8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 2, 2005

Pulte Homes, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Michigan	001-09804	38-2766606
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
100 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan		48304
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 248-647-2750

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
	Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Exhibit Index
Fourth Quarter 2004 Earnings Press Release

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 2, 2005, Pulte Homes, Inc. issued a press release announcing earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. A copy of this earnings press release is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 2.02 by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1 Fourth quarter 2004 earnings press release dated February 2, 2005

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the attached press release shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Pulte Homes, Inc.
February 3, 2005	By:	David M. Sherbin
		Name: David M. Sherbin
		Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Fourth quarter 2004 press release dated February 2, 2005

EX-99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investor Relations
Contact: James Zeumer
Vice President
(248) 433-4597
email: jim.zeumer@pulte.com

Media Relations
Contact: Mark Marymee
Corporate Communications
(248) 433-4648
email: mark.marymee@pulte.com

PULTE HOMES REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER AND
FULL YEAR 2004 FINANCIAL RESULTS

•   Fourth Quarter Earnings from Continuing Operations Increase 64% to $3.20 Per Diluted Share; Consolidated Revenues Climb to $4.2 Billion

•   U.S. Deliveries in the Quarter Climb 20% to 13,424 Homes, Driving Domestic Homebuilding Settlement Revenues to $3.9 Billion

•   Backlog Value Increases 24% to $5.2 Billion; Unit Backlog Up 14% to 15,916 Homes

•   Record 2004 Consolidated Revenues of $11.7 Billion

•   Full Year Earnings from Continuing Operations Increase 56% to a Record $7.67 Per Diluted Share

•   Company Reaffirms Guidance for 2005 Earnings from Continuing Operations in the Range of $9.00 to $9.50 Per Diluted Share

     Bloomfield Hills, MI, February 2, 2005 - Pulte Homes, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) today announced record financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. For the quarter, income from continuing operations increased 68% to a record $418.2 million, compared with $248.5 million in 2003. Fourth quarter earnings from continuing operations increased 64% to $3.20 per diluted share, compared with prior year earnings from continuing operations of $1.95 per diluted share. Consolidated fourth quarter revenues for the Company increased 35% to a record $4.2 billion.

     For the year, Pulte Homes reported record consolidated revenues of $11.7 billion, an increase of 30% over the prior year and the first time the Company’s revenues have topped $11 billion. Full year earnings from continuing operations rose 56% to $7.67 per diluted share, compared with $4.93 in the prior year. Pulte’s financial results for the fourth quarter and the full years of 2004 and 2003 have been adjusted to reflect the previously announced sale of the Company’s Argentina operations in early January 2005. As of December 31, 2004, Pulte’s Argentina operations have been classified as held for sale and presented as discontinued operations.

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     “Pulte’s fourth quarter results complete a record breaking year in which our revenues increased 30% to more than $11.7 billion, while our earnings from continuing operations increased 56% to a record $7.67 per diluted share,” said Richard J. Dugas, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. “As strong as 2004 was, Pulte is entering 2005 in an even better position with a record backlog valued at $5.2 billion and a strong land pipeline capable of supporting our growth targets for 2005.”

     “Given our record backlog, solid demand environment and robust community pipeline, we are reaffirming previous guidance for 2005 earnings from continuing operations of $9.00 to $9.50 per diluted share, representing a year-over-year increase of 17% to 24%,” said Dugas.

Fourth Quarter Results

     Revenues from domestic homebuilding settlements for the fourth quarter increased 35% to a record $3.9 billion. Higher revenues for the period were the result of a 13% increase in average selling price to $294,000 combined with a 20% increase in total home deliveries to a fourth quarter record of 13,424 homes. The higher average selling price for the period reflects a combination of price increases realized during the quarter and changes in the mix of homes delivered.

     Fourth quarter domestic homebuilding pretax income increased 66% to $663.2 million, compared with prior year pretax income of $399.7 million. Pretax income for the period benefited from a 180 basis point increase in gross margins from home settlements resulting from higher prices, a favorable product mix and an improvement in overall operating efficiencies. Selling, General & Administrative expenses as a percent of home settlement revenues dropped 110 basis points to 7.5%.

     Land sales during the quarter generated $157.5 million in revenues and $62.9 million in gross profits, compared with $115.3 million and $40.8 million, respectively, in 2003. Land sales are an important component of the Company’s domestic homebuilding operations, but can fluctuate quarter-to-quarter depending upon the timing of individual land transactions.

