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ST JOE Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5% to $99.1 million: Total revenue was $99.1 million against $94.2 million, and operating income rose 8% to $18.2 million. Management called it the highest first-quarter revenue outside the 2014 timberland sale. Source
  • Net income fell 21%, EBITDA fell 16%: Net income attributable to the Company was $13.9 million, or $0.24 per share, against $17.5 million, or $0.30 per share. EBITDA was $33.6 million against $39.8 million. Source
  • Equity income from joint ventures fell $6.7M: Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures was $3.5 million, against $10.2 million a year earlier. Management tied the drop to lower Latitude Margaritaville Watersound home closings. Source
  • Hospitality revenue hit first-quarter record: Hospitality revenue rose 13% to $44.7 million. Watersound Club revenue rose 16% to $22.8 million and hotel revenue rose 10% to $19.5 million. Source
  • Homesites under contract reached 3,204: Homesites under contract were 3,204, against 952 a year earlier, after 1,380 homesites were placed under contract in the quarter. The total includes 1,326 in Pigeon Creek and about 647 in SouthWood. Source
  • PulteGroup signs for up to 2,653 homesites: PulteGroup is new to the market and is the company's third national homebuilder, joining D.R. Horton and Toll Brothers. Management said it is the third largest homebuilder in the country. Source
  • Capital spending and returns in quarter: The company funded $20.7 million of capital expenditures, paid $9.2 million of cash dividends, repurchased $5.0 million of common stock and repaid $10.9 million of debt. Source
  • Watersound West Bay Center planned at 500,000 sq ft: The center is planned for at least 500,000 square feet of leasable space, which management said alone would add about 40% to the current commercial leasing portfolio. Source

“Building on a record year in 2025, the first quarter 2026 revenue of $99.1 million was the Company’s highest first quarter revenue outside of the one-off timberland sale in 2014.”

Jorge Gonzalez, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue from remaining homesite contracts SourceOver the next several years, for 1,231 homesitesapproximately $119.9 million, plus residuals
Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community size SourceTotal planned build-outapproximately 3,700 homesKept
Watersound West Bay Center leasable space SourcePlanned, no date givenminimum of 500,000 square feet
Latitude Margaritaville Watersound homes under contract, expected sales value SourceAt completion, for 158 homes under contractapproximately $93.5 million
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable June 25, 2026$0.16 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company signed a contract with PulteGroup for up to 2,653 homesites, its third national homebuilder partner, in the most recently approved Detailed Specific Area Plan. Source
  • New: The company executed a utility agreement for potable water and sanitary sewer service covering the Lake Powell and West Laird areas. Source
  • New: Development of a new Publix grocery store began at the Watersound West Bay Center, at the entry to the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community. Source
  • Guidance kept: The quarterly dividend was declared at $0.16 per share, the same amount as in the prior quarter's release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5% to $99.1 million: Total revenue was $99.1 million against $94.2 million, and operating income rose 8% to $18.2 million. Management called it the highest first-quarter revenue outside the 2014 timberland sale. Source
  • Net income fell 21%, EBITDA fell 16%: Net income attributable to the Company was $13.9 million, or $0.24 per share, against $17.5 million, or $0.30 per share. EBITDA was $33.6 million against $39.8 million. Source
  • Hospitality and leasing were 60% of revenue: Management said hospitality and leasing together made up 60% of total revenue in the quarter, which it described as growth in recurring revenue. Source

Joint venture earnings declined

  • Equity income from joint ventures fell $6.7M: Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures was $3.5 million, against $10.2 million a year earlier. Management tied the drop to lower Latitude Margaritaville Watersound home closings. Source
  • Joint venture revenue fell to $56.1M: Unconsolidated joint venture revenue was $56.1 million, against $123.2 million. The company attributed the decline mainly to the timing and number of homes completed at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound. Source
  • Completed home sales fell to 83: The Latitude Margaritaville Watersound venture completed 83 home sales in the quarter, against 192 in the first quarter of 2025. The community had 2,273 occupied homes. Source
  • Cumulative venture earnings reached $92.1M: Cumulative earnings from the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound joint venture totaled $92.1 million as of March 31, 2026, in addition to payments for the initial land contribution. Source
  • Community planned for about 3,700 homes: Management said the community is planned for about 3,700 homes, which it expects to generate added demand for goods and services near the Watersound West Bay Center. Source

“Residential projects of that scale and longevity have an ebb and flow of volume over time caused by many factors, including mortgage interest rates.”

