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Lennar Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 September 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS down from prior year: Diluted EPS was $1.19 against $2.29 a year earlier. Excluding mark-to-market losses on technology investments and one-time Financial Services items, EPS was $1.23 against $2.00 excluding gains last year. Source
  • New orders down 9%: New orders were 20,879 homes, 9% below the prior year, at an average price of $359,000. Source
  • Gross margin fell year over year: Gross margin on home sales was 15.8% against 17.5% a year earlier, and up sequentially from 15.6% in the second quarter. Source
  • Lennar Other loss on technology investments: Lennar Other posted an operating loss of $84 million, against earnings of $62 million a year earlier, driven by $53 million of mark-to-market losses on technology investments. Source

“While our earnings of $1.19 per share were below expectations, they reflect the nature of the environment in which we are operating, which has deteriorated since our last earnings call.”

Stuart Miller, Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Lennar

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
New orders SourceFourth quarter of 202619,500 to 20,500 homesNew
Average sales price SourceFourth quarter of 2026$370,000 to $380,000New
SG&A as a percentage of home sales SourceFourth quarter of 20268.7% to 9.0%New
Financial Services operating earnings SourceFourth quarter of 2026$90 million - $95 millionNew
Deliveries SourceFull-year 2026approximately 80,000 to 81,000 homesLowered from 82,000 to 83,000 homes
Deliveries SourceFourth quarter of 202622,000 to 23,000 homesNew
Gross margin on home sales SourceFourth quarter of 202615.5% to 16.0%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 deliveries target moved from 82,000 to 83,000 homes to 80,000 to 81,000 homes. Source
  • New guidance: Quarterly guidance given for fourth-quarter 2026 orders, deliveries, average sales price, gross margin, SG&A and Financial Services operating earnings. Source

Third quarter results and earnings

  • Diluted EPS down from prior year: Diluted EPS was $1.19 against $2.29 a year earlier. Excluding mark-to-market losses on technology investments and one-time Financial Services items, EPS was $1.23 against $2.00 excluding gains last year. Source
  • Deliveries and revenue both declined: Deliveries fell 3% year over year. Revenue from home sales was $7.7 billion, down 6%, with the average sales price down 3%. Total revenues were $8.0 billion. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose on spin-off: The effective tax rate was 26.4% against 24.4% a year earlier. Management attributed the increase primarily to the spin-off of Millrose Properties, Inc. Source

Demand and the order book

  • New orders down 9%: New orders were 20,879 homes, 9% below the prior year, at an average price of $359,000. Source
  • Backlog lower than prior year: Backlog ended the quarter at 16,857 homes valued at $6.3 billion, against 16,953 homes and $6.6 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Sales pace held at 4.1: Starts and sales pace were both 4.1 homes per community per month across 1,713 active communities. Management described this as the even-flow balance that drives efficiency. Source

“Mortgage rates increased through the quarter, with the 30-year rate at approximately 6.8% at quarter end and even higher since.”

Stuart Miller, Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Lennar

Margins, pricing and selling costs

  • Gross margin fell year over year: Gross margin on home sales was 15.8% against 17.5% a year earlier, and up sequentially from 15.6% in the second quarter. Source
  • Lower revenue per foot and higher land costs: Management attributed the year-over-year margin decline to lower revenue per square foot and higher land costs, partly offset by lower construction costs. Source
  • SG&A rose to 9.2% of sales: SG&A was $714 million against $676 million, and rose to 9.2% of home-sales revenue from 8.2% on less leverage and higher marketing and selling spend. Source
  • Net margin of 6.6%: Net margin on home sales was 6.6%, reflecting the 15.8% gross margin and 9.2% SG&A ratio. Source

Construction costs, cycle time and inventory

  • Construction cost per foot down 14% since 2023: Construction cost per square foot fell 1% sequentially and 6% year over year, and is down 14% from the fourth quarter 2023 baseline. Source
  • Cycle time reached new record low: Cycle time was 116 days, a record low, down from 121 days last quarter and 126 days a year earlier. Source
  • Completed unsold inventory reduced: Completed, unsold inventory fell to 1.8 homes per community from 2.1 last quarter, and the inventory turn was 2.4 times. Source

“Our consistent strategy has been to meet demand at affordability and build supply rather than wait the market out.”

