Latest news with #MTH
NDTV
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: Therapy Horse Plays Keyboard To Wake Girl From Anaesthesia
A short video of a miniature horse, Black Pearl, "vigorously" playing a keyboard to wake up a girl from anaesthesia at the Shriners for Children Medical Centre in Pasadena, California, is going viral on social media. With her innovative method of treating post-anaesthesia anxiety, Black Pearl, from the NGO Mini Therapy Horses, is making waves online for her special role in post-surgical recovery. The Black Pearl moment has sparked both adoration and scepticism online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mini Therapy Horses (@minitherapyhorses) "Well... We can't get you Harry Styles... but we've got the next best thing!" one comment read. "I too want to be woken out of a coma by every key on the keyboard played at once over and over again by a small horse," read another comment. In the now-viral video, Black Pearl is briskly stroking a small keyboard while the young patient gradually wakes up. The video perfectly captures the idea of employing the soothing presence of miniature horses to divert attention and offer emotional support during delicate times in hospital settings. An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the clip on the platform and wrote, "Losing it over this therapy horse that vigorously plays the piano to wake kids up from anaesthesia." Losing it over this therapy horse that vigorously plays the piano to wake kids up from anesthesia — elina ???? ???? (@bogwitchbooks) July 20, 2025 "I can't speak for kids coming out of anaesthesia but this would absolutely kill it with the general elementary school crowd," commented one X user. I can't speak for kids coming out of anesthesia but this would absolutely kill it with the general elementary school crowd — Meghan McCarthy (@MeghanMcCarthy_) July 21, 2025 "I would think I died and this is what's next... until I am finally stable enough to comprehend things," quipped another. i would think i died and this is whats next... until i am finally stable enough to comprehend things ???? — Toast (@TunedupToast) July 21, 2025 The Los Angeles-based organisation, founded in 2008 by Victoria Nodiff-Netanel, has trained these amazing animals for more than 15 years to visit hospitals, trauma centres, veterans' facilities, and disaster areas across Southern California. The MTH staff aims to provide a sense of peace, comfort, and joy, whether it be meeting with a veteran who simply wants to sit quietly and share space with one of the horses or soothing youngsters at the bedside as they wake up from anaesthesia following surgery. Besides Shriners for Children Medical Centre in Pasadena, Mini Therapy Horses frequently visits the Department of Children and Family Services Juvenile Court, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Centre, UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, L.A. Family Housing, among others.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meritage Homes Extends Veteran Partnership, Donates 2 More Mortgage-Free Homes
Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH) is one of the most undervalued US stocks according to analysts. Towards the end of May, Meritage Homes announced the extension of its partnership with Operation Homefront's Permanent Homes for Veterans Program. This year marks the company's 12th year of collaboration with the organization, bringing their total donations to 22 mortgage-free homes. As part of this extended partnership, Meritage Homes will donate two brand-new, mortgage-free homes to veteran families. One home will be located in the Lorson Ranch community in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the other in the River Glen community in Angier, North Carolina. An employee of the company pointing out the features of a house to a first-time homebuyer. These newly constructed homes feature open-concept floor plans with designer-curated interiors and a suite of energy-efficient features. This includes ENERGY STAR appliances, a multispeed HVAC system, and spray-foam insulation, contributing to lower utility costs for the families. Each home is also equipped with a smart home suite for convenient control of the thermostat and security devices via a mobile app. The military families to receive these homes will be announced in September this year. Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH) designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the US. It operates through two segments: Homebuilding and Financial Services. While we acknowledge the potential of MTH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Investigate Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH) At US$65.95?
Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH), is not the largest company out there, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$77.60 and falling to the lows of US$62.53. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Meritage Homes' current trading price of US$65.95 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at Meritage Homes's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. According to our price multiple model, which makes a comparison between the company's price-to-earnings ratio and the industry average, the stock price seems to be justfied. In this instance, we've used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock's cash flows. We find that Meritage Homes's ratio of 6.55x is trading slightly below its industry peers' ratio of 8.16x, which means if you buy Meritage Homes today, you'd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe Meritage Homes should be trading in this range, then there isn't much room for the share price to grow beyond the levels of other industry peers over the long-term. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Meritage Homes's share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. View our latest analysis for Meritage Homes Future outlook is an important aspect when you're looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that it's the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. However, with a negative profit growth of -6.1% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn't appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Meritage Homes. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk. Are you a shareholder? MTH seems priced close to industry peers right now, but given the uncertainty from negative returns in the future, this could be the right time to reduce the risk in your portfolio. Is your current exposure to the stock optimal for your total portfolio? And is the opportunity cost of holding a negative-outlook stock too high? Before you make a decision on MTH, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed. Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping an eye on MTH for a while, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. This means there's less benefit from mispricing. Furthermore, the negative growth outlook increases the risk of holding the stock. However, there are also other important factors we haven't considered today, which can help gel your views on MTH should the price fluctuate below the industry PE ratio. If you want to dive deeper into Meritage Homes, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Our analysis shows 3 warning signs for Meritage Homes (2 don't sit too well with us!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing. If you are no longer interested in Meritage Homes, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meritage Homes: A Building Stock For All Seasons
New home being built with wood plank, trusses and assorted supplies I originally made Meritage Homes (MTH) a Long Idea in June 2020 and reiterated my bullish thesis on the stock many times since. Meritage Homes, is steadily taking market share, building and delivering homes faster, all the while returning capital to shareholders through dividends and repurchases. Despite an uncertain housing outlook in the short-term, my thesis remains intact, and the stock remains undervalued. In the latest housing supply update, Freddie Mac estimated that the U.S. housing market was undersupplied by 3.7 million units as of 3Q24. The shortage of homes is a key driver of decreased housing affordability in the country. Put simply, when supply doesn't increase enough to meet demand, prices (home and rent) rise. As the 5th largest homebuilder in the U.S., Meritage Homes' products remain in strong demand, throughout all economic cycles, because everyone needs a place to live. Meritage Homes is in an advantageous position even as housing prices and interest rates remain high. The average sales price of new houses sold in the U.S. sits ~$404k in March 2025, up from ~$332k in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic sent home prices soaring. Entry-level homes, in which Meritage specializes, present a more viable and affordable option for any potential homebuyer. In fact, Meritage Homes' homes closed (finished homes delivered to the customer) grew from 7,709 in 2017 to 15,520 in the TTM ending 1Q25. In turn, the company's market share of U.S. new one family homes increased from 1.3% in 2017 to 2.3% in the TTM. See Figure 1. Figure 1: Meritage Homes' Share of U.S. New One Family Homes Sold: 2017 – TTM MTH Market Share 2017-TTM In 1Q25, Meritage Homes recorded its second highest first quarter orders and closings in company history. Meritage Homes' spec home strategy, which offers move-in ready homes available to close within 60 days, speeds up the buying process. Essentially, this strategy shortens the time between home sale and home closing, and it can help target incentives and promotions to specific market conditions. Of the homes closed in 1Q25, approximately 61% were sold within the same quarter, up from 48% in the prior year period. The company also achieved a record backlog (homes sold but not yet delivered) conversion rate of 221% in 1Q25, up from the 138% in 1Q24. Backlog refers to homes under contract that are not yet closed. It's important to note that the decrease in Meritage Homes' backlog is not due to a decrease in demand, but rather due to a strategic pivot to shorten the sales cycle and sell homes later in the construction cycle. When combining the number of homes in backlog and spec homes in inventory in 1Q25, Meritage has ~5 month supply, which is within the company's preferred range of 4-6 month supply. Figure 2: Meritage Homes' Total Specs & Ending Backlog: 1Q24 – 1Q25 MTH Inventory 1Q24-1Q25 Meritage Homes' fundamentals have been improving over the years. The company has grown revenue and net operating profit after-tax (NOPAT) by 11% and 17% respectively from 2014 through the TTM ended 1Q25. The company's NOPAT margin improved from 7% in 2014 to 11% in the TTM, while invested capital turns fell from 1.5 to 1.2 over the same time. Rising NOPAT margins are enough to offset falling invested capital turns and drive Meritage