A conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44 suggests manageable leverage, though asset growth of 23% to $3.2 billion has coincided with a decline in ROE to 2.0%, indicating that balance sheet expansion has not enhanced returns.
Forestar Group Inc. (FOR) balance sheet — 21-year assets, liabilities & shareholders' equity history
| Metric | TTM | Sep'25 | Sep'24 | Sep'23 | Sep'22 | Sep'21 | Sep'20 | Sep'19 | Sep'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 |
|---|
| Total Assets | 3.22B | 3.14B | 2.84B | 2.47B | 2.34B | 2.1B | 1.74B | 1.46B | 893.1M | 761.91M | 733.21M | 980.51M | 1.26B | 1.17B | 918.43M | 794.86M | 789.32M | 784.73M | 815.02M | 748.73M | 620.17M | 543.94M |
| Asset Growth % | 25.23% | 10.45% | 14.95% | 5.45% | 11.48% | 20.79% | 19.52% | 62.99% | 17.22% | 3.91% | -25.22% | -22.07% | 7.34% | 27.63% | 15.55% | 0.7% | 0.58% | -3.72% | 8.85% | 20.73% | 14.01% | - |
| Real Estate & Other Assets | 2.71B | 2.66B | 2.27B | 1.79B | 2.02B | 1.91B | 1.32B | 1.03B | -389.65M | 133.59M | 296M | 592.32M | 594.78M | 537.57M | 532.25M | 583.77M | 17.04M | 9.79M | 17.24M | -81.68M | -598.91M | 0 |
| PP&E (Net) | 56.4M | 56.3M | 40.1M | 20.5M | 23.4M | 20.2M | 4.7M | 3.4M | 1.75M | 2M | 3.12M | 10.73M | 275.12M | 238.75M | 163.29M | 9.74M | 5.89M | 5.23M | 6.21M | 1.57M | 508.47M | 0 |
| Investment Securities | 0 | 0 | 300K | 500K | 500K | 900K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 0 |
| Total Current Assets | 449.8M | 418.3M | 531.7M | 657.4M | 295.1M | 170.1M | 416.2M | 395.6M | 349.3M | 559.27M | 318.26M | 243.29M | 216.53M | 247.64M | 62.73M | 58.73M | 611.55M | 619.36M | 676.39M | 722.04M | 0 | 0 |
| Cash & Equivalents | 394.9M | 379.2M | 481.2M | 616M | 264.8M | 153.6M | 394.3M | 382.8M | 334.98M | 321.78M | 265.8M | 96.44M | 170.13M | 192.31M | 10.36M | 18.28M | 5.37M | 21.05M | 7.25M | 7.52M | 10.35M | 0 |
| Receivables | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 |
| Other Current Assets | 22.4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.7M | 221.62M | 30.67M | 104.97M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.12M | 31.23M | 0 | 101.69M | -18.82M | 0 |
| Intangible Assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.01B | 500K | 448K | 0 | 1.96M | 2.71M | 2.15M | 2.19M | 1.58M | 2.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Liabilities | 1.36B | 1.37B | 1.25B | 1.1B | 1.14B | 1.09B | 868.1M | 646.8M | 41.94M | 156.28M | 171.09M | 476.4M | 548.46M | 456.75M | 384.89M | 283.64M | 275.05M | 266.4M | 368.59M | 306.9M | 194.38M | 162.65M |
| Total Debt | 810.2M | 817.1M | 716.6M | 703.1M | 714.1M | 711.8M | 644.9M | 460.5M | 9.17M | 108.43M | 110.36M | 381.51M | 432.74M | 357.41M | 294.06M | 221.59M | 221.59M | 216.63M | 337.4M | 266.01M | 50.61M | 121.95M |
| Net Debt | 415.3M | 437.9M | 235.4M | 87.1M | 449.3M | 558.2M | 250.6M | 77.7M | -325.81M | -214.57M | -155.44M | 285.07M | 262.62M | 165.1M | 283.7M | 203.3M | 216.22M | 195.57M | 329.27M | 258.5M | 40.26M | 121.95M |
| Long-Term Debt | 793.8M | 802.7M | 706.4M | 695M | 706M | 704.5M | 641.1M | 460.5M | 111.7M | 108.43M | 110.36M | 372.85M | 432.74M | 357.41M | 294.06M | 221.59M | 221.59M | 216.63M | 314.59M | 266.01M | 50.61M | 121.95M |
