On May 31, Hovnanian Enterprises (NYSE:HOV) released second-quarter earnings for the period ended April 30.

  • Revenues declined by 29%, and gross margins fell 9%.
  • The company incurred $34.4 million of pretax charges related to land impairments and write-offs, which were a result of weak market conditions.
  • Management has increased its focus on managing balance-sheet leverage and inventory levels and projects positive cash flow for the fourth quarter.
  • Hovnanian carries a one-star Motley Fool CAPS rating (out of a potential five), like fellow homebuilders Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL), Centex (NASDAQ:CTX), and DH Horton (NYSE:DHI).

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Sales

$1,110.7

$1,574.1

(29.4%)

Net Profit

($30.7)

$101.0

N/A

EPS

($0.49)

$1.55

N/A

Diluted Shares

63.0

65.1

(3.2%)

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change*

Homebuilding Gross Margin 

13.6%

22.4%

(8.8)

Operating Margin

(3.7%)

10.3%

(14.1)

Net Margin

(2.8%)

6.4%

(9.2)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$39.6

$62.8

(36.9%)

Accounts Rec.

$82.9

$82.2

0.8%

Inventory

$4,237.5

$4,395.7

(3.6%)

Liabilities

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Accounts Payable*

$396.5

$509.2

(22.1%)

Long-Term Debt

$2,512.4

$2,099.6

19.7%

*Includes other liabilities.

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights
Data not available.

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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