

Item 5. Other Information44
  

Item 6. Exhibits

5745

  

  

Signatures

5947

 

2

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

July 31,

 

October 31,

  

July 31,

 

October 31,

 
 

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

 
 (Unaudited)    

ASSETS

     

Homebuilding:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

 $225,089  $245,970  $325,182  $326,198 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 15,505  16,089  8,623  13,382 

Inventories:

  

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

 1,130,304  1,019,541  1,049,802  1,058,183 

Land and land options held for future development or sale

 174,067  135,992  110,343  152,406 

Consolidated inventory not owned

  280,910   98,727   251,115   308,595 

Total inventories

 1,585,281  1,254,260  1,411,260  1,519,184 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

 74,739  60,897  85,260  74,940 

Receivables, deposits and notes, net

 45,011  39,934  33,016  37,837 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 23,312  18,736 

Property and equipment, net

 31,330  25,819 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  64,346   56,186   58,945   63,884 

Total homebuilding

 2,033,283  1,692,072  1,953,616  2,061,244 
  

Financial services

 127,651  202,758  115,603  155,993 
  

Deferred tax assets, net

  376,570  425,678   324,698  344,793 

Total assets

 $2,537,504  $2,320,508  $2,393,917  $2,562,030 
  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Homebuilding:

  

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory, net of debt issuance costs

 $187,754  $125,089  $129,127  $144,805 

Accounts payable and other liabilities

 424,508  426,381  381,761  439,952 

Customers’ deposits

 99,521  68,295  63,907  74,020 

Liabilities from inventory not owned, net of debt issuance costs

 178,454  62,762  145,979  202,492 

Senior notes and credit facilities (net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs)

 1,147,872  1,248,373  1,044,779  1,146,547 

Accrued Interest

  47,562   28,154 

Accrued interest

  50,913   32,415 

Total homebuilding

 2,085,671  1,959,054  1,816,466  2,040,231 
  

Financial services

 108,616  182,219  94,502  135,581 
 

Income taxes payable

  4,470   3,851   434   3,167 

Total liabilities

  2,198,757   2,145,124   1,911,402   2,178,979 
  

Equity:

  

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity:

  

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021

 135,299  135,299 

Common stock, Class A, $0.01 par value - authorized 16,000,000 shares; issued 6,159,484 shares at July 31, 2022 and 6,066,164 shares at October 31, 2021

 62  61 

Common stock, Class B, $0.01 par value (convertible to Class A at time of sale) - authorized 2,400,000 shares; issued 733,395 shares at July 31, 2022 and 686,876 shares at October 31, 2021

 7  7 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022

 135,299  135,299 

Common stock, Class A, $0.01 par value - authorized 16,000,000 shares; issued 6,247,047 shares at July 31, 2023 and 6,159,886 shares at October 31, 2022

 62  62 

Common stock, Class B, $0.01 par value (convertible to Class A at time of sale) - authorized 2,400,000 shares; issued 776,750 shares at July 31, 2023 and 733,374 shares at October 31, 2022

 8  7 

Paid in capital - common stock

 723,797  722,118  731,285  727,663 

Accumulated deficit

 (405,378) (567,228) (251,794) (352,413)

Treasury stock - at cost – 470,430 shares of Class A common stock and 27,669 shares of Class B common stock at July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021

  (115,360)  (115,360)

Treasury stock - at cost – 901,379 shares of Class A common stock at July 31, 2023 and 782,901 shares at October 31, 2022; 27,669 shares of Class B common stock at July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022

  (132,382)  (127,582)

Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity

  338,427   174,897   482,478   383,036 

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

  320   487   37   15 

Total equity

  338,747   175,384   482,515   383,051 

Total liabilities and equity

 $2,537,504  $2,320,508  $2,393,917  $2,562,030 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

3

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Nine Months Ended July 31,

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 
 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Revenues:

         

Homebuilding:

  

Sale of homes

 $736,654  $663,279  $1,973,843  $1,894,159  $630,371  $736,654  $1,800,724  $1,973,843 

Land sales and other revenues

  16,406   7,559   18,052   13,280   4,937   16,406   27,244   18,052 

Total homebuilding

 753,060  670,838  1,991,895  1,907,439  635,308  753,060  1,827,968  1,991,895 

Financial services

  14,533   19,845   43,548   61,070   14,649   14,533   41,016   43,548 

Total revenues

  767,593   690,683   2,035,443   1,968,509   649,957   767,593   1,868,984   2,035,443 
  

Expenses:

         

Homebuilding:

  

Cost of sales, excluding interest

 548,576  521,868  1,480,175  1,498,040  483,990  548,576  1,415,652  1,480,175 

Cost of sales interest

 22,453  19,240  57,876  58,130  19,272  22,453  55,719  57,876 

Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs

  1,173   1,309   1,837   3,267 

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs

  308   1,173   922   1,837 

Total cost of sales

 572,202  542,417  1,539,888  1,559,437  503,570  572,202  1,472,293  1,539,888 

Selling, general and administrative

  50,163   42,988   139,410   125,417   47,716   50,163   146,090   139,410 

Total homebuilding expenses

 622,365  585,405  1,679,298  1,684,854  551,286  622,365  1,618,383  1,679,298 
  

Financial services

 10,790  11,238  31,982  32,953  10,345  10,790  29,550  31,982 

Corporate general and administrative

 24,774  17,284  75,893  81,149  27,365  24,774  77,934  75,893 

Other interest

 9,624  19,158  35,442  65,166  13,502  9,624  43,096  35,442 

Other operations

  670   504   1,679   1,233 

Other (income) expense, net (1)

  (18,612)  670   (17,652)  1,679 

Total expenses

  668,223   633,589   1,824,294   1,865,355   583,886   668,223   1,751,311   1,824,294 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

  -   (306)  (6,795)  (306)

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net

  (4,082)  -   (4,082)  (6,795)

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

  12,557   5,011   23,919   9,568   8,401   12,557   20,969   23,919 

Income before income taxes

  111,927   61,799   228,273   112,416   70,390   111,927   134,560   228,273 

State and federal income tax provision (benefit):

 

State and federal income tax provision:

 

State

 6,385  1,476  11,515  (89,272) (500) 6,385 2,794 11,515 

Federal

  22,928   12,621   46,901   (353,649)  15,126  22,928  23,140  46,901 

Total income taxes

  29,313   14,097   58,416   (442,921)  14,626   29,313   25,934   58,416 

Net income

 82,614  47,702  169,857  555,337  55,764  82,614  108,626  169,857 

Less: preferred stock dividends

  2,669   -   8,007   -   2,669   2,669   8,007   8,007 

Net income available to common stockholders

 $79,945  $47,702  $161,850  $555,337  $53,095  $79,945  $100,619  $161,850 
  

Per share data:

         

Basic:

  

Net income per common share

 $10.92  $6.85  $22.05  $80.02  $7.92  $10.92  $14.97  $22.05 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

 6,485  6,315  6,424  6,263  6,249  6,485  6,201  6,424 

Assuming dilution:

  

Net income per common share

 $10.82  $6.72  $21.77  $78.51  $7.38  $10.82  $13.97  $21.77 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

 6,544  6,434  6,507  6,370  6,705  6,544  6,642  6,507 

(1) Includes gain on consolidation of a joint venture of $19.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 (see Note 18).

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

4

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Nine MONTH PERIOD ENDED July 31, 20222023

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

A Common Stock

 

B Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

            

A Common Stock

 

B Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

           
 

Shares

   

Shares

   

Shares

              

Shares

   

Shares

   

Shares

             
 

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Treasury

 

Noncontrolling

    

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Treasury

 

Noncontrolling

   
 

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

 
                        

Balance, October 31, 2021

 5,595,734  $61  659,207  $7  5,600  $135,299  $722,118  $(567,228) $(115,360) $487  $175,384 

Balance, October 31, 2022

 5,376,985  $62  705,705  $7  5,600  $135,299  $727,663  $(352,413) $(127,582) $15  $383,051 
                       

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 209        8      8 
                       

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)
                       

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 18,051     14,620         1,487         1,487 
                       

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                   4  4 
                       

Share repurchases

 (118,478)                (4,800)    (4,800)
                       

Net income

                18,716       18,716 
                                  

Balance, January 31, 2023

  5,276,767  $62   720,325  $7   5,600  $135,299  $729,158  $(336,366) $(132,382) $19  $395,797 
                        

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 804           4       4  1,720             59         59 
                        

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)                (2,669)      (2,669)
                        

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 17,654     17,445         (552)        (552)             2,157       2,157 
                        

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 48     (48)                -  18   (18)               - 
                        

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    (88) (88)                    7 7 
                        

Net income

                              24,808           24,808                 34,146       34,146 
                                   

Balance, January 31, 2022

  5,614,240  $61   676,604  $7   5,600  $135,299  $721,570  $(545,089) $(115,360) $399  $196,887 

Balance, April 30, 2023

  5,278,505 $62  720,307 $7  5,600 $135,299 $731,374 $(304,889) $(132,382) $26 $429,497 
                        

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 600           77       77  1,610             23         23 
                        

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)                (2,669)      (2,669)
                        

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 20,483           1,672       1,672  65,372   28,955 1     (112)       (111)
                        

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 58     (58)                -  181   (181)               - 
                        

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    (3) (3)                    11 11 
                        

Net income

                        62,435          62,435                 55,764       55,764 
                                   

Balance, April 30, 2022

  5,635,381 $61  676,546 $7  5,600 $135,299 $723,319 $(485,323) $(115,360) $396 $258,399 
 

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 759           30       30 
 

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)
 

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 52,898 1 29,196       448       449 
 

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 16     (16)               - 
 

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    (76) (76)
 

Net income

                        82,614          82,614 
 

Balance, July 31, 2022

  5,689,054 $62  705,726 $7  5,600 $135,299 $723,797 $(405,378) $(115,360) $320 $338,747 

Balance, July 31, 2023

  5,345,668 $62  749,081 $8  5,600 $135,299 $731,285 $(251,794) $(132,382) $37 $482,515 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

5

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Nine MONTH PERIOD ENDED July 31, 20212022

(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

A Common Stock

 

B Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

            

A Common Stock

 

B Common Stock

 

Preferred Stock

           
 

Shares

   

Shares

   

Shares

              

Shares

   

Shares

   

Shares

             
 

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Treasury

 

Noncontrolling

    

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Issued and

   

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Treasury

 

Noncontrolling

   
 

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Outstanding

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Stock

  

Interest

  

Total

 
  

Balance, October 31, 2020

 5,519,880  $60  622,217  $7  5,600  $135,299  $718,110  $(1,175,045) $(115,360) $835  $(436,094)

Balance, October 31, 2021

 5,595,734  $61  659,207  $7  5,600  $135,299  $722,118  $(567,228) $(115,360) $487  $175,384 
  

Stock options, amortization and issuances

              54         54  804           4       4 
 

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)
  

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 7,207     2,370         668         668  17,654     17,445         (552)        (552)
  

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 45     (45)                -  48     (48)                - 
  

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    78  78                     (88) (88)
  

Net income

                              18,959           18,959                       24,808        24,808 
                        

Balance, January 31, 2021

  5,527,132  $60   624,542  $7   5,600  $135,299  $718,832  $(1,156,086) $(115,360) $913  $(416,335)

Balance, January 31, 2022

  5,614,240  $61   676,604  $7   5,600  $135,299  $721,570  $(545,089) $(115,360) $399  $196,887 
  

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 33,316    5,368         (255)        (255) 600           77       77 
 

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)
  

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

              770         770  20,483           1,672       1,672 
  

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 25     (25)                -  58     (58)                - 
  

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    (142) (142)                    (3) (3)
  

Net income

                        488,676          488,676                 62,435       62,435 
                        

Balance, April 30, 2021

  5,560,473 $60  629,885 $7  5,600 $135,299 $719,347 $(667,410) $(115,360) $771 $72,714 

Balance, April 30, 2022

  5,635,381 $61  676,546 $7  5,600 $135,299 $723,319 $(485,323) $(115,360) $396 $258,399 
  

Stock options, amortization and issuances

 6,806           128       128  759           30       30 
 

Preferred dividend declared ($476.56 per share)

                (2,669)      (2,669)
  

Restricted stock amortization, issuances and forfeitures

 26,357 1 29,338       295       296  52,898 1 29,196       448       449 
  

Conversion of Class B to Class A common stock

 4     (4)                -  16     (16)                - 
  

Changes in noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

                    (149) (149)                    (76) (76)
  

Net income

                        47,702          47,702                 82,614       82,614 
                        

Balance, July 31, 2021

  5,593,640 $61  659,219 $7  5,600 $135,299 $719,770 $(619,708) $(115,360) $622 $120,691 

Balance, July 31, 2022

  5,689,054 $62  705,726 $7  5,600 $135,299 $723,797 $(405,378) $(115,360) $320 $338,747 

  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited). 

 

6

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
 

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net income

 $169,857  $555,337  $108,626  $169,857 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

Depreciation

 4,009  4,091  7,223  4,009 

Compensation from stock options and awards

 6,404  5,309 

Amortization of bond discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs

 (203) 490 

Gain on sale and retirement of property and assets

 (37) (11)

Stock-based compensation

 9,553  6,404 

Amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing costs

 1,561  (203)

Gain on sale of property and assets

 (81) (37)

Gain on consolidation of joint venture

 (19,102) - 

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures

 (23,919) (9,568) (20,969) (23,919)

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint venture

 4,197  8,933 

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures

 13,382  4,197 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 6,795 306  4,082  6,795 

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures

 225  310  22  225 

Inventory impairment and land option write-offs

 1,837  3,267 

(Increase) decrease in assets:

 

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs

 922  1,837 

Decrease (increase) in assets:

 

Inventories

 217,211  (332,858)

Receivables, deposits and notes

 12,638  (13,464)

Origination of mortgage loans

 (882,023) (1,087,731) (811,015) (882,023)

Sale of mortgage loans

 945,541  1,060,423  841,659  945,541 

Receivables, prepaids, deposits and other assets

 (13,464) (1,972)

Inventories

 (332,858) (96,576)

Deferred tax assets

 49,108  (447,453) 20,095  49,108 

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:

 

(Decrease) increase in liabilities:

 

Accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities

 (74,050) 4,089 

Customers’ deposits

 (17,425) 31,226 

State income tax payable

 619  (1,348)  (2,733)  619 

Customers’ deposits

 31,226  28,443 

Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities

  4,089   60,022 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  (28,597)  82,272 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  291,599   (28,597)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Proceeds from sale of property and assets

 63  30  459  63 

Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets and acquisitions

 (8,606) (3,889)

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

 (169) (16,337)

Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets

 (13,203) (8,606)

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures, net of reimbursements

 (78,560) (169)

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures

  5,427   27,175   12,889   5,427 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

  (3,285)  6,979 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (78,415)  (3,285)

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from mortgages and notes

 351,227  160,604  249,041  351,227 

Payments related to mortgages and notes

 (287,478) (178,251) (269,453) (287,478)

Proceeds from model sale leaseback financing programs

 27,433  5,638  12,412  27,433 

Payments related to model sale leaseback financing programs

 (11,295) (18,233) (14,551) (11,295)

Proceeds from land bank financing programs

 140,179  27,636  34,713  140,179 

Payments related to land bank financing programs

 (39,148) (77,313) (90,056) (39,148)

Proceeds from partner distributions to consolidated joint venture

 40 40  -  40 

Payments for partner distributions to consolidated joint venture

 (432) (563) -  (432)

Net (payments) proceeds related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit

 (64,257) 29,216 

Net payments related to mortgage warehouse lines of credit

 (32,468) (64,257)

Payments related to senior secured notes

 (103,875) (111,214) (101,937) (103,875)

Preferred dividends paid

 (8,007) -  (8,007) (8,007)

Treasury stock purchases

 (4,800) - 

Deferred financing costs from land banking financing programs and note issuances

  (5,318)  (1,205)  (2,891)  (5,318)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (931)  (163,645)  (227,997)  (931)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents

 (32,813) (74,394) (14,813) (32,813)

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of period

  311,396   309,460   382,190   311,396 

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period

 $278,583  $235,066  $367,377  $278,583 
  

Supplemental disclosures of cash flows:

  

Cash paid during the period for:

  

Interest, net of capitalized interest (see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 $17,268  $54,823  $26,630  $17,268 

Income taxes

 $8,689  $5,847  $8,571  $8,689 
  

Reconciliation of Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

       

Homebuilding: Cash and cash equivalents

 $225,089  $172,748  $325,182  $225,089 

Homebuilding: Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 15,505  15,100  8,623  15,505 

Financial Services: Cash and cash equivalents, included in Financial services assets

 4,849  6,187 

Financial Services: Restricted cash and cash equivalents, included in Financial services assets

  33,140   41,031 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows

 $278,583  $235,066 

Financial Services: Cash and cash equivalents, included in financial services assets

 4,119  4,849 

Financial Services: Restricted cash and cash equivalents, included in financial services assets

  29,453   33,140 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows

 $367,377  $278,583 

   

7

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousandsthousands - Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncashnon-cash operating and investing and financing activities:

 

In the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2021,2023, we acquiredconsolidated the remaining assets of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures, resulting in a $24.3$10.8 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture, and a corresponding increaseincreases of $14.9 million and $5.3 million to inventory.inventory and accounts payable, respectively.

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we consolidated the remaining assets of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures, resulting in a $53.4 million reduction in our investment in the joint venture, and increases of $95.3 million to inventory, $3.8 million to other assets, $14.5 million to accounts payable, $7.3 million to customer deposits and $4.8 million to nonrecourse mortgages and notes.

 

8

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

  

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries). HEI hasHistorically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six Homebuilding homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and its financial services segment. During the Financial Servicesfourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we realigned our homebuilding operating segments and determined that, in addition to our financial services segment, we now had three reportable homebuilding segments comprised of (1) Northeast, (2) Southeast and (3) West (see Note 17). All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified to conform to the new presentation.

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include HEI's accounts and those of all of its consolidated subsidiaries after elimination of all of its significant intercompany balances and transactions. Noncontrolling interest represents the proportionate equity interest in a consolidated joint venture that is not 100% owned by the Company. One of HEI's subsidiaries owns a 99% controlling interest in the consolidated joint venture, and therefore HEI is required to consolidate the joint venture within its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The 1% that the Company does not own is accounted for as noncontrolling interest. Another one of HEI's subsidiaries owns an 80% controlling interest in a consolidated joint venture, and therefore HEI is required to consolidate the joint venture within its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The 20% that the Company does not own is accounted for as noncontrolling interest. directly or indirectly.

 

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021.2022. In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statementsfinancial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year.

 

 

2.

Stock Compensation

 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Board of Directors approved certain grants under a new Long-Term Incentive Program (the “2023 LTIP”) that contain performance-based vesting conditions. The performance period for the 2023 LTIP commenced on November 1, 2022 and will end on October 31, 2025. At the end of the performance period, 50% of the awards, if any, are payable in cash-settled phantom shares and the remaining 50% of the awards, if any, are payable in shares of Company stock, subject to a mandatory two-year post-vesting hold period.

For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, 2023the Company’s total, stock-based compensation expense was $3.0$5.3 million ($2.24.2 million net of tax) and $6.4$9.6 million ($4.87.7 million net of tax), respectively. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, 2022the Company’s total , stock-based compensation expense was $3.6$3.0 million ($2.72.2 million net of tax) and $5.3$6.4 million ($4.14.8 million net of tax), respectively. Included in total stock-based compensation expense was the vesting$9 thousand and $25 thousand of stock options of $30 thousand and $0.1 millionoption expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, 2023, respectively, and $30 thousand and $0.1 million and $0.2 millionof stock option expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, 2022, respectively.

 

9

 

 

3.

Interest

 

Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were:were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Interest capitalized at beginning of period

 $63,573  $59,772  $58,159  $65,010  $60,274  $63,573  $59,600  $58,159 

Plus interest incurred(1)

 32,644  39,181  99,299  122,508  34,214  32,644  103,662  99,299 

Less cost of sales interest expensed

 22,453  19,240  57,876  58,130  (19,272) (22,453) (55,719) (57,876)

Less other interest expensed(2)(3)

 9,624  19,158  35,442  65,166  (13,502) (9,624) (43,096) (35,442)

Less interest contributed to unconsolidated joint venture(4)

 -  -  -  3,667   (6,440)  -   (9,456)  - 

Plus interest acquired from unconsolidated joint venture(5)

  -  3,118  -  3,118   -  -  283  - 

Interest capitalized at end of period(6)

 $64,140  $63,673  $64,140  $63,673  $55,274  $64,140  $55,274  $64,140 

 

(1)

Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries.

(2)

Other interest expensed includes interest that does not qualify for interest capitalization because our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed our debt, which amounted to $5.0$2.6 million and $14.4$5.0 million for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, and $25.5$14.5 million and $48.1$25.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively. Other interest also includes interest on completed homes, land in planning and fully developed lots without homes under construction, which does not qualify for capitalization and therefore is expensed.expensed as incurred. This component of other interest was $4.6$10.9 million and $4.8$4.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, and $9.9$28.6 million and $17.1$9.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively.

(3)

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest on notes payable, which is calculated as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Other interest expensed

 $9,624  $19,158  $35,442  $65,166  $13,502  $9,624  $43,096  $35,442 

Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries

 404  602  1,234  1,554  723  404  2,032  1,234 

Increase in accrued interest

  (19,194)  (12,139)  (19,408)  (11,897)  (14,693)  (19,194)  (18,498)  (19,408)

Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest

 $(9,166) $7,621  $17,268  $54,823  $(468) $(9,166) $26,630  $17,268 

 

(4)

Represents capitalized interest which was included as part of the assets contributed to joint ventures, as discussed in Note 18. There was no impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of these transactions.

(5)Represents capitalized interest which was included as part of the assets purchased from joint ventures, as discussed in Note 18. There was no impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as a result of these transactions.

(6)

Capitalized interest amounts are shown gross before allocating anya portion of impairments, if any, to capitalized interest.

   

 

 

4.

Reduction of Inventory to Fair Value

 

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.

