Toll Bros. 4Q Earnings Up 72%

Horsham, PA, December 8, 2005–Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc., reported fourth quarter earnings that were up 72 percent, but the company said fiscal 2006 earnings could miss Wall Street expectations on a slowing housing market, and was uncertain of its outlook for 2007.

The company said it earned $310.3 million, or $1.84 per share, in the three months that ended Oct. 31st, from $180.6 million, or $1.11 per share, a year ago. Revenue climbed 40 percent to $2.02 billion from $1.45 billion last year.

Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.65 per share on sales of about $2.02 billion. The company said its results in the latest quarter were the highest for any quarter in its history.

For the full year, earnings nearly doubled to $806.1 million, or $4.78 per share, from $409.1 million, or $2.52 per share last year. Revenue rose to $5.79 billion from $3.86 billion.

Analysts forecast earnings of $4.59 per share on revenue of $5.81 billion for the year.