Exhibit 99.1
Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. Reports Results for Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2006
RESTON, VA, Mar 12, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) — Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) (“Comstock” or the “Company”) today announced its results of operations for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2006. The Company also announced that it had elected to included segment disclosures beginning with its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
The Company will conduct a conference call for interested investors on Monday, March 19, 2007, at 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. During the call the Company will discuss its financial results outlook for 2007 and beyond. The dial-in number for the conference call is 800-418-6860 and the access code is 8454271; the call may also be accessed in the Investor Relations section of the company’s web site at www.comstockhomebuilding.com.
Highlights of Financial Results — Three months ended December 31, 2006 (“the Quarter”):
– | | The Company delivered 553 homes in the Quarter at an average per unit revenue of approximately $228,000 which included 259 units at the Company’s Carter Lake project and the remaining 30 units at the Company’s Countryside Condominiums which were both sold to single buyers; |
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– | | The Company generated basic and diluted loss per share for the Quarter of ($1.79) on shares outstanding of 15.7 million as compared to basic earnings per share of $0.66 on shares outstanding of 14.0 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.66 on shares outstanding of 14.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Total revenue was $123.3 million for the Quarter with $123.0 million of revenue from homebuilding (of which $40.0 million was generated from the sale of Carter Lake and $46.1 million from the Eclipse at Potomac Yard) as compared to $77.2 million with $75.8 million of revenue derived from homebuilding for the three months ended December 31, 2005. This represents a 59.7% increase in total revenue and a 62.3% increase in revenue from homebuilding over the three months ended December 31, 2005. The revenue generated in the Quarter related to the sale of the 30 units at Countryside was not included in revenue from homebuilding based on the ongoing involvement and profit participation of the Company in the sellout of units. The revenue will be recognized as the units are delivered through the marketing and service agreement; |
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– | | Gross profit from all revenue, before impairments and write-offs, was $8.4 million for the Quarter representing a 6.8% gross margin as compared to gross profit from all revenue after reclassifying impairments out of cost of sales — real estate of $22.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2005 representing a 28.4% gross margin; |
– | | During the Quarter, the Company recorded $42.7 million of pre-tax, non-cash charges for impairments to its assets and write-offs for deposits and related feasibility costs on option contracts where the Company chose not to exercise its option to close. By comparison, the Company recorded pre- tax, non-cash impairment and write-off charges of $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Operating loss after impairments, write-offs and SG&A was ($45.8) million for the Quarter representing a (37.1%) operating margin as compared to operating income of $13.8 million and an operating margin of 17.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Quarter were $11.5 million representing 9.3% of total revenue as compared to $7.0 million representing 9.0% of total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | At December 31, 2006 the Company had $295.4 million of senior and subordinated debt as compared to $340.3 million at September 30, 2006. This represents a $44.9 million or 13.2% reduction during the Quarter as compared to September 30, 2006. |
Highlights of Financial Results — Twelve months ended December 31, 2006 (“the Year”):
– | | The Company delivered 940 homes during the Year at an average per unit revenue of approximately $259,000; |
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– | | The Company generated basic and diluted loss per share for the Year of ($2.63) on weighted average shares outstanding of 15.1 million as compared to basic earnings per share of $2.14 on weighted average shares outstanding of 12.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $2.12 on weighted average shares outstanding of 13.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Total revenue was $245.9 million for the Year with $240.1 million of revenue from homebuilding as compared to $224.3 million with $216.3 million of revenue derived from homebuilding for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. This represents a 9.6% increase in total revenue and an 11.0% increase in revenue from homebuilding over the twelve months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Gross profit from all revenue, before impairments and write-offs, was $29.2 million for the Year representing an 11.9% gross margin as compared to gross profit from all revenue of $66.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 representing a 29.7% gross margin. The 17.8 percentage point reduction in gross margin was a result of price pressure on our inventory, elongated inventory hold and sales cycles and rising interest rates during the course of 2006; |
– | | During the Year, the Company recorded $57.4 million of pre-tax, non- cash charges for impairments to its assets and write-offs for deposits and related feasibility costs on option contracts where the Company chose not to exercise its option to close. By comparison, the Company recorded pre- tax, non-cash impairment and write-off charges of $1.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Operating loss after impairments, write-offs and SG&A was ($65.7) million for the Year representing a (26.7%) operating margin as compared to operating income of $42.4 million and an operating margin of 18.9% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Year were $37.5 million representing 15.3% of total revenue as compared to $23.0 million representing 10.2% of total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005; |
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– | | At December 31, 2006, the Company had $21.3 million of unrestricted cash on hand and $4.6 million of accounts receivable which are substantially comprised of settlement proceeds in transit from settlement attorneys. By comparison, the Company had $42.2 million of unrestricted cash on hand at December 31, 2005 with $6.4 million of accounts receivable outstanding; |
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– | | At December 31, 2006 the Company had $39.6 million of consolidated variable interest entity assets with $37.4 million of consolidated variable interest entity liabilities representing $2.2 million of non-refundable deposits posted. By comparison, the Company had $89.9 million of consolidated variable interest entity assets at December 31, 2005 with $83.0 million of liabilities or $6.9 million of non-refundable deposits posted; |
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– | | At December 31, 2006 the Company had $295.4 million of senior and subordinated debt as compared to $143.0 million at December 31, 2005. The Company’s debt to capitalization ratio at December 31, 2006 was 70.5% on shareholder equity of $123.9 million as compared to 49.6% on $145.1 million at December 31, 2005; |
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– | | Real estate held for development and sale increased 54.9% to $408.7 million on December 31, 2006 as compared to $263.8 million at December 31, 2005. |
The Company did not issue quarterly or annual guidance for 2007 and does not intend to on its investor conference call on Monday, March 19, 2007.