During the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, we evaluated inventorieshad a total of all359 and 393 and 374 communities that were either under development, and held for future development or open for sale, respectively,which we evaluated for impairment indicators through preparation and review of detailed budgets or other market indicators of impairment. As a result of such analysis, weWe did not identify any impairment indicators and therefore were not required to perform undiscounted future cash flow analysesfor any community during thethree and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 for any of the 393 communities. We performed undiscounted future cash flow analyses during theand nine2022. months ended July 31, 2021 for three of the 374 communities with an aggregate carrying value of $11.5 million, which had projected operating losses or other impairment indicators. As a result of our undiscounted future cash flow analyses, we performed discounted cash flow analyses and recorded impairment losses of $1.2 million in two communities for the three months ended July 31, 2021 and $2.0 million in three communities for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. In the firstthree quarters of fiscal 2021, the discount rates used for the impairments recorded ranged from 18.3% to 19.3%. In the firstthree quarters of fiscal 2022, we did not record any impairment losses. Impairment losses are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations on the line entitled “Homebuilding: Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventory.

 

10

The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations line entitled “Homebuilding: Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” also includes write-offs of options and approval, engineering and capitalized interestWe write off certain costs that we record when we redesign communities and/are redesigned, abandoned or abandon certain engineering costs and we do not exercise options in various locations because the communities' pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk.our options. Total aggregate write-offs related to these items were $1.1$0.3 million and $0.1$1.1 million for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, and $1.8$0.9 million and $1.3$1.8 million for the  nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively. Occasionally, these write-offs are offset by recovered deposits (sometimes through legal action) that had been written off in a prior period as walk-away costs. Historically, these recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off. The number of lots walked away from during the three months ended  July 31, 20222023 and 20212022 were 1,892521 and 851,1,892, respectively, and 3,0252,918 and 1,4203,025 during the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively. The walk-aways were located in alloccurred across each of our segments in the first three quarters of both fiscal 2022 and in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and West segments in the firstthree quarters of fiscal 2021.

We decide to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine that the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale.” During the firstthree quarters of fiscal 2022, we did not mothball any additional communities, nor sell any previously mothballed communities. We re-activated four previously mothballed communities. As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021, 2022.the net book value associated with our two and six total mothballed communities was $1.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $20.3 million and $57.5 million, respectively.

We sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-68,these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes of ourOur Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021, 2022 included inventory of $43.8$49.5 million and $32.5$48.5 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $47.2$49.2 million and $31.5$51.2 million, (net of debt issuance costs), respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

 

We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell our land parcels to the land bankers and they provide us with an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70,these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes of ourOur Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021, 2022 included inventory of $237.1$201.6 million and $66.2$260.1 million, respectively, was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $131.3$96.8 million and $31.3$151.3 million, (net of debt issuance costs), respectively, recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from the transactions.

  

10

 

5.

Variable Interest Entities

 

The Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts to procure land or lots for the construction of homes. Under these contracts, the Companywe will fund a stated deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. Under the terms of the option purchase contracts, many of the option deposits are not refundable at the Company'sour discretion. Under the requirements of ASC 810, certainCertain option purchase contracts may result in the creation of a variable interest in the entity (“VIE”) that owns the land parcel under option.

 

In compliance with ASC 810, the Company analyzes itsWe analyze our option purchase contracts to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Although the Company does not have legal title to the underlying land, ASC 810 requires the Companywe are required to consolidate a VIE if the Company iswe are determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers, among other things, whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. Such activities would include, among other things, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. The Company also considersperformance and whether it haswe have the obligation to absorb losses of, the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. As a result of itsour analyses, we have concluded the Company determined that, as of July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, it wasis not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which it is purchasing land under option purchase contracts.

 

We will continue to secure land and lots using options, some of which are with VIEs. Including deposits on our unconsolidated VIEs, at July 31, 20222023, we had total cash deposits amounting to $173.4$186.0 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $1.8$1.9 billion. The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits plus any pre-development costs invested in the property, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.property.

11

 

 

6.

Warranty Costs

 

General liability insurance for homebuilding companies and their suppliers and subcontractors is very difficult to obtain. The availability of general liability insurance is limited due to a decreased number of insurance companies willing to underwrite for the industry. In addition, those few insurers willing to underwrite liability insurance have significantly increased the premium costs. To date, we have been able to obtain general liability insurance but at higher premium costs with higher deductibles. Our subcontractors and suppliers have advised us that they have also had difficulty obtaining insurance that also provides us coverage. As a result, weWe have an owner controlledowner-controlled insurance program for certain of our subcontractors whereby the subcontractors pay us an insurance premium (through a reduction of amounts we would otherwise owe such subcontractors for their work on our homes) based on the risk type of the trade. We absorb the liability associated with their work on our homes as part of our overall general liability insurance at no additional cost to us because our existing general liability and construction defect insurance policy and related reserves for amounts under our deductible covers construction defects regardless of whether we or our subcontractors are responsible for the defect. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, we received $2.4$1.0 million and $1.4$2.4 million, respectively, and $5.6$3.0 million and $4.5$5.6 million, respectively, from subcontractors related to the owner-controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as reductions to inventory.

 

We accrue for warranty costs that are covered under our existing general liability and construction defect policy as part of our general liability insurance deductible. This accrual is expensed as selling, general and administrative costs. For homes to be delivered in fiscal 20222023 and previously delivered in 2021,2022, our deductible under our general liability insurance is or was a $25$25.0 million, and $20 million, respectively, aggregate for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 20222023 and 20212022 is or was $0.5 million, up to a $5.0 million limit in California and $0.25 million, up to a $5$5.0 million limit.limit in all other states. Our aggregate retention for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims is $25or was $25.0 million for fiscal 20222023 and was $20 million for fiscal 2021.2022. In addition, we establish a warranty accrual for lower cost-related issues to cover home repairs, community amenities and land development infrastructure that are not covered under our general liability and construction defect policy. We accrue an estimate for these warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have beencontrol is transferred to the homebuyer. Additions, charges and chargeschanges in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022 were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
  

Balance, beginning of period

 $91,464  $90,025  $94,916  $86,417  $90,610  $91,464  $97,719  $94,916 

Additions – Selling, general and administrative

 1,995  2,047  6,337  6,504  1,657  1,995  5,451  6,337 

Additions – Cost of sales

 3,990  6,058  7,083  10,059  1,445  3,990  4,685  7,083 

Charges incurred during the period

 (3,047) (3,513) (12,984) (10,249) (3,799) (3,047) (17,186) (12,984)

Changes to pre-existing reserves

  (94)  789   (1,044)  2,675   437   (94)  (319)  (1,044)

Balance, end of period

 $94,308  $95,406  $94,308  $95,406  $90,350  $94,308  $90,350  $94,308 

 

Warranty accruals are based upon historical experience. We engage aThe majority of the charges incurred during the thirdfirst-party actuary that uses our historical warranty andnine months of fiscal 2023 represented payments for construction defect datadefects related to assist our management in estimating our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred butthe settlement of notthree reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and construction defect programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees.

litigation matters. Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid, were $0.1 million for botheach of the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022 for prior year deliveries.

 

1211

 

 

7.

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and we are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations that affect the development of land and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing. These laws and regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities. This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding. The significant majority of our litigation matters are related to construction defect claims. Our estimated losses from construction defect litigation matters, if any, are included in our construction defect reserves.

 

We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment, including those regulating the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, the management of storm water runoff at construction sites, the handling, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, impacts to wetlands and other sensitive environments, and the remediation of contamination at properties that we have owned or developed or currently own or are developing (“environmental laws”). The particular environmental laws that apply to a site may vary greatly according to the community site, for example, due to the community, the environmental conditions at or near the site, and the present and former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity. In addition, noncompliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties, obligations to remediate or take corrective action, permit revocations or other sanctions; and contamination or other environmental conditions at or in the vicinity of our developments may result in claims against us for personal injury, property damage or other losses.

 

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will continue to be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. In addition, some of these laws and regulations that significantly affect how certain properties may be developed are contentious, attract intense political attention, and may be subject to significant changes over time. For example, regulations governing wetlands permitting under the federal Clean Water Act have been the subject of extensive rulemakings for many years, resulting in several major joint rulemakings by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that have expanded and contracted the scope of wetlands subject to regulation; and such rulemakings have been the subject of many legal challenges, some of which remain pending. It is unclear how these and related developments, including at the state or local level, ultimately may affect the scope of regulated wetlands where we operate. Although we cannot reliably predict the extent of any effect these developments regarding wetlands, or any other requirements that may take effect, may have on us, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, our ability to obtain or renew permits or approvals and the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules and regulations and their interpretations and application.

 

In March 2013, we received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) requesting information about our involvement in a housing redevelopment project in Newark, New Jersey that a Company entity undertook during the 1990s. We understand that the development is in the vicinity of a former lead smelter and that tests on soil samples from properties within the development conducted by the EPA showed elevated levels of lead. We also understand that the smelter ceased operations many years before the Company entity involved acquired the properties in the area and carried out the re-development project. We responded to the EPA’s request. In August 2013, we were notified that the EPA considers us a potentially responsible party (or “PRP”) with respect to the site, that the EPA will clean up the site, and that the EPA is proposing that we fund and/or contribute towards the cleanup of the contamination at the site. We began preliminary discussions with the EPA concerning a possible resolution. The EPA requested additional information in April 2014 and again in March 2017 and the Company responded to the information requests. On May 2, 2018 the EPA sent a letter to the Company entity demanding reimbursement for 100% of the EPA’s costs to clean-up the site in the amount of $2.7 million. The Company responded to the EPA’s demand letter on June 15, 2018 setting forth the Company’s defenses and expressing its willingness to enter into settlement negotiations. Two other PRPs identified by the EPA began negotiations with the EPA and preliminary negotiations with the Company regarding the site. The EPA then requested that the three PRPs present a joint settlement offer to the EPA. In June 2022, the Company and one of the other PRPs reached an agreement with the EPA for a total settlement of $1.5 million (plus accrued interest), with the Company contributing $0.8 million to the settlement, which was slightly below the amount we had previously accrued. The consent decree entered into by the settling parties was submitted to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (where the EPA has filed a complaint seeking reimbursement of response costs) on June 14, 2022 and was signed and filed by such Court on August 9, 2022.

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In 2015, the condominium association of the Four Seasons at Great Notch condominium community (the “Great Notch Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Passaic County (the “Court”) alleging various construction defects, design defects, and geotechnical issues relating to the community. The operative complaint (“Complaint”) asserts claims against Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and several of its affiliates, including K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC, K. Hovnanian Construction Management, Inc., and K. Hovnanian Companies, LLC. The Complaint also asserts claims against various other design professionals and contractors. The Special Masters appointed by the Court to decide non-dispositive motions issued an opinion that (a) granted the Great Notch Plaintiff has also filed aPlaintiff’s motion which remains pending, to permit it to pursueassert a claim to pierce the corporate veil of K. Hovnanian at Great Notch, LLC to hold its alleged parent entities liable for any damages awarded against it.it, and (b) further stated that the Great Notch Plaintiff is not permitted to pursue that claim until after any trial on the underlying liability claims. To date, the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants have reached a partial settlement with the Great Notch Plaintiff as to a portion of the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claims against them for an amount immaterial to the Company. On its remaining claims against the Hovnanian-affiliated defendants, the Great Notch Plaintiff has asserted damages of approximately $119.5 million, which amount is potentially subject to treble damages pursuant to the Great Notch Plaintiff’s claim under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The trial is currentlyhad been scheduled for January 23, 2023.April 17, 2023; however, the Court has adjourned the trial and has not yet set a new date. The Hovnanian-affiliated defendants intend to defend these claims vigorously.

 

In December 2020, the NJDEPNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") and the Administrator of the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund (the “Spill Fund”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Union County against Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., in addition to other unrelated parties, in connection with contamination at Hickory Manor, a residential condominium development. Alleged predecessors of certain defendants had used the Hickory Manor property for decades for manufacturing purposes. In 1998, NJDEP confirmed that groundwater at this site was impacted from an off-site source. The site was later remediated, resulting in the NJDEP issuing an unconditional site-wide No Further Action determination letter and Covenant Not to Sue in 1999. Subsequently, one of our affiliates was involved in redeveloping the property as a residential community. The complaint asserts claims under the New Jersey Spill Act and other state law claims and alleges that the NJDEP and the Spill Fund have incurred over $5.3 million since 2009 to investigate vapor intrusion at the development and to install vapor mitigation systems. Among other things, the complaint seeks recovery of the costs incurred, an order that defendants perform additional required remediation and disgorgement of profits on our affiliate’s sales of the units in the development. Discovery has commenced.is ongoing. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. intends to defend these claims vigorously.

   

12

 

8.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Customer'sCustomers' Deposits

 

Cash represents cash deposited in checking accounts. Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury bills and government money–market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased. Our cash balances are held at a few financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts. We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major high credit quality financial institutions. At July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, $13.7$11.1 million and $15.7$13.4 million, respectively, of theour total cash and cash equivalents was in cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.equivalents.

 

Homebuilding - Restricted"Restricted cash and cash equivalentsequivalents" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $15.5$8.6 million and $16.1$13.4 million as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, respectively, the majoritywhich primarily consists of which represents cash collateralizing our letter of credit agreements and facilities as discussed in(see Note 12.12).

 

Financial services restricted cash and cash equivalents, which are included in Financial services"Financial services" assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $33.1$29.5 million and $43.5$36.1 million as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, respectively. Included in these balances were (1) financial services customers’ deposits of $31.1$26.9 million at July 31, 20222023 and $40.7$29.7 million as of October 31, 20212022, respectively, which are subject to restrictions on our use, and (2) $2.0 million at July 31, 2022 and $2.8 million as of October 31, 2021 of restricted cash under the terms of our mortgage warehouse lines of credit.credit of $2.6 million and $6.4 million as of  July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, respectively. 

 

Total Homebuilding Customers’ deposits"Customers' deposits" are shown as a liability on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These liabilities are significantly more than the applicable periods’ restricted cash balances because in some states the deposits are not restricted from use and, in other states, we are able to release the majority of these customer deposits to cash by pledging letters of credit andor surety bonds.

 

13

 

9.

Leases

 

We leaserent certain office space for use in our operations. We assess each of these contracts to determine whether the arrangement contains a lease as defined by ASC 842 “Leases” ("ASC 842"). In order to meet the definition of a lease under ASC 842, the contractual arrangement must convey to us the right to control the use of an identifiable asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. We recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term and combine lease and non-lease components for all leases. Our office lease terms are generally from three to five years and generally contain renewal options. In accordance with ASC 842, our lease terms include those renewals only to the extent that they are reasonably certain to be exercised. The exercise of these lease renewal options is generally at our discretion. In accordance with ASC 842, the lease liability is equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments while the right of use (“ROU”) asset is based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment, such as for lease incentives. Our leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit interest rate and therefore, we must estimate our incremental borrowing rate. In determining the incremental borrowing rate, we consider the lease period and our collateralized borrowing rates.

14

Our lease population at July 31, 20222023 is comprised of operating leases where we are the lessee, and these leases are primarily real estate for office space for our corporate office and division offices and design centers. As allowed by ASC 842, we adopted an accounting policy election to not record leases with lease terms of twelve months or less on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.offices.

 

Lease costcosts are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, primarily in Selling,"Selling, general and administrativeadministrative" homebuilding expenses, and payments on our lease liabilities are presented in the table below. Our short-term lease costs and sublease income are de minimis.

 

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

July 31,

 

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

July 31, 2022

  

July 31, 2021

  

July 31, 2022

  

July 31, 2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Operating lease cost

 $2,528  $2,760  $7,793  $7,970 

Operating lease costs

 $2,646  $2,528  $8,510  $7,793 

Cash payments on lease liabilities

 $2,432  $2,483  $7,086  $7,171  $2,222  $2,432  $6,959  $7,086 

 

Operating right-of-use lease assets ("ROU assetsassets") are classified within Prepaidsincluded in "Prepaid expenses and other assetsassets" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, while lease liabilities are classified within Accountsincluded in "Accounts payable and other liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.liabilities". During the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023, the Company recorded an additional $1.4a net increase of $7.2 million and $9.8$8.9 million, respectively, to both its ROU assets and lease liabilities as a result of new leases and lease renewals that commenced during the period. The following table contains additional information about our leases:

 

(In thousands)

 

At July 31, 2022

  

At October 31, 2021

  

July 31, 2023

  

October 31, 2022

 

ROU assets

 $18,898  $17,844  $20,085  $17,899 

Lease liabilities

 $19,940  $18,952  $20,800  $18,862 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)

 3.5  3.1  3.6  3.5 

Weighted-average discount rate (incremental borrowing rate)

 9.5% 9.4%

Weighted-average discount rate

 9.7% 9.5%

 

Maturities of our operating lease liabilities as of July 31, 20222023 are as follows:

 

Year ending October 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2022 (excluding the nine months ended July 31, 2022)

 $2,417 

2023

 8,146 

Fiscal Year Ending October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023 (excluding the nine months ended July 31, 2023)

 $2,344 

2024

 5,494  7,733 

2025

 4,404  6,400 

2026

 2,758  4,782 

2027

  1,396  3,239 

Total payments

 24,615 

2028 and thereafter

  1,018 

Total operating lease payments (1)

 25,516 

Less: imputed interest

  (4,675)  (4,716)

Present value of lease liabilities

 $19,940 

Present value of operating lease liabilities

 $20,800 

(1) Lease payments include options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being executed and exclude $10.4 million of legally binding minimum lease payments for office leases signed but not yet commenced as of July 31, 2023. The related ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are not reflected on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

10.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans, primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time of origination. Mortgage loans held for sale consist primarily of single-family residential loansare collateralized by the underlying property. We have elected the fair value option to record loansLoans held for sale and therefore these loans are recorded at fair value with the changes in the value recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services.”“Financial services” revenue. We currently use forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), interest rate commitments from borrowers and mandatory and/or best efforts forward commitments to sell loans to third-party purchasers parties to protect us from interest rate fluctuations. These short-term instruments, which do not require any payments to be made to the counterparty or purchaser in connection with the execution of the commitments, are recorded at fair value. Gains and losses on changes in the fair value are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Revenues: Financial services.”

 

At July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, $71.9$76.2 million and $136.5$92.5 million, respectively, of mortgages held for sale were pledged against our mortgage warehouse lines of credit (see Note 11). We may incur losses with respect to mortgages that were previously sold that are delinquent and which had underwriting defects, but only to the extent the losses are not covered by mortgage insurance or the resale value of the home. The reserves for these estimated losses are included in the “Financial services” balancesliabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As ofAt July 31, 2022 2023and 2021October 31, 2022, we had specific reserves specifically for 1311 and 1614 identified mortgage loans, respectively, as well as reserves for an estimate forof future losses on mortgages sold but not yet identified to us.

 

15

The activity in our loan origination reserves during the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022 was as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
  

Loan origination reserves, beginning of period

 $1,714  $1,524  $1,632  $1,458  $1,906  $1,714  $1,795  $1,632 

Provisions for losses during the period

 43  58  133  167  50  43  127  133 

Adjustments to pre-existing provisions for losses from changes in estimates

  -   -   (8)  (43)  -   -   34   (8)

Loan origination reserves, end of period

 $1,757  $1,582  $1,757  $1,582  $1,956  $1,757  $1,956  $1,757 

 

14

 

11.

Mortgages

 

Nonrecourse.Nonrecourse

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $187.8$129.1 million and $125.1$144.8 million, (netnet of debt issuance costs)costs, at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $527.6$373.1 million and $448.5$418.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 6.1%8.6% and 4.4%6.7% at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

 

Mortgage Loans.Loans

K. Hovnanian Mortgage originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are generally sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. In certain instances, we retain the servicing rights for a small amount of loans. K. Hovnanian Mortgage finances the origination of mortgage loans through various master repurchase agreements, which are recorded in "Financial services" liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”), is a short-term borrowing facility which was amended on July 29, 202231, 2023 to increase the borrowing capacity from $50.0 million to $75.0 million and extend the maturity date to July 31, 2024. 31,2023, is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity.The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at an adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), which was 2.33% at July 31, 2022, plus the applicable margin of 2.25%2.125% to 2.375%. As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $25.5$6.3 million and $45.7$14.1 million, respectively.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage has another secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Customers Bank (“Customers Master Repurchase Agreement”), which is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50.0 million through its maturity on March 8, 2023.6, 2024. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable daily or as loans are sold to permanent investors on outstanding advances at the current Bloomberg Short Term Bank Yield Index ("BSBY") rate, plus the applicable margin ranging from 2.125% to 4.5% based on the type of loan and the number of days outstanding on the warehouse line. As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Customers Master Repurchase Agreement was $21.2$37.7 million and $40.5$43.1 million, respectively.

 

K. Hovnanian Mortgage also has a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Comerica Bank (“Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement”) which is a short-term borrowing facility that maturesthrough its maturity on January 9, 2023.10, 2024. The Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement provides up to $60.0 million on the 15th day of the last month of the Company's fiscal quarters and reverts back to up to $50.0 million 30 days thereafter. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. Interest is payable monthly at the daily adjusting BSBY rate, subject to a floor of 0.50%, plus the applicable margin of 1.875%1.75% or 3.25% based upon the type of loan. As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings outstanding under the Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement was $24.0$17.9 million and $48.7$37.1 million, respectively.

 

The Chase Master Repurchase Agreement, Customers Master Repurchase Agreement and Comerica Master Repurchase Agreement (together, the “Master Repurchase Agreements”) require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis, of the size of the Master Repurchase Agreements, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the applicable agreement, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of July 31, 20222023, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants under the Master Repurchase Agreements.

 

1615

 

12.

