ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our results of operations and our present financial condition. Our historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain additional information that should be referred to when reviewing this material. For purposes of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, references to “we,” “our,” “us” or similar terms refer to LGI Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Key Results
Key financial results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, were as follows:
•Home sales revenues increased 28.8% to $3.1 billion from $2.4 billion.
•Homes closed increased 11.8% to 10,442 homes from 9,339 homes.
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•Average sales price per home closed increased 15.2% to $292,104 from $253,553.
•Gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues increased to 26.8% from 25.5%.
•Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues increased to 28.2% from 27.4%.
•Net income before income taxes increased 47.6% to $542.8 million from $367.8 million.
•Net income increased 32.6% to $429.6 million from $323.9 million.
•EBITDA (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues increased to 19.1% from 17.3%.
•Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) as a percentage of home sales revenues increased to 19.4% from 17.3%.
•Active communities at the end of 2021 decreased to 101 from 116.
•Total owned and controlled lots increased 49.3% to 91,845 lots at December 31, 2021 from 61,504 lots at December 31, 2020.
For reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted gross margin, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see “—Non-GAAP Measures.”
COVID-19 Impact and Strategy
The outbreak of COVID-19 and its development into a global pandemic in March 2020 resulted in federal, state and local governments imposing varying degrees of restrictions on business and social activities to contain COVID-19, including business shutdowns and closures, travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and “stay-at-home” orders in certain of our markets. In March 2020, we were required to temporarily stop our construction of homes in certain markets in which we do business.Beginning in April 2020, we resumed construction of homes in those markets. Although we continued to build and sell homes in all of our markets, at that time the pace of sales declined and we experienced an increase in the rate of contract cancellations. Since May 2020, the pace of sales has rebounded and we have experienced a sustained increase in demand in our markets. While many of the restrictions and measures initially implemented during 2020 have since been softened or lifted in varying degrees in the United States, and the manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines during 2021 helped to initiate a recovery from the pandemic, recent increases in COVID-19 cases, the uncertainty regarding new variants of COVID-19 and the success of any vaccines in respect thereof may in the future cause a significant reduction in economic activity or prompt the re-imposition of certain restrictions and measures. Such measures have previously caused, and may in the future cause, us, our subcontractors, suppliers and other business counterparties to experience operational delays.
Demand for our homes is dependent on a variety of macroeconomic factors, such as employment levels, interest rates, changes in stock market valuations, consumer confidence, housing demand, availability of financing for home buyers, availability and prices of new homes compared to existing inventory, and demographic trends. These factors, and in particular consumer confidence, can be significantly adversely affected by a variety of factors beyond our control. The outbreak of COVID-19 caused the shutdown of large portions of our national economy during the first half of 2020. The spread of COVID-19 has also caused significant volatility in U.S. and international debt and equity markets, which can negatively impact consumer confidence.
In response to COVID-19, we continue to take steps to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, customers, subcontractors and suppliers, including expanded safety policies and practices based on Center for Disease Control guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
As a homebuilder and developer, we provide an important service to our customers. During the COVID-19 outbreak, our main focus beyond the health and safety mentioned above is to continue our efforts to sell homes and complete our homes under construction. In addition to the measures discussed above, beginning in March 2020, we implemented certain cash management policies, including eliminating business air travel, cancelling in-person group meetings, delaying or canceling land acquisitions, deferring new starts to manage our overall inventory, significantly reducing marketing expenditures and delaying major expenditures. In May 2020, we began to acquire land and release starts for home construction in addition to increasing marketing expenditures and later began reinstating some necessary travel. From time to time during the COVID-19 outbreak, we have had to close individual sales offices for a limited period of time, as a result of potential or actual exposure to COVID-19 by one or more of our employees. In September 2020, our employees working in our corporate headquarters returned to working under modified protocols to ensure health and safety at the office.
We cannot estimate with any degree of certainty the full impact of COVID-19 on our financial condition and future results of operations. We also cannot predict the full impact that the significant disruption and volatility currently being experienced in the markets will have on our business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations at this time, due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impacts of COVID-19 and related mitigation efforts will depend on future developments, including, but not limited to, the duration and geographic spread of COVID-19, the emergence of more infectious variants of
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COVID-19, the impact of government actions designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or the decrease in such actions and resulting increased business and social activities, the availability and timely distribution of, and willingness to accept, effective treatments and vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, actions taken by customers, subcontractors, suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability, and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume. For additional discussion regarding risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2021 and the beginning of 2022, significant supply chain disruptions extended construction cycles across our markets. While we have carefully managed our supply chain to limit impacts to our business and customers, we believe these global shortages are directly related to COVID-19 and will continue to impact our operations as long as the pandemic persists. Although, we expect COVID-19 to continue to influence our future results, we believe that the desire for single-family homes outside of densely populated urban areas combined with historically low mortgage rates and low availability of existing homes is driving an increase in demand for new homes.
Current Homebuilding and Inventory Environment
Despite the 10,442 home closings we delivered in 2021, representing an 11.8% increase over our 2020 home closings, numerous challenges, including impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, volatile cost increases for certain supplies, tight labor markets and a shortage of available finished lots, impacted operations and extended our cycle times. Our average home completion time was approximately 90 to 135 days during 2021 as compared to 80 to 105 days in 2020. In light of these factors, among others, during the second half of 2021, we elected to delay entering into sales contracts until vertical construction had begun and our costs for the home were readily determined.
In recent years, it has become more difficult to acquire finished lots. As a result, more of the land we have acquired is raw land that will require significant development before home construction can begin. This shift in our land portfolio has extended the time period between when the land is purchased and when construction of homes can begin.
During 2021, we experienced a decrease in our overall active community count driven by the accelerated pace of absorptions, the time lag between the closing of certain communities and opening of their replacements and the limited availability of finished lots in certain markets in 2021 as compared to 2020.
We expect that many of these challenges will persist in 2022.
Recent Developments
On February 11, 2022, the Board approved an increase in our stock repurchase program by an additional $200.0 million, increasing the available authorization under the program to purchase up to $306.6 million of shares of our common stock as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data and average home sales price)
Statement of Income Data:
Expenses:
Loss on extinguishment of debt 13,976 — 169
Other Financial and Operating Data:
(1)Gross margin is home sales revenues less cost of sales.
(2)Calculated as a percentage of home sales revenues.
(3)Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management as a supplemental measure in evaluating operating performance. We define adjusted gross margin as gross margin less capitalized interest and adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in the cost of sales. Our management believes this information is useful because it isolates the impact that capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments have on gross margin. However, because adjusted gross margin information excludes capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments, which have real economic effects and could impact our results, the utility of adjusted gross margin information as a measure of our operating performance may be limited. In addition, other companies may not calculate adjusted gross margin information in the same manner that we do. Accordingly, adjusted gross margin information should be considered only as a supplement to gross margin information as a measure of our performance. Please see “—Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin to gross margin, which is the GAAP financial measure that our management believes to be most directly comparable.
(4)EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used by management as supplemental measures in evaluating operating performance. We define EBITDA as net income before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization and (iv) capitalized interest charged to the cost of sales. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) capitalized interest charged to the cost of sales, (v) loss on extinguishment of debt, (vi) other income, net and (vii) adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting. Our management believes that the presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors regarding our
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results of operations because it assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide indicators of general economic performance that are not affected by fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, levels of depreciation or amortization and items considered to be unusual or non-recurring. Accordingly, our management believes that these measures are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Other companies may define these measures differently and, as a result, our measures of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to the measures of other companies. Although we use EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA as financial measures to assess the performance of our business, the use of these measures is limited because they do not include certain material costs, such as interest and taxes, necessary to operate our business. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income in accordance with GAAP as a measure of performance. Our presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our use of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is limited as an analytical tool, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Please see “—Non-GAAP Measures” for reconciliations of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, which is the GAAP financial measure that our management believes to be most directly comparable.
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Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020
Homes Sales. Our home sales revenues, home closings, average sales price per home closed (ASP), average community count, average monthly absorption rate and closing community count by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (revenues in thousands):
Home Sales Revenues. Home sales revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $3.1 billion, an increase of $682.2 million, or 28.8%, from $2.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in home sales revenues is primarily due to an 11.8% increase in homes closed and an increase in the average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. We closed 10,442 homes during 2021, as compared to 9,339 homes closed during 2020. The average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $292,104, an increase of $38,551, or 15.2%, from the average sales price per home closed of $253,553 for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase in the average sales price per home closed was primarily due to higher price points in certain markets, partially offset by additional wholesale home closings. The overall increase in home closings was primarily driven by strong demand in all reportable segments during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The overall decrease in average community count relates to timing associated with the opening, close out or transition between certain active communities during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
We increased our home sales revenues in our reportable segments other than our Central reportable segment by $279.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, representing a 1.6% increase in the number of homes closed in these reportable segments and increased average sales price per home closed on a consolidated basis during 2021 as compared to 2020.
Home sales revenues in our Central reportable segment increased by $402.4 million, or 47.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to an increase in the number of homes closed at a higher average sales price per home closed and increased average community count at a higher absorption rate in this reportable segment. Home sales revenues in our Southeast reportable segment increased by $35.5 million, or 6.4%, during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to higher average sales price per home closed and improved absorption rate associated with increased closings in certain markets in North Carolina and
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South Carolina, partially offset by lower community count at December 31, 2021 as compared to December 31, 2020. Home sales revenues in our Northwest reportable segment increased by $121.0 million, or 31.1%, during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to a 16.6% increase in the number of homes closed in this reportable segment, as a result of increased demand. Home sales revenues in our West reportable segment increased by $65.1 million, or 22.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to higher average sales price per home closed and improved absorption rate associated with increased demand in certain markets in this reportable segment, partially offset by lower average community count. Home sales revenues in our Florida reportable segment increased by $58.2 million, or 20.6%, largely due to an increase of 13.7% in the average sales price per home closed as a result of strong demand and complemented by increased average community count during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin (home sales revenues less cost of sales). Cost of sales increased for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $2.2 billion, an increase of $467.3 million, or 26.5%, from $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase is primarily due to an 11.8% increase in homes closed, higher construction costs and product mix during 2021 as compared to 2020. Gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $818.0 million, an increase of $214.9 million, or 35.6%, from $603.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues was 26.8% for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 25.5% for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase in gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to raising prices higher than increases in input costs.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $170.0 million, an increase of $21.6 million, or 14.6%, from $148.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Sales commissions increased to $115.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $89.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 partially due to a 28.8% increase in home sales revenues during 2021 as compared to 2020. Selling expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues were 5.6% and 6.3% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues was driven primarily by operating leverage obtained from the increase in home sales revenues and to a lesser extent lower advertising expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $100.3 million, an increase of $10.3 million, or 11.5%, from $90.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in the amount of general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased overhead. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues were 3.3% and 3.8% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues reflects operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Loss on extinguishment of debt. Loss on extinguishment of debt was $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to the redemption premium associated with the optional redemption of our 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”), as well as debt issuance costs and discount previously capitalized that were associated with our 2026 Senior Notes and debt issuance costs previously capitalized that were associated with our 2020 Credit Agreement (as defined herein). There was no loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Other Income. Other income, net of other expenses was $9.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, an increase of $5.9 million from $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in other income primarily reflects the gain realized from the sale of lots not directly associated with our core homebuilding operations.
