ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --


    --  Q4 Pretax Income of $267 Million Increased 15% from Prior Year
    --  Q4 Net Income of $217 Million, or $0.58 Per Share, Includes $0.16 Per
        Share of Tax and Insurance Benefits, Offset by $0.01 Per Share of Lease
        Exit Costs
    --  Home Sale Gross Margin of 23.1%, Down 10 Basis Points from the Prior
        Year and Up 20 Basis Points Over Q3 2014
    --  Home Sale Revenues Increased 10% to $1.8 Billion Driven by a 7% Increase
        in Closings to 5,316 Homes
    --  Q4 Net New Orders Increased 1% to 3,232 Homes; Order Value Increased 2%
        to $1.1 Billion
    --  Q4 Backlog of 5,850 Homes With a Value of $1.9 Billion
    --  Quarter End Cash Balance of $1.3 Billion After Repurchasing $98 Million
        of Stock in the Quarter
    --  Debt-to-Capitalization of 27%, Down from 31% at Year-end 2013

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) announced today financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the quarter, PulteGroup reported net income of $217 million, or $0.58 per share. Net income for the period reflects $50 million, or $0.13 per share, of income tax expense. Prior year net income of $220 million, or $0.57 per share, reflects $12 million, or $0.03 per share, of income tax expense.

"Through continued execution of our Value Creation strategy, PulteGroup delivered outstanding fourth quarter and full-year results with solid top line growth and margin expansion driving a 31% increase in 2014 pretax income to $690 million," said Richard J. Dugas, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of PulteGroup. "Our improved financial performance allowed us to increase investment into the business in 2014 to $1.8 billion, retire $246 million of debt and return $321 million to shareholders through dividends and expanded share repurchases."

"We are optimistic heading into 2015 as buyer sentiment began improving in late November supporting stronger traffic and signup levels throughout December and into January. We believe the positive factors of an improving economy with declining energy costs, rising employment, lower mortgage rates and related fees, beneficial long-term demographic trends and a generally healthy supply of inventory, will continue to support a slow and sustained housing recovery. Within this environment, we remain focused on driving additional gains in construction and asset efficiency to deliver higher returns on invested capital. Consistent with our positive market view and long-term business strategy, we expect to use our capital to support future growth, while consistently returning funds to shareholders."

Fourth Quarter Results

Home sale revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $1.8 billion, an increase of 10% over the prior year. The increase in revenue was driven by a 7% increase in closings to 5,316 combined with a 3% increase in average selling price to $334,000. The higher average selling price in the quarter reflects price increases realized across all three of the Company's national brands: Centex, Pulte Homes and Del Webb.

Home sale gross margin for the period was 23.1%, a decrease of 10 basis points from the prior year, but up 20 basis points over the third quarter of 2014. SG&A expense for the quarter of $146 million, or 8.2% of home sale revenues, included a $15 million, or $0.03 per share, reversal of construction related insurance reserves recorded in the period. SG&A for the prior year period was $150 million, or 9.3% of home sale revenues.

As part of its corporate relocation, the Company recorded a fourth quarter charge in Other Expense, net of $8.7 million, or $0.01 per share, associated with lease exit costs for its former corporate headquarters in Michigan.

For the quarter, the Company reported 3,232 net new orders, an increase of 1% from prior year orders of 3,214. The dollar value of net new orders increased 2% over the prior year to $1.1 billion. The Company ended the year with 598 active communities, which is up 4% from the comparable prior year period.

PulteGroup's backlog at year end totaled 5,850 homes valued at $1.9 billion, compared with prior year backlog of 5,772 homes valued at $1.9 billion. The average selling price in backlog increased 1% over the prior year to $332,000.

The Company's financial services operations reported pretax income of $13 million for the fourth quarter, an increase of 88% over prior year pretax income of $7 million. Mortgage capture rate for the quarter was 81% compared with 79% in the comparable prior year quarter. The increase in financial services pretax income for the quarter was primarily the result of higher volumes and favorable market conditions which drove higher gains on mortgage sales.