Jorge Gonzalez, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Segment revenue: real estate, hospitality, leasing

  • Real estate revenue rose 4%: Real estate revenue was $39.7 million, up from $38.3 million. Residential volume was 168 homesites and six townhomes, against 249 homesites a year earlier. Source
  • Hospitality revenue hit first-quarter record: Hospitality revenue rose 13% to $44.7 million. Watersound Club revenue rose 16% to $22.8 million and hotel revenue rose 10% to $19.5 million. Source
  • Leasing revenue fell 10% after Watercrest sale: Leasing revenue was $14.7 million, against $16.3 million, mainly due to the September 2025 sale of the Watercrest joint venture senior living property. Source

Demand and homesite pipeline

  • Homesites under contract reached 3,204: Homesites under contract were 3,204, against 952 a year earlier, after 1,380 homesites were placed under contract in the quarter. The total includes 1,326 in Pigeon Creek and about 647 in SouthWood. Source
  • PulteGroup signs for up to 2,653 homesites: PulteGroup is new to the market and is the company's third national homebuilder, joining D.R. Horton and Toll Brothers. Management said it is the third largest homebuilder in the country. Source
  • Remaining contracts expected to yield $119.9M: The 1,231 homesites under contract, excluding Pigeon Creek and SouthWood, are expected to produce about $119.9 million at closing, plus residuals, over the next several years. Source
  • Pipeline holds over 23,500 homesites: The residential homesite pipeline holds over 23,500 homesites at various stages of development, engineering, permitting or concept planning. Source
  • Venture signed 92 net sale contracts: The Latitude Margaritaville Watersound venture signed 92 net sale contracts in the quarter, with 158 homes under contract at an average price of about $592,000 at March 31, 2026. Source

“we are improving profitability, as evidenced by the increase in margins in hospitality and leasing.”

Jorge Gonzalez, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Costs and margins

  • Corporate costs rose $1.8M: Corporate and other operating expenses rose to $8.4 million from $6.6 million. Management said the increase was primarily related to compensation payments made in the first quarter. Source
  • Hospitality gross margin rose to 24.4%: Hospitality gross margin improved in every category to 24.4%, from 18.2% a year earlier. Management cited this, with leasing margins, as evidence of improving profitability. Source
  • Leasing gross margin rose to 61.2%: Leasing gross profit rose $0.1 million to $9.0 million, a 61.2% margin against 54.6% a year earlier, although leasing revenue was lower. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Capital spending and returns in quarter: The company funded $20.7 million of capital expenditures, paid $9.2 million of cash dividends, repurchased $5.0 million of common stock and repaid $10.9 million of debt. Source
  • Capital allocation split 45%, 31%, 24%: Capital allocation was 45% to capital expenditures, 31% to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, and 24% to debt repayment. Source
  • Cash rose to $136.3M: Cash and cash equivalents were $136.3 million at March 31, 2026, up from $129.6 million at December 31, 2025. Investment in development property was $259.7 million. Source
  • Debt rate 4.7%, mostly fixed: The weighted average effective interest rate on outstanding debt was 4.7%, with an average remaining life of 19.7 years. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.16 declared: The Board declared a $0.16 per share cash dividend on April 29, 2026, the same amount as in the prior quarter. Source

Strategy and new projects

  • Watersound West Bay Center planned at 500,000 sq ft: The center is planned for at least 500,000 square feet of leasable space, which management said alone would add about 40% to the current commercial leasing portfolio. Source
  • Publix store development has started: Development of a new Publix grocery store has begun at the Watersound West Bay Center, which management links to residents creating demand for commercial goods. Source
  • Utility deal covers two plan areas: The company executed a utility agreement for water and sewer serving the Lake Powell and West Laird areas, representing thousands of future residential homesites. Work is planned later this year. Source
  • Marina and affiliated businesses cited: Management cited a planned marina on the Intracoastal Waterway, along with its brokerage, insurance and title businesses, as further benefits of the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • Form 10-Q to follow: Further first-quarter detail will be given in a Form 10-Q to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Source
  • Dividend payment and record date: The $0.16 dividend is payable June 25, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2026. Source
  • Utility infrastructure work starts: Work on the utility infrastructure for the Lake Powell and West Laird areas is planned to commence later in 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Homesites under contract Source3,204 at March 31, 2026 (952 a year earlier)
Residential homesite pipeline Sourceover 23,500 homesites
Residential homesites and townhomes closed in quarter Source168 homesites and six townhomes
Latitude Margaritaville Watersound completed home sales Source83 in Q1 2026 (192 in Q1 2025)
Latitude Margaritaville Watersound occupied homes Source2,273
Watersound Club members Source3,647 at March 31, 2026 (3,498 a year earlier)
Operational hotel rooms Source1,298 rooms in 12 hotels

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said closing volume at the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound venture moves over time with many factors, including mortgage interest rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management recalled earlier statements that the community was developed for more than financial performance, including creating energy in land holdings and consumers for commercial leasing. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.