     Domestic net new home orders for the quarter were 8,940, up 6% from the prior year fourth quarter orders of 8,465 homes. “Demand remained strong during the quarter, with our domestic operations delivering a 6% increase in net new sign ups,” said Dugas. “Order activity in Las Vegas responded as planned following price adjustments announced in October, but the anticipated higher cancellation rates experienced during the period distort reported fourth quarter net sign ups. Excluding the Las Vegas market, Pulte’s fourth quarter net new home orders increased 17% over the prior year.”

     Pulte’s ending backlog for its domestic operations was valued at $5.2 billion, an increase of 24% over the prior year. Year end unit backlog was 15,916 homes, an increase of 14% compared with 13,952 at the end of 2003.

     Fourth quarter pretax income for the Company’s financial services operations totaled $17.7 million, up slightly from prior year pretax income of $17.5 million as gains associated with increased loan origination volumes were partially offset by a less favorable interest rate environment and higher overhead costs associated with initiatives to drive better customer service. Higher homebuilding volumes, combined with a 550 basis point increase in capture rate

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to 88.8%, helped drive loan production for the period to 12,316 loans, representing $2.4 billion in principal value.

     For the fourth quarter, Pulte’s International operations reported pretax income of $6.6 million, compared with $4 million in 2003. Increased unit closings and revenues in the Company’s Mexico and Puerto Rico operations drove the improved performance for the quarter. Pulte continues to evaluate different strategic alternatives with regard to its International operations as part of a broader initiative to drive enhanced financial results. As part of this process, Pulte Homes sold all of its Argentina operations in early January 2005. Although the sale was completed subsequent to the close of 2004, as a result of this transaction, the Company reported Pulte Argentina as a Discontinued Operation in the fourth quarter and recorded an after-tax charge of approximately $20.6 million.

Full Year Results

     For the year ended December 31, 2004, Pulte Homes’ income from continuing operations increased 61% to $998 million, compared with prior year income of $619.2 million. Earnings from continuing operations for 2004 were $7.67 per diluted share, an increase of 56% over prior year earnings from continuing operations of $4.93 per diluted share. Consolidated revenues for 2004 were a record $11.7 billion, up from $9 billion in 2003. Pulte’s earnings for the fourth quarter and the full years of 2004 and 2003 have been adjusted to reflect the sale of the Company’s Argentina operations, which are now reported as held for sale and presented as discontinued operations.

     Revenues from domestic homebuilding settlements for 2004 increased 31% to $11.1 billion. Higher revenues for the period resulted from an 11% increase in average selling price to $287,000 combined with an 18% increase in the number of homes closed which totaled a record 38,612 homes. The increase in average selling price for the period reflects a combination of price increases and a favorable change in the mix of product closed during the period.

     Domestic homebuilding pretax income for the year increased 64% to a record $1.6 billion, compared with prior year pretax income of $998.8 million. Gross margins from home sales for the period increased 200 basis points to 22.6%, while Selling, General & Administrative costs as a percentage of settlement revenues dropped 90 basis points to 8.8%. Land sales for the year generated $99.8 million in gross margin, compared with $65.9 million in 2003.

     For 2004, Pulte’s financial services operations reported pretax income of $47.4 million, a decrease of 31% from prior year pretax income of $68.8 million, as gains associated with increased loan origination volumes were offset by a less favorable interest rate environment and higher overhead costs associated with initiatives to drive better customer service. Higher homebuilding volumes, combined with a 580 basis point increase in capture rate to 87.8%, helped drive loan originations for the period to 35,232 loans, representing $6.7 billion in principal value.

     Pulte’s International operations reported pretax income for 2004 was $10.4 million, compared with pretax income of $6.3 million in 2003. Increased unit closings and revenues in the Company’s Mexico and Puerto Rico operations drove the improved performance for the year.

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     A conference call discussing Pulte Homes’ fourth quarter results will be held Thursday, February 3, 2005, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and web cast live via Pulte.com. Interested investors can access the call via the Company’s home page at www.pulte.com.

Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, (1) general economic and business conditions; (2) interest rate changes and the availability of mortgage financing; (3) the relative stability of debt and equity markets; (4) competition; (5) the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by the Company in its homebuilding operations; (6) the availability and cost of insurance covering risks associated with our business; (7) shortages and the cost of labor; (8) weather related slowdowns; (9) slow growth initiatives and/or local building moratoria; (10) governmental regulation, including the interpretation of tax, labor and environmental laws; (11) changes in consumer confidence and preferences; (12) required accounting changes; (13) terrorist acts and other acts of war; and (14) other factors over which the Company has little or no control. All forward-looking statements made are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations will increase with the passage of time. Pulte undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in Pulte’s expectations.

About Pulte Homes

     Pulte Homes, Inc., (NYSE: PHM) based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has operations in 45 markets across the U.S. Under its Del Webb (www.delwebb.com) brand, the company is the nation’s leading builder of active adult communities for people age 55 and older. Over its history, the company has constructed more than 370,000 homes. In 2004, J.D. Power and Associates ranked Pulte Homes No. 1 in customer satisfaction in 14 U.S. markets, and among the top three homebuilders in 23 of 25 total markets surveyed. J.D. Power and Associates also named Pulte Homes the inaugural recipient of its Platinum Award for Excellence in Customer Service among the nation’s largest new homebuilders in 2004. Pulte Mortgage LLC is a nationwide lender committed to meeting the financing needs of Pulte Homes’ customers by offering a wide variety of loan products and superior customer service.

Websites: www.pulte.com; www.delwebb.com

###

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Pulte Homes, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Results
Of Operations
(000’s omitted, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2004			2003			2004			2003
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS:
Revenues:
Homebuilding	$	4,167,789		$	3,093,406		$	11,596,748		$	8,892,786
Financial Services		36,567			30,626			112,719			115,847
Corporate		165			438			1,749			3,281
Total Revenues	$	4,204,521		$	3,124,470		$	11,711,216			9,011,914
Pretax income (loss):
Homebuilding	$	669,778		$	403,705		$	1,643,793		$	1,005,124
Financial Services		17,677			17,491			47,429			68,846
Corporate		(22,019	)		(20,335	)		(90,685	)		(75,351	)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		665,436			400,861			1,600,537			998,619
Income taxes		247,199			152,341			602,529			379,376
Income from continuing operations		418,237			248,520			998,008			619,243
Income(loss) from discontinued operations		(20,864	)		(626	)		(11,467	)		5,391
Net income	$	397,373		$	247,894		$	986,541		$	624,634
EARNINGS PER SHARE - ASSUMING DILUTION:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.20		$	1.95		$	7.67		$	4.93
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(.16	)		(.01	)		(.09	)		.04
Net income	$	3.04		$	1.94		$	7.58		$	4.97
Shares used in per share calculations		130,706			127,464			130,117			125,730

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Pulte Homes, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($000’s omitted)

	December 31,		December 31,
	2004		2003
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	$	314,634	$	401,883
Unfunded settlements		118,471		122,271
House and land inventories		7,390,791		5,510,756
Land held for sale		230,743		251,237
Land, not owned, under option agreements		106,380		73,256
Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale		697,077		541,502
Investment in unconsolidated entities		258,868		69,502
Goodwill		307,693		307,693
Intangible assets		135,454		143,704
Other assets		815,020		641,548
Deferred income tax assets		31,766		8,799
	$	10,406,897	$	8,072,151
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities	$	2,203,101	$	1,914,378
Collateralized short-term debt, recourse solely to applicable subsidiary assets		617,415		479,287
Income taxes		202,557		79,391
Senior notes and subordinated debentures		2,861,550		2,150,972
Total Liabilities		5,884,623		4,624,028
Shareholders’ Equity		4,522,274		3,448,123
	$	10,406,897	$	8,072,151