For the quarter, the Company reported $50 million of income tax expense, representing an effective tax rate of 19%. The Company's tax rate for the quarter is lower than its statutory provision primarily due to $50 million, or $0.13 per share, of tax benefits associated with the resolution of certain federal and state tax matters and adjustments to its state deferred tax asset valuation allowances.

Through open-market transactions, PulteGroup repurchased 5.2 million of its common shares in the quarter for $98 million, or $18.87 per share. For the full year, PulteGroup repurchased 12.9 million, or 3.4%, of its common shares outstanding, for $246 million, or $19.11 per share. The Company ended the year with a cash balance of $1.3 billion and a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 27%.

A conference call discussing PulteGroup's fourth quarter results will be held Thursday, January 29, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and webcast live via www.pultegroupinc.com. Interested investors can access the call via the Company's home page at www.pultegroupinc.com, and are encouraged to download the available slides that provide additional details on the Company's fourth quarter results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation includes "forward-looking statements." These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly factual or historical nature and generally discuss or relate to forecasts, estimates or other expectations regarding future events. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "may," "can," "could," "might," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including statements related to expected operating and performing results, planned transactions, planned objectives of management, future developments or conditions in the industries in which we participate and other trends, developments and uncertainties that may affect our business in the future.

Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things: interest rate changes and the availability of mortgage financing; continued volatility in the debt and equity markets; competition within the industries in which PulteGroup operates; the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by PulteGroup in its homebuilding operations; the impact of any changes to our strategy in responding to the cyclical nature of the industry, including any changes regarding our land positions; the availability and cost of insurance covering risks associated with PulteGroup's businesses; shortages and the cost of labor; weather related slowdowns; slow growth initiatives and/or local building moratoria; governmental regulation directed at or affecting the housing market, the homebuilding industry or construction activities; uncertainty in the mortgage lending industry, including revisions to underwriting standards and repurchase requirements associated with the sale of mortgage loans; the interpretation of or changes to tax, labor and environmental laws; economic changes nationally or in PulteGroup's local markets, including inflation, deflation, changes in consumer confidence and preferences and the state of the market for homes in general; legal or regulatory proceedings or claims; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in order to successfully implement our capital allocation priorities; required accounting changes; terrorist acts and other acts of war; and other factors of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature. See PulteGroup's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our businesses. PulteGroup undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in PulteGroup's expectations.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America's largest homebuilding companies with operations in approximately 50 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb and DiVosta Homes, the Company is one of the industry's most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to www.pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com and www.divosta.com.





                                                                        PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                               Consolidated Results of Operations

                                                            ($000's omitted, except per share data)

                                                                          (Unaudited)


                                                               Three Months Ended                                   Year Ended

                                                                December 31,                                December 31,
                                                                ------------                                ------------

                                                       2014                                2013          2014                  2013
                                                       ----                                ----          ----                  ----

    Revenues:

    Homebuilding

    Home sale revenues                                        $1,776,469                            $1,612,923                      $5,662,171  $5,424,309

    Land sale revenues                                9,995                                12,036                    34,554             114,335
                                                      -----                                ------                    ------             -------

                                                  1,786,464                             1,624,959                 5,696,725           5,538,644

    Financial Services                               36,093                                30,380                   125,638             140,951
                                                     ------                                ------                   -------             -------

    Total revenues                                1,822,557                             1,655,339                 5,822,363           5,679,595
                                                  ---------                             ---------                 ---------           ---------


    Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:

    Home sale cost of revenues                    1,366,584                             1,238,103                 4,343,249           4,310,528

    Land sale cost of revenues                        8,367                                11,765                    23,748             104,426
                                                      -----                                ------                    ------             -------

                                                  1,374,951                             1,249,868                 4,366,997           4,414,954


    Financial Services expenses                      23,179                                23,513                    71,239              92,379