Senior Notes and Credit Facilities

 

Senior notes and credit facilities balances as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022, were as follows:

 

 

July 31,

 

October 31,

  

July 31,

 

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

 

2021

  

2023

 

2022

 

Senior Secured Notes:

  

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 $158,502  $158,502 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 250,000  350,000 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  282,322   282,322 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 162,269  162,269 

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 $158,502  $158,502 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 150,000  250,000 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 282,322  282,322 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 162,269  162,269 

Total Senior Secured Notes

 $853,093  $953,093  $753,093  $853,093 

Senior Notes:

  

8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2027 (1)

 $-  $- 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 90,590  90,590 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 90,120  90,120 

8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2027 (1)

 $-  $- 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 90,590  90,590 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 90,120  90,120 

Total Senior Notes

 $180,710  $180,710  $180,710  $180,710 

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 $39,551  $39,551  $39,551  $39,551 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 $81,498  $81,498  $81,498  $81,498 

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (2)

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

Subtotal notes payable

 $1,154,852  $1,254,852 

Subtotal senior notes and credit facilities

 $1,054,852  $1,154,852 

Net (discounts) premiums

 $6,266  $10,769  $(1,120) $4,079 

Net debt issuance costs

 $(13,246) $(17,248)

Total notes payable, net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs

 $1,147,872  $1,248,373 

Unamortized debt issuance costs

 $(8,953) $(12,384)

Total senior notes and credit facilities, net of discounts, premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

 $1,044,779  $1,146,547 

 

(1) $26.0 million of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "8.0% 2027 Notes") are owned by a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of HEI. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such notes are not reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of HEI.

 

(2) At July 31, 20222023, provides for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of senior secured first lien revolving loans. On August 19, 2022, theThe revolving loans thereunder have a maturity of the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility was extended from December 28, 2022 to June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanians option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the fixed interestundrawn revolving commitments at a rate was replaced with a floating interest rate in each case, effective upon the satisfaction of customary conditions in respect of the collateral securing the borrowings thereunder. See Note 22.1.00% per annum.

 

General

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding (exceptat July 31, 2023 (except for the 8.0% 2027 Notes which are not guaranteed by K. Hovnanian at Sunrise Trail III, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) at July 31, 2022(collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”).

 

The credit agreements governing the Credit Facilitiesterm loans and revolving credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit Facilities") and the indentures governing the senior secured and senior notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at July 31, 20222023 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of HEI and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repay/repurchase certain indebtedness prior to its respective stated maturity, repurchase (including through exchanges) common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments (including investments), sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Debt Instruments also contain customary events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans made under the Unsecured Term Loan Facility (defined below) (the “Unsecured Term Loans”), loans made under the SecuredSenior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility (defined below)due February 1, 2027 (the “Unsecured Term Loan Facility”), loans (the “Secured Term Loans”) and loans made under the Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined below)Facility due January 31, 2028 (the “Secured Term Loan Facility”) and loans (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) made under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement due June 30, 2024 (the "Secured Credit Agreement") or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 20222023, , we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

 

1716

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0, as defined in the applicable Debt Instrument, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends (in each such case, our secured debt leverage ratio must also be less than 4.0 to 1.0), and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. Beginning as of October 31, 2021, as a result of our improved operating results, our fixed coverage ratio was above 2.0 to 1.0 and our secured debt leverage ratio was below 4.0 to 1.0, therefore we were no longer restricted from paying dividends. As such, we made dividend payments of $2.7$2.7 million to preferred shareholders in each ofevery quarter since the firstsecond and third quartersquarter of fiscal 2022. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and, accordingly, if for any reason we do not declare a dividend on the Series A preferred stock for a quarterly dividend period (regardless of our availability of funds), holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that period, and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that period.

 

Under the terms of our Debt Instruments, we have the right to make certain redemptions and prepayments and, depending on market conditions, our strategic priorities and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to actively analyze and evaluate our capital structure and explore transactions to simplify our capital structure and to strengthen our balance sheet, including those that reduce leverage, interest rates and/or extend maturities, and will seek to do so with the right opportunity. We may also continue to make debt or equity purchases and/or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise, or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

 

Fiscal 20222023

 

On April 29, 2022,May 30, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.125 Lien Notes"). The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $104.2 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million for each of the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, including the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt, net".

Fiscal 2022

On April 29, 2022, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $105.5 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, including the write-off of unamortized financingdebt issuance costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt"debt, net".

 

On August 19, 2022, the Company, K. Hovnanian, and other subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors entered into the Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2019, as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of November 27, 2019, by and among K. Hovnanian, the Company, the other guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, which provides for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of senior secured first lien revolving loans (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). Upon effectiveness, the Second Amendment will (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility from December 28, 2022 to June 30, 2024, (ii) replace the 7.75% fixed interest rate with a floating interest rate based on the SOFR and (iii) provide for certain technical and clarifying amendments. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest, at K. Hovnanian’s option, at either (i) a term SOFR rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the undrawn revolving commitments at a rate of 1.00% per annum. The foregoing amendments will take effect upon the satisfaction of customary conditions in respect of the collateral securing the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Fiscal 2021

On July 30, 2021, K. Hovnanian redeemed in full all of the $111.2 million aggregate principal amount of 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the "10.0%2022 Notes"). The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $111.7 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million for the three months ended July 31, 2021, net of the write-off of unamortized financing costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt".

On August 2, 2021, K. Hovnanian redeemed in full all of the $69.7 million aggregate principal amount of 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the "10.5%2024 Notes"). The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $71.9 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand.

18

Secured Obligations

 

On October 31, 2019, K. Hovnanian, HEI, the Notes Guarantors, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and affiliates of certain investment managers (the “Investors”"Investors"), as lenders, entered into a credit agreement (the “Secured Credit Agreement” and, together with the Unsecured Term Loan Facility (defined below) and the Secured Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Facilities”)Credit Agreement providing for up to $125.0$125.0 million in aggregate amount of Secured Revolving Loans to be used for general corporate purposes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. Secured Revolving Loans are to be borrowed by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by the Notes Guarantors. On August 19, 2022, the maturity ofThe revolving loans under the Secured Credit Agreement was extended from December 28, 2022 tohave a maturity of June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanian’s option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian pays an unused commitment fee on the fixed interestundrawn revolving commitments at a rate was replaced with a floating interest rate in each case, effective upon the satisfaction of customary conditions in respect of the collateral securing the borrowings thereunder. See Note 22.1.00% per annum.

 

The 1.125 Lien Notes have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 7.75% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 1.125 Lien Notes at 103.875% of principal commencing February 15, 2022, at 101.937% of principal commencing February 15, 2023 and at 100.0% of principal commencing February 15, 2024.

 

The 10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.25 Lien Notes") have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 1.25 Lien Notes at 105.25% of principal commencing February 15, 2022, at 102.625% of principal commencing February 15, 2023 and at 100.0% of principal commencing February 15, 2024.

The 10.0%1.75 Lien Notes due 2025 (the "1.75 Lien Notes") have a maturity of November 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. At any time and from time to time prior to November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.75 Lien Notes at a redemption price equal to 102.50% of their principal amount and at any time and from time to time after November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 1.75 Lien Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

The 11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due 2026 (the "1.5 Lien Notes") have a maturity of February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 11.25% per annum payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 and August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such interest payment dates. The 1.5 Lien Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at our option at any time prior to February 15, 2026 at 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

The

10.0%171.75 Lien Notes due 2025 (the "1.75 Lien Notes") have a maturity

On December 10, 2019, K. Hovnanian entered into a Seniorthe Secured1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028 (the “Secured Term Loan Facility”).Facility. The secured term loans under the Secured Term Loan Facility (the “Secured Term Loans”) bear interest at a rate equal to 10.0% per annum and will mature on January 31, 2028, with interest payable in arrears on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. At any time and from time to time prior to November 15, 2022, K. Hovnanian may voluntarily prepay some or all of the Secured Term Loans at a prepayment price equal to 105.00% of their principal amount, at any time and from time to time after November 15, 2022 and prior to November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may voluntarily prepay some or all of the Secured Term Loans at a prepayment price equal to 102.50% of their principal amount and at any time and from time to time after November 15, 2023, K. Hovnanian may voluntarily prepay some or all of the Secured Term Loans at a prepayment price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

19

Each series of secured notes and the guarantees thereof, the Secured Term Loans and the guarantees thereof and the Secured Credit Agreement and the guarantees thereof are secured by the same assets. Among the secured debt, the liens securing the Secured Credit Agreement are senior to the liens securing all of K. Hovnanian’s other secured notes and the Secured Term Loan. The liens securing the 1.125 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.25 Lien Notes, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.125 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.25 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.25 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.5 Lien Notes are senior to the liens securing the 1.75 Lien Notes, the Secured Term Loans and any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.5 Lien Notes, the liens securing the 1.75 Lien Notes and the Secured Term Loans (which are secured on a pari passu basis with each other) are senior to any other future secured obligations that are junior in priority with respect to the assets securing the 1.75 Lien Notes and the Secured Term Loans, in each case, with respect to the assets securing such debt.

 

As of July 31, 20222023, the collateral securing the Secured Credit Agreement, the Secured Term Loan Facility and the secured notes included (1) $220.9$332.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, which included $7.3$5.3 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit (subsequent to such date, fluctuations as a result of cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments along with cash inflow primarily from deliveries); (2) $430.3$463.0 million aggregate book value of real property, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the value if it were appraised; and (3) equity interests in joint venture holding companies with an aggregate book value of $102.6$82.8 million.

 

Unsecured Obligations

 

The 13.5% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “13.5% 2026 Notes”) bear interest at 13.5% per annum and mature on February 1, 2026. Interest on the 13.5% 2026 Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. The 13.5% 2026 Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at any time prior to February 1, 2025 at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus an applicable “Make Whole Amount”. At any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 2025, K. Hovnanian may also redeem some or all of the 13.5% 2026 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount.

 

The 5.0% Senior Notes due 2040 (the “5.0% 2040 Notes”) bear interest at 5.0% per annum and mature on February 1, 2040. Interest on the 5.0% 2040 Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year to holders of record at the close of business on January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, immediately preceding each such interest payment date. At any time and from time to time, K. Hovnanian may redeem some or all of the 5.0% 2040 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of their principal amount. 

 

The Unsecured Term Loans bear interest at a rate equal to 5.0% per annum and interest is payable in arrears, on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. The Unsecured Term Loans will mature on February 1, 2027.

 

Other

 

We have certain stand-alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there was a total of $7.1$5.1 million and $9.3$6.0 million letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. At July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $7.3$5.3 million and $9.9$6.1 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash and cash equivalents” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

18

 

13.

Per Share Calculation

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for nonvested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and nonvested shares of restricted stock. Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.   

20

All outstanding nonvested shares that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents that participate in undistributed earnings with common stock are considered participating securities and are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and participation rights in undistributed earnings in periods when we have net income. The Company’s restricted common stock (“nonvested shares”) are considered participating securities.

  

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented below were calculated as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
  

Numerator:

  

Net earnings attributable to Hovnanian

 $82,614 $47,702 $169,857 $555,337 

Net income

 $55,764  $82,614  $108,626  $169,857 

Less: preferred stock dividends

 $(2,669)   $(8,007)    (2,669) (2,669) (8,007) (8,007)

Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares

  (9,139)  (4,426)  (20,201)  (54,165)

Less: undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities

  (3,578)  (9,139)  (7,780)  (20,201)

Numerator for basic earnings per share

 $70,806  $43,276  $141,649  $501,172  $49,517  $70,806  $92,839  $141,649 

Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares

 9,139 4,426 20,202 54,165 

Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares

  (9,141)  (4,436)  (20,214)  (55,259)

Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities

 3,578  9,139  7,780  20,202 

Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities

  (3,582)  (9,141)  (7,801)  (20,214)

Numerator for diluted earnings per share

 $70,804  $43,266  $141,637  $500,078  $49,513  $70,804  $92,818  $141,637 

Denominator:

  

Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding

 6,485  6,315  6,424  6,263  6,249  6,485  6,201  6,424 

Effect of dilutive securities:

  

Share based payments

  59   119   83   107 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding

  6,544   6,434   6,507   6,370 

Stock-based payments

  456   59   441   83 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted-average shares outstanding

  6,705   6,544   6,642   6,507 

Basic earnings per share

 $10.92 $6.85 $22.05 $80.02  $7.92 $10.92 $14.97 $22.05 

Diluted earnings per share

 $10.82 $6.72 $21.77 $78.51  $7.38 $10.82 $13.97 $21.77 

 

SharesIn addition, 6 thousand and 80 thousand shares related to out-of-the money stock options, thatwhich could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share were 80for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 6 thousand and 24 thousand were not included for thethree and nine months ended July 31, 2022,2023 respectively, and 25 thousand for both the threeand nine2022, months ended July 31, 2021 respectively, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.   

each period.   

 

 

14.

Preferred Stock

 

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock,preferred stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stockpreferred stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A Preferred Stockpreferred stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares. The Series A Preferred Stockpreferred stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The depositary shares are listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol “HOVNP.” During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 wepreferred stock. We paid dividends of $2.7 million and $8.0 million on the Series A Preferred Stock, respectively.  Duringpreferred stock for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2021,2022, we did not pay any dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock due to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments.respectively.

 

 

15.

Common Stock

 

Each share of Class A Common Stockcommon stock entitles its holder to one vote per share, and each share of Class B Common Stockcommon stock generally entitles its holder to ten votes per share. The amount of any regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class A Common Stockcommon stock will be an amount equal to 110% of the corresponding regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class B Common Stock.common stock. If a shareholder desires to sell shares of Class B Common Stock,common stock, such stock must be converted into shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock at a one to -to-one conversion rate.

  

2119

 

On August 4, 2008, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”), which was amended on January 11, 2018 and January 18, 2021, designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss (NOL)(“NOL”) carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Commoncommon Stock and Class B Commoncommon Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock without the approval of the Board, of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholdersshareholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s initial adoption on August 4, 2008, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stockcommon stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’Board’s decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board of Directors at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 14, 2024, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board of Directors’Board’s decision to initially adopt the Rights Plan and the amendments thereto were approved by shareholders. Our stockholdersshareholders also approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of Class A Common Stockcommon stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our NOLs and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholdersshareholders and holders of Class B stockholders,common stock, the transfer restrictions in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new “public group” (as defined in the applicable United StatesU.S. Treasury regulations). Transfers included under the transfer restrictions include sales to persons (or public groups) whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of common stock would exceed the 5% thresholds discussed above, or to persons whose direct or indirect ownership of common stock would by attribution cause another person (or public group) to exceed such threshold.

 

On July 3, 2001,September 1, 2022, ourthe Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the program, repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amount repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price, future tax implications and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date. 

During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, we repurchased 118,478 shares under the stock repurchase program, with a market value of $4.8 million, or $40.51 per share, which were added to purchase up to 0.2 million shares"Treasury stock" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of Class A Common Stock (the "Prior Program"). July 31, 2023. There were no shares purchasedrepurchased during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and2022 and the nine months ended July 31, 2022. As of July 31, 20222023, , the maximum number$33.0 million of shares ofour Class A Common Stock that may yetcommon stock is available to be purchased under this program is 22 thousand. In September 2022, our Board of Directors terminated the Prior Program and adopted a newstock repurchase program. See Note 22.

 

16.

Income Taxes

 

The totalCompany’s income tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 was $14.6 million and $25.9 million, respectively, and $29.3 million and $58.4 million, respectively. Therespectively, for the same periods in the prior year. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, and both of the prior year periods, the expense was primarily due to federal and state tax expense recorded as a result of our pretax income.income before income taxes. The state tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 included the release of a $3.9 million valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law. The federal tax expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 included a $6.2 million benefit from energy efficient tax credits. The federal tax expense is not paid in cash as it is offset by the use of our existing NOL carryforwards.

 

The total income tax expense for the three months ended July 31, 2021 was $14.1 million. TheWe have remaining federal tax expense was primarily related to pretax income generated during the quarter and state tax expense from income generated in states where we do not have net operating lossNOL carryforwards to offset the current year income. The total tax benefit for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 was $442.9 million.  The benefit was primarily due to the reversal of a substantial portion of our valuation allowance previously recorded against our deferred tax assets.

Our federal net operating losses of $1.0 billion$812.9 million that expire between 20292030 and 2038, and $15.7 million have an indefinite carryforward period. Of our $2.4 billion ofOur total remaining state NOLs, $229.8NOL carryforwards are $2.3 billion: $412.4 million that expire between 20222023 through 2026;2027; $1.5$1.4 billion that expire between 20272028 through 2031;2032; $396.5$369.7 million that expire between 20322033 through 2036;2037; $170.4$73.7 million that expire between 20372038 through 2041;2042; and $53.9$51.6 million that have an indefinite carryforward period.

 

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was enacted and signed into U.S. law to provide additional economic relief in response to the high cost of prescription drugs, healthcare availability, climate change and inflation. We are currently evaluating the impact of the IRA on the Company's consolidated financial statements but do not expect there will be a material impact. We will continue to monitor additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and various state agencies.

The Company recognizes deferred income taxes fortax assets, net of deferred tax benefits arising fromliabilities, related to NOL carryforwards, tax credits and temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. Our deferred tax assets, net as of July 31, 2023 were $324.7 million compared to $344.8 million at October 31, 2022. A valuation allowance is provided to offset deferred tax assets ("DTAs") if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assetsDTAs will not be realized. Future realizationWe had a valuation allowance of deferred tax assets depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character. Sources of taxable income include future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, expected future taxable income, taxable income in prior carryback years if permitted under the tax law, and tax planning strategies. Management has determined that it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the future to realize its deferred tax assets except for a portion related to state deferred tax assets. The Company’s deferred tax assets$91.8 million as of July 31, 20222023 were $376.6 million.

Ascompared to $95.7 million as of October 31, 2020,2022 we had a valuation allowance of $396.5 million of federal deferred tax assets related to NOLs, as well as other matters, all of which was reversed during the year ended October 31, 2021. We also had a valuation allowance of $181.0 million of deferredDTAs for tax assets relatedcredits and state NOL carryforwards that are expected to state NOLs as of October 31,2020, of which $78.1 million was reversed in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 and $101.6 million remained at October 31, 2021.expire before they can be used.

 

As of July 31, 2022, weWe considered all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, ourthe valuation allowance for our deferred state income tax assets ("DTAs")DTAs was appropriate in accordance with ASC 740.appropriate. Overall, the positive evidence, both objective and subjective, outweighed the negative evidence. The significant positive improvement in our operations inprofitability over the last 36three months,years, coupled with our current contract backlog, of $1.8 billion as of July 31, 2022 provided positive evidence to support the conclusion that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the future and a full valuation allowance is not necessary for all of our DTAs. As such, we used our go forward projections to estimate our usage of our existing federal and state DTAs. From that review, we concluded that a valuation allowance for our federal DTAs was not needed. However, with respect to our state DTAs, we concluded that a valuation allowance of $80.6 million was still necessary related to states that have shorter carryforward periods or from states where we have significantly reduced or eliminated our operations and thus are not able to project that we will fully utilize those DTAs.necessary.

  

2220

  

 

17.

Operating and Reporting Segments

 

HEI’s operating segments are components of the Company’s business for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. Based on this criteria, each of the Company's communities qualifies as an operating segment, and therefore, it is impractical to provide segment disclosures for this many segments. As such, HEI has aggregated theWe currently have homebuilding operating segments into six reportable segments.

HEI’s homebuilding operating segmentsoperations in 14 states that are aggregated into reportable segments based primarily upon geographic proximity.

Historically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and its financial services segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we reevaluated our reportable segments as a result of changes in the business and our management thereof. In particular, we considered the fact that, since our segments were last established, the Company had exited the Minnesota, North Carolina and Tampa markets and is currently in the process of exiting the Chicago market. Applying the principles set forth under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 280, including that our business trends are reflective of economic conditions in markets with general geographic proximity, similar regulatory environments, land acquisition characteristics and similar methods used to construct and sell homes. we realigned our homebuilding operating segments.

HEI’s reportable segments now consist of the following sixthree homebuilding segments and a financial services segment noted below.segment.

 

Homebuilding:

 

 

(1)

Northeast (New(Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania)

(2)

Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland,Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia Washington D.C. and West Virginia)

 

(32)

Midwest (Illinois and Ohio)

(4)

Southeast (Florida, Georgia and South Carolina)

 

(53)

SouthwestWest (Arizona, California and Texas)

(6)

West (California)

  

23

Financial ServicesAll prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified throughout to conform to the new presentation.

 

Operations of the Homebuildinghomebuilding segments primarily include the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, urban infill and active lifestyle homes in planned residential developments. In addition, from time to time, operations of the homebuilding segments include sales of land. Operations of the Financial Servicesfinancial services segment include mortgage banking and title services provided to the homebuilding operations’ customers. Our financial services subsidiaries do not typically retain or service mortgages that we originate but rather sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors.

Corporate and unallocated primarily represents operations at our headquarters in New Jersey. This includes our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality and safety. It also includes interest income and interest expense resulting from interest incurred that cannot be capitalized in inventory in the Homebuilding segments, as well as the gains or losses on extinguishment of debt from any debt repurchases or exchanges.  

 

Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on operating earnings from continuing operations before provision or benefit for income taxes (“Income(loss) before income taxes”).taxes. Income (loss) before income taxes for the Homebuildinghomebuilding segments consist of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, income (loss) from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. Income (loss) before income taxes for the Financial Servicesfinancial services segment consist of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the cost of such services and selling,corporate general and administrative expenses incurred by the Financial Services segment. 

Operational results of each segment are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the segment been an independent stand-alone entity during the periods presented.

expenses.

