PulteGroup, Inc. announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2018. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $290 million, or $1.01 per share compared with prior year net income of $178 million, or $0.58 per share. The higher net income for the period was primarily the result of a 25% increase in homebuilding revenues, in combination with a 190 basis point expansion of operating margin.

“Consistent with our stated strategies, PulteGroup continues to successfully deliver strong earnings growth, while achieving high returns on invested capital and equity,” said Company President and CEO, Ryan Marshall. “By focusing on intelligently growing our business, while realizing increased operating efficiencies, we leveraged 25% growth in homebuilding revenues into a 74% gain in earnings to $1.01 per share.”

“The critical underpinnings that have supported a slow but steady housing recovery, including a strong economy, low unemployment, high consumer confidence and limited home inventory, remain solidly in place,” continued Marshall. “While buyer concerns around affordability and rising mortgage rates appear to have impacted near term market dynamics, traffic trends indicate that buyer interest levels are still high and that the overall housing recovery remains on track.”

Third Quarter Results

Home sale revenues for the third quarter increased 25% over the prior year to $2.6 billion. The higher revenues for the period reflect a 17% increase in closings to 6,031 homes, combined with a 7%, or $27,000, increase in average sales price to $427,000.

Home sale gross margin for the third quarter was 24.0%, which is up 10 basis points over the prior year and consistent with the Company’s reported gross margin for the second quarter of 2018. Homebuilding SG&A expense for the quarter was $253 million, or 9.8% of home sale revenues, compared with $237 million, or 11.6% of home sale revenues, in the prior year. Operating margin for the third quarter expanded 190 basis points over last year to 14.2%.

Net new orders for the third quarter increased 1% to 5,350 homes. The value of third quarter net new orders was $2.3 billion, which is an increase of 1% over the prior year. For the quarter, the Company operated out of 843 communities compared with 778 communities in the third quarter of 2017.

Unit backlog for the quarter was up 3% over the third quarter of last year to 11,164 homes, with backlog value increasing 5% to $4.9 billion. The average price of homes in backlog increased 2% over the prior year to $440,000.

Third quarter pretax income for the Company's financial services operations increased 10% to $20 million. The increase in pretax income for the period was driven by higher mortgage origination volumes resulting from growth in the Company’s homebuilding operations. Mortgage capture rate for the quarter was 75%, compared with 80% in the prior year.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 2.4 million common shares for $67 million, or an average price of $28.14 per share.