Company: LEN
Filing Date: 2025-01-23
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001628280-25-002404
Chunk: 139

Company: LENNAR CORP /NEW/
Filing Date: 2025-01-23
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 139
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Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Report. It also should be read in conjunction with the disclosure under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I of this Form 10-K.

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Table of Contents

Outlook 

As the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 began, we expected affordability to ease with the reduction in interest rates by the Fed, and we priced accordingly, however, mortgage rates climbed approximately 100 basis points instead of falling. We saw sales stall at then-existing price and incentive levels, which required us to increase incentives, provide interest rate buy-downs and adjust prices to stimulate sales and avoid inventory build-up. As a result, we have moderated our expectations for margins and sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, as the market adjusts and stabilizes.

A combination of wavering consumer confidence and elevated acquisition costs dampened customers’ desire and ability to transact. In addition, inflation and interest rates have hindered the ability of the average family to accumulate a down payment or qualify for a mortgage. Higher interest rates have curtailed the normal move up homebuyer as families expand and need more space. However, strong employment often goes hand-in-hand with a strong housing market, and we expect broad-based demand to resume as rates stabilize or even moderate, releasing pent-up demand against short supply.

Tariffs and immigration have recently been added to the list of concerns confronting the homebuilding industry. Our early evaluation suggests that steps we took in the past several years to move supply into the United States will reduce our exposure to the effect of increased tariffs. The likely effects of reduced immigration and possible widespread deportations are more difficult to predict. We feel confident that similar to the supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, we will be able to work with our local trades and national manufacturers to find the most effective solutions due to our Builder of Choice position with consistent high volume and a focus on production efficiencies.

We continue to believe in the two core parts of our operating strategy:

The first is our focus on matching production with sales pace. Even though our execution in the fourth quarter was challenged by the unexpected change in the direction of interest rates, we were able to adjust incentives and pricing sufficiently to prevent our inventory of finished homes from significantly spiking. We are currently focused on accelerating sales volume in order to correct