    Selling, general, and administrative expenses   146,024                               149,705                   667,815             568,500

    Other expense, net                               13,183                                 1,588                    38,745              80,753

    Interest income                                 (1,200)                              (1,075)                  (4,632)            (4,395)

    Interest expense                                    224                                   168                       849                 712

    Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities     (924)                                (848)                  (8,408)            (1,130)
                                                       ----                                  ----                    ------              ------

    Income before income taxes                      267,120                               232,420                   689,758             527,822

    Income tax expense (benefit)                     50,025                                12,367                   215,420         (2,092,294)
                                                     ------

    Net income                                                  $217,095                              $220,053                        $474,338  $2,620,116
                                                                ========                              ========                        ========  ==========


    Net income per share:

    Basic                                                          $0.58                                 $0.58                           $1.27       $6.79
                                                                   =====                                 =====                           =====       =====

    Diluted                                                        $0.58                                 $0.57                           $1.26       $6.72
                                                                   =====                                 =====                           =====       =====

    Cash dividends declared                                        $0.08                                 $0.05                           $0.23       $0.15
                                                                   =====                                 =====                           =====       =====


    Number of shares used in calculation:

    Basic                                           369,533                               379,879                   370,377             383,077

    Effect of dilutive securities                     3,734                                 3,845                     3,725               3,789
                                                      -----                                 -----                     -----               -----

    Diluted                                         373,267                               383,724                   374,102             386,866
                                                    =======                               =======                   =======             =======



                                                             PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                             ($000's omitted)

                                                               (Unaudited)


                                                                                       December 31,            December 31,
                                                                                               2014                       2013
                                                                                               ----                       ----


    ASSETS


    Cash and equivalents                                                                            $1,292,862                   $1,580,329

    Restricted cash                                                                          16,358                       72,715

    House and land inventory                                                              4,392,100                    3,978,561

    Land held for sale                                                                      101,190                       61,735

    Land, not owned, under option agreements                                                 30,186                       24,024

    Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale                                           339,531                      287,933

    Investments in unconsolidated entities                                                   40,368                       45,323

    Other assets                                                                            513,032                      460,621

    Intangible assets                                                                       123,115                      136,148

    Deferred tax assets, net                                                              1,720,668                    2,086,754
                                                                                          ---------                    ---------

                                                                                                    $8,569,410                   $8,734,143
                                                                                                    ==========                   ==========



    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


    Liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                                                                  $270,516                     $202,736

    Customer deposits                                                                       142,642                      134,858

    Accrued and other liabilities                                                         1,343,774                    1,377,750

    Income tax liabilities                                                                   48,722                      206,015

    Financial Services debt                                                                 140,241                      105,664

    Senior notes                                                                          1,818,561                    2,058,168
                                                                                          ---------                    ---------

    Total liabilities                                                                     3,764,456                    4,085,191


    Shareholders' equity                                                                  4,804,954                    4,648,952


                                                                                                    $8,569,410                   $8,734,143
                                                                                                    ==========                   ==========





                                                                                           PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                                                Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                                                           ($000's omitted)

                                                                                             (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                     Year Ended

                                                                                                                                   December 31,
                                                                                                                                   ------------

                                                                                                                           2014                      2013
                                                                                                                           ----                      ----

    Cash flows from operating activities:

    Net income                                                                                                                    $474,338                  $2,620,116

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by (used in)

          operating activities:

    Deferred income tax expense                                                                                         223,769                 (2,096,425)

    Write-down of land and deposits and pre-acquisition costs                                                            11,168                       9,672

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                        39,864                      31,587

    Stock-based compensation expense                                                                                     29,292                      30,480

    Loss on debt retirements                                                                                              8,584                      26,930

    Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities                                                                       (8,408)                    (1,130)

    Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities                                                                4,932                       2,049

    Other non-cash, net                                                                                                   9,567                       9,375

    Increase (decrease) in cash due to:

    Restricted cash                                                                                                       1,368                       3,387

    Inventories                                                                                                       (346,596)                    265,064

    Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale                                                                      (53,734)                     28,448

    Other assets                                                                                                       (46,249)                   (38,190)

    Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities                                                                    (23,671)                   (17,377)

    Income tax liabilities                                                                                             (14,975)                      7,150

    Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                           309,249                     881,136
                                                                                                                        -------                     -------

    Cash flows from investing activities:

    Distributions from unconsolidated entities                                                                            8,157                       1,001

    Investments in unconsolidated entities                                                                                  (9)                    (1,677)

    Net change in loans held for investment                                                                                 335                    (12,265)

    Change in restricted cash related to letters of credit                                                               54,989                     (4,152)

    Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment                                                                        113                          15

    Capital expenditures                                                                                               (48,790)                   (28,899)

    Cash used for business acquisitions                                                                                (82,419)                          -
                                                                                                                        -------                         ---

    Net cash used in investing activities                                                                              (67,624)                   (45,977)
                                                                                                                        -------                     -------

    Cash flows from financing activities:

    Financial Services borrowings (repayments)                                                                           34,577                    (33,131)

    Other borrowings (repayments)                                                                                     (250,631)                  (479,827)

    Stock option exercises                                                                                               15,627                      19,411

    Stock repurchases                                                                                                 (253,019)                  (127,661)

    Dividends paid                                                                                                     (75,646)                   (38,382)
                                                                                                                        -------                     -------

    Net cash used in financing activities                                                                             (529,092)                  (659,590)
                                                                                                                       --------                    --------

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents                                                                   (287,467)                    175,569

    Cash and equivalents at beginning of period                                                                       1,580,329                   1,404,760

    Cash and equivalents at end of period                                                                                       $1,292,862                  $1,580,329
                                                                                                                                ==========                  ==========


    Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

    Interest paid (capitalized), net                                                                                              $(4,561)                     $(171)
                                                                                                                                   =======                       =====

    Income taxes paid (refunded), net                                                                                               $1,030                        $373
                                                                                                                                    ======                        ====



                                                                     PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                                       Segment Data

                                                                     ($000's omitted)

                                                                        (Unaudited)


                                                             Three Months Ended                                 Year Ended

                                                              December 31,                              December 31,
                                                              ------------                              ------------

                                                       2014                              2013        2014                  2013
                                                       ----                              ----        ----                  ----

    HOMEBUILDING:

    Home sale revenues                                      $1,776,469                          $1,612,923                      $5,662,171  $5,424,309

    Land sale revenues                                9,995                              12,036                  34,554             114,335
                                                      -----                              ------                  ------             -------

    Total Homebuilding revenues                   1,786,464                           1,624,959               5,696,725           5,538,644


    Home sale cost of revenues                    1,366,584                           1,238,103               4,343,249           4,310,528

    Land sale cost of revenues                        8,367                              11,765                  23,748             104,426

    Selling, general, and administrative expenses   146,024                             149,705                 667,815             568,500

    Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities     (836)                              (806)                (8,226)              (993)

    Other expense, net                               13,183                               1,588                  38,745              80,753

    Interest income, net                              (976)                              (907)                (3,783)            (3,683)
                                                       ----

    Income before income taxes                                $254,118                            $225,511                        $635,177    $479,113
                                                              ========                            ========                        ========    ========


    FINANCIAL SERVICES:

    Income before income taxes                                 $13,002                              $6,909                         $54,581     $48,709
                                                               =======                              ======                         =======     =======


    CONSOLIDATED:

    Income before income taxes                                $267,120                            $232,420                        $689,758    $527,822
                                                              ========                            ========                        ========    ========





                                                                                                        PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                                                                     Segment Data, continued

                                                                                                        ($000's omitted)

                                                                                                           (Unaudited)


                                                                                    Three Months Ended                                           Year Ended

                                                                                     December 31,                                         December 31,
                                                                                     ------------                                         ------------