Operating Income and Net Income before Income Taxes. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $547.7 million, an increase of $183.0 million, or 50.2%, from $364.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $542.8 million, an increase of $174.9 million, or 47.6%, from $367.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our reportable segments contributed the following amounts and percentages of net income before income taxes during 2021: Central - $242.6 million or 44.7%; Southeast - $105.6 million or 19.5%; Northwest - $115.0 million or 21.2%; West - $50.8 million or 9.4%; and Florida - $49.9 million or 9.2%. The increases in operating income and net income before income taxes are primarily attributed to operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues and higher average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Income Taxes. Income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $113.1 million, an increase of $69.2 million, or 157.4%, from income tax provision of $44.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in the amount of income tax provision is primarily due to the retroactive tax benefits relating to the federal energy efficient homes tax credits we recognized during 2020 and the 47.6% increase in net income before taxes, which resulted in an increase in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 to 20.8% from 11.9% for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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Net Income. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $429.6 million, an increase of $105.8 million, or 32.6%, from $323.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in net income is primarily attributed to operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues and higher average sales price per home closed, partially offset by tax benefits relating to the federal energy efficient homes tax credits we recognized for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019
Homes Sales. Our home sales revenues, home closings, average sales price per home closed (ASP), average community count, average monthly absorption rate and closing community count by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (revenues in thousands):
Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 reflect a significant rebound following the slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred during March and April 2020. Since May 2020, we have seen a continued and material increase in the demand for our homes driven by a renewed interest in the benefits of homeownership, low interest rates and an undersupply of new and existing homes available for sale. Despite high levels of demand, our closings in July and August 2020 were limited by our decision to pause our construction and land acquisition activities in March and April as we evaluated the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. Beginning in May 2020, we resumed construction activities and accelerated the pace of our new home starts.
Home Sales Revenues. Home sales revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $2.4 billion, an increase of $529.8 million, or 28.8%, from $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in home sales revenues is primarily due to a 21.4% increase in homes closed, a 16.8% increase in average community count and an increase in the average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. We closed 9,339 homes during 2020, as compared to 7,690 homes closed during 2019. The average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $253,553, an increase of $14,521, or 6.1%, from the average sales price per home closed of $239,032 for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase in the average sales price per home closed was primarily due to a favorable pricing environment, increased closings at higher price points in certain markets and changes in product mix. The overall increase in home closings was largely due to deepening our presence within certain markets in the Southeast and Florida reportable segments during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 and strong demand resulting in an increase in the number of homes closed on average on a per community basis.
We continued to diversify our operations outside of our Central reportable segment during 2020. We increased our home sales revenues in our reportable segments other than our Central reportable segment by $404.4 million during the year ended
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December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, representing a 29.6% increase in the number of homes closed in these reportable segments and increased average community count on a consolidated basis during 2020 as compared to 2019.
Home sales revenues in our Central reportable segment increased by $125.4 million, or 17.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to an increase in the average sales price per home closed and increased community count at a higher absorption rate. Home sales revenues in our Southeast reportable segment increased by $211.4 million, or 60.8%, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to an increase in community count associated with deepening our presence within existing markets and to a lesser extent our geographic expansion into certain markets in North Carolina and South Carolina at December 31, 2020 as compared to December 31, 2019. Home sales revenues in our Northwest reportable segment increased by $85.2 million, or 28.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to a 20.9% increase in the number of homes closed in this reportable segment, as a result of increased demand slightly offset by a lower average community count at a higher absorption rate. Home sales revenues in our West reportable segment increased by $14.9 million, or 5.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to an increase of 6.8% in the average sales price per home closed in this reportable segment offset by lower home closings, largely due to close out of or transition between, and to a lesser extent available inventory in, certain active communities. Home sales revenues in our Florida reportable segment increased by $92.8 million, or 48.9%, primarily due to an increased community count with an increase of 7.6% in the average sales price per home closed during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin (home sales revenues less cost of sales). Cost of sales increased for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $1.8 billion, an increase of $363.2 million, or 25.9%, from $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase is primarily due to a 21.4% increase in homes closed, as well as higher vertical and lot costs recognized as a percentage of revenues during 2020 as compared to 2019. Gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $603.1 million, an increase of $166.6 million, or 38.2%, from $436.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues was 25.5% for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 23.7% for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase in gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 is primarily due to an increase in homes closed with a higher average sales price per home closed, which was primarily driven by a favorable pricing environment, operating leverage obtained and product mix, partially offset by an increase in wholesale home closings as a percentage of total home closings.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $148.4 million, an increase of $16.8 million, or 12.8%, from $131.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Sales commissions increased to $89.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $68.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 largely due to a 28.8% increase in home sales revenues during 2020 as compared to 2019. Selling expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues were 6.3% and 7.2% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues was driven primarily by cost saving measures implemented and the increased demand for our homes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $90.0 million, an increase of $12.6 million, or 16.3%, from $77.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in the amount of general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased personnel and other costs associated with an increase of active communities during 2020 as compared to 2019. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues were 3.8% and 4.2% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of home sales revenues reflects operating leverage realized from the increase in home sales revenues and cost saving measures implemented as a result of COVID-19 during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Operating Income and Net Income before Income Taxes. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $364.7 million, an increase of $137.2 million, or 60.3%, from $227.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $367.8 million, an increase of $136.0 million, or 58.7%, from $231.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our reportable segments contributed the following amounts and percentages of net income before income taxes during 2020: Central - $154.8 million or 42.1%; Southeast - $79.4 million or 21.6%; Northwest - $71.3 million or 19.4%; West - $35.8 million or 9.7%; and Florida - $32.6 million or 8.8%. The increases in operating income and net income before income taxes are primarily attributed to higher gross margins during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Income Taxes. Income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $44.0 million, a decrease of $9.3 million, or 17.4%, from income tax provision of $53.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in the amount of income tax provision is primarily due to the change in our effective tax rate to 11.9% from 23.0% effective tax provision as a
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result of the tax benefits relating to the federal energy efficient homes tax credits we recognized during the year ended December 31, 2020, partially offset by the 58.7% increase in net income before taxes. Federal energy efficient homes tax credits recognized during the year ended December 31, 2020 totaled $41.2 million, of which $29.7 million related to homes closed in prior open tax years. We believe this tax credit will continue, at a lesser extent, to impact our results of operations during 2021.
Net Income. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $323.9 million, an increase of $145.3 million, or 81.3%, from $178.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in net income is primarily attributed to overall stronger gross margins driven by the 28.8% increase in home sales revenues, 6.1% higher average sales price per home closed and the $41.2 million of tax benefits relating to the federal energy efficient homes tax credits recognized during 2020 as compared to 2019.
Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), we have provided information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K relating to adjusted gross margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share.
Adjusted Gross Margin
Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management as a supplemental measure in evaluating operating performance. We define adjusted gross margin as gross margin less capitalized interest and adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in the cost of sales. Our management believes this information is useful because it isolates the impact that capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments have on gross margin. However, because adjusted gross margin information excludes capitalized interest and purchase accounting adjustments, which have real economic effects and could impact our results, the utility of adjusted gross margin information as a measure of our operating performance may be limited. In addition, other companies may not calculate adjusted gross margin information in the same manner that we do. Accordingly, adjusted gross margin information should be considered only as a supplement to gross margin information as a measure of our performance.
The following table reconciles adjusted gross margin to gross margin, which is the GAAP financial measure that our management believes to be most directly comparable (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
(1)Adjustments result from the application of purchase accounting for acquisitions and represent the amount of the fair value step-up adjustments included in cost of sales for real estate inventory sold after the acquisition dates.
(2)Calculated as a percentage of home sales revenues.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used by management as supplemental measures in evaluating operating performance. We define EBITDA as net income before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization and (iv) capitalized interest charged to the cost of sales. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income before (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) capitalized interest charged to the cost of sales, (v) loss on extinguishment of debt, (vi) other income, net and (vii) adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in cost of sales. Our management believes that the presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because it assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide indicators of general economic performance that are not affected by fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates,
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levels of depreciation or amortization and items considered to be unusual or non-recurring. Accordingly, our management believes that these measures are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Other companies may define these measures differently and, as a result, our measures of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to the measures of other companies. Although we use EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA as financial measures to assess the performance of our business, the use of these measures is limited because they do not include certain material costs, such as interest and taxes, necessary to operate our business. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income in accordance with GAAP as a measure of performance. Our presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our use of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is limited as an analytical tool, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
(i) they do not reflect every cash expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments, including for purchase of land;
(ii) they do not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
(iii) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced or require improvements in the future, and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements or improvements;
(iv) they are not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows;
(v) they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and
(vi) other companies in our industry may calculate them differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, our EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations. We compensate for these limitations by using our EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA along with other comparative tools, together with GAAP measures, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance. These GAAP measures include operating income, net income and cash flow data. We have significant uses of cash flows, including capital expenditures, interest payments and other non-recurring charges, which are not reflected in our EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not intended as alternatives to net income as indicators of our operating performance, as alternatives to any other measure of performance in conformity with GAAP or as alternatives to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. You should therefore not place undue reliance on our EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA calculated using these measures.
The following table reconciles EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, which is the GAAP measure that our management believes to be most directly comparable (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Loss on extinguishment of debt 13,976 — 169
(1)Adjustments result from the application of purchase accounting for acquisitions and represent the amount of the fair value step-up adjustments included in cost of sales for real estate inventory sold after the acquisition dates.