 

2421

 

Financial information relating to HEI’s segment operationsour reportable segments was as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
  

Revenues:

  

Northeast

 $76,032  $35,255  $151,517  $97,488  $201,814  $305,577  $625,323  $721,442 

Mid-Atlantic

 168,135  106,419  396,750  311,564 

Midwest

 61,410  60,659  173,175  183,895 

Southeast

 71,542  68,854  200,359  195,545  121,240  71,542  296,084  200,359 

Southwest

 266,374  213,127  692,766  620,848 

West

  109,410   186,519   377,151   498,084   309,147   375,784   898,882   1,069,917 

Total homebuilding

 752,903  670,833  1,991,718  1,907,424  632,201  752,903  1,820,289  1,991,718 

Financial services

 14,533  19,845  43,548  61,070  14,649  14,533  41,016  43,548 

Corporate and unallocated

  157   5   177   15   3,107   157   7,679   177 

Total revenues

 $767,593  $690,683  $2,035,443  $1,968,509  $649,957  $767,593  $1,868,984  $2,035,443 
  

Income before income taxes:

  

Northeast

 $20,179  $6,765  $31,052  $16,427  $29,088  $59,958  $86,311  $117,796 

Mid-Atlantic

 37,756  15,907  82,441  38,618 

Midwest

 2,023  3,358  4,303  11,070 

Southeast

 15,263  2,682  36,185  9,540  23,431  15,263  49,902  36,185 

Southwest

 42,725  28,523  99,370  78,848 

West

  19,223   27,189   70,002   58,729   27,873   61,948   65,981   169,372 

Total homebuilding

 137,169  84,424  323,353  213,232  80,392  137,169  202,194  323,353 

Financial services

 3,743  8,607  11,566  28,117  4,304  3,743  11,466  11,566 

Corporate and unallocated (1)

  (28,985)  (31,232)  (106,646)  (128,933)  (14,306)  (28,985)  (79,100)  (106,646)

Income before income taxes

 $111,927  $61,799  $228,273  $112,416  $70,390  $111,927  $134,560  $228,273 

 

(1)

Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 included corporate general and administrative costsexpenses of $24.8$27.4 million, interest expense of $5.0$2.6 million (a component of Other interest onin our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), and $(0.8)$(19.8) million of other incomeexpense (income), and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation.loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 included corporate general and administrative costsexpenses of $78.0 million, interest expense of $14.4 million, $(17.4) million of other expense (income), and loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $24.8 million, interest expense of $5.0 million, and $(0.8) million of other expense (income). Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 included corporate general and administrative expenses of $75.9 million, interest expense of $25.5 million, (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million, and $(1.6) million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the three months ended July 31, 2021 included corporate general and administrative costs of $17.3 million, interest expense of $14.4 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), $0.3 million of loss on extinguishment of debt and $0.8 million of other income and expenses primarily related to interest income and stock compensation. Corporate and unallocated for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 included corporate general and administrative costs of $81.1 million, interest expense of $48.1 million (a component of Other interest on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations), $0.3 million of loss on extinguishment of debt and $0.6 million of other income and expenses.(income).

 

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

 
         

Assets:

        

Northeast

 $170,420  $133,390 

Mid-Atlantic

  342,870   273,073 

Midwest

  75,690   85,044 

Southeast

  352,012   257,044 

Southwest

  526,788   413,532 

West

  272,992   229,810 

Total homebuilding

  1,740,772   1,391,893 

Financial services (1)

  127,651   202,758 

Corporate and unallocated

  669,081   725,857 

Total assets

 $2,537,504  $2,320,508 

(1)   Deferred tax assets for the Financial services segment are included in the Deferred tax assets, net line on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Assets:

        

Northeast

 $514,319  $530,884 

Southeast

  298,871   330,894 

West

  745,531   802,704 

Total homebuilding

  1,558,721   1,664,482 

Financial services

  115,603   155,993 

Corporate and unallocated

  719,593   741,555 

Total assets

 $2,393,917  $2,562,030 

 

2522

 

18.

Investments in Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures

 

We enter into homebuilding and land development joint ventures from time to time as a means of accessing lot positions, expanding our market opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, managing our risk profile, leveraging our capital base and enhancing returns on capital. Our homebuilding

During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we contributed four communities we owned, including one active selling community, to one new unconsolidated joint venture for $41.1 million of net cash.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, one of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures are generally entered into with third-party investors to develop landwas dissolved, and construct homes that are sold directly to third-party home buyers. Our land development joint ventures include those entered into with developerswe assumed control of the remaining assets and other homebuilders as well as financial investors to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s members or other third parties.liabilities.

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2021,2023, we purchasedcontributed 16 communities we owned, including eight active selling communities, to one new unconsolidated joint venture for $75.7 million of net cash.

During the remaining equity interest inthird quarter of fiscal 2023, we assumed control of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures after the partner received their final cash distribution. We consolidated the remaining assets and liabilities that were in the unconsolidated joint venture at fair value on the date of distribution. Upon consolidation, we recorded a gain of $19.1 million in "Other (income) expense, net" for $6.3the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023. Subsequent to consolidation, we contributed the same three active selling communities to an unconsolidated joint venture for $48.0 million of net cash. As a result of this transaction, we took control of four communities, including three active communities. The unconsolidated joint venture was subsequently dissolved.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we contributed six communities we owned, including three active communities, to two new joint ventures for $21.2 million of net cash

The tables set forth below summarize the combined financial information related to our unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method.

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

July 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

 

July 31, 2023

 
   

Land

      

Land

   
 

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 

Assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

 $142,058  $1,104  $143,162  $133,631  $829  $134,460 

Inventories

 459,356  -  459,356  643,489  -  643,489 

Other assets

  28,809   -   28,809   23,628   -   23,628 

Total assets

 $630,223  $1,104  $631,327  $800,748  $829  $801,577 
  

Liabilities and equity:

  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $465,579  $884   466,463  $515,034  $616  $515,650 

Notes payable

  44,380   -   44,380   90,652   -   90,652 

Total liabilities

  509,959   884   510,843   605,686   616   606,302 

Equity of:

  

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

 72,737  211  72,948  82,916  209  83,125 

Others

  47,527   9   47,536   112,146   4   112,150 

Total equity

  120,264   220   120,484   195,062   213   195,275 

Total liabilities and equity

 $630,223  $1,104  $631,327  $800,748  $829  $801,577 

Debt to capitalization ratio

 27% 0% 27% 32% 0% 32%

  

(Dollars in thousands)

 

October 31, 2021

 

(In thousands)

 

October 31, 2022

 
   

Land

      

Land

   
 

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 

Assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

 $132,963  $1,972  $134,935  $153,176  $868  $154,044 

Inventories

 442,347  -  442,347  441,140  -  441,140 

Other assets

  34,551   -   34,551   20,037   -   20,037 

Total assets

 $609,861  $1,972  $611,833  $614,353  $868  $615,221 
  

Liabilities and equity:

  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $386,117  $1,681  $387,798  $471,813  $651  $472,464 

Notes payable

  73,994   -   73,994   34,880   -   34,880 

Total liabilities

  460,111   1,681   461,792   506,693   651   507,344 

Equity of:

  

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

 58,460 254 58,714  73,142 209 73,351 

Others

  91,290  37  91,327   34,518  8  34,526 

Total equity

  149,750  291  150,041   107,660  217  107,877 

Total liabilities and equity

 $609,861 $1,972 $611,833  $614,353 $868 $615,221 

Debt to capitalization ratio

 33% 0% 33% 24% 0% 24%

 

2623

 

As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, we had outstanding advances outstandingto unconsolidated joint ventures of $1.8$2.1 million and $2.2$1.6 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures.respectively. These amounts were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the tables above. On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $74.7 million and $60.9 million at July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, respectively. In some cases, our net investment in these unconsolidated joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of the equity reflected in the tabletables above because of the differences between asset impairments recorded against our unconsolidated joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable unconsolidated joint venture. Impairments of unconsolidated joint venture investments are assessed for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment below its carrying amount is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its fair value. During the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, we did not write-down any of our unconsolidated joint venture investments.

 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2023

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $122,579  $-  $122,579 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (106,873)  (1)  (106,874)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $15,706  $(1) $15,705 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $8,401  $-  $8,401 

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $80,745  $-  $80,745 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (74,303)  (3)  (74,306)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $6,442  $(3) $6,439 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $12,570  $(13) $12,557 

 

 

Three Months Ended July 31, 2021

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023

 

(In thousands)

   

Land

      

Land

   
 

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
  

Revenues

 $102,576  $-  $102,576  $283,710  $-  $283,710 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (96,622)  (31)  (96,653)  (260,110)  (4)  (260,114)

Joint venture net income (loss)

 $5,954  $(31) $5,923  $23,600  $(4) $23,596 

Our share of net income

 $5,012  $-  $5,012 

Our share of net income (loss)

 $20,969  $-  $20,969 

 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2022

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $237,732  $113  $237,845 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (218,171)  (34)  (218,205)

Joint venture net income

 $19,561  $79  $19,640 

Our share of net income

 $23,887  $32  $23,919 

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021

 

(In thousands)

     

Land

     
  

Homebuilding

  

Development

  

Total

 
             

Revenues

 $265,566  $691  $266,257 

Cost of sales and expenses

  (255,591)  (208)  (255,799)

Joint venture net income

 $9,975  $483  $10,458 

Our share of net income

 $9,560  $208  $9,768 

“Income from unconsolidated joint ventures” is reflected as a separate line in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the income or loss from these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures.

 

The reason “Our share of net income” in homebuilding joint ventures is higher or lower than the “Joint venture net income” shown in the tables above foris a result of our varying ownership percentages in each investment. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022,, respectively, is because we have varyinghad investments in eight unconsolidated joint ventures and our ownership percentages, rangingin these joint ventures ranged from 20% to over 50%, in our 8 and 12 unconsolidated joint ventures for both periods, respectively.periods. Therefore, depending on mix, if the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have higher sharing percentages are more profitable than our other unconsolidated joint ventures, that results in us having a higher overall percentage of income in the aggregate than would occur if all joint ventures had the same sharing percentage; conversely, if the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have lower sharing percentages are more profitable than our other unconsolidated joint ventures, that results in us having a lower overall percentage of income in the aggregate than would occur if all joint ventures had the same sharing percentage. For the three months ended July 31, 2022, "Our share of net income (loss)" was higher than the "Joint venture net income (loss)" due to the recognition of income in excess of our current sharing percentage based on the joint venture agreement as a result of a management analysis conducted which determined it is more likely than not that the Company will achieve its return on investment. For theand nine months ended ended July 31, 20222023, , "Our"Our share of net income" was higherless than the "Joint venture net income" due to distributionstwo unconsolidated joint ventures with increased income during the period for which we received duringcurrently recognize a lower profit-sharing percentage as well as a third newly formed unconsolidated joint venture that we are currently recognizing all of the net loss. In addition, homebuilding joint venture net income for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 that we recognized entirely as incomewas negatively impacted by the Company since our investment balance is zero, as well as the aforementioned management analysis which resulted in the recognition of income in excess of our current sharing percentage based on thean unconsolidated joint venture agreement. In addition,that was generating losses but such losses did not impact our share of net income because we had previously written off our investment in one of our unconsolidatedsuch joint ventures that was generating losses for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 and therefore we currently do not recognize those losses. Had we not fully written off our investment, our share of the net loss in this unconsolidated joint venture would have been approximately 50%, which would have reduced our overall share of net income across all of our unconsolidated joint ventures. As a result, this unconsolidated joint venture loss significantly reduced the profit when looking at all of our 8 unconsolidated joint ventures, in the aggregate, without having any impact on our share of net income or loss recorded in the applicable period.venture.

 

2724

 

For the three months ended July 31, 2021, "Our share of net income" is lower than the "Joint venture net income" due to increased income on one of our newer unconsolidated joint ventures during the quarter for which we currently recognize no percentage of the profit based on the joint venture agreement, and a second unconsolidated joint venture for which we recognize a lower profit sharing percentage which had higher profit in the current period. In addition, for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 we had written off our investment in two of our unconsolidated joint ventures that are generating losses and therefore we currently do not recognize those losses. Had we not fully written off our investment, our share of the net loss in these unconsolidated joint ventures would have been approximately 50%, which would have reduced our overall share of net income across all of our unconsolidated joint ventures. As a result, these unconsolidated joint ventures losses significantly reduce the profit when looking at all of our 12 unconsolidated joint ventures, in the aggregate, without having any impact on our share of net income or loss recorded in the applicable period.

To compensate us for the administrative services we provide as the manager of certain unconsolidated joint ventures, we receive a management fee based on a percentage of the applicable unconsolidated joint venture’sventures' revenues. These management fees, which totaled $2.9$4.5 million and $3.2$2.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, and $11.2 million and $8.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, respectively, are recorded in “Homebuilding: Selling,“Selling, general and administrative” onhomebuilding expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

    

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing. For some of our unconsolidated joint ventures, obtaining financing was challenging; therefore, some of our unconsolidated joint ventures are capitalized only with equity. The total debt to capitalization ratio of all our unconsolidated joint ventures was 27% as of July 31, 2022. Any unconsolidated joint venture financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental warranties and indemnification, standard indemnification for fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing. In some instances, the unconsolidated joint venture entity is considered a VIE under ASC 810-10 “Consolidation – Overall” due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

 

 

19.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2020, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASUAccounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, “Facilitation“Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides companies with optional guidanceexpedients to ease the potential accounting burden associated withon contracts affected by the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate or another reference rate reform on financial reporting.expected to be discontinued. This guidance becamewas effective for the Company beginning on March 12, 2020 and we may elect to apply the amendments prospectivelyprospectively. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848”, to extend the temporary accounting rules under ASC 848 from now through December 31, 2022.2022 The Company isto December 31, 2024. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, but doeswe do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2825

 

20.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” provides a framework for measuring fair value, expands disclosures about fair-value measurements and establishesWe use a fair-value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value summarized as follows:

 

 

Level 1:

Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

 

 

Level 2:

Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs.

 

 

Level 3:

Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

   

Our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

  

Fair Value at

 

Fair Value at

   

Fair Value at

 

Fair Value at

 

Fair Value

 

July 31,

 

October 31,

 

Fair Value

 

July 31,

 

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

Hierarchy

 

2022

 

2021

 

Hierarchy

 

2023

 

2022

 
  

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

Level 2

 $87,795  $151,059 

Level 2

 $80,656  $110,548 

Forward contracts

Level 2

 (287) (107)

Level 2

 -  752 

Total

Total

 $87,508  $150,952 

Total

 $80,656  $111,300 

Interest rate lock commitments

Level 3

 78  152 

Total

 $87,586  $151,104 

 

(1)  The aggregate unpaid principal balance was $86.2$80.0 million and $146.5$110.2 million at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively.

 

We elected the fair value option for our mortgage loans held for sale in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” which permits us to measure financial instruments at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis.sale. Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held for sale improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.accounting. Fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage loans with similar characteristics.

 

The Financial Servicesfinancial services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $836.4$662.6 million at July 31, 20222023. Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled $165.8$89.2 million as of July 31, 20222023. Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less. Since a portion of these commitments isare expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

The Financial Servicesfinancial services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory MBS to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is primarily managed by entering into MBS forward commitments and option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’s credit standards. The segment’s risk, incontracts. In the event of default by the purchaser, our risk is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At July 31, 20222023, the segmentwe had noopen mandatory investor commitments amounting to $4.0 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through September 14, 2022.MBS.

 

The assets accounted for using the fair value option are initially measured at fair value. Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changesChanges in fair value are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in “Revenues: Financial services.” The changes in fair values that are included in income are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below: 

 

 

Three Months Ended July 31, 2022

  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2023

 
 

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

    

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

   
 

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

  

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

  

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
  
  

Fair value included in net income all reflected in financial services revenues

 $36  $364  $(781)

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $(64) $8  $2 

 

29

 
  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2021

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Fair value included in net income all reflected in financial services revenues

 $227  $192  $29 
  

Three Months Ended July 31, 2022

 
  

Mortgage

  

Interest Rate

     
  

Loans Held

  

Lock

  

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
             
             

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $36  $364  $(781)

 

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2022

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023

 
 

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

    

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

   
 

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

  

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

  

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
  
  

Fair value included in net income all reflected in financial services revenues

 $1,602  $78  $(287)

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $662  $-  $- 

 

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2021

  

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2022

 
 

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

    

Mortgage

 

Interest Rate

   
 

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

  

Loans Held

 

Lock

 

Forward

 

(In thousands)

 

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

  

For Sale

  

Commitments

  

Contracts

 
  
  

Fair value included in net income all reflected in financial services revenues

 $4,484  $631  $(374)

Change in fair value included in financial services revenue

 $1,602  $78  $(287)

 

The Company's assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those assets for which the Company has recorded valuation adjustments and write-offs during theWe did threenot and nine months ended July 31, 2021. The Company did not have any assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022. The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are all within the Company's Homebuilding operations and are summarized below:

Nonfinancial Assets 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

July 31, 2021

 
   

Pre-

         
 

Fair Value

 

Impairment

         

(In thousands)

Hierarchy

 

Amount

  

Total Losses

  

Fair Value

 
              

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

 $9,236  $(1,166) $8,070 

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

 $-  $-  $- 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

July 31, 2021

 
   

Pre-

         
 

Fair Value

 

Impairment

         

(In thousands)

Hierarchy

 

Amount

  

Total Losses

  

Fair Value

 
              

Sold and unsold homes and lots under development

Level 3

 $11,522  $(2,009) $9,513 

Land and land options held for future development or sale

Level 3

 $-  $-  $- 

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments. We recorded inventory impairments, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as “Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs” and deducted from inventory, of $1.2 million and $2.0 million for the three2023 and nine2022, months ended July 31, 2021. The Company did not record any inventory impairments for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022. See Note 4 for further detail of the communities evaluated for impairment.respectively.

 

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The fair value of our cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and customers' deposits approximates their carrying amount, based on Level 1 inputs.

 

The fair value of each series of our Notes and Credit Facilities are listed below. Level 2 measurements are estimated based on recent trades or quoted market prices for the same issues or based on recent trades or quoted market prices for our debt of similar security and maturity to achieve comparable yields. Level 3 measurements are estimated based on third-party broker quotes or management’smanagement's estimate of the fair value based on available trades for similar debt instruments. As shown in the table below, our Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes, 1.125 Lien Notes, 1.25 Lien Notes, 13.5% 2026 Senior Notes, and 5.0% 2040 Senior Notes were a Level 2 measurement at July 31, 20222023 due to recent trades on such notes (whereas such notes were a Level 3 measurement at October 31, 2021).

for the same notes.

  

Fair Value as of July 31, 20222023

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

  

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

  

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 -  -  167,410  167,410 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  243,675  243,675 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  277,292  277,292 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  164,865  164,865 

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 -  162,601  -  162,601 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  147,887  -  147,887 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  287,920  -  287,920 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  162,569  162,569 

Senior Notes:

  

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 -  -  96,600  96,600 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 -  48,214  -  48,214 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 -  91,949  -  91,949 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 -  43,258  -  43,258 

Senior Credit Facilities:

  

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 -  -  32,131  32,131  -  -  31,487  31,487 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 -  -  86,062  86,062  -  -  83,606  83,606 

Total fair value

 $-  $48,214  $1,068,035  $1,116,249  $-  $733,615  $277,662  $1,011,277 

 

Fair Value as of October 31, 20212022

 

(In thousands)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

  

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Senior Secured Notes:

  

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 -  -  167,348  167,348 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  366,426  366,426 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  300,913  300,913 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  162,548  162,548 

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 -  -  165,844  165,844 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  240,393  240,393 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  272,966  272,966 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

 -  -  162,566  162,566 

Senior Notes:

  

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 -  -  92,331  92,331 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 -  -  63,084  63,084 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

 -  -  94,282  94,282 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

 -  -  55,654  55,654 

Senior Credit Facilities:

  

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 -  -  28,196  28,196  -  -  31,301  31,301 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 -  -  86,046  86,046  -  -  85,247  85,247 

Total fair value

 $-  $-  $1,266,892  $1,266,892  $-  $-  $1,108,253  $1,108,253 

 

The Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility is not included in the above tables because there were no borrowings outstanding thereunder as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 20212022.

 

 

21.

Transactions with Related Parties

 

From time to time, an engineering firm owned by Tavit Najarian, a relative of Ara K. Hovnanian, our Chairman of the Board of Directors and our Chief Executive Officer, provides services to the Company. During both the three months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022, the services provided by such engineering firm to the Company totaled $0.3 million and $0.2 million.million, respectively. During the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022,, the services provided by such engineering firm to the Company totaled $0.7$1.1 million and $0.4$0.7 million, respectively. Neither the Company nor Mr. Hovnanian has a financial interest in the relative’s company from whom the services were provided.

 

 

22.

Subsequent Events

 

On August 19, 2022,29, 2023, the Company, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $102.2 million, which included accrued and other subsidiariesunpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. As a result of the Company as guarantors entered intoredemption, the Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2019, as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of November 27, 2019, by and among K. Hovnanian, the Company, the other guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, which provides for up to $125.0 million inremaining aggregate principal amount of senior securedthe first1.125 lien revolving loans (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). Upon effectiveness, the Second Amendment will (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility from December 28, 2022 to June 30, 2024, (ii) replace the 7.75% fixed interest rate with a floating interest rate based on the SOFR and (iii) provide for certain technical and clarifying amendments. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest, at K. Hovnanian’s option, at either (i) a term SOFR rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the undrawn revolving commitments at a rate of 1.00% per annum. The foregoing amendments will take effect upon the satisfaction of customary conditions in respect of the collateral securing the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

On September 1, 2022, our Board of Directors terminated our Prior Program and authorized a new program for the repurchase of up toLien Notes is $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the new repurchase program, repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amounts repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date.million.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“HEI”) conducts all of its homebuilding and financial services operations through its subsidiaries (references herein to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to HEI and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be understood to reflect the consolidated business of HEI’s subsidiaries).

Segments

Historically, the Company had seven reportable segments consisting of six homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and a financial services segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we reevaluated our reportable segments as a result of changes in the business and our management thereof. In particular, we considered the fact that, since our segments were last established, the Company had exited the Minnesota, North Carolina and Tampa markets and is currently in the process of exiting the Chicago market. Applying the principles set forth under Accounting Standards Codification 280, Segment Reporting, including that our business trends are reflective of economic conditions in markets with general geographic proximity, we realigned our homebuilding operating segments and determined that, in addition to our financial services segment, we now have three reportable homebuilding segments comprised of (1) Northeast, (2) Southeast and (3) West, as noted below. All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified to conform to the new presentation.