Homes' return on invested capital (ROIC) from 10% in 2014 to 13% in the TTM. Additionally, the company's Core Earnings, a proven superior earnings measure that excludes unusual gains/losses, grew 17% compounded annually from 2014 through the TTM ended 1Q25. See Figure 3. While below 2022 highs, Meritage Homes' TTM ended 1Q25 Core Earnings are still higher than any annual period between 1998-2020. Figure 3: Meritage Homes' Revenue and Core Earnings: 2014 – TTM MTH Core Earnings and Revenue 2014-TTM Meritage Homes started paying dividends at the beginning of 2023. Since then, Meritage Homes paid $179 million (4% of market cap) in cumulative dividends and increased its quarterly dividend from $0.14/share in 1Q23 to $0.43/share in 1Q25. The company's current dividend, when annualized, provides a 2.5% dividend yield. Though Meritage Homes started paying dividends relatively recently, it's been returning capital to shareholders via share buybacks for much longer. From 2019 through 1Q25, the company repurchased shares worth $486 million (10% of market cap). Since February 2019, Meritage Homes' Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase shares worth up to $750 million, with no specified expiration date. At the end of 1Q25, the company remains authorized to repurchase shares worth up to $264 million. Should the company repurchase shares at its TTM (ending 1Q25) rate, it would repurchase $115 million of shares over the next twelve months, which equals 2.3% of the current market cap. When combined, the dividend and share repurchase yield could reach 4.8%. Meritage Homes generates strong free cash flow (FCF) that covers both its share repurchases and regular dividend payments. From 2019 through 1Q25, Meritage Homes generated $1.1 billion (26% of enterprise value) in FCF while returning $665 million over the same time ($179 million in dividends and $486 million in repurchases). I like companies that choose to return capital to shareholders instead of spending it on costly executive bonuses or acquisitions that rarely drive shareholder value creation. See Figure 4. Figure 4: Meritage Homes' Cumulative FCF Since 2019 MTH Cumulative Free Cash Flow 2019-1Q25 Mortgage rates have risen significantly from the record lows of 2021, when the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) was around 2.2% and the 15-year FRM was around 2.7%. In May of 2025, Freddie Mac estimates that the average 30-year FRM sits at 6.8% and the average 15-year FRM sits at 5.9% in May 2025. See Figure 5. High mortgage rates make purchasing a home more expensive and present a headwind to all builders. Unfortunately, the easiest solution to aid consumers during times of high interest rates is to offer incentives and rate-buydowns, which create a drag on profitability. Figure 5: 30- and 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage: May 2020 – May 2025 Mortgage Rates Past Five Years In the 1Q25 earnings call, Meritage Homes' management noted that they don't yet know to what degree tariff-related cost increases will impact margins the remainder of the year. However, management also noted that 'the current status quo of no tariffs on lumber should get us most of our expected 2025 closings completed at current market lumber prices.' The company also intends to 'leverage its bargaining power with national vendors' given its large scale, limited floor plans, and high level of product visibility. Due to the high interest and mortgage rates, many homebuilders have increased incentives and rate buydowns, which negatively impact margins. Meritage Homes' average selling price (ASP) on home closings, home orders, and home backlogs fell 6%, 2%, and 1% YoY in 1Q25, respectively. Management noted that this decline was driven by 'increased utilization of financial incentives'. We can see the impact of these incentives in Meritage Homes' NOPAT margin, which fell from 12% in 1Q24 to 8.6% in 1Q25. In the company's 1Q25 earnings call, management noted: 'we anticipate the using of pricing incentives to remain elevated for the near future.' The good news is that the impact of lower margins, and any general housing downturn, are already more than priced into MTH at its current price. Details below. At its current price of $67/share, MTH has a price-to-economic book value (PEBV) ratio of 0.7. This ratio means the market expects the company's profits to permanently fall 30% from current levels. For context, Meritage Homes has grown NOPAT by 21% compounded annually over the last five years and 17% compounded annually over the last ten years. Perhaps even more impressive, the company has grown NOPAT 9% compounded annually over the past two decades. Below, I use my reverse discounted cash flow (DCF) model to analyze expectations for different stock price scenarios for MTH. In the first scenario, I quantify the expectations baked into the current price. If I assume: the stock is worth $68/share today – nearly equal to the current stock price. In this scenario, Meritage Homes' NOPAT falls 5% compounded annually from 2025 – 2034. In this scenario, Meritage Homes' NOPAT would equal $471 million in 2034, or 32% below its TTM NOPAT. If I instead assume: the stock is worth $97/share today – a 45% upside to the current price. In this scenario, Meritage Homes' NOPAT would fall <1% compounded annually through 2034. Should the company's NOPAT grow more in line with historical levels, the stock has even more upside. Furthermore, I think companies with long track records of profit growth deserve premium stock valuations, especially in a market filled with so many underperforming companies. Figure 6 compares Meritage Homes' historical NOPAT to the NOPAT implied in each of the above scenarios. Figure 6: Meritage Homes' Historical and Implied NOPAT: DCF Valuation Scenarios MTH DCF Implied NOPAT
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MTH Q1 Earnings Call: Meritage Homes Focuses on Community Growth Amid Market Volatility