(2)Calculated as a percentage of home sales revenues.
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Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures used by management as supplemental measures in evaluating operating performance. We define adjusted net income as net income less the retroactive federal energy efficient homes tax credits. We define adjusted earnings per share as adjusted net income divided by weighted average shares outstanding. Our management believes that the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share provides useful information to investors because such measures isolate the impact that material retroactive tax adjustments have on net income and earnings per share. However, because adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share information excludes the retroactive federal energy efficient homes tax credits, which have real economic effects and could impact our results, the utility of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share as measures of our operating performance may be limited. In addition, other companies may not calculate adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share in the same manner that we do. Accordingly, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share information should be considered only as a supplement to net income and earnings per share information as measures of our performance.
The following table reconciles adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share to net income and earnings per share, respectively, which are the GAAP measures that our management believes to be most directly comparable (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Numerator (in thousands):
Retroactive federal energy efficient homes tax credits — 29,703 —
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible Notes - treasury stock method — — 1,966,639
Adjusted basic earnings per share $ 17.46 $ 11.70 $ 7.70
Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 17.25 $ 11.59 $ 7.02
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Backlog
We sell our homes under standard purchase contracts, which generally require a homebuyer to pay a deposit at the time of signing the purchase contract. The amount of the required deposit is minimal (typically $1,000 to $5,000). We permit our retail homebuyers to cancel the purchase contract and obtain a refund of their deposit in the event mortgage financing cannot be obtained within a certain period of time, as specified in their purchase contract. Typically, our retail homebuyers provide documentation regarding their ability to obtain mortgage financing within 14 days after the purchase contract is signed. If we determine that the homebuyer is not qualified to obtain mortgage financing or is not otherwise financially able to purchase the home, we will terminate the purchase contract. If a purchase contract has not been cancelled or terminated within 14 days after the purchase contract has been signed, then the homebuyer has met the preliminary criteria to obtain mortgage financing. Only purchase contracts that are signed by homebuyers who have met the preliminary criteria to obtain mortgage financing are included in new (gross) orders.
Our “backlog” consists of homes that are under a purchase contract that has been signed by homebuyers who have met the preliminary criteria to obtain mortgage financing but have not yet closed and wholesale contracts for which vertical construction is generally set to occur within the next six to twelve months. Since our business model is generally based on building move-in ready homes before a purchase contract is signed, the majority of our homes in backlog are currently under construction or complete. Ending backlog represents the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net orders (new orders for homes less cancellations) generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period. Our backlog at any given time will be affected by cancellations, the number of our active communities and the timing of home closings. Homes in backlog are generally closed within one to two months, although home closings have been, and may continue to be, delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we may experience cancellations of purchase contracts at any time prior to closing. It is important to note that net orders, backlog and cancellation metrics are operational, rather than accounting data, and should be used only as a general gauge to evaluate performance. Backlog may be impacted by customer cancellations for various reasons that are beyond our control, and in light of our minimal required deposit, there is little negative impact to the potential homebuyer from the cancellation of the purchase contract.
Our net orders decreased in 2021 primarily due to the availability of finished lots brought on by sustained demand and the rapid pace of fluctuating rising costs for certain supplies and labor, experienced in 2021. During the second half of 2021, due to limited supply, we elected to not enter into sales contracts until construction on the home had begun and our costs for the home were readily determined. Similarly, wholesale orders decreased 57.8% to 481 units from 1,139 units for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
As of the dates set forth below, our net orders, cancellation rate, and ending backlog homes and value were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Backlog Data Year Ended December 31,
(1)Net orders are new (gross) orders for the purchase of homes during the period, less cancellations of existing purchase contracts during the period.
(2)Cancellation rate for a period is the total number of purchase contracts cancelled during the period divided by the total new (gross) orders for the purchase of homes during the period.
(3)Ending backlog consists of retail homes at the end of the period that are under a purchase contract that has been signed by homebuyers who have met our preliminary financing criteria but have not yet closed and wholesale contracts for which vertical construction is generally set to occur within the next six to twelve months. Ending backlog is valued at the contract amount.
(4)As of December 31, 2021, we had 481 units related to bulk sales agreements associated with our wholesale business.
(5)As of December 31, 2020, we had 1,139 units related to bulk sales agreements associated with our wholesale business.
(6)As of December 31, 2019, we had 481 units related to bulk sales agreements associated with our wholesale business, of which 117 units and values are not included in the table above.
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Land Acquisition Policies and Development
See discussion included in “Business—Land Acquisition Policies and Development.”
Homes in Inventory
See discussion included in “Business—Homes in Inventory.”
Raw Materials and Labor
See discussion included in “Business—Raw Materials and Labor.”
Seasonality
In all of our reportable segments, we have historically experienced similar variability in our results of operations and in capital requirements from quarter to quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding industry. We generally close more homes in our second, third and fourth quarters. Thus, our revenues may fluctuate on a quarterly basis and we may have higher capital requirements in our second, third and fourth quarters in order to maintain our inventory levels. Our revenues and capital requirements are generally similar across our second, third and fourth quarters.
As a result of seasonal activity, our quarterly results of operations and financial position at the end of a particular quarter, especially the first quarter, are not necessarily representative of the results we expect at year end. We expect this seasonal pattern to continue in the long term.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
As of December 31, 2021, we had $50.5 million of cash and cash equivalents. Cash flows for each of our active communities depend on the status of the development cycle and can differ substantially from reported earnings.
Our principal uses of capital are operating expenses, land and lot purchases, lot development, home construction, interest costs on our indebtedness and the payment of various liabilities. In addition, we may purchase land, lots, homes under construction or other assets as part of an acquisition and repurchase shares of our common stock. Early stages of development or expansion require significant cash outlays for land acquisitions, land development, plats, vertical development, construction of information centers, general landscaping and other amenities. Because these costs are a component of our inventory and are not recognized in our statement of operations until a home closes, we incur significant cash outflows prior to recognition of home sales revenues. In the later stages of an active community, cash inflows may exceed home sales revenues reported for financial statement purposes, as the costs associated with home and land construction were previously incurred.
Short-term Liquidity and Capital Resources
We generally rely on our ability to finance our operations by generating operating cash flows and borrowing under the Credit Agreement to adequately fund our short-term working capital obligations and to purchase land and other assets, develop lots and homes and repurchase shares of our common stock. As needed, we will consider accessing the debt and equity capital markets as part of our ongoing financing strategy. We also rely on our ability to obtain performance, payment and completion surety bonds as well as letters of credit to finance our projects.
While the COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigation efforts have created significant uncertainty as to general economic and housing market conditions, as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that we will be able to fund our current and foreseeable liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months with our cash on hand, cash generated from operations and cash expected to be available from the Credit Agreement or through accessing debt or equity capital, as needed. However, with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, our ability to engage in the transactions described above may be constrained by volatile or tight economic, capital, credit and financial market conditions, as well as moderated investor or lender interest or capacity and our liquidity, leverage and net worth, and we can provide no assurance as to successfully completing, the costs of, or the operational limitations arising from any one or series of such transactions.
Long-term Liquidity and Capital Resources
We believe that our long-term principal uses of liquidity and capital resources will be inventory related purchases concerning land, lot development, other capital expenditures, and principal and interest payments on our debt obligations maturing in 2025 and 2029. We believe that we will be able to fund our long-term liquidity needs with cash generated from operations and cash expected to be available to borrow under the Credit Agreement or through accessing debt or equity capital, as needed, although no assurance can be provided that such additional debt or equity capital will be available when needed or on terms that we find attractive. To the extent these sources of capital are insufficient to meet our needs, we may also conduct additional public or private offerings of our securities, refinance our indebtedness, or dispose of certain assets to fund our operating activities and capital needs.
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Material Cash Requirements
The following is a summary of our material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations as of December 31, 2021 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods.
Payments due by period (in thousands)
Total < 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 yrs More than 5 years
Borrowings:
(a)Represents borrowings under the Credit Agreement, which matures on April 28, 2025. Interest calculated using the effective rate as of December 31, 2021. See Note 7 “Notes Payable” to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our long-term debt.
(b)Represents $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.000% 2029 Senior Notes. The 2029 Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2029. See Note 7 “Notes Payable” to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our long-term debt.
(c)All of the outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement are at variable rates based on LIBOR, or subject to an interest rate floor. The interest rate for our variable rate indebtedness as of December 31, 2021 was LIBOR plus 1.45%. Fees under the Credit Agreement are approximately $0.1 million per year. Interest on the 2029 Senior Notes accrues at a rate of 4.000% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year.
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into land purchase contracts in order to procure land and lots for the construction of our homes. We are subject to customary obligations associated with entering into contracts for the purchase of land and improved lots. These contracts typically require cash deposits and the purchase of properties under these contracts is generally contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by the sellers, which may include obtaining applicable property and development entitlements or the completion of development activities and the delivery of finished lots. We also utilize contracts with land sellers as a method of acquiring lots and land in staged takedowns, which helps us manage the financial and market risk associated with land holdings and minimize the use of funds from our corporate financing sources. Such contracts generally require a non-refundable deposit for the right to acquire land or lots over a specified period of time at pre-determined prices. We generally have the right at our discretion to terminate our obligations under purchase contracts during the initial feasibility period and receive a refund of our deposit, or we may terminate the contracts after the end of the feasibility period by forfeiting our cash deposit with no further financial obligations to the land seller. In addition, our deposit may also be refundable if the land seller does not satisfy all conditions precedent in the respective contract. As of December 31, 2021, we had $37.5 million of cash deposits pertaining to land purchase contracts for 36,978 lots with an aggregate purchase price of $921.3 million. Approximately $19.3 million of the cash deposits as of December 31, 2021 are secured by third-party guarantees or indemnity mortgages on the related property.
Our utilization of land purchase contracts is dependent on, among other things, the availability of land sellers willing to enter into contracts at acceptable terms, which may include option takedown arrangements, the availability of capital to financial intermediaries to finance the development of optioned lots, general housing conditions, and local market dynamics. Land purchase contracts may be more difficult to procure from land sellers in strong housing markets and are more prevalent in certain markets.