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

The following key performance indicators are commonly used in the homebuilding industry and by management as a means to better understand our operating performance and trends affecting our business and compare our performance with the performance of other homebuilders. We believe these key performance indicators also provide useful information to investors in analyzing our performance:

 

 

Net contracts is a volume indicator which represents the number of new contracts executed during the period for the purchase of homes, less cancellations of contracts in the same period. The dollar value of net contracts represents the dollars associated with net contracts executed in the period. These values are an indicator of potential future revenues;

 

 

Contract backlog is a volume indicator which represents the number of homes that are under contract, but not yet delivered as of the stated date. The dollar value of contract backlog represents the dollar amount of the homes in contract backlog. These values are an indicator of potential future revenues;

 

 

Active selling communities is a volume indicator which represents the number of communities which are open for sale with ten or more home sites available as of the end of a period. We identify communities based on product type; therefore, at times there are multiple communities at one land site. These values are an indicator of potential revenues;

 

 

Net contracts per average active selling community is used to indicate the pace at which homes are being sold (put into contract) in active selling communities and is calculated by dividing the number of net contracts in a period by the average number of active selling communities in the same period. Sales pace is an indicator of market strength and demand; and

 

 

Contract cancellation rates is a volume indicator which represents the number of sales contracts cancelled in the period divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed during the period. Contract cancellation rates as a percentage of backlog is calculated by dividing the number of cancelled contracts in the period by the contract backlog at the beginning of the period. Cancellation rates as compared to prior periods can be an indicator of market strength or weakness.

 

Overview

 

Market Conditions and Operating Results 

 

The demand for new and existing homes is dependent on a variety of demographic and economic factors, including job and wage growth, household formation, consumer confidence, mortgage financing, interest rates, inflation and overall housing affordability. In general, at the start of fiscal year 2020, factors including rising levels of household formation, a constrained supply of new and used homes, wage growth, strong employment conditions and mortgage rates that were low by historical standards were contributing to improving conditions for new home sales.

 

In March 2020, as a result of the initial impact of COVID-19, we experienced adverse business conditions, including a slowdown in customer traffic and sales pace and an increase in cancellations. However, beginning in May 2020, the homebuilding market rapidly improved, due to what we believe is a combination of factors including low interest rates, low inventory levels of existing homes and a general desire for more indoor and outdoor space. During the third quarter and continuing through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we returned to our normal activities with respect to land purchases, land development and resuming the construction of unsold homes. As a result, our operating metrics improved significantly in fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019, and improved even further in fiscal 2021. However, sinceFrom early January 2022, 30-year mortgage rates have increased rapidly from 3.2% to 5.3%a high of 7.1% at the end of October 2022, and were 6.8% at the end of July 2022. While these rates are still low by historical standards, the2023. The rapid and sharp increase in interest rates along with recordfrom 2021 to 2022, persistently high levels of inflation levels and consumer fearsdoubt about the stability of an economic recession, hasthe economy, negatively impacted housing demand in the second half of fiscal 2022 and into early fiscal 2023. During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we were aggressive in our pricing, incentives and concessions in order to increase affordability, which had a negative impactpositive effect on our sales pace, but due to the general uncertainty potential buyers still remained cautious about their decision to purchase a home. Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we saw an increase in customer demand and we have used our inventory of quick move in ("QMI") homes to help meet this demand. The time between contract signing and closing is shorter with QMI homes as compared to a to be built home, which provides customers with more certainty on their mortgage pricing. In addition, existing home sales listings are at all-time low levels, further increasing the demand for new homes. As a result, home pricing power has improved and we increased prices in approximately 71% of our communities during the three months ended July 31, 2023. As the market for new homes has continued to strengthen during the fiscal year, gross margin improved compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2023. We continue to experience lingering supply chain issues but have shortened our build times by over 30 days in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2023. We remain focused on building on our national initiatives to drive down costs with our material providers and trade partners.

Although our net contracts and net contracts per average active selling community. Despitecommunity remained adversely impacted compared to the decreasestronger than normal first half of fiscal 2022, we have seen a recovery and positive sequential improvement in net contracts, our revenues,sales pace throughout the first nine months of fiscal 2023. Our gross margin percentage and pretax profit results have continued to show strong improvement overcontract cancellation rate for the prior year throughthree months ended July 31, 2023 improved from the three months ended July 31, 2022, thoughand was in line with the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

We have seen the housing market normalize beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 but there still remains a great degree of uncertainty due to inflation, the continued possibility of an economic recession, employment risk and the potential for further mortgage rate increases. The changing conditions in the housing market make it is difficult to predict how strongly our business will be impacted by these external factors over the impactremainder of thesefiscal 2023 and other factors on our future results which may be negatively impacted.beyond.

  

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Operating Results

The below highlightsInformation on our overall positive operating results for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022:2023 are as follows:

 

ForSale of homes revenues decreased to $630.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $736.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and decreased to $1.8 billion for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $2.0 billion for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. There was a 15.2% and 14.7% decrease in the number of home deliveries for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, sale of homes revenues increased 11.1% and 4.2%,2023, respectively, as compared to the same periods of the prior year primarily resulting from an increase in average prices of 17.8% and 19.1%, respectively, as home prices increased in virtually all of our markets, along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries, partially offset by respective decreases of 5.7% and 12.5% in the number of home deliveries. The decreases in home deliveries wereperiods due in part to the prior year deliveries being unusually high as a result of the unsustainable andan extremely strong sales pace in late fiscal 20202021 and early fiscal 2021,2022 driven by post-COVID demand. Partially offsetting the decrease in home deliveries was an increase in average prices of 0.9% and also due to supply chain challenges extending construction cycle times and delaying some deliveries.

● Gross margin dollars increased 33.2% and 27.2%6.9% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the prior year periods, as home prices increased across a majority of our markets since the beginning of the current fiscal year, along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries.

● Gross margin dollars decreased for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period of the prior year, as a result of the increasedecrease in gross margin percentage to 20.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 from 23.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2022, from 19.2%and decreased to 18.8% for the threenine months ended July 31, 2021, and increased to2023 from 22.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 from 18.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2021.2022. Gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, increaseddecreased from 22.1% and 21.4%26.3% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 to 23.2% for the three months ended July 31, 2023, and decreased from 25.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 20212022 to 26.3% and 25.3%21.9% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022.2023. The increasesdecreases during the first nine months of the current fiscal year were primarily due to price increasesour increased use of incentives and concessions when necessary to make our homes more affordable for buyers in virtually all of ourcertain markets along with the mix of communities delivering homes in each period.which we operate.

 

● Selling, general and administrative costs (including corporate general and administrative expenses) ("Total SGA") was $75.1 million, or 11.6% of total revenues, in the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared with $74.9 million, or 9.8% of total revenues, in the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared with $60.3 million, or 8.7% of total revenues, in the three months ended July 31, 2021.2022. For the nine months ended July 31, 2022,2023, Total SGA was $215.3$224.0 million, or 10.6%12.0% of total revenues, compared with $206.6$215.3 million, or 10.5%10.6% of total revenues, in the same period of the prior fiscal year. SuchTotal SGA dollars for the three months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period of the prior year was relatively flat. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in phantom stock compensation expense, along with higher-than-normal wage increases as a result of inflationary pressures, and costs incurred in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 related to overhead reductions, as well as fees incurred on unused builder forward commitments we are offering to lower mortgage rates for our customers, and an increase in depreciation expense from the close out of design centers in the Northeast. The increase in Total SGA as a percentage of total revenues is also due to the decrease in revenues for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, as compared to the same periods of the prior year, as discussed above.

● Other interest increased $14.6to $13.5 million and $8.7$43.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively, as compared to the same periods of the prior year. Excluding the impact in each of the three months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021 related to the grants of phantom stock awards under our 2019 Long Term Incentive Plan (“2019 LTIP”), SGA as a percentage of total revenues would have been 9.7% for each period. Had equity shares rather than phantom shares been utilized for the 2019 LTIP, there would not have been any expenses or benefit related to the movement in our stock price.

● Other interest decreased to2023 from $9.6 million and $35.4 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively,primarily due to additional inventory financing resulting from $19.2 million and $65.2 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, respectively, as we incurred less interest and had less debt in excess of inventory, as a result of the reduction of our debt in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022, and an increase in average inventory not owned duringowned.

● Income before income taxes decreased to $70.4 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021.

● Pre-tax income increased to2023 from $111.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, from pre-tax income of $61.8and decreased to $134.6 million for the threenine months ended July 31, 2021, and increased to2023 from $228.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 from pre-tax2022. Net income of $112.4decreased to $55.8 million for the ninethree months ended July 31, 2021. Net income increased to2023 from $82.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, from net income of $47.7and decreased to $108.6 million for the threenine months ended July 31, 2021, and decreased to2023 from $169.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 from net2022. Net income of $555.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2021.first three quarters of fiscal 2023 included a $19.1 million gain on the consolidation of a previously unconsolidated joint venture, a $6.2 million tax benefit from energy efficient home credits and a $3.9 million tax benefit from the release of a state valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, increaseddecreased to $7.92 and $7.38, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $10.92 and $10.82, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to $6.85 and $6.72, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2021.2022. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, decreased to $14.97 and $13.97, respectively, for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $22.05 and $21.77, respectively, for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to $80.02 and $78.51, respectively, for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. While pretax income increased in fiscal 2022, the significant decrease in net income for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 was due to the full reversal of our federal valuation allowance and a portion of the state valuation allowance in respect of our deferred tax assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 (see Note 16 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).2022.

 

● Net contracts increased 80.7% and decreased 34.0% and 18.6%4.3% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively,2023, compared to the same periods of the prior year, as sales pace slowedyear. The increase for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to below normal levels duringan increase in customer demand, partially due to the availability of QMI homes. During the fiscal third quarter of 2023 we also executed 259 build-for-rent contracts in three communities in our Southeast segment. The decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was due to the slower sales pace across the industry during the second half of fiscal 2022 due to an overall slow-down in home demand.that continued into early fiscal 2023, primarily as a result of fluctuating interest rates and a continuing uncertain economic outlook. Subsequently, the pace of contracts per community has greatly improved throughout fiscal 2023.

 

● Net contracts per average active selling community decreasedincreased to 7.613.4 for the three months ended July 31, 20222023 compared to 12.0 in7.6 for the same period of the prior year and decreased slightly to 34.932.3 for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 compared to 44.934.9 in the same period of the prior year. The decreases wereincrease for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was due to the decreasesincrease in net contracts discussed above.

● Active selling communities at July 31, 2022 increased by 3.8% compared to July 31, 2021. We continue to actively pursue new communities, and our total lots controlled increased to 31,913 at July 31, 2022 compared to 31,002 at July 31, 2021.

 

● Contract backlog decreased from 3,673 homes at July 31, 2021 to 3,183 homes at July 31, 2022. Despite this decrease, as a result of price increases in virtually all of our markets,2022 to 2,403 homes at July 31, 2023, and the dollar value of contract backlog increased 2.4%decreased to $1.8$1.3 billion, a 26.0% decrease in dollar value compared to the prior year. The decreases were primarily attributed to lower sales in the second half of fiscal 2022 and into the first quarter of fiscal 2023, as discussed above.

 

● Our cash position allowed us to spend $554.1$459.7 million on land purchases and land development during the nine months ended July 31, 2022, redeem $100 million principal amount of our senior secured notes,2023 and still have total liquidity of $357.4$455.5 million, including $225.1$325.2 million of homebuilding cash and cash equivalents as of July 31, 20222023 and $125.0 million of borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility.

29

Results of Operations

Total Revenues

Compared to the same period in the prior year, revenues (decreased) increased as follows:

  

Three Months Ended

 
                 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

Dollar

  

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

Change

  

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                

Sale of homes

 $630,371  $736,654  $(106,283)  (14.4)%

Land sales and other revenues

  4,937   16,406   (11,469)  (69.9)%

Financial services

  14,649   14,533   116   0.8%
                 

Total revenues

 $649,957  $767,593  $(117,636)  (15.3)%

  

Nine Months Ended

 
                 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

Dollar

  

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

Change

  

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                

Sale of homes

 $1,800,724  $1,973,843  $(173,119)  (8.8)%

Land sales and other revenues

  27,244   18,052   9,192   50.9%

Financial services

  41,016   43,548   (2,532)  (5.8)%
                 

Total revenues

 $1,868,984  $2,035,443  $(166,459)  (8.2)%

Homebuilding: Sale of Homes

For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, sale of homes revenues decreased 14.4% and 8.8%, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year. Sale of homes revenue decreased due to a 15.2% and 14.7% decrease in homes delivered, respectively, partially offset by an 0.9% and 6.9% increase in the average price per home for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared with the prior year period. The average price per home increased to $526,186 in the three months ended July 31, 2023 from $521,710 in the three months ended July 31, 2022. The average price per home increased to $535,770 in the nine months ended July 31, 2023 from $501,103 in the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increase in average price was the result of increases in home prices in a majority of our markets since the beginning of fiscal 2022, along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries. Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future. For further detail on changes in segment revenues see “Homebuilding: Operations by Segment” below. For further detail on land sales and other revenues, see “Homebuilding: Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

Information on the sale of homes is set forth in the table below:

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

  

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

  

2022

  

% Change

  

2023

  

2022

  

% Change

 
                         

Consolidated total:

                        

Housing revenues

 $630,371  $736,654   (14.4)% $1,800,724  $1,973,843   (8.8)%

Homes delivered

  1,198   1,412   (15.2)%  3,361   3,939   (14.7)%

Average sales price

 $526,186  $521,710   0.9% $535,770  $501,103   6.9%
                         

Unconsolidated joint ventures (1)

                        

Housing revenues

 $120,984  $78,390   54.3% $280,331  $228,984   22.4%

Homes delivered

  171   121   41.3%  399   372   7.3%

Average sales price

 $707,509  $647,851   9.2% $702,584  $615,548   14.1%

(1) Represents housing revenues and home deliveries for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

30

Homebuilding: Land Sales and Other Revenues

Land sales and other revenues decreased $11.5 million and increased $9.2 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. Other revenues include interest income, which increased as a result of higher rates on cash and cash equivalent accounts beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. In addition, other revenues include income from contract cancellations where deposits have been forfeited due to contract terminations, which increased due to higher cancellations in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2022. Revenue associated with land sales can vary significantly due to the mix of land parcels sold. There were zero and two land sales in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, respectively, and one and four land sales in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively, and land sales revenues decreased $15.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year.

Homebuilding: Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes expenses for consolidated housing and land and lot sales, including inventory impairments and land option write-offs (defined as “land charges” in the tables below). A breakout of such expenses for homebuilding and land and lot sales and the gross margins for each is set forth below.

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges is a non-GAAP financial measure. This measure should not be considered as an alternative to homebuilding gross margin determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP as an indicator of operating performance.

Management believes this non-GAAP measure enables investors to better understand our operating performance. This measure is also useful internally, helping management evaluate our operating results on a consolidated basis and relative to other companies in our industry. In particular, the magnitude and volatility of land charges for the Company, and for other homebuilders, have been significant and, as such, have made comparable financial analysis of our industry more difficult. Homebuilding metrics excluding land charges, as well as interest amortized to cost of sales, and other similar presentations prepared by analysts and other companies are frequently used to assist investors in understanding and comparing the operating characteristics of homebuilding activities by eliminating many of the differences in companies’ respective levels of impairments and debt.

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Sale of homes

 $630,371  $736,654  $1,800,724  $1,973,843 

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges

  483,990   543,064   1,405,712   1,474,403 

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  146,381   193,590   395,012   499,440 

Cost of sales interest expense, excluding land sales interest expense

  19,271   22,453   54,793   57,855 

Homebuilding gross margin, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  127,110   171,137   340,219   441,585 

Land charges

  308   1,173   922   1,837 

Homebuilding gross margin

 $126,802  $169,964  $339,297  $439,748 

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

  20.1%  23.1%  18.8%  22.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  23.2%  26.3%  21.9%  25.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  20.2%  23.2%  18.9%  22.4%

Cost of sales as a percentage of consolidated home sales revenues are presented below:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Sale of homes

  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%
                 

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges:

                

Housing, land and development costs

  68.1%  66.3%  68.5%  66.8%

Commissions

  3.4%  3.2%  3.4%  3.4%

Financing concessions

  1.8%  0.8%  2.1%  0.9%

Overheads

  3.5%  3.4%  4.1%  3.6%

Total cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges

  76.8%  73.7%  78.1%  74.7%

Cost of sales interest

  3.0%  3.1%  3.0%  2.9%

Land charges

  0.1%  0.1%  0.1%  0.1%
                 

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

  20.1%  23.1%  18.8%  22.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  23.2%  26.3%  21.9%  25.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  20.2%  23.2%  18.9%  22.4%

We sell a variety of home types in various communities, each yielding a different gross margin. The decrease in gross margins for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to the increase in our use of incentives and concessions to make our homes more affordable. 

31

Land and lot sale expenses and gross margins are set forth below:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Land and lot sales

 $429  $15,788  $16,042  $16,187 

Cost of sales, excluding interest

  -   5,512   9,940   5,772 

Land and lot sales gross margin, excluding interest

  429   10,276   6,102   10,415 

Land and lot sales interest expense

  1   -   926   21 

Land and lot sales gross margin, including interest

 $428  $10,276  $5,176  $10,394 

Land sales are ancillary to our residential homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may fluctuate significantly.

Homebuilding: Inventory Impairments and Land Option Write-Offs

Inventory impairments and land option write-offs reflects certain inventories we have either written off or written down to their estimated fair value totaling $0.3 million and $1.1 million in expense for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $0.9 million and $1.8 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no inventory impairments during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022. During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, we wrote-off residential land option, approval and engineering costs. Such write-offs occurred across each of our segments in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022.

Homebuilding: Selling, General and Administrative

Homebuilding selling, general and administrative (“SGA”) expenses decreased $2.4 million to $47.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and increased $6.7 million to $146.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The decrease for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due a decrease in total compensation as a result of overall workforce reductions and a decrease in insurance expense as a result of lower total deliveries. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to costs associated with workforce reductions and fees incurred on unused builder forward commitments we are offering to lower mortgage rates for our customers. We began using the builder forward commitments to offer lower rates in the second half of fiscal 2022. Also, contributing to the increase in SGA for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was an increase in compensation expense related to merit-based salary increases, an increase in depreciation expense from the close out of design centers in the Northeast, and an increase in selling overhead and advertising costs. 

Homebuilding: Key Performance Indicators

Net Contracts Per Average Active Selling Community

Net contracts per average active selling community for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 were 13.4 and 32.3, respectively, compared to 7.6 and 34.9, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. Our reported level of sales contracts (net of cancellations) were impacted by an increase in customer demand during the three months ended July 31, 2023, partially due to the availability of QMI homes. The slight decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to the slower sales pace across the industry during the second half of fiscal 2022 that continued into early fiscal 2023, primarily as a result of higher levels of inflation, increases in mortgage rates from the prior year and continued concern about an economic recession.

Contract Cancellation Rates

The following table provides historical quarterly cancellation rates, which represents the number of cancelled contracts in the quarter divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed in the quarter, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

Quarter

 

2023

  

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

 
                     

First

 30% 14% 17% 19% 24%

Second

 18% 17% 16% 23% 19%

Third

 16% 27% 16% 18% 19%

Fourth

      41%  15%  18%  21%

The following table provides quarterly contract cancellations as a percentage of the beginning backlog, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

Quarter

 

2023

  

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

 
                     

First

 16% 8% 11% 14% 16%

Second

 16% 9% 9% 20% 20%

Third

 12% 8% 6% 21% 16%

Fourth

      13%  6%  14%  14%

Most cancellations occur within the legal rescission period, which varies by state but is generally less than two weeks after the signing of the contract. Cancellations also occur as a result of a buyer’s failure to qualify for a mortgage, which generally occurs during the first few weeks after signing. As shown in the tables above, contract cancellations over the past several years have generally been within what we believe to be a normal range, with fiscal 2021 and first half of fiscal 2022 cancellation rates, in particular, being below historical norms as a result of the strong market conditions. However, during the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2022 and the first quarter of fiscal 2023, due to the sharp decline in gross sales and an increase in cancellations, our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross sales increased significantly to 27%, 41% and 30%, respectively, which is higher than our historical normal range. For the second and third quarters of fiscal 2023 the cancellation rate returned to a more normalized level of 18% and 16%, respectively. Our cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 12%, which is below our historical normal range of 13%. When sales pace is increasing, the cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog tends to lag the changes seen in our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross sales. Although market conditions improved in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, uncertainty remains and it is difficult to predict what cancellation rates will be in the future.

32

Contract Backlog

Our consolidated sales contracts and homes in contract backlog, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, by segment is set forth below:

  

Net Contracts for the

  

Net Contracts for the

         
  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Contract Backlog as of

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                         

Northeast:

                        

Dollars

 $239,425  $168,208  $685,595  $711,424  $478,477  $681,617 

Number of homes

  366   265   1,090   1,228   794   1,236 
                         

Southeast:

                        

Dollars

 $155,655  $67,402  $370,800  $326,727  $353,023  $348,019 

Number of homes

  373   114   812   555   710   574 
                         

West:

                        

Dollars

 $349,145  $232,329  $888,650  $1,088,595  $494,758  $761,974 

Number of homes

  705   420   1,807   2,092   899   1,373 
                         

Total:

                        

Dollars

 $744,225  $467,939  $1,945,045  $2,126,746  $1,326,258  $1,791,610 

Number of homes

  1,444   799   3,709   3,875   2,403   3,183 

Contract backlog dollars decreased 26.0% as of July 31, 2023 compared to July 31, 2022, and the number of homes in backlog decreased 24.5% for the same period. The decrease in contract backlog dollars and number of homes as of July 31, 2023 compared to as of July 31, 2022 was driven by the slower sales environment in the second half of fiscal 2022 through the first quarter of fiscal 2023. 

