Builders Meritage, Ryland, See Revenues Tumble

Scottsdale, AZ, Jan. 29, 2009--Home builders Meritage Homes Corp. and Ryland saw sales fall significantly in the fourth quarter and losses continued.

Meritage saw fourth-quarter revenue plummet to $400 million from $619 million for the same period a year ago, but did manage to shore up losses.

The Arizona firm eported a net loss of $79.1 million, or $2.58 per share, for the past quarter, compared with $129 million, or $4.91, a year ago.

For the year, Meritage revenue fell to $1.52 billion from $2.34 billion in 2007 as the housing crunch deepened across the country. Net loss for 2008 was $292 billion, compared with $289 million in 2007.

The company also reported that it increased cash position by $87 million during the fourth quarter, to $206 million at year end.

Calabasas, Calif.-based Ryland Group Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss of $59.9 million Wednesday as revenue dropped 39%.

Sales were $513.5 million during the period of Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, down from $828.8 million a year earlier.

The loss of $1.40 a share exceeded analysts' average projection of $1.19 a share.