Revolving Credit Facility
On April 28, 2021, we entered into that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with several financial institutions, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”), which amends and restates that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2019 (as amended, the “2020 Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement (a) increases the commitments to $850.0 million, (b) allows the Company to increase the commitments by up to $100.0 million, subject to terms and conditions, (c) extends the maturity to April 28, 2025 for all lenders, (d) increases the sublimit for letters of credit to $50.0 million, (e) adds unrestricted cash in excess of $10.0 million as a component of the borrowing base and removes certain exclusions from the borrowing base, (f) reduces the applicable margin for LIBOR loans to a range of 1.45% to 2.10%, based on our leverage ratio, (g) reduces the LIBOR floor to 0.50%, (h) increases the minimum tangible net worth requirement to $850.0 million plus 75% of the net proceeds of equity issuances after December 31, 2020 and 50% of consolidated earnings for each quarter ending after March 31, 2021 and (i) provides for a
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“hardwired” transition from LIBOR loan pricing that is intended to be economically neutral to the Company; otherwise, the Credit Agreement is on substantially the same terms as the 2020 Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement matures on April 28, 2025. Before each anniversary of the Credit Agreement, we may request a one-year extension of its maturity date. The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by each of our subsidiaries that have gross assets of at least $0.5 million. The borrowings and letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement, together with the outstanding principal balance of our 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Senior Notes”), may not exceed the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2021, the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement was $1.1 billion, of which borrowings, including the 2029 Senior Notes, of $817.4 million were outstanding, $9.1 million of letters of credit were outstanding and $321.3 million was available to borrow under the Credit Agreement.
Interest is paid monthly on borrowings at LIBOR plus 1.45%. The Credit Agreement applicable margin for LIBOR loans ranges from 1.45% to 2.10% based on our leverage ratio. At December 31, 2021, LIBOR was 0.10%; however, the Credit Agreement has a 0.50% LIBOR floor.
The Credit Agreement requires us to maintain (i) a tangible net worth of not less than $850.0 million plus 75% of the net proceeds of all equity issuances after December 31, 2020 plus 50.0% of the amount of our positive net income in each fiscal quarter ending after March 31, 2021, (ii) a leverage ratio of not greater than 60.0%, (iii) liquidity of at least $50.0 million and (iv) a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense for the most recent four quarters of at least 1.75 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement contains various covenants that, among other restrictions, limit the amount of our additional debt and our ability to make certain investments. At December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement.
In July 2017, the FCA, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. On November 30, 2020, the FCA and ICE Benchmark Administration, which administers LIBOR quotations, announced a consultation on the extension of the quotation of certain LIBOR tenors to June 30, 2023 for legacy contracts only. The Credit Agreement, which, at the present time, has a term that extends to April 28, 2025, provides for a mechanism to amend the Credit Agreement to reflect the establishment of an alternate rate of interest upon the occurrence of certain events related to the phase-out of any applicable interest rate. However, we have not yet pursued any technical amendment or other contractual alternative to address this matter. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the eventual replacement of the LIBOR interest rate on the Credit Agreement.
Senior Notes Offerings
On June 28, 2021, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes in an offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. Interest on the 2029 Senior Notes accrues at a rate of 4.000% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The 2029 Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2029. Terms of the 2029 Senior Notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of July 6, 2018, and Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of June 28, 2021, as may be supplemented from time to time, among us, our subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under the Credit Agreement and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
On July 6, 2018, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Notes in an offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. On July 15, 2021, we redeemed all of the outstanding 2026 Senior Notes, which resulted in the principal payment of $300.0 million and a redemption premium of $10.3 million. Additionally, we expensed $3.0 million of deferred financing costs and discounts that were being previously amortized in association with the 2026 Senior Notes. We financed the redemption of the 2026 Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the 2029 Senior Notes, together with cash on hand.
Convertible Notes
On November 15, 2019, our 4.25% Convertible Notes due 2019 (the “Convertible Notes”) matured, which resulted in the principal payment of $70.0 million and the issuance of 2,381,751 shares of our common stock for the premium associated with the Convertible Notes.
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Letters of Credit, Surety Bonds and Financial Guarantees
We are often required to provide letters of credit and surety bonds to secure our performance under construction contracts, development agreements and other arrangements. The amount of such obligations outstanding at any time varies in accordance with our pending development activities. In the event any such bonds or letters of credit are drawn upon, we would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of such bonds or letters of credit.
Under these letters of credit, surety bonds and financial guarantees, we are committed to perform certain development and construction activities and provide certain guarantees in the normal course of business. Outstanding letters of credit, surety bonds and financial guarantees under these arrangements, totaled $206.8 million as of December 31, 2021. Although significant development and construction activities have been completed related to the improvements at these sites, the letters of credit and surety bonds are not generally released until all development and construction activities are completed. We do not believe that it is probable that any outstanding letters of credit, surety bonds or financial guarantees as of December 31, 2021 will be drawn upon.
Stock Repurchase Program
In November 2018, we announced that the Board authorized a stock repurchase program, pursuant to which we may purchase up to $50.0 million of shares of our common stock through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise in accordance with applicable laws. In October 2020, the Board approved an increase in our stock repurchase program by an additional $300.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we repurchased 1,288,563 shares of our common stock for $193.8 million to be held as treasury stock. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we repurchased 718,993 shares of our common stock for $48.1 million to be held as treasury stock. A total of 2,046,556 shares of our common stock has been repurchased since our stock repurchase program commenced. As of December 31, 2021, we may purchase up to $106.6 million of shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. On February 11, 2022, the Board approved an increase in our stock repurchase program by an additional $200.0 million, increasing the available authorization under the program to purchase up to $306.6 million of shares of our common stock as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The timing, amount and other terms and conditions of any repurchases of shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program will be determined by our management at its discretion based on a variety of factors, including the market price of our common stock, corporate considerations, general market and economic conditions and legal requirements. Our stock repurchase program may be modified, discontinued or suspended at any time.
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $21.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. The primary drivers of operating cash flows are typically cash earnings and changes in inventory levels, including land acquisition and development. Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily driven by net income of $429.6 million, and included cash outflows from the $463.6 million increase in the net change in real estate inventory, which was primarily related to our homes under construction and land acquisitions and development level of activity and a $58.0 million decrease in the net change in accounts receivable.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $202.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary drivers of operating cash flows are typically cash earnings and changes in inventory levels, including land acquisition and development. Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily driven by net income of $323.9 million, offset by cash outflows from the $70.2 million increase in the net change in real estate inventory, which was primarily related to our homes under construction and land acquisitions and development level of activity and a $59.5 million increase in the net change in accounts receivable.
Net cash used in operating activities was $41.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The primary drivers of operating cash flows are typically cash earnings and changes in inventory levels, including land acquisition and development. Net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily driven by net income of $178.6 million, and included cash outlays for the $266.7 million increase in the net change in real estate inventory, which was primarily related to our homes under construction and land acquisitions and development level of activity, offset by changes in non-inventory balances of $46.1 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $70.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the business acquisitions of certain real estate assets owned by KenRoe Inc. and its affiliated entities, including R Home LLC and Paxmar Land Development, and the real estate assets of Buffington Homebuilding Group, Ltd. in 2021.
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Net cash used in investing activities was $5.6 million and $1.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which reflects the purchase of property and equipment and investment in unconsolidated entity.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $63.3 million, primarily driven by borrowings of $1.2 billion under the Credit Agreement, offset by $969.0 million of payments associated with the 2026 Senior Notes and under the 2020 Credit Agreement and the Credit Agreement and by the $193.8 million payment for shares of our common stock repurchased under our stock repurchase program to be held as treasury stock.
Net cash used by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $198.9 million, primarily driven by $530.0 million of payments under the 2020 Credit Agreement and by the $48.1 million payment for shares of our common stock repurchased under our stock repurchase program to be held as treasury stock, offset by borrowings of $377.1 million under the 2020 Credit Agreement.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $35.4 million, primarily driven by net borrowings of $105.5 million under the 2020 Credit Agreement, offset by the principal payment of $70.0 million on the Convertible Notes upon their maturity.
Inflation
Our business can be adversely impacted by inflation, primarily from higher land, financing, labor, material, and construction costs. In addition, inflation can lead to higher mortgage rates, which can significantly affect the affordability of mortgage financing to homebuyers. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we have experienced a significant increase in land, labor, materials and construction costs, which we currently expect to continue throughout 2022. Generally, we have been able to increase the sales prices of our homes to absorb such increased costs. See “Industry and Economic Risks—Inflation could adversely affect our business and financial results” in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, we make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. We base our estimates, judgments and assumptions on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We evaluate our estimates, judgments and assumptions on a regular basis. We also discuss our critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board. Discussed below are accounting policies that we believe are critical because of the significance of the activity to which they relate or because they require the use of significant judgment in their application.
Home Sales Revenue Recognition
We recognize home sales revenue upon the transfer of promised goods to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled by applying the following five-step process:
•Identify the contract(s) with a customer
•Identify the performance obligations
•Determine the transaction price
•Allocate the transaction price
•Recognize revenue when the performance obligations are met
Our contracts with customers include a single performance obligation to transfer a completed home to the customer. We generally determine selling price per home on the expected cost plus margin. Our contracts contain no significant financing terms as customers who finance do so through a third party. Performance obligations are satisfied at a moment in time when the home is complete and control of the asset is transferred to the customer at closing. Home sales proceeds are generally received from the title company within a few business days after closing. Little to no estimation is involved in recognizing such revenues.
Real Estate Inventory and Cost of Home Sales
Inventory consists of land, land under development, finished lots, information centers, homes in progress and completed homes. Inventory is stated at cost unless the carrying amount is determined not to be recoverable, in which case inventory is written down to fair value.
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Pre-acquisition costs, land, development and other project costs, including interest and property taxes, incurred during development and home construction, and net of expected reimbursements of development costs, are capitalized to real estate inventory. Pre-acquisition costs, land development and other common costs that benefit the entire community, including field construction supervision and related direct overhead, are allocated to individual lots or homes, as appropriate, on a pro rata basis which we believe approximates the costs that would be determined using an allocation method based on relative sales values since the individual lots or homes within a community are similar in value.
We use judgements and assumptions to recognize the appropriate amount of cost of sales by estimating the total land development costs. We use estimates which are affected by changes to the land development project’s schedule; the cost of labor, materials, and subcontractors; and potential cost reimbursements from various municipalities. Changes to estimated total remaining development costs subsequent to initial home closings in a community are allocated to the remaining unsold homes in the community on a prospective basis. Home construction costs and related carrying charges are allocated to the cost of individual homes using the specific identification method and are capitalized as they are incurred. Capitalized interest, property taxes, and other carrying costs are generally capitalized to real estate inventory from the point development begins to the point construction is completed. Costs associated with homes closed are charged to cost of sales simultaneously with revenue recognition. We believe that our policies provide for reasonably dependable estimates to be used in the calculation and reporting of land development and home construction costs.