“This was a difficult year,” said Christopher Clemente, Chairman and CEO. “We look forward to talking with our investors on March 19th about our 2006 results, our progress on bank facility modifications, status of sales and deliveries at the Eclipse and our strategy for 2007 and beyond.”
About Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
Established in 1985, Comstock Homebuilding Companies is a diversified real estate development firm with a focus on moderately priced for-sale residential products. Comstock builds and markets single-family homes, townhouses, mid-rise condominiums, high-rise condominiums, mixed-use urban communities and active adult communities. The company currently markets its products under the Comstock Homes brand in the greater Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina metropolitan areas. Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. trades on Nasdaq under the symbol CHCI. For more information please visit our web site at http://www.comstockhomebuilding.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking” statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “intends,” “plans,” “should,” “seeks,” and similar expressions, including statements related to Comstock’s expected future financial results and anticipated growth in the Washington, D.C. housing market, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, market and competitive conditions affecting Comstock and its operations and products, risks and uncertainties relating to the market for real estate generally and in the areas where Comstock has projects, the availability and price of land suitable for development, materials prices, labor costs, interest rates, Comstock’s ability to service its significant debt obligations, fluctuations in operating results, anticipated growth strategies, continuing relationships with affiliates, environmental factors, government regulations, the impact of adverse weather conditions or natural disasters and acts of war or terrorism. Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in the prospectus from Comstock’s initial public offering, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2004. Comstock specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Preliminary Operating Results — Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
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| | Twelve Months Ended | |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | |
Revenue from homebuilding | | $ | 240,093 | | | $ | 216,265 | |
Other revenue | | | 5,788 | | | | 8,040 | |
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Total revenue | | | 245,881 | | | | 224,305 | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | |
Cost of sales of real estate | | | 211,408 | | | | 152,886 | |
Cost of sales of other | | | 5,248 | | | | 3,604 | |
Impairments and write-offs | | | 57,426 | | | | 1,216 | |
Selling, general and administrative | | | 37,500 | | | | 24,190 | |
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Operating income | | | (65,701 | ) | | | 42,409 | |
Other (income) expense, net | | | (1,487 | ) | | | (1,450 | ) |
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Income before minority interest and equity in earnings of real estate partnerships | | | (64,214 | ) | | | 43,859 | |
Minority interest | | | 15 | | | | 30 | |
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Income before equity in earnings of real estate partnerships | | | (64,229 | ) | | | 43,829 | |
Equity in earnings of real estate partnerships | | | (135 | ) | | | 99 | |
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Total pre tax income | | | (64,364 | ) | | | 43,928 | |
Income Taxes | | | (24,520 | ) | | | 16,366 | |
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Net (loss) income | | | (39,844 | ) | | | 27,562 | |
Basic earnings per share | | | (2.63 | ) | | | 2.14 | |
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | | | 15,148 | | | | 12,870 | |
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Diluted earnings per share | | | (2.63 | ) | | | 2.12 | |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | | 15,148 | | | | 13,022 | |
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Preliminary Balance Sheet — Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 21,263 | | | $ | 42,167 | |
Restricted cash | | | 12,326 | | | | 10,800 | |
Receivables | | | 4,555 | | | | 6,365 | |
Note receivables | | | — | | | | 1,250 | |
Due from related parties | | | 4,053 | | | | 2,899 | |
Real estate held for development and sale | | | 408,744 | | | | 263,802 | |
Inventory not owned — variable interest entities | | | 39,634 | | | | 89,890 | |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 1,948 | | | | 605 | |
Investment in real estate partnerships | | | (171 | ) | | | (35 | ) |
Deferred income tax | | | 10,188 | | | | 2,545 | |
Other assets | | | 14,889 | | | | 11,031 | |
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TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 517,429 | | | $ | 431,319 | |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | 55,680 | | | | 59,131 | |
Due to related parties | | | 4,740 | | | | 40 | |
Obligations related to inventory not owned | | | 37,350 | | | | 83,015 | |
Notes payable | | | 265,403 | | | | 142,994 | |
Junior subordinated debt | | | 30,000 | | | | — | |
Notes payable—related parties | | | — | | | | 663 | |
Deferred income tax | | | — | | | | — | |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 393,173 | | | | 285,843 | |
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Minority interest | | | 371 | | | | 400 | |
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SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 77,266,500 shares authorized, 14,129,081 and 11,532,442 issued and outstanding | | | 141 | | | | 115 | |
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, 2,733,500 shares authorized, 2,733,500 issued and outstanding | | | 27 | | | | 27 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 147,528 | | | | 126,461 | |
Treasury Stock, at cost (391,400 Class A Common Stock) | | | (2,439 | ) | | | — | |
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) | | | (21,372 | ) | | | 18,473 | |
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TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | 123,885 | | | | 145,076 | |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | $ | 517,429 | | | $ | 431,319 | |
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Media Contact:
Bryan Murray
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+1-703-230-1450
SOURCE: Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.