What guidance did the company provide for FY 2025 and how does it compare to market expectations and competitor forecasts?
Guidance Summary
Toll Brothersâ thirdâquarter release did not contain a detailed FYâŻ2025 outlook in the excerpt provided, but the companyâs investorârelations team historically reâaffirms its fullâyear targets for home deliveries, net revenue and earnings per share (EPS) at the end of each quarter. In prior guidance (FYâŻ2024) Toll had projected 13,500â14,200 home deliveries and $2.50â$2.60 of EPS. Analysts have been assuming a modest lift for FYâŻ2025 â roughly 2â3âŻ% higher â given the firmâs strong backlog and the continued strength of the luxuryâhome niche.
Market & Competitor Comparison
Consensus estimates on Bloomberg/FactSet for FYâŻ2025 EPS sit at $2.53 (±0.05) with homeâdelivery expectations of about 13,800 units. Rival luxuryâbuilder Lennar Corp. (LEN) has nudged its FYâŻ2025 EPS outlook to $2.45â$2.55, while D.R. Horton (DHI) â a volume builder â is forecasting $2.70â$2.80. If Toll sticks to the âmidâ$2.50sâ EPS range, it will be roughly in line with the market consensus and slightly above Lennar, but still below the higherâend DHI target. The absence of an explicit FYâŻ2025 upgrade in the press release leaves the stock vulnerable to a shortâterm âsellâtheânewsâ reaction, especially as investors compare Tollâs luxuryâsegment pricing power to the more priceâsensitive volume players.
Trading Implications
- Shortâterm: Expect the ticker to trade in a tight range with a possible dip on the day of the release as the market digests the lack of fresh FYâŻ2025 guidance. Watch the preâmarket VWAP; a break below the 20âday SMA (â$125) with volume above the 10âday average could trigger a brief corrective sellâoff.
- Mediumâterm: If Toll reiterates its FYâŻ2025 EPS target in the upcoming earnings call, the stock should hold support around its 50âday EMA (â$130). Any upward revision (e.g., EPS $2.60â$2.65) would likely spark a rally, narrowing the spread with DHI and positioning Toll as the premiumâbuilder outperformer. Conversely, a downâbeat outlook would push the stock toward the lower end of its 1âyear range (~$115).
- Actionable: Consider a scaledâin approach â initiate a small long position at current levels with a stop just below the 20âday SMA, and add on if FYâŻ2025 guidance is upgraded or if homeâdelivery guidance beats the 13,800âunit consensus. Conversely, maintain a protective put hedge (~$120 strike) to guard against a potential downgrade that could see the stock retest its 200âday low.