Impairment of Real Estate Inventories
Real estate inventory is evaluated for indicators of impairment by each community during each reporting period. In conducting our review for indicators of impairment on a community level, we evaluate, among other things, the margins on homes that have been closed, communities with slow moving inventory, projected margins on future home sales over the life of the community, and the estimated fair value of the land. We pay particular attention to communities in which inventory is moving at a slower than anticipated absorption pace and communities whose average sales prices and/or margins are trending downward and are anticipated to continue to trend downward. Due largely to the relatively short development and construction periods for our communities and our growth, we have experienced limited circumstances during 2021, 2020 or 2019 that are indicators of impairment. Our future sales and margins may be impacted by our inability to realize continued growth, increased cost associated with holding and developing land, local economic factors, pressure on home sales prices, increased carrying costs, and insufficient access to labor and materials at reasonable costs. For individual communities with indicators of impairment, we perform additional analysis to estimate the community’s undiscounted future cash flows. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are greater than the carrying value of the asset, no impairment adjustment is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value, the asset is impaired and is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of communities using a discounted cash flow model; changes to the expected cash flows may lead to changes in the outcome of our impairment analysis.
The life cycle of a community generally ranges from two to five years, commencing with the acquisition of land, continuing through the land development phase and concluding with the construction and sale of homes. A constructed home is used as the community information center during the life of the community and then sold. Actual individual community lives will vary based on the size of the community, the sales absorption rate and whether the property was purchased as raw land or finished lots. We are currently experiencing a shift towards more lots being acquired as raw land as compared to finished lots. As a result of this shift within our inventory and the time to develop raw land to finished lots, a longer life cycle of a community is expected, to range from seven to nine years. Sustained changes in the life cycle of a community, which is an indicator used for impairment, may negatively impact our results of operations.
Impairment of Land and Land Under Development
For raw land, land under development and completed lots that our management anticipates will be utilized for future homebuilding activities or to be sold as finished lots to individuals, the recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets based on home or lot sales, consistent with the evaluation of operating communities discussed above. As of December 31, 2021, we had not identified any raw land, land under development or completed lots that management intends to market for sale in bulk to a third-party.
Pre-acquisition Costs and Controlled Lots Not Owned
We enter into land purchase agreements in the ordinary course of business in order to secure land for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these agreements, we typically provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices. We do not have title to the property and our obligations with respect to the contracts are generally limited to the forfeiture of the related nonrefundable cash deposits.
To the extent that any deposits are nonrefundable and the associated land acquisition process is terminated or no longer determined probable, the deposit and any related pre-acquisition costs (e.g. due diligence costs) are charged to general and
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administrative expense. Assessments are made on each agreement based on criteria including, but not limited to, market absorption, historical and current average sales price per home, timing of purchase and size of land parcel. We terminated $2.4 million, $2.1 million and $1.5 million of nonrefundable pre-acquisition costs or controlled lots deposits for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We regularly review the likelihood of the acquisition of contracted lots in conjunction with our periodic real estate impairment analysis.
Warranty Reserves
We typically provide homebuyers with a one-year warranty on the house and a ten-year limited warranty for major defects in structural elements. Estimated future direct warranty costs are assessed monthly on a consistent basis as part of our policy and accrued and charged to cost of sales in connection with our home sales.
The primary assumption to record amounts accrued for our warranty liability is based upon a trailing 120 month period of historical warranty cost experience on a per house basis established based on (i) trends in historical warranty payment levels, (ii) the historical range of amounts paid per house, (iii) any warranty expenditures not considered to be normal and recurring, and is adjusted as appropriate to reflect qualitative risks associated with the types of homes built, the geographic areas in which they are built, and potential impacts of our expansion. Our analysis also considers improvements in quality control and construction techniques expected to impact future warranty expenditures and the expertise of our personnel. Our warranty reserves are reviewed quarterly to assess the reasonableness and adequacy and we make adjustments to the balance of the pre-existing reserves, as needed, to reflect changes in trends and historical data as information becomes available. We increased our warranty reserve by $2.5 million, $1.9 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Business Acquisitions
We account for certain homebuilding asset purchases as business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting and allocate the purchase price of an acquired business to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the acquisition date with excess recorded as goodwill. The acquisition method of accounting requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of the acquired assets. We determine the estimated fair values of the real estate inventory with the assistance of appraisals performed by independent third-party specialists and estimates by management. Assumptions utilized in our estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired may include market comparisons, gross margin comparisons, future development costs and the timing of the completion of development activities, absorption rates, and mix of products sold in each community.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for both non-performance and performance based compensation. Our compensation costs for non-performance-based restricted stock awards are measured using the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Compensation costs for performance-based restricted stock awards also contain a market condition. These costs are measured using the derived grant date fair value, based on a third party valuation analysis and an assessment of probability of attainment of the performance target based on assumptions that factor in historical data and volatility. Once the performance target outcome is determined to be probable, the cumulative expense is adjusted, as needed, based on estimates to recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the award’s requisite service period.
Taxes
We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities, changes in tax rate are recognized in the year of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Our ability to realize deferred tax assets is assessed throughout the year and a valuation allowance is established, if required. We compute our provision for income taxes based on the statutory tax rates. Judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions and determining our annual tax provision. We recognize the impact of a tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. We recognize potential interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense, as applicable.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our operations are interest rate sensitive. As overall housing demand is adversely affected by increases in interest rates, a significant increase in mortgage interest rates may negatively affect the ability of homebuyers to secure adequate financing. Higher interest rates could adversely affect our revenues, gross margin, and net income.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Interest Rate Risk
We utilize both fixed-rate debt ($300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes and certain inventory related obligations) and variable-rate debt (our $850.0 million Credit Agreement) as part of financing our operations. We do not have the obligation to prepay the 2029 Senior Notes or our fixed-rate inventory related obligations prior to maturity, and, as a result, interest rate risk and changes in fair market value should not have a significant impact on our fixed-rate debt.
We are exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on our outstanding variable rate indebtedness. In November 2020, we entered into a three-year interest rate cap of LIBOR of 0.70% to hedge a portion of our Credit Agreement risk exposure and future variable cash flows associated with LIBOR interest rates. We have not entered into and currently do not hold derivatives for trading or speculative purposes, but we may do so in the future. Many of the statements contained in this section are forward looking and should be read in conjunction with our disclosures under the heading “Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 1A. Risk Factors.
As of December 31, 2021, we had $517.4 million of variable rate indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement. All of the outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement are at variable rates based on LIBOR. The interest rate for our variable rate indebtedness as of December 31, 2021 was LIBOR plus 1.45%. At December 31, 2021, LIBOR was 0.10%, subject to the 0.50% LIBOR floor as included in the Credit Agreement. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the average
interest rate above the LIBOR floor on our variable rate indebtedness would increase our annual interest cost by approximately $5.2 million.
Based on the current interest rate management policies we have in place with respect to our outstanding indebtedness, we do not believe that the future interest rate risks related to our existing indebtedness will have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of LGI Homes, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of LGI Homes, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework), and our report dated February 15, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
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Land development costs
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.
Houston, Texas
February 15, 2022
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LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
For the Year Ended December 31,
Loss on extinguishment of debt 13,976 — 169
Earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding:
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
Shares Amount
Issuance of shares in settlement of Convertible Notes 2,381,751 24 (24) — — —
Restricted stock units granted for accrued annual bonuses — — 217 — — 217
Compensation expense for equity awards — — 7,539 — — 7,539
Restricted stock units granted for accrued annual bonuses — — 222 — — 222
Compensation expense for equity awards — — 13,517 — — 13,517
Restricted stock units granted for accrued annual bonuses — — 272 — — 272
Compensation expense for equity awards — — 13,595 — — 13,595
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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LGI HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
For the Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Loss on extinguishment of debt 13,976 — 169
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets (717) (4) 37
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment (1,729) (2,692) (734)
Investment in unconsolidated entities (1,692) (2,956) (1,059)
Payment for business acquisitions (66,970) — —
Cash flows from financing activities:
Redemption premium (10,314) — —
Proceeds from sale of stock, net of offering expenses 7,114 4,259 2,886
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 14,572 (2,403) (8,279)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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LGI HOMES, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Organization and Description of the Business
LGI Homes, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, “we,” “us,” or “our”), is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. We engage in the development of communities and the design, construction and sale of new homes in markets in Texas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Tennessee, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Alabama, California, Oregon, Nevada, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Acquisitions
On May 6, 2021, we acquired certain real estate assets owned by KenRoe Inc. and its affiliated entities, including R Home LLC and Paxmar Land Development (collectively, “KenRoe”), and assumed certain related liabilities. As a result of the KenRoe acquisition, we expanded our Minnesota presence in the Minneapolis market. We acquired approximately 100 homes under construction and more than 3,000 owned and controlled lots. The total purchase price for the KenRoe assets, primarily consisting of inventory, was approximately $27.3 million in cash, subject to certain potential post-closing adjustments. The acquisition is accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Our purchase accounting for KenRoe as of December 31, 2021 is preliminary and we expect to complete the working capital adjustment and valuation of the tangible assets, intangible assets and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date within one year from the acquisition date.
On July 14, 2021, we acquired the real estate assets of Buffington Homebuilding Group, Ltd. (“Buffington”) and assumed certain related liabilities. The total purchase price for the Buffington assets, primarily consisting of inventory, was approximately $39.1 million in cash, subject to certain potential post-closing adjustments. This acquisition further expands our land position in the Austin, Texas market. The acquired assets include over 100 homes under construction, and more than 500 owned and controlled lots. The acquisition is accounted for in accordance with ASC 805. Our purchase accounting for Buffington as of December 31, 2021 is preliminary and we expect to complete the working capital adjustment and valuation of the tangible assets, intangible assets and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date within one year from the acquisition date.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the financial statements. The significant accounting estimates include land development cost of sales, impairment of real estate inventory, warranty reserves, loss contingencies, incentive compensation expense, and income taxes.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Concentration of Credit Risk
Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand, demand deposits with financial institutions, and short-term liquid investments with an initial maturity date of less than three months. Our cash in demand deposit accounts may exceed federally insured limits and could be negatively impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets. To date, we have experienced no loss or diminished access to cash in our demand deposit accounts.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist primarily of proceeds due from title companies for sales closed prior to period end and are generally collected within a few days from closing.