 

33

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIESHomebuilding: Operations by Segment

 

As disclosedFinancial information relating to our homebuilding operations by segment was as follows:

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

 
                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

  

2022

  

Variance

  

Variance %

 
                 

Northeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $201,814  $305,577  $(103,763)  (34.0)%

Income before income taxes

 $29,088  $59,958  $(30,870)  (51.5)%

Homes delivered

  357   495   (138)  (27.9)%

Average sales price

 $562,499  $585,287  $(22,788)  (3.9)%
                 

Southeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $121,240  $71,542  $49,698   69.5%

Income before income taxes

 $23,431  $15,263  $8,168   53.5%

Homes delivered

  230   148   82   55.4%

Average sales price

 $526,404  $483,000  $43,404   9.0%
                 

West

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $309,147  $375,784  $(66,637)  (17.7)%

Income before income taxes

 $27,873  $61,948  $(34,075)  (55.0)%

Homes delivered

  611   769   (158)  (20.5)%

Average sales price

 $504,887  $488,235  $16,652   3.4%

  

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 
                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2023

  

2022

  

Variance

  

Variance %

 
                 

Northeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $625,323  $721,442  $(96,119)  (13.3)%

Income before income taxes

 $86,311  $117,796  $(31,485)  (26.7)%

Homes delivered

  1,086   1,277   (191)  (15.0)%

Average sales price

 $573,868  $551,948  $21,920   4.0%
                 

Southeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $296,084  $200,359  $95,725   47.8%

Income before income taxes

 $49,902  $36,185  $13,717   37.9%

Homes delivered

  545   402   143   35.6%

Average sales price

 $542,594  $497,843  $44,751   9.0%
                 

West

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $898,882  $1,069,917  $(171,035)  (16.0)%

Income before income taxes

 $65,981  $169,372  $(103,391)  (61.0)%

Homes delivered

  1,730   2,260   (530)  (23.5)%

Average sales price

 $509,705  $472,952  $36,753   7.8%

Homebuilding Results by Segment 

Northeast - Homebuilding revenue decreased 34.0% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease for the three months ended July 31, 2023 was attributed to a $14.9 million decrease in land sales and other revenue, a 27.9% decrease in homes delivered and a 3.9% decrease in average sales price. The decrease in average sales price in the three months ended July 31, 2023 was the result of new communities delivering lower priced, smaller single family homes in lower-end submarkets of the segment compared to some communities delivering higher priced, larger single family homes and townhomes in higher-end submarkets of the segment in the three months ended July 31, 2023 that are no longer delivering. Also impacting the decrease in the average sales price were increased use of concessions in certain communities to make our homes more affordable.

Income before income taxes decreased $30.9 million to $29.1 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $3.3 million decrease in income from unconsolidated joint ventures, and a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

Homebuilding revenue decreased 13.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was attributed to a $14.5 million decrease in land sales and other revenue, a 15.0% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 4.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $31.5 million to $86.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $1.3 million decrease in income from unconsolidated joint ventures, and a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

34

Southeast – Homebuilding revenue increased 69.5% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 55.4% increase in homes delivered and an 9.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $8.2 million to $23.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, partially offset by a slight decrease in gross margin percentage.

Homebuilding revenue increased 47.8% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 35.6% increase in homes delivered and a 9.0% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $13.7 million to $49.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a slight increase in gross margin percentage.

West – Homebuilding revenue decreased 17.7% for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 20.5% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 3.4% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $34.1 million to $27.9 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a decrease in gross margin percentage.

Homebuilding revenue decreased 16.0% for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 23.5% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 7.8% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $103.4 million to $66.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above and a decrease in gross margin percentage.

Financial Services

Financial services consist primarily of originating mortgages from our home buyers, selling such mortgages in the secondary market, and title insurance activities. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans. For the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration (“FHA/VA”) loans represented 30.4% and 24.0%, respectively, of our total loans. For the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year, our conforming conventional loan originations as a percentage of our total loans decreased from 75.2% to 68.8%. The origination of loans which exceed conforming conventions was 0.8% for both the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022.

During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, financial services provided $4.3 million and $11.5 million of income before income taxes, respectively, compared to $3.7 million and $11.6 million, respectively, for the same period in the prior year. The increase in financial services income before income taxes for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to an increase in the amount of loans closed and a slight increase in the basis point spread between the loans originated and the implied rate from our sale of the loans. Financial services income before income taxes was flat for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period of the prior year. In the markets served by our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiaries, 70.1% and 52.5% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 67.8% and 59.0% of our non-cash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Corporate General and Administrative 

Corporate general and administrative expenses include operations at our headquarters in New Jersey. These expenses include payroll, stock compensation, facility costs and rent and other costs associated with our executive offices, legal expenses, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, national and digital marketing, construction services and administration of insurance, quality and safety. Corporate general and administrative expenses increased to $27.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $24.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, and increased to $77.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to $75.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increase for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to a $1.6 million and $1.7 million increase, respectively, in the net cost for self-insured medical claims, which fluctuate based on actual claims. The increases were also due to an increase in compensation expense, mainly related to the grants of phantom stock awards under our 2019 long-term incentive plan, for which expense is impacted by the change in our annual reportstock price each period. During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, stock awards were granted under a new Long-Term Incentive Program (the “2023 LTIP”) that consists of 50% cash-settled phantom shares and 50% equity-settled shares. The 2023 LTIP included phantom shares based on Form 10-Kanalysis that demonstrated a higher likelihood of dilution to our book value per share if the entire award was settled in shares rather than cash via phantom shares.

Other Interest

Other interest increased $3.9 million to $13.5 million for the fiscalthree months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year and increased $7.7 million to $43.1 million for the nine months ended OctoberJuly 31, 2021,2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. Our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) are less than our most critical accounting policies relatedebt, and therefore the portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets is directly expensed. Other interest increased for both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 primarily due to additional inventory financing resulting from an increase in average inventory not owned.

35

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt, Net

On May 30, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $104.2 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $4.1 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts, financing costs and fees.

On April 29, 2022, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $105.5 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, net of the write-off of unamortized discounts, financing costs and fees. 

Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures consists of our share of the earnings or losses of our unconsolidated joint ventures. Income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $4.2 million to $8.4 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and decreased $3.0 million to $21.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The decrease for both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was primarily due to a reduction in our share of income from one of our unconsolidated joint ventures; since we began receiving distributions from the joint venture, the Company recognized a lower share of the unconsolidated joint ventures' income than the prior year. Also contributing to the decrease is the recognition of losses from two of our recently formed joint ventures as they incur initial operating overhead and development costs.

Other (income) expense, net

Other (income) expense, net, fluctuated $19.3 million from expense to income recognitionof $18.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023 and fluctuated $19.3 million from mortgage loans; inventories;expense to income of $17.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior year. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we assumed control of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures;ventures after the partner received their final cash distribution. We consolidated the remaining assets and warrantyliabilities that were in the unconsolidated joint venture at fair value on the date of distribution. Upon consolidation, we recorded a gain of $19.1 million for the three and construction defect reserves. Since Octobernine months ended July 31, 2021, there have been no significant changes to those critical accounting policies.2023.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITYIncome Taxes

The Company’s income tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 was $14.6 million and $25.9 million, respectively, and $29.3 million and $58.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in the prior year. For both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023, and each of the prior year periods, the expense was primarily due to federal and state tax expense recorded as a result of our income before income taxes. The state tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 included the release of a $3.9 million valuation allowance as a result of a change in tax law, which partially offset state tax expense. The federal tax expense for the nine months ended July 31,2023 included a $6.2 million benefit from energy efficient tax credits, which partially offset federal tax expense.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Overview

 

Our operations consist primarilytotal liquidity at July 31, 2023 was $455.5 million, including $325.2 million in homebuilding cash and cash equivalents and $125.0 million of residential housing development and sales inborrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility. We believe that our cash on hand together with available borrowings on our senior secured revolving credit facility will be sufficient for at least the Northeast (New Jersey and Pennsylvania), the Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia), the Midwest (Illinois and Ohio), the Southeast (Florida, Georgia and South Carolina), the Southwest (Arizona and Texas) and the West (California). In addition, we provide certain financial servicesnext 12 months to finance our homebuilding customers.working capital requirements.

 

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, the issuance of new debt and equity securities, and other financing activities. We may not be able to obtain desired financing even if market conditions, including then-current market available interest rates (in recent years, we have not been able to access the traditional capital and bank lending markets at competitive interest rates due to our highly leveraged capital structure), would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business. 

 

Operating, Investing and Financing Cash Flow Activities – Overview

Our total liquidity at July 31, 2022 was $357.4 million, including $225.1 million in homebuilding cash and cash equivalents and $125.0 million of borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility. Our total liquidity was above our target liquidity range of $170.0 to $245.0 million. The lingering macro economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including inflation and labor and supply market constraints, as well as geopolitical tensions have created significant uncertainty as to general economic and housing market conditions for fiscal 2022 and beyond. We believe that these sources of cash together with available borrowings on our senior secured revolving credit facility will be sufficient through fiscal 2022 to finance our working capital requirements. 

 

We spent $554.1$459.7 million on land and land development during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022,2023, along with $105.5$104.2 million for the $100.0 million partial redemption of our 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. After considering this land and land development debt paymentspending and all other operating activities, including revenue received from deliveries, cash used forprovided by operations was $28.6$291.6 million. During the first three quarters of fiscal 2022,2023, cash used forin investing activities was $3.3$78.4 million, primarily due to new unconsolidated joint ventures entered into during the period, along with the acquisition of certain fixed assets, partially offset by distributions from existing unconsolidated joint ventures. Cash used forin financing activities was $0.9$228.0 million during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022,2023, which in addition to the $100.0 million debt redemption mentioned above, was primarily due primarily to net payments related to our mortgage warehouse lines of credit, partially offset by net proceeds frompayments for nonrecourse mortgage financings, and land banking financings and model sale leaseback financings, duringrepurchases of common stock and the period.payment of preferred dividends. We intend to continue to use nonrecourse mortgage financings,mortgages, model sale leaseback,leasebacks, joint ventures, and, subject to covenant restrictions in our debt instruments, land banking programs as our business needs dictate.

 

Our cash uses during the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 20212022 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, land development, construction spending, debt payments,model sale leasebacks, state income taxes, interest payments, preferred dividend payments,dividends, equity repurchases, litigation matters and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. During these periods, we provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, model sale leasebacks, land banking transactions, income from unconsolidated joint ventures, financial service revenues and other revenues.

 

Our net income historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities. The difference between net income and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, mortgage loans held for sale, interest and other accrued liabilities,interest, deferred income taxes, accounts payable and other liabilities, and noncash charges relating to depreciation, and stock compensation awards and impairment losses for inventory.impairments. When we are expanding our operations, inventory levels, prepaidsprepaid expenses and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease. Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory, levels, prepaidsprepaid expenses and other assets. Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increases, but for cash flow purposes, net income is partially offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities. The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, causing us to generate positive cash flow from operations. 

 

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Debt Transactions

 

Senior notes and credit facilities balances as of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, were as follows:

 

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

 

Senior Secured Notes:

        

10.0% Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Notes due November 15, 2025

 $158,502  $158,502 

7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  250,000   350,000 

10.5% Senior Secured 1.25 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  282,322   282,322 

11.25% Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due February 15, 2026

  162,269   162,269 

Total Senior Secured Notes

 $853,093  $953,093 

Senior Notes:

        

8.0% Senior Notes due November 1, 2027 (1)

 $-  $- 

13.5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2026

  90,590   90,590 

5.0% Senior Notes due February 1, 2040

  90,120   90,120 

Total Senior Notes

 $180,710  $180,710 

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 $39,551  $39,551 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 $81,498  $81,498 

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (2)

 $-  $- 

Subtotal notes payable

 $1,154,852  $1,254,852 

Net (discounts) premiums

 $6,266  $10,769 

Net debt issuance costs

 $(13,246) $(17,248)

Total notes payable, net of discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs

 $1,147,872  $1,248,373 
  

July 31,

  

October 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 

Senior Secured Notes

 $753,093  $853,093 

Senior Notes

 $180,710  $180,710 

Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility due February 1, 2027

 $39,551  $39,551 

Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Facility due January 31, 2028

 $81,498  $81,498 

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (1)

 $-  $- 

Less: Net (discounts), premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

 $(10,073) $(8,305)

Total senior notes and credit facilities, net of discounts, premiums and unamortized debt issuance costs

 $1,044,779  $1,146,547 

 

(1) $26.0 million of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "8.0% 2027 Notes") are owned by a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of HEI. Therefore, in accordance with GAAP, such notes are not reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of HEI.

(2) At July 31, 2022,2023, provides for up to $125.0 million in aggregate amount of senior secured first lien revolving loans. On August 19, 2022, the The revolving loans thereunder have a maturity of the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility was extended from December 28, 2022 to June 30, 2024 and borrowings bear interest, at K. Hovnanians option, at either (i) a term secured overnight financing rate (subject to a floor of 1.00%) plus an applicable margin of 4.50% or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 3.50%. In addition, K. Hovnanian will pay an unused commitment fee on the fixed interestundrawn revolving commitments at a rate was replaced with a floating interest rate in each case, effective upon the satisfaction of customary conditions in respect of the collateral securing the borrowings thereunder. See Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.1.00% per annum.

 

Except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes and borrower under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), our home mortgage subsidiaries, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, we and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Credit Facilities, the senior secured notes and senior notes outstanding at July 31, 20222023 (except for the 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027 Notes which are not guaranteed by K. Hovnanian at Sunrise Trail III, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, the “Notes Guarantors”).

 

The credit agreements governing the Credit Facilitiesterm loans and revolving credit facilities (collectively, the "Credit Facilities") and the indentures governing the senior secured and senior notes (together, the “Debt Instruments”) outstanding at July 31, 20222023 do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of HEI and certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repay/repurchase certain indebtedness prior to its respective stated maturity, repurchase (including through exchanges) common and preferred stock, make other restricted payments (including investments), sell certain assets (including in certain land banking transactions), incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Debt Instruments also contain customary events of default which would permit the lenders or holders thereof to exercise remedies with respect to the collateral (as applicable), declare the loans (the “Unsecured Term Loans”) made under the Senior Unsecured Term Loan Facility (defined below) (the “Unsecured Term Loans”),due February 1, 2027, loans made under the Secured Term Loan Facility (defined below) (the “Secured Term Loans”) and loans made under the Senior Secured 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined below)Facility due January 31, 2028 and loans (the “Secured Revolving Loans”) made under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement due June 30, 2024 or notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans or notes or other material indebtedness, cross default to other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy and insolvency, with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties and with respect to the Unsecured Term Loans, Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans, a change of control, and, with respect to the Secured Term Loans, Secured Revolving Loans and senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be in full force and effect, and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the obligations under the secured Debt Instruments to be valid and perfected. As of July 31, 2022,2023, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Debt Instruments.

35

 

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0, as defined in the applicable Debt Instrument, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends (in each such case, our secured debt leverage ratio must also be less than 4.0 to 1.0), and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness and nonrecourse indebtedness. Beginning as of October 31, 2021, as a result of our improved operating results, our fixed coverage ratio was above 2.0 to 1.0 and our secured debt leverage ratio was below 4.0 to 1.0, therefore we were no longer restricted from paying dividends. As such, we made dividend payments of $2.7 million to preferred shareholders in eachevery quarter since the first quarter of fiscal 2022. As discussed above, our sales pace improved during fiscal 2023 and assuming the improved current market conditions and our operating results continue, we currently believe our ratios will permit us to continue to make dividend payments on our preferred stock. However, with general economic uncertainty, it is difficult to predict long-term market conditions and the effects on our business and if and when we may be restricted under our Debt Instruments from continuing to pay dividends on our Series A preferred stock. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and, accordingly, if for any reason we do not declare a dividend on the Series A preferred stock for a quarterly dividend period (regardless of availability of funds), holders of the first, secondSeries A Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that period, and third quarters of fiscal 2022.we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that period.

 

Under the terms of our Debt Instruments, we have the right to make certain redemptions and prepayments and, depending on market conditions, our strategic priorities and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time (for example, we redeemed $100 million aggregate principal amount of our senior secured notes during the second quarter of fiscal 2022).time. We also continue to actively analyze and evaluate our capital structure and explore transactions to simplify our capital structure and to strengthen our balance sheet, including those that reduce leverage, interest rates and/or extend maturities, and will seek to do so with the right opportunity. We may also continue to make debt or equity purchases and/or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, exchange offers, redemptions, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise, or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions. As discussed in Note 12 and Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, on each of May 30, 2023 and August 29, 2023, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026.

 

Any liquidity-enhancing or other capital raising or refinancing transaction will depend on identifying counterparties, negotiation of documentation and applicable closing conditions and any required approvals. Due to covenant restrictions in our Debt Instruments, we are currently limited in the amount of debt we can incur, even if market conditions, including then-current market available interest rates (in recent years, we have not been able to access the traditional capital and bank lending markets at competitive interest rates due to our highly leveraged capital structure), would otherwise be favorable, which could also impact our ability to grow our business.

 

See Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of the Unsecured Term Loans, the Secured Term Loans and Secured Revolving Loans and K. Hovnanian’s Credit Facilities, senior secured notes and senior notes, including information with respect to the collateral securing our secured Debt Instruments.

 

37

Mortgages and Notes Payable

 

We have nonrecourse mortgage loans for certain communities totaling $187.8$129.1 million and $125.1$144.8 million, (netnet of debt issuance costs)costs, at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively, which are secured by the related real property, including any improvements, with an aggregate book value of $527.6$373.1 million and $448.5$418.9 million, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these obligations was 6.1%8.6% and 4.4%6.7% at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively, and the mortgage loan payments on each community primarily correspond to home deliveries.

 

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. In certain instances, we retain the servicing rights for a small amount of loans. K. Hovnanian Mortgage finances the origination of mortgage loans through various master repurchase agreements, which are recorded in "Financial services" liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The loans are secured by the mortgages held for sale and are repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors. As of July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, we had an aggregate of $70.7$61.9 million and $134.9$94.3 million, respectively, outstanding under several of K. Hovnanian Mortgage’s short-term borrowing facilities.

 

See Note 11 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these agreements.

 

Equity

On September 1, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the program, repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amount repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price, future tax implications and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date.

During the nine months ended July 31, 2023, we repurchased 118,478 shares under the stock repurchase program, with a market value of $4.8 million, or $40.51 per share, which were added to "Treasury stock" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of July 31, 2023. There were no shares repurchased during the three months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022 and the nine months ended July 31, 2022. As of July 31, 2023, $33.0 million of our Class A common stock is available to be purchased under the stock repurchase program.

On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A preferred stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share. Dividends on Series A preferred stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%. The Series A preferred stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares. The Series A preferred stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A preferred stock. We paid dividends of $2.7 million and $8.0 million on the Series A preferred stock in each of the three and nine months ended July 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

3638

 

Inventory ActivitiesUnconsolidated Joint Ventures

We have investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures increased $10.3 million to $85.3 million at July 31, 2023 compared to October 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to two new joint ventures formed during the first nine months of fiscal 2023, along with income recognized in excess of our current sharing percentage for one of our existing unconsolidated joint ventures during the period, partially offset by the consolidation of a previously unconsolidated joint venture, and the net impact of consolidation and subsequent recapitalization of another unconsolidated joint venture. As of July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, we had investments in seven and six unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures, respectively, and one unconsolidated land development joint venture for both periods. We have no guarantees associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures, other than guarantees limited to performance and completion of development activities, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy.

Inventories

 

Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased $148.8decreased $50.4 million during the nine months endedto $1.2 billion at July 31, 2022 from2023 compared to October 31, 2021.2022. Total inventory, excluding consolidated inventory not owned, increased in the Northeastdecreased by $35.6$33.8 million in the Mid-Atlantic by $51.5West, $7.8 million in the Southeast by $46.4and $8.8 million and in the Southwest by $29.6 million.Northeast. The increase wasdecreases were primarily attributable to home deliveries, along with inventory contributed to two new joint ventures and land sales, partially offset by decreases in the Midwest of $10.1 million and in the West of $4.2 million. The net increase was primarily attributable to new land purchases and land development partially offset by home deliveries during the period. During the nine months ended July 31, 2022, we wrote-off costs in the amount of $1.8 million related to land options that expired or that we terminated, as the communities’ forecasted profitability was not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk. There were no impairment losses during the nine months ended July 31, 2022. In the last few years, we have been able to acquire new land parcels at prices that we believe will generate reasonable returns under current homebuilding market conditions. This trend may not continue in either the near or the long term. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at July 31, 20222023 are expected to be delivered during the next six to nine months. 

 

Consolidated inventory not owned, increased $182.2 million. Consolidated inventory not ownedwhich consists of options related to land banking and model financing, transactions that were added to our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with US GAAP. The increasedecreased $57.5 million from October 31, 20212022 to July 31, 20222023. The decrease was primarily due to an increasea decrease in land banking transactions, along withpartially offset by an increase in the sale and leaseback of certain model homes during the period. We have land banking arrangements, whereby we sell land parcels to the land bankers and they provide us with an option to purchase back finished lots on a predetermined schedule. Because of our options to repurchase these parcels, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70, these transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. For purposes ofOn our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at July 31, 2022,2023, inventory of $237.1$201.6 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $131.3$96.8 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from theland banking transactions. In addition, weWe also sell and lease back certain of our model homes with the right to participate in the potential profit when each home is sold to a third partythird-party at the end of the respective lease. As a result of our continued involvement, for accounting purposes in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-68, these sale and leaseback transactions are considered a financing rather than a sale. Therefore, for purposes ofOn our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, at July 31, 2022,2023, inventory of $43.8$49.5 million was recorded to “Consolidated inventory not owned,” with a corresponding amount of $47.2$49.2 million (net of debt issuance costs) recorded to “Liabilities from inventory not owned” for the amount of net cash received from thesale and leaseback transactions.

When possible, we option property for development prior to acquisition. By optioning property, we are only subject to the loss of the cost of the option and predevelopment costs if we choose not to exercise the option. As a result, our commitment for major land acquisitions is reduced. The costs associated with optioned properties are included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Also included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale” are amounts associated with inventory in mothballed communities. We mothball (or stop development on) certain communities when we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at the time. That is, we believe we will generate higher returns if we decide against spending money to improve land today and save the raw land until such time as the markets improve or we determine to sell the property. As of July 31, 2022, we had mothballed land in two communities. The book value associated with these communities at July 31, 2022 was $1.4 million, which was net of impairment charges recorded in prior periods of $20.3 million. We continually review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate. During the first three quarters of fiscal 2022, we did not mothball any additional communities, nor did we sell any previously mothballed communities, however, we re-activated four previously mothballed communities.

Inventories held for sale, which are land parcels where we have decided not to build homes and we are actively marketing the land for sale, are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. There were no inventories held for sale at both July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties.

 

3739

 

The following tables summarize home sites included in our total residential real estate. The increasedecrease in total home sites available at July 31, 20222023 compared to October 31, 20212022 is attributable to acquiring new land parcels, partially offset by delivering homes and terminating certain option agreements during the period.period, partially offset by acquiring new land parcels.

