COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO) announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. 2024 First Quarter Highlights: New contracts increased 17% to 2,547 Homes delivered increased 8% to 2,158, a first quarter record Revenue increased 5% to $1.05 billion, a first quarter record Pre-tax income increased 33% to $180.2 million, 17.2% of revenue and a first quarter record Net income increased 34% to a first quarter record $138.1 million ($4.78 per diluted share) Shareholders' equity reached a record of $2.6 billion, a 21% increase from a year ago, with book value per share of $95 Backlog sales value increased to $1.8 billion, up 4% Return on equity of 21% The Company reported record first quarter pre-tax income of $180.2 million and record first quarter net income of $138.1 million, or $4.78 per diluted share. This compares to pre-tax income of $136.0 million and net income of $103.1 million, or $3.64 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023. Homes delivered in 2024's first quarter increased 8% to 2,158 homes, a first quarter record for the Company. This compares to 2,007 homes delivered in 2023's first quarter. New contracts for the first quarter of 2024 increased 17% to 2,547 compared to 2,171 in 2023. Homes in backlog at March 31, 2024 had a total sales value of $1.8 billion, a 4% increase from a year ago. Backlog units at March 31, 2024 increased 3% to 3,391 homes, with an average sales price of $528,000. At March 31, 2023, backlog sales value was $1.7 billion, with backlog units of 3,301 and an average sales price of $522,000. M/I Homes had 219 communities at March 31, 2024 compared to 200 communities at March 31, 2023. The Company's cancellation rate was 8% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 13% in the first quarter of 2023. Robert H. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "We had an exceptional first quarter - setting first quarter records in homes delivered, revenue, and income. In addition, we were very pleased with our new contracts increasing by 17%, as well as producing strong margins and returns. Our homes delivered increased 8% to a record 2,158, revenue increased 5% to a record $1.05 billion and our gross margins improved by 360 basis points to 27%. This resulted in pre-tax income increasing by 33% to a first quarter record of $180.2 million, 17.2% of revenue, and a 21% return on equity." Mr. Schottenstein continued, "Our financial condition is excellent. We ended the quarter with record shareholders' equity of $2.6 billion, book value of $95 per share, cash of $870 million, zero borrowings on our $650 million credit facility, and a homebuilding debt to capital ratio of 21%, and net-debt-to-capital ratio of negative 7%. Given our performance in the first quarter of 2024, our diverse product offerings and well-located communities, we are positioned to have a strong 2024." The Company will broadcast live its earnings conference call today at 10:30 A.M. Eastern Time. To listen to the call live, log on to the M/I Homes' website at mihomes.com, click on the "Investors" section of the site, and select "Listen to the Conference Call."  A replay of the call will continue to be available on our website through April 2025. M/I Homes, Inc. is one of the nation's leading homebuilders of single-family homes. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers/Naples and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee. Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "envisions," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statements that we make herein and in any future reports and statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, factors relating to the economic environment, interest rates, availability of resources, competition, market concentration, land development activities, construction defects, product liability and warranty claims and various governmental rules and regulations, as more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as the same may be updated from time to time in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed herein will increase with the passage of time. We undertake no duty to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent filings, releases or presentations should be consulted.   M/I Homes, Inc. and Subsidiaries Summary Statement of Income (unaudited) (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 New contracts 2,547 2,171 Average community count 216 198 Cancellation rate 8 % 13 % Backlog units 3,391 3,301 Backlog sales value $   1,789,340 $   1,724,550 Homes delivered 2,158 2,007 Average home closing price $             471 $             486 Homebuilding revenue:    Housing revenue $  1,016,513 $     974,946    Land revenue 3,228 303 Total homebuilding revenue $  1,019,741 $     975,249 Financial services revenue 26,962 25,281 Total revenue $  1,046,703 $  1,000,530 Cost of sales - operations 763,360 765,904 Gross margin $    283,343 $     234,626 General and administrative expense 56,084 50,960 Selling expense 53,940 49,080 Operating income $    173,319 $    134,586 Other income — (7) Interest income, net of interest expense (6,920) (1,389) Income before income taxes $    180,239