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Real Estate Inventory
Inventory consists of land, land under development, finished lots, information centers, homes in progress, and completed homes. Inventory is stated at cost unless the carrying amount is determined not to be recoverable, in which case the affected inventory is written down to fair value.
Land, development and other project costs, including interest and property taxes incurred during development and home construction, net of expected reimbursable development costs, are capitalized to real estate inventory. Land development and other common costs that benefit the entire community, including field construction supervision and related direct overhead, are allocated to individual lots or homes, as appropriate. The costs of lots are transferred to homes in progress when home construction begins. Home construction costs and related carrying charges are allocated to the cost of individual homes using the specific identification method. Costs that are not specifically identifiable to a home are allocated on a pro rata basis, which we believe approximates the costs that would be determined using an allocation method based on relative sales values since the individual lots or homes within a community are similar in value. Changes to estimated total development costs subsequent to initial home closings in a community are generally allocated to the remaining unsold lots and homes in the community on a pro rata basis. Inventory costs for completed homes are expensed to cost of sales as homes are closed.
The life cycle of a community generally ranges from two to five years, commencing with the acquisition of land, continuing through the land development phase, and concluding with the construction and sale of homes. A constructed home is used as the community information center during the life of the community and then sold. Actual individual community lives will vary based on the size of the community, the sales absorption rate, and whether the property was purchased as raw land or finished lots.
In accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, real estate inventory is evaluated for indicators of impairment by each community during each reporting period. In conducting its review for indicators of impairment on a community level, management evaluates, among other things, the margins on homes that have been closed, communities with slow moving inventory, projected margins on future home sales over the life of the community, and the estimated fair value of the land. For individual communities with indicators of impairment, additional analysis is performed to estimate the community’s undiscounted future cash flows. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are greater than the carrying value of the community group of assets, no impairment adjustment is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the community’s carrying value, the asset group is impaired and is written down to its fair value. We estimate the fair value of communities using a discounted cash flow model. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the real estate inventory is stated at cost; there were no inventory impairment charges recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Capitalized Interest
Interest and other financing costs are capitalized as cost of inventory during community development and home construction activities, in accordance with ASC Topic 835, Interest and expensed in cost of sales as homes in the community are closed. To the extent the debt exceeds qualified assets, a portion of the interest incurred is expensed.
Pre-Acquisition Costs and Deposits
Amounts paid for land options, deposits on land purchase contracts, and other pre-acquisition costs are capitalized and classified as deposits to purchase. Upon execution of the purchase, these deposits are applied to the acquisition price of the land and recorded as a cost component of the land in real estate inventory. To the extent that any deposits are nonrefundable and the associated land acquisition process is terminated or no longer determined probable, the deposit and related pre-acquisition costs are charged to general and administrative expenses. Management reviews the likelihood of the acquisition of contracted lots in conjunction with its periodic real estate impairment analysis.
Under ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), a nonrefundable deposit paid to an entity is deemed to be a variable interest that will absorb some or all of the entity’s expected losses if they occur. Non-refundable land purchase and lot option deposits generally represent our maximum exposure if we elect not to purchase the optioned property. In some instances, we may also expend funds for due diligence, development and construction activities with respect to optioned land prior to close. Such costs are classified as preacquisition costs, which we would have to absorb should the option not be exercised. Therefore, whenever we enter into a land option or purchase contract with an entity and make a nonrefundable deposit, we may have a variable interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). In accordance with ASC 810, we perform ongoing reassessments of whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE and would consolidate the VIE if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we were not deemed to be the primary beneficiary for any VIEs associated with non-refundable land deposits.
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Deferred Loan Costs
Deferred loan costs represent debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability and are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability.
Other Assets
Other assets consist primarily of municipal utility district reimbursements, income tax receivables related to the federal energy efficient homes tax credit, prepaid insurance, prepaid expenses, right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, investments in unconsolidated entities and other receivables. Our prepaid insurance and prepaid expenses were $12.0 million and $6.5 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
We have investments in unconsolidated entities with independent third parties. The equity method of accounting is used for unconsolidated entities over which we have significant influence; generally, this represents ownership interests of at least 20% and not more than 50%. Under the equity method of accounting, we recognize our proportionate share of the earnings and losses of this entity. In the event we buy land from this entity we intend to defer the recognition of profits from such activities until the time we ultimately sell the related land. Additionally, in 2021, we entered into a mortgage joint venture, which is engaged in mortgage activities and primarily provides services to our retail homebuyers.
We evaluate our investments in unconsolidated entities for recoverability in accordance with ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. If we determine that a loss in the value of any of the investments is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its estimated fair value. Any such losses are recorded to equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated entities, which is reflected in other income, net.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recorded in general and administrative expenses. Upon sale or retirement, the costs and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the respective accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in other income, net. Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from two to five years for property and equipment and 30 years for our rental properties. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the asset life or the term of the lease. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
Impairments of long-lived assets are determined periodically when indicators of impairment are present. If such indicators are present, the determination of the amount of impairment is based on judgments as to the future undiscounted operating cash flows to be generated from these assets throughout the remaining estimated useful lives. If these undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the related asset, impairment is recognized for the excess of the carrying value over its fair value. There were no impairments of property, equipment and leasehold improvements recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Goodwill
The excess of the purchase price of a business acquisition over the net fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is capitalized as goodwill in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Goodwill that do not have finite lives are not amortized, but are assessed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if certain impairment indicators are present. The $12.0 million of goodwill is related to the reorganization transactions completed in connection with the initial public offering of our common stock in November 2013. In applying the goodwill impairment test, we have the option to perform a qualitative test. Under the optional qualitative test, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting units is less than their carrying value. Qualitative factors may include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance of the reporting unit and other entity and reporting unit specific events. If after assessing these qualitative factors, we determine it is “more-likely-than-not” that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, then performing a quantitative test is necessary. Annually, we have performed a qualitative analysis and determined that it is not “more likely than not” that the fair values of the reporting units were less than their carrying amounts. No goodwill impairment charges were recorded in 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Warranty Reserves
Future direct warranty costs are accrued and charged to cost of sales in the period when the related home is closed. Our warranty liability is based upon historical warranty cost experience and is adjusted as appropriate to reflect qualitative risks associated with the types of homes built, the geographic areas in which they are built, and potential impacts of our continued expansion.
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Warranty reserves are reviewed quarterly to assess the reasonableness and adequacy and adjusted, as needed, to reflect changes in trends and historical data as information becomes available.
Customer Deposits
Customer deposits are received upon signing a purchase contract and are typically $1,000 to $5,000. Deposits are generally refundable if the customer is unable to obtain financing. Forfeited buyer deposits related to home sales are recognized in other income in the period in which it is determined that the buyer will not complete the purchase of the property and the deposit is nonrefundable to the buyer.
Home Sales
In accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers,revenues from home sales are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Revenues from home sales are recorded at the time each home sale is closed, title and possession are transferred to the customer and we have no significant continuing involvement with the home. Home sales discounts and incentives granted to customers, which are related to the customers’ closing costs that we pay on the customers’ behalf, are recorded as a reduction of revenue in our consolidated financial statements of operations.
Cost of Sales
As discussed under “Real Estate Inventory” above, cost of sales for homes closed include the construction costs of each home and allocable land acquisition and land development costs, capitalized interest, and other related common costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred).
Selling and Commission Costs
Sales commissions are paid and expensed based on homes closed. Other selling costs are expensed in the period incurred.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $7.7 million, $10.7 million and $20.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
Income Taxes
We are a taxable entity subject to federal and state taxes. We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities. Changes in tax rate are recognized in the year of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Our ability to realize deferred tax assets is assessed throughout the year and a valuation allowance is established, if required. We recognize the impact of a tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. We recognize potential interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive securities outstanding. In accordance with ASC 260-10, Earnings Per Share, we calculated the dilutive effect of our 4.25% Convertible Notes due 2019 (the “Convertible Notes”) using the treasury stock method, since we had the intent and ability to settle the principal amount of the outstanding Convertible Notes in cash. Diluted earnings per share excludes all dilutive potential shares of common stock if their effect is antidilutive.
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation costs for non-performance-based restricted stock awards are measured using the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Compensation costs for performance-based restricted stock awards also contain a market condition. These costs are measured using the derived grant date fair value, based on a third party valuation analysis, and are expensed in accordance with ASC 718-10-25-20, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which requires an assessment of probability of attainment of the performance target. Once the performance target outcome is determined to be probable, the cumulative expense is adjusted, as needed, to recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the award’s requisite service period.
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3. REVENUES
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from home sales are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Revenues from home sales are recorded at the time each home sale is closed, title and possession are transferred to the customer and we have no significant continuing involvement with the home. Home sales discounts and incentives granted to customers, which are related to the customers’ closing costs that we pay on the customers’ behalf, are recorded as a reduction of revenue in our consolidated financial statements of operations.
The following table presents our home sales revenues disaggregated by revenue stream (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
The following table presents our home sales revenues disaggregated by geography, based on our determined reportable segments in Note 15 (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
Home Sales Revenues
We generate revenues primarily by delivering move-in ready entry-level and move-up spec homes sold under our LGI Homes brand and our luxury series spec homes sold under our Terrata Homes brand.
Retail homes sold under both our LGI Homes brand and Terrata Homes brand focus on providing move-in ready homes with standardized features within favorable markets that meet certain demographic and economic conditions. Our LGI Homes brand primarily markets to entry-level or first-time homebuyers, while our Terrata Homes brand primarily markets to move-up homebuyers.
Wholesale homes are primarily sold under a bulk sales agreement and focus on providing move-in ready homes with standardized features to real estate investors that will ultimately use the single-family homes as rental properties.
Performance Obligations
Our contracts with customers include a single performance obligation to transfer a completed home to the customer. We generally determine selling price per home on the expected cost plus margin. Our contracts contain no significant financing terms as customers who finance do so through a third party. Performance obligations are satisfied at a moment in time when the home is complete and control of the asset is transferred to the customer at closing. Home sales proceeds are generally received from the title company within a few business days after closing.