 

   

Active

 

Proposed

       

Active Selling

 

Proposed

   
 

Active

 

Communities

 

Developable

 

Total

  

Active Selling

 

Communities

 

Developable

 

Total

 
 

Communities(1)

  

Homes

  

Homes

  

Homes

  

Communities(1)

  

Homes

  

Homes

  

Homes

 

July 31, 2022:

 

July 31, 2023:

    
     

Northeast

 4  704  3,187  3,891   33  3,913  9,980  13,893 

Mid-Atlantic

 19  2,013  6,591  8,604 

Midwest

 6  975  1,615  2,590 

Southeast

 19  2,141  1,320  3,461   11  1,369  2,667  4,036 

Southwest

 44  5,208  4,714  9,922 

West

  16   2,330   1,499   3,829   58   6,766   4,879   11,645 
     

Consolidated total

  108   13,371   18,926   32,297   102   12,048   17,526   29,574 
     

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

  17   3,535   -   3,535   21   4,472   3,254   7,726 
     

Owned

    7,375  2,708  10,083      6,473  1,416  7,889 

Optioned

     5,612   16,218   21,830      5,488  16,110  21,598 
 

Controlled lots

    12,987  18,926  31,913 
 

Construction to permanent financing lots

     384   -   384       87   -   87 
     

Consolidated total

     13,371   18,926   32,297       12,048   17,526   29,574 

      

Active Selling

  

Proposed

     
  

Active Selling

  

Communities

  

Developable

  

Total

 
  

Communities(1)

  

Homes

  

Homes

  

Homes

 

October 31, 2022:

                
                 

Northeast

  32   4,296   10,726   15,022 

Southeast

  21   1,898   2,823   4,721 

West

  68   6,909   5,148   12,057 
                 

Consolidated total

  121   13,103   18,697   31,800 
                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

  13   3,355   -   3,355 
                 

Owned

      6,634   2,388   9,022 

Optioned

      6,187   16,309   22,496 

Construction to permanent financing lots

      282   -   282 
                 

Consolidated total

      13,103   18,697   31,800 

 

 

(1)

Active selling communities are open for sale communities with ten or more home sites available. We identify communities based on product type. Therefore, at times there are multiple communities at one land site.

 

 

(2)

Represents active selling communities and home sites for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures. 

 

38

      

Active

  

Proposed

     
  

Active

  

Communities

  

Developable

  

Total

 
  

Communities(1)

  

Homes

  

Homes

  

Homes

 

October 31, 2021:

                
                 

Northeast

  6   821   2,525   3,346 

Mid-Atlantic

  20   2,160   6,083   8,243 

Midwest

  8   1,263   1,120   2,383 

Southeast

  22   1,736   2,043   3,779 

Southwest

  53   4,728   4,680   9,408 

West

  15   2,225   1,859   4,084 
                 

Consolidated total

  124   12,933   18,310   31,243 
                 

Unconsolidated joint ventures (2)

  17   4,030   -   4,030 
                 

Owned

      7,257   3,194   10,451 

Optioned

      5,307   15,116   20,423 
                 

Controlled lots

      12,564   18,310   30,874 
                 

Construction to permanent financing lots

      369   -   369 
                 

Consolidated total

      12,933   18,310   31,243 

(1)

Active communities are open for sale communities with ten or more home sites available. We identify communities based on product type. Therefore, at times there are multiple communities at one land site.

(2)

Represents active communities and home sites for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures. 

3940

 

The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, in active selling communities and substantially completed communities. The increase in unsold homes was primarily due to a conscious effort to increase our number of started unsold homes per community to provide buyers the opportunity to close quickly, so they may lock in a lower mortgage rate, thereby making our homes more affordable as mortgage rates continue to rise.

 

 

July 31, 2022

  

October 31, 2021:

  

July 31, 2023

  

October 31, 2022:

 
  
 

Unsold

     

Unsold

      

Unsold

     

Unsold

     
 

Homes

  

Models

  

Total

  

Homes

  

Models

  

Total

  

Homes

  

Models

  

Total

  

Homes

  

Models

  

Total

 
  

Northeast

 14  7  21  8  10  18  126  33  159  92  32  124 

Mid-Atlantic

 38  20  58  26  22  48 

Midwest

 14  2  16  8  9  17 

Southeast

 47  6  53  24  22  46  88  8  96  72  5  77 

Southwest

 172  13  185  114  29  143 

West

  65   14   79   7   12   19   467   19   486   516   22   538 
  

Total

  350   62   412   187   104   291   681   60   741   680   59   739 
  
  

Started or completed unsold homes and models per active selling communities (1)

 3.2  0.6  3.8  1.5  0.8  2.3  6.7  0.6  7.3  5.6  0.5  6.1 

 

(1)

Active selling communities (which are communities that are open for sale with ten or more home sites available) were 108102 and 124121 at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively. This ratio does not include substantially completed communities, which are communities with less than ten home sites available.

  

Other Balance Sheet ActivitiesFinancial Services Assets and Liabilities

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures increased $13.8Financial services assets decreased $40.4 million to $74.7$115.6 million at July 31, 20222023, compared to October 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to income recorded from one of our unconsolidated joint ventures during the period, partially offset by partner distributions. As of July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, we had investments in seven and nine unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures, respectively, and one unconsolidated land development joint venture for both periods. We have no guarantees associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures, other than guarantees limited to performance and completion of development activities, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy.

Prepaid expenses and other assets were as follows as of:

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

  

Dollar

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Change

 
             

Prepaid insurance

 $4,272  $2,577  $1,695 

Prepaid project costs

  29,321   25,880   3,441 

Other prepaids

  11,349   9,140   2,209 

Other assets

  506   745   (239)

Lease right of use asset

  18,898   17,844   1,054 

Total

 $64,346  $56,186  $8,160 

40

Prepaid insurance increased for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, due to the timing of premium payments. These costs are amortized over the life of the associated insurance policy, which can be one to three years. Prepaid project costs consist of community specific expenditures that are used over the life of the community. Such prepaid costs are expensed as homes are delivered. The increase was primarily due to costs incurred for communities not yet open for sale. Other prepaids increased primarily due to new premiums for the renewal of certain software and related services during the period, partially offset by the amortization of these costs. Other prepaids also increased related to a new program for the bulk purchase of mortgage lock commitments to be used for qualifying homebuyers and expensed on future deliveries. Lease right of use asset represents the net present value of our operating leases which, in accordance with ASC 842, are required to be recorded as an asset on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The increase in lease right of use assets was primarily due to lease renewals, partially offset by lease payments during the period.

2022. Financial services assets consist primarily of residential mortgages receivablemortgage receivables held for sale of which $85.1$80.7 million and $149.2$108.6 million at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, respectively, were being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market. The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 20212022 was primarily duerelated to a decrease in the volume of loans originated during the third quarter of fiscal 20222023 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021,2022, partially offset by an increase in the average loan value.

 

Deferred tax assets, net,Financial services liabilities decreased $49.1$41.1 million from October 31, 2021 to July 31, 2022, due to the utilization of our deferred tax assets to offset tax expense on taxable income during the period. 

Nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory increased to $187.8$94.5 million at July 31, 2022 from $125.1 million at2023 compared to October 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to new mortgages for communities in all of our segments obtained during the nine months ended July 31, 2022, along with additional loan borrowings on existing mortgages, partially offset by the payment of existing mortgages during the period.

Accounts payable and other liabilities were as follows as of:

  

July 31,

  

October 31,

  

Dollar

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Change

 
             

Accounts payable

 $197,673  $163,898  $33,775 

Reserves

  98,990   98,831   159 

Lease liability

  19,940   18,952   988 

Accrued expenses

  14,836   17,588   (2,752)

Accrued compensation

  74,648   102,862   (28,214)

Other liabilities

  18,421   24,250   (5,829)

Total

 $424,508  $426,381  $(1,873)

The increase in accounts payable was primarily due to the increase in backlog dollars from October 31, 2021 to July 31, 2022, as homes are under construction for future delivery. Lease liability represents the net present value of our minimum lease obligations, which as discussed above, are required to be recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with ASC 842. The increase corresponds to the increase in the lease right of use asset discussed above. Accrued expenses decreased primarily due to the timing of certain accruals for profit and price participation programs, along with a decrease in accrued property taxes and a decrease in an accrual for a sales reward program. The decrease in accrued compensation was primarily due to the payment of our fiscal year 2021 bonuses during the first quarter of fiscal 2022, partially offset by the accrual of fiscal 2022 bonuses in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022. Other liabilities decreased primarily due to deferred payroll tax withholdings which were paid during the period. 

Customers’ deposits increased $31.2 million from October 31, 2021 to $99.5 million at July 31, 2022. The increase was primarily related to the increase in backlog dollars during the period.

Liabilities from inventory not owned increased $115.7 million from October 31, 2021 to $178.5 million at July 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to an increase in land banking activity during the period and an increase in the sale and leaseback of certain model homes, both accounted for as financing transactions as described above.

Financial Services (liabilities) decreased $73.6 million to $108.6 million at July 31, 2022 from $182.2 million at October 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in amounts outstanding under our mortgage warehouse lines of credit and directly correlates to the decrease in the volume of mortgage loans held for sale during the period.

 

Accrued interest increased $19.4 million from $28.2 million at October 31, 2021, to $47.6 million at July 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to timing of new accruals, partially offset by payments, related to our senior secured, senior notes and the term loan during the period.

41

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 COMPARED TO THE three and nine months ended July 31, 2021

Total Revenues

Compared to the same prior period, revenues increased (decreased) as follows:

  

Three Months Ended

 
                 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

Dollar

  

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Change

  

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                

Sale of homes

 $736,654  $663,279  $73,375   11.1%

Land sales and other revenues

  16,406   7,559   8,847   117.0%

Financial services

  14,533   19,845   (5,312)  (26.8)%
                 

Total revenues

 $767,593  $690,683  $76,910   11.1%

  

Nine Months Ended

 
                 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

Dollar

  

Percentage

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Change

  

Change

 

Homebuilding:

                

Sale of homes

 $1,973,843  $1,894,159  $79,684   4.2%

Land sales and other revenues

  18,052   13,280   4,772   35.9%

Financial services

  43,548   61,070   (17,522)  (28.7)%
                 

Total revenues

 $2,035,443  $1,968,509  $66,934   3.4%

Homebuilding

For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, sale of homes revenues increased by 11.1% and 4.2%, respectively, compared to the same periods of the prior year due to a 17.8% and 19.1% increase in the average price per home, respectively, partially offset by a 5.7% and 12.5% decrease in homes delivered, respectively, for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, compared with the respective prior year period. The average price per home increased to $521,710 in the three months ended July 31, 2022 from $442,776 in the three months ended July 31, 2021. The average price per home increased to $501,103 in the nine months ended July 31, 2022 from $420,831 in the nine months ended July 31, 2021. The increase in average price was the result of increases in home prices in virtually all of our markets along with the geographic and community mix of our deliveries. Land sales are ancillary to our homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down. For further details on the increase in land sales and other revenues, see the section titled “Land Sales and Other Revenues” below.

42

Information on homes delivered by segment is set forth below:

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

  

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

% Change

  

2022

  

2021

  

% Change

 
                         

Northeast:

                        

Dollars

 $60,266  $35,255   70.9% $135,671  $95,157   42.6%

Homes

  78   44   77.3%  184   139   32.4%
                         

Mid-Atlantic:

                        

Dollars

 $168,076  $106,195   58.3% $396,180  $311,230   27.3%

Homes

  251   189   32.8%  610   581   5.0%
                         

Midwest:

                        

Dollars

 $61,375  $60,588   1.3% $172,987  $181,191   (4.5)%

Homes

  166   190   (12.6)%  483   576   (16.1)%
                         

Southeast:

                        

Dollars

 $71,484  $61,978   15.3% $200,133  $188,489   6.2%

Homes

  148   139   6.5%  402   408   (1.5)%
                         

Southwest:

                        

Dollars

 $266,107  $212,773   25.1% $692,093  $620,120   11.6%

Homes

  590   593   (0.5)%  1,643   1,808   (9.1)%
                         

West:

                        

Dollars

 $109,346  $186,490   (41.4)% $376,779  $497,972   (24.3)%

Homes

  179   343   (47.8)%  617   989   (37.6)%
                         

Consolidated total:

                        

Dollars

 $736,654  $663,279   11.1% $1,973,843  $1,894,159   4.2%

Homes

  1,412   1,498   (5.7)%  3,939   4,501   (12.5)%
                         

Unconsolidated joint ventures (1)

                        

Dollars

 $78,390  $102,262   (23.3)% $228,984  $264,442   (13.4)%

Homes

  121   179   (32.4)%  372   453   (17.9)%

(1) Represents housing revenues and home deliveries for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

43

An important indicator of our future results are recently signed contracts and our home contract backlog for future deliveries. Our sales contracts and homes in contract backlog by segment are set forth below:

  

Net Contracts (1) for the

  

Net Contracts (1) for the

         
  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Contract Backlog as of

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
                         

Northeast:

                        

Dollars

 $47,109  $52,066  $181,641  $135,684  $184,366  $122,638 

Homes

  66   62   249   169   237   160 
                         

Mid-Atlantic:

                        

Dollars

 $91,100  $117,341  $384,950  $414,059  $330,960  $361,329 

Homes

  139   176   608   647   506   572 
                         

Midwest:

                        

Dollars

 $29,999  $56,848  $144,833  $216,775  $166,291  $205,101 

Homes

  60   165   371   628   493   648 
                         

Southeast:

                        

Dollars

 $67,402  $58,522  $326,727  $223,201  $348,019  $211,859 

Homes

  114   124   555   487   574   440 
                         

Southwest:

                        

Dollars

 $179,005  $196,481  $742,953  $783,924  $510,681  $524,029 

Homes

  336   469   1,533   2,034   966   1,292 
                         

West:

                        

Dollars

 $53,324  $127,872  $345,642  $453,557  $251,293  $325,472 

Homes

  84   215   559   795   407   561 
                         

Consolidated total:

                        

Dollars

 $467,939  $609,130  $2,126,746  $2,227,200  $1,791,610  $1,750,428 

Homes

  799   1,211   3,875   4,760   3,183   3,673 
                         

Unconsolidated joint ventures:(2)

                        

Dollars

 $84,392  $140,913  $315,015  $408,804  $628,034  $502,999 

Homes

  133   380   683   1,112   2,599   2,065 

(1)  Net contracts are defined as new contracts executed during the period for the purchase of homes, less cancellations of contracts in the same period.

(2) Represents net contract dollars, net contract homes and contract backlog dollars and homes for our unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures for the period. We provide this data as a supplement to our consolidated results as an indicator of the volume managed in our unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

In the first three quarters of fiscal 2022, our open for sale community count decreased to 108 from 124 at October 31, 2021, which was the net result of opening 35 new communities and closing 51 communities since the beginning of fiscal 2022. The decrease in open for sale communities is a result of delays in land development as a result of supply chain and other issues that initially arose during the pandemic and have persisted. We expect community count to grow during the fourth quarter of 2022. Our reported level of sales contracts (net of cancellations) we have seen through the nine months ended July 31, 2022 was impacted by a decrease in sales pace per community for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 as compared to the same period of the prior year. Net contracts per average active selling community for the three months ended July 31, 2022 decreased to 7.6 compared to 12.0 for the same period in the prior year which was during a peak in sales pace during the pandemic. Net contracts per average active selling community for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 decreased to 34.9 compared to 44.9 for the same period in the prior year which was during a peak in sales pace during the pandemic. 

44

Cancellation rates represent the number of cancelled contracts in the quarter divided by the number of gross sales contracts executed in the quarter. For comparison, the following are historical cancellation rates, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

Quarter

 

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

  

2018

 
                     

First

  14%  17%  19%  24%  18%

Second

  17%  16%  23%  19%  17%

Third

  27%  16%  18%  19%  19%

Fourth

      15%  18%  21%  23%

Another common and meaningful way to analyze our cancellation trends is to compare the number of contract cancellations as a percentage of the beginning backlog. The following table provides this historical comparison, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures:

Quarter

 

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

  

2018

 
                     

First

  8%  11%  14%  16%  12%

Second

  9%  9%  20%  20%  15%

Third

  8%  6%  21%  16%  14%

Fourth

      6%  14%  14%  13%

Most cancellations occur within the legal rescission period, which varies by state but is generally less than two weeks after the signing of the contract. Cancellations also occur as a result of a buyer’s failure to qualify for a mortgage, which generally occurs during the first few weeks after signing. As shown in the tables above, contract cancellations over the past several years have been within what we believe to be a normal range, with fiscal 2021 and the first half of fiscal 2022 cancellation rates, in particular, being below historical norms as a result of the strong market conditions. Fiscal 2020 had varying cancellation rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, due to the sharp decline in gross sales, our cancellation rate as a percentage of gross sales increased significantly to 27%, which is higher than our historical normal range. However, due to our strong backlog position, our cancellation rate as a percentage of beginning backlog decreased slightly from the prior quarter to 8%, which is below our historical normal range. Market conditions remain uncertain and it is difficult to predict what cancellation rates will be in the future.

Total cost of sales on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations includes expenses for consolidated housing and land and lot sales, including inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs (defined as “land charges” in the tables below). A breakout of such expenses for housing sales and homebuilding gross margin is set forth below.

Homebuilding gross margin before cost of sales interest expense and land charges is a non-GAAP financial measure. This measure should not be considered as an alternative to homebuilding gross margin determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of operating performance.

Management believes this non-GAAP measure enables investors to better understand our operating performance. This measure is also useful internally, helping management evaluate our operating results on a consolidated basis and relative to other companies in our industry. In particular, the magnitude and volatility of land charges for the Company, and for other homebuilders, have been significant and, as such, have made financial analysis of our industry more difficult. Homebuilding metrics excluding land charges, as well as interest amortized to cost of sales, and other similar presentations prepared by analysts and other companies are frequently used to assist investors in understanding and comparing the operating characteristics of homebuilding activities by eliminating many of the differences in companies’ respective level of impairments and levels of debt.

45

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
                 

Sale of homes

 $736,654  $663,279  $1,973,843  $1,894,159 

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges

  543,064   516,530   1,474,403   1,488,919 

Homebuilding gross margin, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  193,590   146,749   499,440   405,240 

Cost of sales interest expense, excluding land sales interest expense

  22,453   17,821   57,855   56,242 

Homebuilding gross margin, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  171,137   128,928   441,585   348,998 

Land charges

  1,173   1,309   1,837   3,267 

Homebuilding gross margin

 $169,964  $127,619  $439,748  $345,731 

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

  23.1%  19.2%  22.3%  18.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  26.3%  22.1%  25.3%  21.4%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  23.2%  19.4%  22.4%  18.4%

Cost of sales expenses as a percentage of consolidated home sales revenues are presented below:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
                 

Sale of homes

  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%
                 

Cost of sales, excluding interest expense and land charges:

                

Housing, land and development costs

  66.3%  69.6%  66.8%  70.1%

Commissions

  3.2%  3.7%  3.4%  3.6%

Financing concessions

  0.8%  1.0%  0.9%  1.2%

Overheads

  3.4%  3.6%  3.6%  3.7%

Total cost of sales, before interest expense and land charges

  73.7%  77.9%  74.7%  78.6%

Cost of sales interest

  3.1%  2.7%  2.9%  3.0%

Land charges

  0.1%  0.2%  0.1%  0.1%
                 

Homebuilding gross margin percentage

  23.1%  19.2%  22.3%  18.3%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges

  26.3%  22.1%  25.3%  21.4%

Homebuilding gross margin percentage, after cost of sales interest expense, before land charges

  23.2%  19.4%  22.4%  18.4%

We sell a variety of home types in various communities, each yielding a different gross margin. As a result, depending on the mix of communities delivering homes, consolidated gross margin may fluctuate up or down. Total homebuilding gross margin percentage increased to 23.1% during the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to 19.2% for the same period last year. Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, increased from 22.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2021 to 26.3% for the three months ended July 31, 2022. Total homebuilding gross margin percentage increased to 22.3% during the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to 18.3% for the same period last year. Homebuilding gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, increased from 21.4% for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 to 25.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increases for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 for both gross margin percentage and gross margin percentage, before cost of sales interest expense and land charges, were primarily due to increases in home prices across virtually all our operating segments, along with the mix of communities delivering compared to the prior year periods.

46

Reflected as inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs in cost of sales, we wrote-off or wrote-down certain inventories totaling $1.1 million and $1.3 million during the three months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $1.8 million and $3.3 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, to their estimated fair value. During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, we wrote-off residential land options and approval and engineering costs amounting to $1.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively, compared to $0.1 million and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, respectively, which are included in the total land charges discussed above. Option, approval and engineering costs are written-off when a community’s pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on the investment commensurate with the risk and when we believe it is probable we will cancel the option or when a community is redesigned engineering costs related to the initial design are written-off. Such write-offs were located in all the segments in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and West segments in the first three quarters of fiscal 2021. There were no inventory impairments during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022. We recorded inventory impairments of $1.2 million and $2.0 million during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, respectively, which were related to two communities in the Southeast segment for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, and one community in the West segment for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. It is difficult to predict impairment levels, and should it become necessary or desirable to have additional land sales, lower prices, or should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.

Land Sales and Other Revenues

Land sales and other revenues consist primarily of land and lot sales. A breakout of land and lot sales is set forth below:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

July 31,

  

July 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 
                 

Land and lot sales

 $15,788  $6,819  $16,187  $11,730 

Cost of sales, excluding interest

  5,512   5,338   5,772   9,121 

Land and lot sales gross margin, excluding interest

  10,276   1,481   10,415   2,609 

Land and lot sales interest expense

  -   1,419   21   1,888 

Land and lot sales gross margin, including interest

 $10,276  $62  $10,394  $721 

Land sales are ancillary to our residential homebuilding operations and are expected to continue in the future but may significantly fluctuate up or down. Although we budget land sales, they are often dependent upon receiving approvals and entitlements, the timing of which can be uncertain. As a result, projecting the amount and timing of land sales is difficult. Revenue associated with land sales can vary significantly due to the mix of land parcels sold. There were one and two land sales in the three months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, resulting in an increase of $9.0 million in land sales revenues. There were four and eight land sales in the nine months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, resulting in an increase of $4.5 million in land sales revenues. During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we had a more significant land sale in the Northeast segment causing the increase in land sales revenue for both the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022.