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Pulte Homes, Inc.
Segment Data
($000’s omitted)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2004			2003			2004			2003
HOMEBUILDING:
Pretax income:
Domestic	$	663,159		$	399,706		$	1,633,415		$	998,822
International		6,619			3,999			10,378			6,302
Total Homebuilding	$	669,778		$	403,705		$	1,643,793		$	1,005,124
Domestic Homebuilding:
Home sales (settlements)	$	3,941,238		$	2,916,448		$	11,094,617		$	8,482,341
Land sales		157,494			115,332			305,391			219,320
Domestic Homebuilding Revenue		4,098,732			3,031,780			11,400,008			8,701,661
Home cost of sales		(3,046,554	)		(2,306,319	)		(8,583,551	)		(6,731,834	)
Land cost of sales		(94,601	)		(74,570	)		(205,589	)		(153,415	)
Selling, general & administrative expense		(294,647	)		(252,185	)		(973,629	)		(820,951	)
Other income (expense), net		229			1,000			(3,824	)		3,361
Pretax income	$	663,159		$	399,706		$	1,633,415		$	998,822
International Homebuilding:
Home sales (settlements)	$	69,057		$	61,626		$	196,740		$	191,125
Cost of sales		(55,341	)		(49,533	)		(158,972	)		(152,445	)
Selling, general & administrative expense		(7,102	)		(8,132	)		(28,459	)		(34,259	)
Other income (expense), net		(331	)		413			(2,362	)		(203	)
Minority Interest		(2,167	)		(1,427	)		(3,242	)		(1,382	)
Equity in income of joint venture operations		2,503			1,052			6,673			3,466
Pretax income	$	6,619		$	3,999		$	10,378		$	6,302
FINANCIAL SERVICES:
Pretax income	$	17,677		$	17,491		$	47,429		$	68,846
CORPORATE:
Pretax loss:
Net interest expense	$	(11,445	)	$	(10,653	)	$	(47,372	)	$	(39,364	)
Other Corporate expense, net		(10,574	)		(9,682	)		(43,313	)		(35,987	)
Total Corporate	$	(22,019	)	$	(20,335	)	$	(90,685	)	$	(75,351	)

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Pulte Homes, Inc.
Business Operating Data
($000’s omitted)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Year Ended
	December 31,				December 31,
	2004		2003		2004		2003
HOMEBUILDING SETTLEMENT
REVENUES:
Domestic	$	3,941,238	$	2,916,448	$	11,094,617	$	8,482,341
International		69,057		61,626		196,740		191,125
Total settlement revenues	$	4,010,295	$	2,978,074	$	11,291,357	$	8,673,466
HOMEBUILDING UNIT
SETTLEMENTS:
Domestic		13,424		11,159		38,612		32,693
International		2,735		2,445		7,713		6,889
Total settlement units		16,159		13,604		46,325		39,582
Domestic Homebuilding:
Unit settlements:
Northeast		1,166		1,087		3,249		2,692
Southeast		3,306		2,621		9,362		8,234
Midwest		2,137		1,631		5,520		4,936
Central		2,347		2,024		6,066		5,283
West		4,468		3,796		14,415		11,548
		13,424		11,159		38,612		32,693
Average selling price	$	294	$	261	$	287	$	259
Unit net new orders*:
Northeast		778		687		3,197		3,098
Southeast		2,887		1,994		10,941		9,021
Midwest		1,145		1,077		5,396		4,736
Central		1,288		1,231		5,987		5,125
West		2,842		3,476		15,055		13,009
		8,940		8,465		40,576		34,989
Unit net new orders — dollars*	$	2,650,000	$	2,410,000	$	12,101,000	$	9,555,000
Unit backlog:
Northeast						1,483		1,535
Southeast						5,305		3,726
Midwest						1,277		1,401
Central						1,077		1,156
West						6,774		6,134
						15,916		13,952
Dollars in backlog					$	5,154,000	$	4,147,000

* Unit net new orders for the year ended December 31, 2003 do not include 1,051 units of backlog acquired and the related dollars.

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Pulte Homes, Inc.
Business Operating Data, continued
($000’s omitted)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2004			2003			2004			2003
MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS:
Origination volume		12,316			9,083			35,232			28,655
Origination principal	$	2,384,800		$	1,621,100		$	6,739,200		$	4,989,500
Capture rate percentage		88.8	%		83.3	%		87.8	%		82.0	%

Pulte Homes, Inc.
Supplemental Information
($000’s omitted)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Year Ended
	December 31,				December 31,
	2004		2003		2004		2003
Interest expense:
Homebuilding (included in home cost of sales)	$	45,688	$	27,999	$	133,049	$	78,708
Corporate		11,610		11,091		49,121		42,645
Financial Services		2,592		1,963		7,241		7,386
Total interest expense	$	59,890	$	41,053	$	189,411	$	128,739
Depreciation & amortization	$	12,831	$	10,545	$	46,296	$	39,419

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