Sales and broker commissions are incremental costs incurred to obtain a contract with a customer that would not have been incurred if the contract had not been obtained. Sales and broker commissions are expensed upon fulfillment of a home closing. Advertising costs are costs to obtain a contract that would have been incurred regardless of whether the contract was obtained and are recognized as an expense when incurred. Sales and broker commissions and advertising costs are recorded within sales and marketing expense presented in our consolidated statements of operations as selling expenses.
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4. REAL ESTATE INVENTORY
Our real estate inventory consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Land, land under development, and finished lots $ 1,499,761 $ 981,838
See “Real Estate Inventory” under Note 2 for more information.
Interest and financing costs incurred under our debt obligations, as more fully discussed in Note 7, are capitalized to qualifying real estate projects under development and homes under construction.
5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
(years)
Computer software and equipment 2-5 $ 2,950 $ 3,152
Machinery and equipment 5 87 147
Less: Accumulated depreciation (1,807) (4,798)
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we transferred $13.2 million of home assets from real estate inventory to rental properties within property and equipment. We are lessors of homes. Contracts are typically one year or less.
Depreciation expense incurred for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1.1 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
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6. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued and other liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Real estate inventory development and construction payable 48,656 29,938
Accrued compensation, bonuses and benefits 24,914 28,579
Inventory related obligations 8,803 4,515
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 136,609 $ 135,008
Inventory Related Obligations
We own lots in certain communities in Arizona, Florida, and Texas that have Community Development Districts or similar utility and infrastructure development special assessment programs that allocate a fixed amount of debt service associated with development activities to each lot. This obligation for infrastructure development is attached to the land, which is typically payable over a 30-year period, and is ultimately assumed by the homebuyer when home sales are closed. The obligations assumed by the homebuyer represent a non-cash cost of the lots.
Estimated Warranty Reserve
We typically provide homebuyers with a one-year warranty on the house and a ten-year limited warranty for major defects in structural elements such as framing components and foundation systems.
Changes to our warranty accrual are as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Warranty reserves, beginning of period $ 5,350 $ 3,500 $ 2,950
7. NOTES PAYABLE
Revolving Credit Agreement
On April 28, 2021, we entered into that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with several financial institutions, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”), which amends and restates that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2019 (as amended, the “2020 Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement (a) increases the commitments to $850.0 million, (b) allows the Company to increase the commitments by up to $100.0 million, subject to terms and conditions, (c) extends the maturity to April 28, 2025 for all lenders, (d) increases the sublimit for letters of credit to $50.0 million, (e) adds unrestricted cash in excess of $10.0 million as a component of the borrowing base and removes certain exclusions from the borrowing base, (f) reduces the applicable margin for LIBOR loans to a range of 1.45% to 2.10%, based on our leverage ratio, (g) reduces the LIBOR floor to 0.50%, (h) increases the minimum tangible net worth requirement to $850.0 million plus 75% of the net proceeds of equity issuances after December 31, 2020 and 50% of consolidated earnings for each quarter ending after March 31, 2021 and (i) provides for a “hardwired” transition from LIBOR loan pricing that is intended to be economically neutral to the Company; otherwise, the Credit Agreement is on substantially the same terms as the 2020 Credit Agreement.
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As of December 31, 2021, the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement was $1.1 billion, of which borrowings, including the 2029 Senior Notes (as defined herein), of $817.4 million were outstanding, $9.1 million of letters of credit were outstanding and $321.3 million was available to borrow under the Credit Agreement.
Interest is paid monthly on borrowings at LIBOR plus 1.45%. The Credit Agreement applicable margin for LIBOR loans ranges from 1.45% to 2.10% based on our leverage ratio. At December 31, 2021, LIBOR was 0.10%; however, the Credit Agreement has a 0.50% LIBOR floor.
The Credit Agreement contains various financial covenants, including a minimum tangible net worth, a leverage ratio, a minimum liquidity amount and an EBITDA to interest expense ratio. The Credit Agreement contains various covenants that, among other restrictions, limit the amount of our additional debt and our ability to make certain investments. At December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement.
Senior Notes Offerings
On June 28, 2021, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Senior Notes”) in an offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. Interest on the 2029 Senior Notes accrues at a rate of 4.000% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The 2029 Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2029. Terms of the 2029 Senior Notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of July 6, 2018, and Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of June 28, 2021, as may be supplemented from time to time, among us, our subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under the Credit Agreement and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
On July 6, 2018, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”) in an offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. On July 15, 2021, we redeemed all of the outstanding 2026 Senior Notes, which resulted in the principal payment of $300.0 million and a redemption premium of $10.3 million. Additionally, we expensed $3.0 million of deferred financing costs and discounts that were being previously amortized in association with the 2026 Senior Notes. We financed the redemption of the 2026 Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the 2029 Senior Notes, together with cash on hand.
Notes payable consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Net discount and debt issuance costs (12,203) (8,223)
As of December 31, 2021, the annual aggregate maturities of notes payable during each of the next five fiscal years are as follows (in thousands):
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Amount
Less: Debt issuance costs (12,203)
Capitalized Interest
Interest activity, including other financing costs, for notes payable for the periods presented is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Interest expense $ — $ — $ —
Included in interest incurred was amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts for notes payable of $2.9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
8. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
Current:
Deferred:
Income taxes paid were $127.9 million, $68.4 million and $38.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
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A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Change in tax rates - deferred taxes (367) (0.1) (78) — 20 —
Federal energy efficient homes tax credits (16,151) (3.0) (11,488) (3.1) — —
Retroactive federal energy efficient homes taxcredits — — (29,703) (8.1) — —
The 2021 effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to benefits associated with the federal energy efficient homes tax credits enacted into law in December 2019 and the deductions in excess of compensation cost (“windfalls”) for share-based payments, partially offset by state income tax expense on current year earnings and non-deductible salaries related to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The 2020 effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to benefits associated with the federal energy efficient homes tax credits enacted into law in December 2019, partially offset by state income tax expense on current year earnings. The 2019 effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible salaries related to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and state income tax expense on current year earnings offset by the windfalls for share-based payments.
Income tax expense for 2021 includes a benefit of $16.2 million associated with the extension of federal energy efficient homes tax credits. Income tax expense for 2020 includes a benefit of $41.2 million associated with the extension of federal energy efficient homes tax credits, including $29.7 million related to homes closed in prior open tax years. The federal energy efficient homes tax credit provision applies to qualifying homes closed through December 31, 2021.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
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The components of net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax depreciation in excess of book depreciation (488) (499)
Goodwill and other assets amortized for tax (860) (738)
Total deferred tax liabilities (5,101) (3,751)
Total net deferred tax assets $ 6,198 $ 6,986
All Company operations are domestic. We file U.S. and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations with regards to our federal income tax filings is three years. The statute of limitations for our state tax jurisdictions is three to four years depending on the jurisdiction. In the normal course of business, we are subject to tax audits in various jurisdictions, and such jurisdictions may assess additional income taxes. We do not expect the outcome of any audit to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements; however, audit outcomes and the timing of audit adjustments are subject to significant uncertainty.
9. EQUITY
We are authorized to issue 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.
At December 31, 2021, we had 26,963,915 shares of common stock issued and 23,917,359 shares of common stock outstanding, including 3,046,556 treasury shares of our common stock. At December 31, 2020, we had 26,741,554 shares of common stock issued and 24,983,561 shares of common stock outstanding, including 1,757,993 treasury shares of our common stock.
On November 15, 2019, the Convertible Notes matured, which resulted in the principal payment of $70.0 million and the issuance of 2,381,751 shares of our common stock for the premium associated with the Convertible Notes.
Stock Repurchase Program
In November 2018, we announced that our Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized a stock repurchase program, pursuant to which we may purchase up to $50.0 million of shares of our common stock through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise in accordance with applicable laws. In October 2020, the Board approved an increase in our stock repurchase program by an additional $300.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we repurchased 1,288,563 shares of our common stock for $193.8 million to be held as treasury stock. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we repurchased 718,993 shares of our common stock for $48.1 million to be held as treasury stock. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock. A total of 2,046,556 shares of our common stock has been repurchased since our stock repurchase program commenced. As of December 31, 2021, we may purchase up to $106.6 million of shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. On February 11, 2022, the Board approved an increase in our stock repurchase program by an additional $200.0 million, increasing the available authorization under the program to purchase up to $306.6 million of shares of our common stock as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The timing, amount and other terms and conditions of any repurchases of shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program will be determined by our management at its discretion based on a variety of factors,
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including the market price of our common stock, corporate considerations, general market and economic conditions and legal requirements. Our stock repurchase program may be modified, discontinued or suspended at any time.
Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
For the Year Ended December 31,
Numerator (in thousands):
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible Notes - treasury stock method — — 1,966,639
In accordance with ASC 260-10, Earnings Per Share, we calculated the dilutive effect of the Convertible Notes using the treasury stock method, since we had the intent and ability to settle the principal amount of the outstanding Convertible Notes in cash. The Convertible Notes matured and were repaid in full on November 15, 2019. Prior to the maturity of the Convertible Notes, we included the effect of the additional potential dilutive shares if our common stock price exceeded the conversion price of $21.52 per share under the treasury stock method.
Throughout 2019 to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, the average market price of our common stock exceeded the conversion price of $21.52 per share; therefore, the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2019 prior to the maturity date includes the effect of our common stock related to the conversion spread of the Convertible Notes.
10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Non-performance Based Restricted Stock Units
A total of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock have been reserved for issuance under the LGI Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Incentive Plan”). There were 117,874 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) outstanding at December 31, 2021, issued at a $0.00 exercise price.
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The following table summarizes the activity of our time-vested RSUs:
Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
In 2021, we issued 11,511 RSUs to senior management for the time-based portion of our 2021 long-term incentive compensation program and 8,094 RSUs for 2020 annual bonuses to managers, which generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. In 2020, we issued 22,141 RSUs to senior management for the time-based portion of our 2020 long-term incentive compensation program and 15,585 RSUs for 2019 annual bonuses to managers, which generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. In 2019, we issued 20,847 RSUs to senior management for the time-based portion of our 2019 long-term incentive compensation program and 16,159 RSUs for 2018 annual bonuses to managers, which generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. In addition, during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we issued 10,059, 19,009 and 25,506 RSUs, respectively, to certain employees, executives and non-employee directors, which vest over periods ranging from one to three years. Under the terms of the grant award agreements, all of the RSUs may only be settled in shares of our common stock.