Land sales and other revenues increased $8.8 million and $4.8 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. Other revenues include income from contract cancellations where the deposit has been forfeited due to contract terminations, interest income, cash discounts and miscellaneous one-time receipts. The increase for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, compared to the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, was mainly due to the increase in land sales discussed above. 

Homebuilding Selling, General and Administrative

Homebuilding selling, general and administrative (“SGA”) expenses increased $7.2 million and $14.0 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The increase for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 was due to an increase in total compensation expense as a result of an increase in headcount and bonuses related to market conditions and company performance and an increase in insurance costs as a result of an increase in premiums to obtain insurance during fiscal 2022. Also impacting the increase in the three months ended July 31, 2022 was a decrease of unconsolidated joint venture management fees received, which offset general and administrative expenses, as a result of fewer unconsolidated joint venture deliveries during the respective periods, while the same remained flat for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to same period in the prior year. SGA expenses as a percentage of homebuilding revenues increased to 6.7% and 7.0% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to 6.4% and 6.6% for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2021, respectively, as a result of the increase in expense for the current periods compared to the prior year periods.

47

HOMEBUILDING OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

Segment Analysis

  

Three Months Ended July 31,

 
                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Variance

  

Variance %

 
                 

Northeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $76,032  $35,255  $40,777   115.7%

Income before income taxes

 $20,179  $6,765  $13,414   198.3%

Homes delivered

  78   44   34   77.3%

Average sales price

 $772,641  $801,250  $(28,609)  (3.6)%
                 

Mid-Atlantic

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $168,135  $106,419  $61,716   58.0%

Income before income taxes

 $37,756  $15,907  $21,849   137.4%

Homes delivered

  251   189   62   32.8%

Average sales price

 $669,625  $561,878  $107,747   19.2%
                 

Midwest

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $61,410  $60,659  $751   1.2%

Income before income taxes

 $2,023  $3,358  $(1,335)  (39.8)%

Homes delivered

  166   190   (24)  (12.6)%

Average sales price

 $369,729  $318,884  $50,845   15.9%
                 

Southeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $71,542  $68,854  $2,688   3.9%

Income before income taxes

 $15,263  $2,682  $12,581   469.1%

Homes delivered

  148   139   9   6.5%

Average sales price

 $483,000  $445,885  $37,115   8.3%
                 

Southwest

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $266,374  $213,127  $53,247   25.0%

Income before income taxes

 $42,725  $28,523  $14,202   49.8%

Homes delivered

  590   593   (3)  (0.5)%

Average sales price

 $451,029  $358,808  $92,221   25.7%
                 

West

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $109,410  $186,519  $(77,109)  (41.3)%

Income before income taxes

 $19,223  $27,189  $(7,966)  (29.3)%

Homes delivered

  179   343   (164)  (47.8)%

Average sales price

 $610,872  $543,703  $67,169   12.4%

48

  

Nine Months Ended July 31,

 
                 

(Dollars in thousands, except average sales price)

 

2022

  

2021

  

Variance

  

Variance %

 
                 

Northeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $151,517  $97,488  $54,029   55.4%

Income before income taxes

 $31,052  $16,427  $14,625   89.0%

Homes delivered

  184   139   45   32.4%

Average sales price

 $737,342  $684,583  $52,759   7.7%
                 

Mid-Atlantic

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $396,750  $311,564  $85,186   27.3%

Income before income taxes

 $82,441  $38,618  $43,823   113.5%

Homes delivered

  610   581   29   5.0%

Average sales price

 $649,475  $535,680  $113,795   21.2%
                 

Midwest

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $173,175  $183,895  $(10,720)  (5.8)%

Income before income taxes

 $4,303  $11,070  $(6,767)  (61.1)%

Homes delivered

  483   576   (93)  (16.1)%

Average sales price

 $358,151  $314,568  $43,583   13.9%
                 

Southeast

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $200,359  $195,545  $4,814   2.5%

Income before income taxes

 $36,185  $9,540  $26,645   279.3%

Homes delivered

  402   408   (6)  (1.5)%

Average sales price

 $497,843  $461,983  $35,860   7.8%
                 

Southwest

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $692,766  $620,848  $71,918   11.6%

Income before income taxes

 $99,370  $78,848  $20,522   26.0%

Homes delivered

  1,643   1,808   (165)  (9.1)%

Average sales price

 $421,237  $342,987  $78,250   22.8%
                 

West

                

Homebuilding revenue

 $377,151  $498,084  $(120,933)  (24.3)%

Income before income taxes

 $70,002  $58,729  $11,273   19.2%

Homes delivered

  617   989   (372)  (37.6)%

Average sales price

 $610,663  $503,511  $107,152   21.3%

49

Homebuilding Results by Segment

Northeast - Homebuilding revenues increased 115.7% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year. The increase for the three months ended July 31, 2022 was attributed to a $15.8 million increase in land sales and other revenue and a 77.3% increase in homes delivered, partially offset by a 3.6% decrease in average sales price. The decrease in average sales price was the result of new communities delivering higher priced, larger single family homes and townhomes in higher-end submarkets of the segment in the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to some communities delivering in the three months ended July 31, 2021 that had smaller single family homes in mid to higher-end submarkets of the segment with higher location premiums that are no longer delivering. 

 Income before income taxes increased $13.4 million to $20.2 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 as compared to the prior year period. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues increased 55.4% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year. The increase for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 was attributed to a $13.5 million increase in land sales and other revenue, a 32.4% increase in homes delivered and a 7.7% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was the result of new communities delivering higher priced, larger single family homes and townhomes in higher-end submarkets of the segment in the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to some communities delivering in the nine months ended July 31, 2021 that had smaller single family homes, townhomes and affordable-housing homes in mid to higher-end submarkets of the segment that are no longer delivering. Also impacting the increase in average sales price was price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $14.6 million to $31.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 as compared to the prior year period. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Mid-Atlantic - Homebuilding revenues increased 58.0% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a 19.2% increase in average sales price and a 32.8% increase in homes delivered for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $21.8 million to $37.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $4.1 million increase in income from unconsolidated joint ventures and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues increased 27.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a 21.2% increase in average sales price and a 5.0% increase in homes delivered for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $43.8 million to $82.4 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022  compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $7.7 million increase in income from unconsolidated joint ventures and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year.

Midwest - Homebuilding revenues increased 1.2% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 15.9% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a 12.6% decrease in homes delivered for the three months ended July 31, 2022. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $1.3 million to $2.0 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.4 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs and a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues decreased 5.8% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022  compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a $2.5 million decrease in land sales and other revenue, a 16.1% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 13.9% increase in average sales price for the nine months ended July 31, 2022. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $6.8 million to $4.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022  compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $2.0 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs and a decrease in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

50

Southeast – Homebuilding revenues increased 3.9% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 6.5% increase in homes delivered and an 8.3% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a $6.8 million decrease in land sales and other revenue for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year. The increase in average price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $12.6 million to $15.3 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $6.1 million increase in income from unconsolidated joint ventures and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues increased 2.5% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to a 7.8% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a 1.5% decrease in homes delivered and a $6.8 million decrease in land sales and other revenue. The increase in average sales price was the result of new communities delivering higher priced, larger single family homes in higher-end submarkets of the segment in the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to some communities delivering in the nine months ended July 31, 2021 that had lower priced, smaller single family homes in higher-end submarkets of the segment that are no longer delivering. Also impacting the increase in the average sales price was price increases in certain communities. 

Income before income taxes increased $26.6 million to $36.2 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenue discussed above, a $10.7 million increase in income from unconsolidated joint ventures and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Southwest - Homebuilding revenues increased 25.0% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to a 25.7% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a 0.5% decrease in homes delivered for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $14.2 million to $42.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenues discussed above and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues increased 11.6% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to a 22.8% increase in average sales price, partially offset by a 9.1% decrease in homes delivered for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $20.5 million to $99.4 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in homebuilding revenues discussed above and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period of the prior year.

51

West – Homebuilding revenues decreased 41.3% for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 47.8% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 12.4% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes decreased $8.0 million to $19.2 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to the decrease in homebuilding revenues discussed above and a $2.2 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs, partially offset by an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Homebuilding revenues decreased 24.3% for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was due to a 37.6% decrease in homes delivered, partially offset by a 21.3% increase in average sales price. The increase in average sales price was mainly the result of price increases in certain communities.

Income before income taxes increased $11.3 million to $70.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period. The increase is primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs and an increase in gross margin percentage before interest expense for the period compared to the same period of the prior year.

Financial Services

Financial services consist primarily of originating mortgages from our home buyers, selling such mortgages in the secondary market, and title insurance activities. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk associated with MBS forward commitments and loan sales transactions is managed by limiting our counterparties to investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and other investors meeting our credit standards. Our risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments. For the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration (“FHA/VA”) loans represented 24.0% and 29.6%, respectively, of our total loans. The origination of FHA/VA loans decreased from the first three quarters of fiscal 2021 to the first three quarters of fiscal 2022, and our conforming conventional loan originations as a percentage of our total loans increased from 69.7% to 75.2% for this period, respectively. The origination of loans which exceed conforming conventions was relatively flat at 0.8% for the first three quarters of fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2022. Profits and losses relating to the sale of mortgage loans are recognized when legal control passes to the buyer of the mortgage and the sales price is collected.

During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022, financial services provided a $3.7 million and $11.6 million pretax profit, respectively, compared to $8.6 million and $28.1 million, respectively, of pretax profit for the same periods of fiscal 2021. The decrease in pretax profit was attributed to the decrease in the homebuilding deliveries and a decrease in the basis point spread between the loans originated and the implied rate from the sale of the loans. In the market areas served by our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiaries, 52.5% and 65.6% of our noncash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the three months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and 59.0% and 68.6% of our noncash homebuyers obtained mortgages originated by these subsidiaries during the nine months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Corporate General and Administrative

Corporate general and administrative expenses include the operations at our headquarters in New Jersey. These expenses include payroll, stock compensation, facility costs and rent and other costs associated with our executive offices, legal expenses, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, national and digital marketing, construction services and administration of insurance, quality and safety. Corporate general and administrative expenses increased to $24.8 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to $17.3 million for the three months ended July 31, 2021 and decreased to $75.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to $81.1 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. The increase for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to increased compensation and bonuses related to market conditions and company performance. The decrease for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to decreases in compensation expense, mainly related to the grants of phantom stock awards under our 2019 LTIP, for which expense is impacted by the change in our stock price each period. The expense decreased as a result of the significant decrease in our stock price during the third quarter of fiscal 2022, versus a significant increase in stock price during the same period of the prior year. 

52

Other Interest

Other interest decreased $9.5 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended July 31, 2021 and decreased $29.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the nine months ended July 31, 2021. Our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) are less than our debt, and therefore the portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets is directly expensed. Other interest decreased because we incurred less interest and had less debt in excess of inventory as a result of the reduction of our debt and increase in our qualifying assets during fiscal 2021 and 2022.

Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures consists of our share of the earnings or losses of our unconsolidated joint ventures. Income from unconsolidated joint ventures increased $7.5 million to $12.6 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022 and increased $14.4 million to $23.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022 compared to the same respective periods of the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the recognition of our share of income from two of our unconsolidated joint ventures during the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 based on the joint venture partner achieving certain return hurdles, in compliance with the joint venture agreement, and as a result, the Company was able to recognize a higher share of the unconsolidated joint venture’s profit.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

On April 29, 2022, K. Hovnanian redeemed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.75% Senior Secured 1.125 Lien Notes due 2026. The aggregate purchase price for this redemption was $105.5 million, which included accrued and unpaid interest and which was funded with cash on hand. This redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $6.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, net of the write-off of unamortized financing costs and fees. The loss from the redemption is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as "Loss on extinguishment of debt".

Total Taxes 

The total income tax expense for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 was $29.3 million and $58.4 million, respectively. The expense was primarily due to federal and state tax expense recorded as a result of our pretax income. The federal tax expense is not paid in cash as it is offset by the use of our existing NOL carryforwards. The total income tax expense for the three months ended July 31, 2021 was $14.1 million. The federal tax expense was primarily related to pretax income generated during the quarter and state tax expense from income generated in states where we do not have net operating loss carryforwards to offset the current year income. The total benefit for the nine months ended July 31, 2021 was $442.9 million. The benefit was primarily due to the reversal of a substantial portion of our valuation allowance previously recorded against our deferred tax assets.

Inflation

 

The annual rate of inflation in the United States hit 8.5%was 3.2% in July 2022, nearly the highest in more than three decades,2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, (CPI).which while higher than recent years, is much improved from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022. Inflation has a long-term effect, because increasinghigher costs offor land, materials and labor resultresults in increasing salesales prices of our homes. Historically, these price increases have been commensurate with the general rate of inflation in our housing markets and have not had a significant adverse effect on the sale of our homes. A significant risk faced by the housing industry generally is that rising house construction costs, including land and interest costs, willcould substantially outpace increases in the income of potential purchasers and therefore limit our ability to raise home sale prices, which may result in lower gross margins.

 

Inflation has a lesser short-term effect, because we generally negotiate fixed-price contracts with many, but not all, of our subcontractors and material suppliers for the construction of our homes. These prices usually are applicable for a specified number of residential buildings or for a time period of between three to twelve12 months. Construction costs for residential buildings represented approximately 56.9%56.6% of our homebuilding cost of sales for the nine months ended July 31, 2022.2023.

For fiscal 2023, elevated inflation created economic uncertainty and had an impact on interest rates, which in turn adversely impacted our home sales. During the fiscal year, inflation has started to stabilize and interest rates have become less volatile, which has given homebuyers time to adjust to the current higher rate environment.

Critical Accounting Policies

As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, our most critical accounting policies relate to inventories, unconsolidated joint ventures, warranty and construction defect reserves and income taxes. Since October 31, 2022, there have been no significant changes to those critical accounting policies.

 

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Safe Harbor Statement

 

All statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts should be considered as “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements related to the Company's goals and expectations with respect to its financial results for future financial periods. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are not guarantees of future performance or results and (iii) are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to:

  

 

Changes in general and local economic, industry and business conditions and impacts of a significant homebuilding downturn;   

 

Shortages in, and price fluctuations of, raw materials and labor, including due to geopolitical events, changes in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and duties on homebuilding materials and products, and related trade disputes with, and retaliatory measures taken by other countries;

 

The outbreak and spread of COVID-19Fluctuations in interest rates and the measures that governments, agencies, law enforcement and/or health authorities implement to address it,availability of mortgage financing, including as well as continuing macroeconomic effectsa result of the pandemic;bank sector instability;

 

Adverse weather and other environmental conditions and natural disasters;

 

● 

The seasonality of the Company’s business;

 

The availability and cost of suitable land and improved lots and sufficient liquidity to invest in such land and lots;

 

Reliance on, and the performance of, subcontractors;

 

● 

Regional and local economic factors, including dependency on certain sectors of the economy, and employment levels affecting home prices and sales activity in the markets where the Company builds homes;

 

Increases in cancellations of agreements of sale;

 

FluctuationsIncreases in interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing;inflation;

 

Changes in tax laws affecting the after-tax costs of owning a home;

 

Legal claims brought against us and not resolved in our favor, such as product liability litigation, warranty claims and claims made by mortgage investors;

 

Levels of competition;

 Utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations;
 Information technology failures and data security breaches;
 Negative publicity;
 High leverage and restrictions on the Company'sCompany’s operations and activities imposed by the agreements governing the Company'sCompany’s outstanding indebtedness;
 Availability and terms of financing to the Company;
 The Company'sCompany’s sources of liquidity;
 Changes in credit ratings;
 Government regulations,regulation, including regulations concerning development of land, the home building, sales and customer financing processes, tax laws and the environment;
 Operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with third parties;
 

Significant influence of the Company’s controlling stockholders;

 

Availability of net operating loss carryforwards; and

 Loss of key management personnel or failure to attract qualified personnel; and

Increases in inflation.

personnel.

    

Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors are described in detail in Part I, Item 1 “Business” and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021.2022. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Item 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

A primary market risk facing us is interest rate risk onSubstantially all of our long-term debt including debt instruments atrequires fixed interest payments and we have limited exposure to variable interest rates. In connection with our mortgage operations, mortgage loans held for sale and the associated mortgage warehouse lines of credit under our Master Repurchase Agreements are subject to interest rate risk; however, such obligations reprice frequently and are short-term in duration. In addition, we are able to hedge the interest rate risk on mortgage loans by obtaining forward commitments from private investors. Accordingly, the interest rate risk from mortgage loans is not material.significant. We do not use financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk except with respect to mortgage loans. We are also subject to foreign currency risk but we do not believe this risk is material. The following table sets forth as of July 31, 2022,2023, our long-term debt obligations, principal cash flows by scheduled maturity, weighted-average interest rates and estimated fair value (“FV”).

  

 

Long Term Debt as of July 31, 2022 by Fiscal Year of Expected Maturity Date

  

Long Term Debt as of July 31, 2023 by Fiscal Year of Maturity Date

 
               

FV at

                

FV at

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2022

  

2023

  

2024

  

2025

  

2026

  

Thereafter

  

Total

  

7/31/22

  

2023

  

2024

  

2025

  

2026

  

2027

  

Thereafter

  

Total

  

7/31/23

 
  

Long term debt(1)(2):

 

Long term debt(1):

 

Fixed rate

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $943,683  $211,169  $1,154,852  $1,116,249  $-  $-  $-  $843,683  $39,551  $171,618  $1,054,852  $1,011,277 

Weighted average interest rate

 -% -% -% -% 10.10% 6.93% 9.52%    -% -% -% 10.38% 5.00% 7.37% 9.69%   

 

(1)Does not includeinclude:
the mortgage warehouse lines of credit made under ourMaster Repurchase Agreements. Also, does not include our $125.0 million Secured Credit Facility under which there were no borrowings outstanding as of July 31, 2022.Agreements;

(2)

Does not include $187.8● $129.1 million of nonrecourse mortgages secured by inventory. These mortgagesinventory, which have various maturities spread over the next two to three years and are paid off as homes are delivered.delivered; and 
● our $125.0 million Secured Credit Facility under which there were no borrowings outstanding as of July 31, 2023. 

.

Item 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2022.2023. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to accomplish their objectives.

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended July 31, 20222023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

InformationFor information with respect to our legal proceedings, is incorporated into this Part II, Item 1 fromsee Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

  

Item 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, AND USE OF PROCEEDS.PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

 

None.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

No sharesrepurchases of our Class A Common Stockcommon stock were made during the three months ended July 31, 2023. For a description of the Company's stock repurchase program, see "Part I. Financial Information - Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Resources and Liquidity – Equity".

Item 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

During the three months ended July 31, 2023, no director or Class B Common Stock were purchased by or on behalfofficer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or any affiliated purchaser during the fiscal third quarterterminated a "Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement" or "non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement," as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of 2022.Regulation S-K.

 

On September 1, 2022, our Board of Directors terminated our prior repurchase program and authorized a new program for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of our Class A common stock. Under the new repurchase program, repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual dollar amounts repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price and economic and market conditions. The repurchase program may be changed, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not have a specified expiration date.

Dividends

Certain debt agreements to which we are a party contain restrictions on the payment of cash dividends. However, beginning as of October 31, 2021, as a result of our improved operating results, we were no longer restricted from paying dividends. During each of the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2022, we paid a dividend in the amount of $2.7 million on the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

5644

 

Item 6.

EXHIBITS

 

 

3(a)

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

  

3(b)

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to QuarterlyCurrent Report on Form 10-Q8-K of the Registrant for the quarter ended July 31, 2021)filed on March 28, 2023).

  

4(a)

Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

  

4(b)

Specimen Class B Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on March 29, 2019).

  

4(c)

Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated July 12, 2005.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on July 13, 2005).

  

4(d)

Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Preferred Stock of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., dated August 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended July 31, 2008).

  

4(e)

Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2008, between Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Certificate of Designation as Exhibit A, Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant filed on August 14, 2008).

  

4(f)

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2018, between Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to National City Bank), as Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit 1 and the amended and restated Summary of Rights as Exhibit 2 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on January 11, 2018).

  

4(g)

Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2021, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to National City Bank), as Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit 1 and the amended and restated Summary of Rights as Exhibit 2 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed January 19, 2021).

  
10(a)*Second Amendment, dated asForm of August 19, 2022, to the Credit2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2019, among K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named therein, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed August 22, 2022).EBIT Class A.
  
10(b)*Form of 20222023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT (Class A).Class B.
  
10(c)*Form of 20222023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT (Class B).ROI Class A.
10(d)*Form of 2023 Performance Share Unit Agreement EBIT ROI Class B.

 

 

10(d)*Form of 2022 Performance Share Unit Agreement – EBIT ROI (Class A).
10(e)*Form of 2022 Performance Share Unit Agreement – EBIT ROI (Class B).
10(f)*Form of 2022 Performance Share Unit Agreement – Land Light Performance Vesting (Class A).
10(g)*Form of 2022 Performance Share Unit Agreement – National Contracts Savings Performance Vesting (Class A).
10(h)*Form of 2022 Performance Share Unit Agreement – KHDS Savings Performance Vesting (Class A).

10(i)*

Restricted Share Unit Agreement Class A (2022 grants and thereafter).

10(j)*

Director Restricted Share Unit Agreement Class A (2022 grants and thereafter).
  

31(a)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

  

31(b)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

  

32(a)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

  

32(b)

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

  

101

 

The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2022,2023, formatted in inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (Inline XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 31, 20222023 and October 31, 2021,2022, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 2021,2022, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity Deficit for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 2021,2022, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended July 31, 20222023 and 2021,2022, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

  
104Cover Page from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended July 31, 2022,2023, formatted in Inline XBRL (and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

 

 * Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Registrant)

 

 

DATE:

September 6, 2022

1, 2023

 

  

/s/J. LARRY SORSBY

 

  

J. Larry Sorsby

 

  

Executive Vice President,

 

  

Chief Financial Officer and Director

 

  

  

 

DATE:

September 6, 20221, 2023

 

  

/s/BRAD G. O’CONNOR

 

  

Brad G. O’Connor

 

  

Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

5947