Stuart Miller, Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Lennar

Financial Services, Multifamily and Lennar Other

  • Financial Services earnings include one-time items: Financial Services operating earnings were $129 million, including $39 million of net one-time items from a litigation accrual reversal, against $177 million a year earlier. Source
  • Lower lock volume and profit per loan: Excluding the one-time items, the drop in Financial Services earnings was driven by lower profit per locked loan and lower lock volume in the mortgage business. Source
  • Multifamily loss narrowed: Multifamily posted an operating loss of $3 million, against a $16 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • Lennar Other loss on technology investments: Lennar Other posted an operating loss of $84 million, against earnings of $62 million a year earlier, driven by $53 million of mark-to-market losses on technology investments. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Cash and repurchases in the quarter: Homebuilding cash ended at $1.2 billion after buying back 3 million shares for $256 million and repaying $400 million of senior notes. Source
  • Average buyback price $85.49: Repurchases were made at an average share price of $85.49. The second quarter repurchases were 5 million shares for $447 million. Source
  • Revolver borrowings drawn: Outstanding borrowings were $650 million under the $3.1 billion revolving credit facility, against no borrowings at the end of the second quarter. Source
  • Homebuilding debt to capital rose: Homebuilding debt to total capital was 16.6%, up from 15.8% at May 31, 2026. Source

Strategy: volume, land-light and execution

  • Volume kept to lower costs: Management said it prioritized volume to create supply, deliver at affordable prices, leverage scale and ultimately improve margins. Source
  • Land largely held off balance sheet: Of about 488,000 homesites owned or controlled, fewer than 2.5% are on the balance sheet. Source
  • Volume and execution across metrics: Management said maintaining volume has improved execution across numerous key metrics. Source

Market conditions and affordability

  • Consumers slowing purchase decisions: Management said consumer confidence has declined as rates and affordability led more buyers to slow their purchase decisions. Source
  • Demand from shortage and rental buyers: Management said housing shortages continue to drive demand from primary buyers and from single-family-for-rent and build-to-rent buyers, even as market conditions weakened. Source
  • Fundamental housing shortage not solved: Management said the fundamental shortage of housing in America has not been solved. Source

Guidance for fourth quarter and year

  • Fourth-quarter orders, pricing and SG&A guided: Fourth-quarter new orders are guided at 19,500 to 20,500 homes, with average sales price of $370,000 to $380,000 and SG&A of 8.7% to 9.0% of home sales. Source
  • Financial Services earnings guided: Fourth-quarter Financial Services operating earnings are guided at $90 million to $95 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 16 September 2026

  • Fourth-quarter guidance ranges set: Management expects fourth-quarter new orders, deliveries, average sales price, gross margin and SG&A within the ranges given for the quarter. Source
  • Full-year delivery target reset: Full-year 2026 deliveries are now targeted at about 80,000 to 81,000 homes, a moderated target from the prior range. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Deliveries (homes) Source20,840
New orders (homes) Source20,879
Backlog (homes and dollar value) Source16,857 homes, $6.3 billion
Active communities Source1,713
Sales pace (homes per community per month) Source4.1

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited about 12.0% incentives and base price adjustments needed to sustain volume, with affordability as the main constraint on sales. Source
  • External: Management said inflation above the Fed's target, driven by geopolitical tension and higher oil prices, is driving the rate increases. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management stated that third quarter deliveries came in within the range it had guided. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the team adhered to its strategy of keeping volume consistent to drive costs lower. 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.