Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE: MTH) on Wednesday reported a 51% year-over-year decline in fourth-quarter net income, as the homebuilder relied heavily on mortgage rate incentives to maintain sales velocity. While the company’s adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.67 exceeded the analyst consensus of $1.55, total home closing revenue fell 12%, missing the $1.49 billion projected by the market.
Following the announcement, Meritage shares declined 1.2% in pre-market trading, reflecting investor concerns over a sharp contraction in gross margins and a significant 30% drop in the company’s year-end backlog value.
Margin Compression and Operational Performance
Profitability metrics for the fourth quarter were pressured by elevated financing costs and non-recurring charges. The home closing gross margin fell 670 basis points to 16.5%, compared to 23.2% in the prior-year period. Excluding $38.9 million in charges related to terminated land deals, inventory impairments, and severance, the adjusted gross margin stood at 19.3%.
Key operational headwinds included:
- Average Sales Price (ASP): The ASP for home closings fell 5% to $375,000, reflecting a shift toward more affordable inventory and the impact of price concessions.
- Volume Declines: Total home closings decreased 7% to 3,755 units.
- Incentive Costs: Greater utilization of mortgage rate buydowns to address consumer affordability challenges.
Full-Year 2025 Financial Summary
For the 2025 fiscal year, Meritage reported total home closing revenue of $5.76 billion, a 9% decrease from $6.34 billion in 2024. Net earnings for the twelve-month period totaled $453.0 million, or $6.35 per diluted share, representing a 42% decline from the previous year’s $786.2 million.
Despite the lower earnings, the company ended the year with a liquid balance sheet, holding $775 million in cash and a net debt-to-capital ratio of 16.9%. The company returned $416 million to shareholders during the year via dividends and share repurchases, an amount equivalent to 92% of its total annual earnings.
| Financial Metric | Q4 2025 | Q4 2024 | Change (YoY) |
| Net Earnings | $84.0 Million | $172.6 Million | -51% |
| Home Closing Revenue | $1.41 Billion | $1.60 Billion | -12% |
| Diluted EPS | $1.20 | $2.36 | -49% |
| Home Closing Gross Margin | 16.5% | 23.2% | -670 bps |
| Net Orders (Units) | 3,224 | 3,304 | -2% |
Executive Commentary on Strategy
Management highlighted the company’s focus on maintaining sales “absorption” and repositioning its land portfolio. Executive Chairman, Steven J. Hilton, noted that the company’s strategy of maintaining move-in ready inventory allowed it to outperform broader market trends in absorption pace, despite a “challenging economic backdrop.” Hilton emphasized that the 15% growth in community count during 2025 positions the firm to capture market share once demand rebounds.
CEO, Phillippe Lord, provided insight into the quarter’s non-recurring charges, stating that the company conducted an in-depth review of its optioned land and elected to terminate certain positions. Lord noted this move was intended to “top-grade” the portfolio, releasing capital for higher-margin opportunities. He further stated that the company is “accelerating share repurchases” in the near term, viewing the stock as significantly undervalued at current levels.
Industry Outlook and Market Context
The results from Meritage underscore the “rebalancing” phase of the U.S. housing market. While demand persists due to a shortage of existing homes, builders are sacrificing margins to bridge the affordability gap created by high interest rates. Looking toward 2026, Meritage expects home closing volumes and revenue to remain largely consistent with 2025 levels, assuming no further deterioration in macro conditions. However, the 30% decline in year-end backlog value suggests the company will remain dependent on “intra-quarter” sales—homes both sold and closed within the same 90-day period—to meet its targets.