Homebuilder Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street's expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 7.5% year on year to $1.36 billion. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $6.75 billion at the midpoint came in 1.5% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.69 per share was 0.9% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy MTH? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.36 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.33 billion (7.5% year-on-year decline, 2.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.69 vs analyst estimates of $1.68 (0.9% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $165.4 million vs analyst estimates of $170.7 million (12.1% margin, 3.1% miss) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $6.75 billion at the midpoint Operating Margin: 11%, down from 15.3% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$48.14 million, down from $75.75 million in the same quarter last year Backlog: $812.4 million at quarter end, down 34.7% year on year Market Capitalization: $4.9 billion Meritage Homes' first quarter results reflected the company's strategic emphasis on rapid inventory turnover and affordable, move-in-ready homes. Management attributed the quarter's performance to a 60-day closing commitment, enhanced use of financing incentives, and a growing community count. CEO Phillippe Lord explained, 'Our strategy is intentionally agile and we constantly are reviewing our start cadence and land spend,' highlighting the importance of adaptability in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting homebuyer sentiment. Looking ahead, Meritage Homes' forward guidance relies heavily on the anticipated double-digit increase in community count and continued demand for affordable new homes. Management reaffirmed full-year revenue expectations, with CFO Hilla Sferruzza noting, "We typically see a pop in volume when we open up a community," and emphasized that community openings—rather than improved market conditions—will be the main driver of growth. The company remains cautious about potential headwinds, such as evolving tariffs and macroeconomic volatility, but expressed confidence in its current strategy and market positioning. Meritage Homes' leadership connected first quarter performance to operational agility, product positioning, and strategic land acquisitions, while addressing the effects of a volatile housing market and heightened affordability concerns. Rapid backlog conversion: The company's 60-day closing commitment led to a record-high backlog conversion rate, allowing Meritage to quickly turn speculative inventory into sales and closings, which management cited as a key differentiator. Incentive-driven affordability: Increased use of financing incentives, particularly rate buy-downs, helped address affordability challenges for homebuyers without widespread price cuts; these incentives were more prevalent in markets facing greater consumer hesitation. Community count expansion: A notable driver of current and future growth was the double-digit year-over-year increase in community count, including new communities in the Gulf Coast and Nashville following targeted land acquisitions. Operational cost management: Cost reductions in direct construction expenses were achieved through purchasing negotiations and scale, partially offsetting lower margins due to higher incentives and reduced leverage of fixed costs. Resilient supply chain and labor: Stable labor availability and steady cycle times benefited Meritage, with management citing industry-wide pullbacks in new construction as providing slack in labor markets. The company reported no major disruptions from recent immigration policy changes or supply chain bottlenecks. Meritage Homes' outlook for the remainder of the year centers on expanding its community footprint and maintaining sales momentum through affordability initiatives, while monitoring risks from interest rates, tariffs, and consumer sentiment. Community growth as primary lever: Management expects the majority of revenue and volume growth to come from a higher number of new communities, particularly those with move-in-ready inventory, rather than assuming improved seasonal demand patterns. Affordability and incentives: The ongoing use of rate buy-downs and selective price increases in certain markets will be key to sustaining homebuyer activity, as the company adapts to persistent affordability constraints and fluctuating mortgage rates. Cost and margin risks: Potential future tariffs on materials and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty represent risks to gross margins, although current supply chain stability and labor availability are expected to support operational execution for the near term. Unidentified Analyst (Zelman & Associates): Asked about higher average closing prices implied in the full-year outlook; management clarified the increase is mainly due to product mix rather than broad-based pricing power. Alan (Analyst): Inquired about the sustainability of incentive levels throughout the year; management indicated incentives would remain elevated and would be adjusted based on mortgage rate volatility and market conditions. Stephen Kim (Evercore ISI): Questioned the timing and expected impact of community count growth; management stated most new communities would open in the second half of the year, driving volume through initial high absorption rates. Michael Rehaut (JPMorgan): Pressed on Meritage's ability to maintain full-year guidance amid industry volatility; management emphasized confidence in its move-in-ready strategy and double-digit community growth as key factors. Trevor Allinson (Wolf Research): Sought insights on the competitive advantage of the 60-day closing commitment; management responded that this certainty, combined with financing incentives, differentiates Meritage from resale and peer offerings. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace and success of new community openings, especially in high-growth regions like the Gulf Coast and Nashville, (2) the evolution of incentive strategies and their impact on margins as interest rates fluctuate, and (3) any signs of supply chain or labor disruptions as the broader housing market responds to ongoing economic and policy shifts. Additionally, we will assess the impact of any new tariffs or regulatory changes on cost structure and gross margins. Meritage Homes currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 7.6×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
