MTH Q1 Earnings Call: Meritage Homes Focuses on Community Growth Amid Market Volatility

Homebuilder Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street’s expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 7.5% year on year to $1.36 billion. The company’s full-year revenue guidance of $6.75 billion at the midpoint came in 1.5% above analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.69 per share was 0.9% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

Is now the time to buy MTH? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

StockStory’s Take

Meritage Homes’ first quarter results reflected the company’s strategic emphasis on rapid inventory turnover and affordable, move-in-ready homes. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to a 60-day closing commitment, enhanced use of financing incentives, and a growing community count. CEO Phillippe Lord explained, “Our strategy is intentionally agile and we constantly are reviewing our start cadence and land spend,” highlighting the importance of adaptability in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting homebuyer sentiment.

Looking ahead, Meritage Homes’ forward guidance relies heavily on the anticipated double-digit increase in community count and continued demand for affordable new homes. Management reaffirmed full-year revenue expectations, with CFO Hilla Sferruzza noting, "We typically see a pop in volume when we open up a community," and emphasized that community openings—rather than improved market conditions—will be the main driver of growth. The company remains cautious about potential headwinds, such as evolving tariffs and macroeconomic volatility, but expressed confidence in its current strategy and market positioning.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Meritage Homes’ leadership connected first quarter performance to operational agility, product positioning, and strategic land acquisitions, while addressing the effects of a volatile housing market and heightened affordability concerns.

• Rapid backlog conversion: The company’s 60-day closing commitment led to a record-high backlog conversion rate, allowing Meritage to quickly turn speculative inventory into sales and closings, which management cited as a key differentiator.
• Incentive-driven affordability: Increased use of financing incentives, particularly rate buy-downs, helped address affordability challenges for homebuyers without widespread price cuts; these incentives were more prevalent in markets facing greater consumer hesitation.
• Community count expansion: A notable driver of current and future growth was the double-digit year-over-year increase in community count, including new communities in the Gulf Coast and Nashville following targeted land acquisitions.
• Operational cost management: Cost reductions in direct construction expenses were achieved through purchasing negotiations and scale, partially offsetting lower margins due to higher incentives and reduced leverage of fixed costs.
• Resilient supply chain and labor: Stable labor availability and steady cycle times benefited Meritage, with management citing industry-wide pullbacks in new construction as providing slack in labor markets. The company reported no major disruptions from recent immigration policy changes or supply chain bottlenecks.

Drivers of Future Performance

Meritage Homes’ outlook for the remainder of the year centers on expanding its community footprint and maintaining sales momentum through affordability initiatives, while monitoring risks from interest rates, tariffs, and consumer sentiment.

• Community growth as primary lever: Management expects the majority of revenue and volume growth to come from a higher number of new communities, particularly those with move-in-ready inventory, rather than assuming improved seasonal demand patterns.
• Affordability and incentives: The ongoing use of rate buy-downs and selective price increases in certain markets will be key to sustaining homebuyer activity, as the company adapts to persistent affordability constraints and fluctuating mortgage rates.
• Cost and margin risks: Potential future tariffs on materials and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty represent risks to gross margins, although current supply chain stability and labor availability are expected to support operational execution for the near term.

Top Analyst Questions

• Unidentified Analyst (Zelman & Associates): Asked about higher average closing prices implied in the full-year outlook; management clarified the increase is mainly due to product mix rather than broad-based pricing power.
• Alan (Analyst): Inquired about the sustainability of incentive levels throughout the year; management indicated incentives would remain elevated and would be adjusted based on mortgage rate volatility and market conditions.
• Stephen Kim (Evercore ISI): Questioned the timing and expected impact of community count growth; management stated most new communities would open in the second half of the year, driving volume through initial high absorption rates.
• Michael Rehaut (JPMorgan): Pressed on Meritage’s ability to maintain full-year guidance amid industry volatility; management emphasized confidence in its move-in-ready strategy and double-digit community growth as key factors.
• Trevor Allinson (Wolf Research): Sought insights on the competitive advantage of the 60-day closing commitment; management responded that this certainty, combined with financing incentives, differentiates Meritage from resale and peer offerings.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace and success of new community openings, especially in high-growth regions like the Gulf Coast and Nashville, (2) the evolution of incentive strategies and their impact on margins as interest rates fluctuate, and (3) any signs of supply chain or labor disruptions as the broader housing market responds to ongoing economic and policy shifts. Additionally, we will assess the impact of any new tariffs or regulatory changes on cost structure and gross margins.

Meritage Homes currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 7.6×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? Find out in our free research report.

The Best Stocks for High-Quality Investors

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years.

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.