                                                                             2014                             2013                       2014                              2013
                                                                             ----                             ----                       ----                              ----


    Home sale revenues                                                               $1,776,469                                     $1,612,923                                  $5,662,171             $5,424,309
                                                                                     ==========                                     ==========                                  ==========             ==========


    Closings - units

    Northeast                                                                 496                                623                                1,568                             1,835

    Southeast                                                                 895                                813                                3,160                             3,022

    Florida                                                                   808                                755                                2,752                             2,747

    Texas                                                                   1,121                                935                                3,750                             3,768

    North                                                                   1,278                              1,068                                3,684                             3,401

    Southwest                                                                 718                                770                                2,282                             2,993

                                                                            5,316                              4,964                               17,196                            17,766
                                                                            =====                              =====                               ======                            ======

    Average selling price                                                                  $334                                           $325                                        $329                   $305
                                                                                           ====                                           ====                                        ====                   ====


    Net new orders - units

    Northeast                                                                 248                                315                                1,408                             1,834

    Southeast                                                                 615                                604                                3,075                             3,164

    Florida                                                                   567                                501                                2,841                             2,595

    Texas                                                                     727                                682                                3,773                             3,563

    North                                                                     653                                682                                3,311                             3,347

    Southwest                                                                 422                                430                                2,244                             2,577

                                                                            3,232                              3,214                               16,652                            17,080
                                                                            =====                              =====                               ======                            ======

    Net new orders - dollars (a)                                                     $1,105,042                                     $1,081,971                                  $5,558,937             $5,394,566
                                                                                     ==========                                     ==========                                  ==========             ==========


                                                                                                                                                            December 31,
                                                                                                                                                            ------------

                                                                                                                                                            2014                 2013
                                                                                                                                                            ----                 ----

    Unit backlog

    Northeast                                                                                                                                     461                               621

    Southeast                                                                                                                                     968                             1,053

    Florida                                                                                                                                     1,002                               913

    Texas                                                                                                                                       1,273                             1,250

    North                                                                                                                                       1,462                             1,213

    Southwest                                                                                                                                     684                               722

                                                                                                                                                5,850                             5,772
                                                                                                                                                =====                             =====

    Dollars in backlog                                                                                                                                  $1,943,861                          $1,901,796
                                                                                                                                                        ==========                          ==========


    (a) Net new order dollars represent a composite of new order dollars combined with other movements of the dollars in backlog related to cancellations and change orders.



                                                         PulteGroup, Inc.

                                                     Segment Data, continued

                                                         ($000's omitted)

                                                           (Unaudited)


                                 Three Months Ended                                        Year Ended

                                  December 31,                                     December 31,
                                  ------------                                     ------------

                            2014                    2013                        2014                  2013
                            ----                    ----                        ----                  ----

    MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS:

    Origination volume     3,323                             3,158                            10,805            11,818
                           =====                             =====                            ======            ======

    Origination principal        $839,856                                    $766,812                      $2,656,683  $2,765,509
                                 ========                                    ========                      ==========  ==========

    Capture rate           81.4%                            79.4%                            80.2%            80.2%
                            ====                              ====                              ====              ====


                                                                  Supplemental Data

                                                                   ($000's omitted)

                                                                     (Unaudited)


                                                        Three Months Ended                                    Year Ended

                                                           December 31,                                      December 31,
                                                         ------------                                 ------------

                                                   2014                  2013             2014                   2013
                                                   ----                  ----             ----                   ----


    Interest in inventory, beginning of period          $190,342                               $266,524                     $230,922  $331,880

    Interest capitalized                         32,651                            35,580                    131,444          154,107

    Interest expensed                          (55,355)                         (71,182)                 (194,728)        (255,065)

    Interest in inventory, end of period                $167,638                               $230,922                     $167,638  $230,922
                                                        ========                               ========                     ========  ========


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SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.