We recognized $3.3 million, $3.5 million, and $2.2 million of stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2021, we had unrecognized compensation cost of $4.3 million related to unvested RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
The Compensation Committee of the Board has granted awards of performance-based RSUs (“PSUs”) under the 2013 Incentive Plan to certain members of senior management based on three-year performance cycles. At December 31, 2021, there were 215,807 PSUs outstanding that have been granted to certain members of management at a $0.00 exercise price. The PSUs provide for shares of our common stock to be issued based on the attainment of certain performance metrics over the applicable three-year periods. The number of shares of our common stock that may be issued to the recipients for the PSUs range from 0% to 200% of the target amount depending on actual results as compared to the target performance metrics. The terms of the PSUs provide that the payouts will be capped at 100% of the target number of PSUs granted if absolute total stockholder return is negative during the performance period, regardless of EPS performance; this market condition applies for amounts recorded above target. The compensation expense associated with the PSU grants is determined using the derived grant date fair value, based on a third-party valuation analysis, and expensed over the applicable period. The PSUs vest upon the determination date for the actual results at the end of the three-year period and require that the recipients continue to be employed by us through the determination date. The PSUs can only be settled in shares of our common stock.
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At December 31, 2021, management estimates that the recipients will receive approximately 200% of the 2021, 2020, and 2019 target number of PSUs at the end of the applicable three-year performance cycle based on projected performance compared to the target performance metrics. We recognized $9.0 million, $9.2 million, and $4.8 million of total stock-based compensation expense related to PSUs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The 2018 - 2020 performance period PSUs vested and issued on March 15, 2021 at 200% of the target number. At December 31, 2021, we had unrecognized compensation cost of $12.1 million, based on the probable amount, related to unvested PSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The LGI Homes, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) provides for employees to make quarterly elections for payroll withholdings to purchase shares of our common stock at a 15% discount from the closing price of our common stock on the purchase date, which is the last business day of each calendar quarter. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we issued 55,068, 60,918, and 47,731 shares of our common stock to the ESPP participants. We received net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million, $4.3 million and $2.9 million related to the ESPP for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. We recognized $1.3 million, $0.8 million, and $0.5 million in stock compensation expense related to the ESPP for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The ESPP contributions are not refundable (other than in the case of termination of employment) and, therefore, the shares purchasable with the amounts withheld are included in weighted-average shares outstanding for both basic and diluted earnings per share. The maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock which may be issued pursuant to the ESPP is 500,000 shares, and as of December 31, 2021, 233,254 shares of our common stock remain available for issuance under the ESPP.
11. FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), defines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date” within an entity’s principal market, if any. The principal market is the market in which the reporting entity would sell the asset or transfer the liability with the greatest volume and level of activity, regardless of whether it is the market in which the entity will ultimately transact for a particular asset or liability or if a different market is potentially more advantageous. Accordingly, this exit price concept may result in a fair value that differs from the transaction price or market price of the asset or liability.
ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, expands disclosures about fair value measurements, and establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are summarized as follows:
Level 1 - Fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Fair value is determined using significant observable inputs, generally either quoted prices in active markets for
similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices in markets that are not active.
Level 3 - Fair value is determined using one or more significant inputs that are unobservable in active markets at the
measurement date, such as a pricing model, discounted cash flow, or similar technique.
We utilize fair value measurements to account for certain items and account balances within our consolidated financial statements. Fair value measurements may also be utilized on a nonrecurring basis, such as for the impairment of long-lived assets. The fair value of financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain accrued liabilities approximate their carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these instruments. As of December 31, 2021, the Credit Agreement’s carrying value approximates market value since it has a floating interest rate, which increases or decreases with market interest rates and our leverage ratio.
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In order to determine the fair value of the 2029 Senior Notes and the 2026 Senior Notes, the future contractual cash flows are discounted at our estimate of current market rates of interest, which were determined based upon the average interest rates of similar senior notes within the homebuilding industry (Level 2 measurement).
The following table below shows the level and measurement of liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
(1)On June 28, 2021, we completed an offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes. See Note 7 for more details regarding this offering.
(2)On July 15, 2021, we redeemed all of the outstanding 2026 Senior Notes. See Note 7 for more details regarding the redemption.
12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Land Purchases from Affiliates
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we completed a land purchase contract to purchase a total of 110 finished lots in Pasco County, Florida from an affiliate of one of our directors for a total base purchase price of approximately $4.0 million. The lots were purchased in takedowns, subject to a maximum price escalation of 6% per annum, and provide for additional payments to the seller at the time of sale to the homebuyer. In August 2019, we purchased our first takedown of 58 lots under the Pasco County contract for a base purchase price of approximately $2.1 million. In April 2021, we purchased the remaining land in a takedown of 52 lots under the Pasco County contract for a base purchase price of approximately $1.9 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we completed a land purchase contract to purchase a total of 25 finished lots in Burnet County, Texas from an affiliate of a family member of our chief executive officer for a total base purchase price of approximately $2.5 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we purchased in three separate transactions a total of 55 finished lots in Montgomery County and Travis County, Texas from an affiliate of a family member of our chief executive officer for a total base purchase price of approximately $4.7 million.
13. RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Our employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) savings plan. Employees are eligible to participate after completing 90 days of service and having attained the age of 21. Salary deferrals are allowed in amounts up to 100% of an eligible employee’s salary, not to exceed the maximum allowed by law. A discretionary match may be made by us of up to 100% of the first 4% of an eligible employee’s deferral, not to exceed the maximum allowed by law. For each of the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, our matching contributions were $4.6 million, $4.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively.
14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies
In the ordinary course of doing business, we are subject to claims or proceedings from time to time relating to the purchase, development and sale of real estate and homes and other aspects of our homebuilding operations. Management believes that these claims include usual obligations incurred by real estate developers and residential home builders in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, these matters will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
We have provided unsecured environmental indemnities to certain lenders and other counterparties. In each case, we have performed due diligence on the potential environmental risks including obtaining an independent environmental review from outside environmental consultants. These indemnities obligate us to reimburse the guaranteed parties for damages related to environmental matters. There is no term or damage limitation on these indemnities; however, if an environmental matter arises, we may have recourse against other previous owners. In the ordinary course of doing business, we are subject to regulatory proceedings from time to time related to environmental and other matters. In the opinion of management, these matters will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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Land Deposits
We have land purchase contracts, generally through cash deposits, for the right to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. We do not have title to the property, and obligations with respect to the land purchase contracts are generally limited to the forfeiture of the related nonrefundable cash deposits. The following is a summary of our land purchase deposits included in pre-acquisition costs and deposits (in thousands, except for lot count):
December 31,
Land deposits and option payments $ 37,499 $ 34,097
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, approximately $19.3 million and $24.0 million, respectively, of the land deposits are related to purchase contracts to deliver finished lots that are refundable under certain circumstances, such as feasibility or specific performance, and secured by mortgages or letters of credit or guaranteed by the seller or its affiliates.
Lease Obligations
We recognize lease obligations and associated ROU assets for our existing non-cancelable leases. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. We have non-cancelable operating leases primarily associated with our corporate and regional office facilities. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, subject to any changes in the lease or expectations regarding the terms. Variable lease costs such as common area costs and property taxes are expensed as incurred. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. As our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. ROU assets, as included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, were $5.1 million and $4.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Lease obligations, as included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, were $5.3 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Operating lease cost, as included in general and administrative expense in our consolidated statements of operations, totaled $1.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for operating leases during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted-average discount rate was 4.93% and our weighted-average remaining life was 3.9 years. We do not have any significant lease contracts that have not yet commenced at December 31, 2021.
The table below shows the future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, Operating leases
Lease amount representing interest (803)
Present value of lease liabilities $ 5,333
Bonding and Letters of Credit
We have outstanding letters of credit and performance and surety bonds totaling $206.8 million (including $9.1 million of letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement) and $143.8 million (including $10.5 million of letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement) at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to our obligations for site improvements at various projects. Management does not believe that draws upon the letters of credit, surety bonds, or financial guarantees if any, will have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
In 2019, we became a limited partner in a real estate investment fund with a maximum $30.0 million commitment. The term of the commitment is eight years and includes renewals of up to two additional years. Additionally, during 2021, we entered into a joint venture with a mortgage lender. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we have a total of $5.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively, within other assets on the balance sheet relating to our investment in the real estate investment fund and the mortgage joint venture. Contributions into these unconsolidated entities are used by the entities to invest in certain real estate transactions and to provide residential mortgage services, respectively.
15. SEGMENT INFORMATION
We operate one principal homebuilding business that is organized and reports by division. We have seven operating segments (our Central, Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, West and Florida divisions) that we aggregate into five qualifying reportable segments at December 31, 2021: our Central, Southeast, Northwest, West and Florida divisions. These segments reflect the way the Company evaluates its business performance and manages its operations. The Central division is our largest division and comprised approximately 41.1%, 35.9% and 39.4% of total home sales revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
In accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-makers (“CODMs”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODMs primarily evaluate performance based on the number of homes closed, gross margin and average sales price per home closed.
In determining the most appropriate reportable segments, we consider operating segments’ economic and other characteristics, including home floor plans, average selling prices, gross margin percentage, geographical proximity, production construction processes, suppliers, subcontractors, regulatory environments, customer type and underlying demand and supply. Each operating segment follows the same accounting policies and is managed by our management team. We have no inter-segment sales, as all sales are to external customers. Operating results for each segment may not be indicative of the results for such segment had it been an independent, stand-alone entity for the periods presented.
Financial information relating to our reportable segments was as follows (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Net income (loss) before income taxes:
(1)The Corporate balance consists primarily of general and administration unallocated costs for various shared service functions, as well as our warranty reserve and loss on extinguishment of debt. Actual warranty expenses are reflected within the reportable segments.
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December 31,
(1) The Corporate balance consists primarily of cash, prepaid insurance, ROU assets, prepaid expenses, investments in unconsolidated entities and income tax receivables related to the federal energy efficient homes tax credit.
16. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Quarterly results are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
FirstQuarter SecondQuarter ThirdQuarter FourthQuarter
FirstQuarter SecondQuarter Third Quarter FourthQuarter
(1) Quarterly and year-to-date computations of per share amounts are made independently. Therefore, the sum of per share amounts for the quarters may not agree with per share amounts for the year.
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.