| Short-Term Borrowings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Capital Lease Obligations | 64.3M | 14.4M | 10.2M | 8.1M | 8.1M | 7.3M | 3.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Current Liabilities | 433.7M | 442.7M | 455.2M | 343.3M | 391.7M | 348.3M | 216.1M | 183.5M | 43.9M | 33.92M | 41.03M | 60.92M | 83.91M | 74.97M | 52.62M | 28.75M | 13.22M | 16.58M | 18.83M | 32.53M | 0 | 0 |
| Accounts Payable | 65.3M | 71M | 85.9M | 68.4M | 72.2M | 47.4M | 29.2M | 16.8M | 7.9M | 2.38M | 4.8M | 11.62M | 20.4M | 21.41M | 18.32M | 5.04M | 4.21M | 4.57M | 7.44M | 8M | 4.84M | 0 |
| Deferred Revenue | 210.8M | 198.1M | 179.1M | 135.5M | 156.4M | 160.9M | 107.8M | 101.7M | -294.27M | 11.94M | 10.51M | 10.21M | 10.04M | 10.85M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Liabilities | 26.1M | 22.1M | 5.7M | 3.7M | 1M | 1.3M | 1.4M | 2.8M | 63M | 13.93M | 19.7M | 24.66M | 31.8M | 24.38M | 38.2M | 33.3M | 40.23M | 33.19M | 24.39M | 16.98M | -65.05M | -121.95M |
| Total Equity | 1.86B | 1.77B | 1.6B | 1.37B | 1.2B | 1.02B | 871.8M | 808.9M | 669.87M | 605.63M | 562.12M | 504.12M | 709.74M | 715.4M | 533.55M | 511.21M | 514.28M | 518.34M | 446.44M | 441.83M | 425.8M | 381.29M |
| Equity Growth % | 42.81% | 10.9% | 16.44% | 14.22% | 18.05% | 16.53% | 7.78% | 20.75% | 10.61% | 7.74% | 11.51% | -28.97% | -0.79% | 34.08% | 4.37% | -0.6% | -0.78% | 16.11% | 1.04% | 3.77% | 11.67% | - |
| Shareholders Equity | 1.86B | 1.77B | 1.59B | 1.37B | 1.2B | 1.01B | 870.9M | 808.3M | 893.15M | 604.21M | 560.65M | 501.6M | 707.2M | 709.85M | 529.49M | 509.53M | 509.56M | 512.46M | 446.44M | 433.2M | 425.8M | 381.29M |
| Minority Interest | 1.2M | 1M | 1M | 1M | 1M | 1M | 900K | 600K | -223.28M | 1.42M | 1.47M | 2.52M | 2.54M | 5.55M | 4.06M | 1.69M | 4.71M | 5.88M | 0 | 8.63M | 0 | 0 |
| Common Stock | 51M | 50.7M | 50.7M | 49.9M | 49.8M | 49.6M | 48.1M | 48M | 41.9M | 41.94M | 44.8M | 36.95M | 36.95M | 36.95M | 36.95M | 36.84M | 36.67M | 36.26M | 35.79M | 35.38M | 0 | 0 |
| Additional Paid-in Capital | 676.1M | 671M | 665.2M | 644.2M | 640.6M | 636.2M | 603.9M | 602.2M | 506.3M | 505.98M | 553M | 561.85M | 558.95M | 556.68M | 407.21M | 398.52M | 391.35M | 384.8M | 377.01M | 373.03M | 0 | 0 |
| Retained Earnings | 1.13B | 1.05B | 878.2M | 674.8M | 507.9M | 329.1M | 218.9M | 158.1M | 673.37M | 56.3M | 12.6M | -46.05M | 167M | 150.42M | 121.1M | 108.16M | 101M | 95.88M | 35.02M | 24.8M | 0 | 0 |
| Preferred Stock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 125.11M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | 5.36% | 5.62% | 7.66% | 6.93% | 8.05% | 5.74% | 3.81% | 2.81% | 7.2% | 6.72% | 6.84% | -19.03% | 1.36% | 2.81% | 1.51% | 0.9% | 0.65% | 7.39% | 1.53% | 3.62% | 8.91% | 6.42% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 9.42% | 9.98% | 13.72% | 12.99% | 16.14% | 11.68% | 7.24% | 4.46% | 9.34% | 8.61% | 11% | -35.1% | 2.33% | 4.7% | 2.48% | 1.4% | 0.99% | 12.25% | 2.7% | 5.72% | 12.85% | 9.15% |
| Debt / Assets | 25.16% | 26.05% | 25.23% | 28.46% | 30.48% | 33.87% | 37.07% | 31.63% | 1.03% | 14.23% | 15.05% | 38.91% | 34.39% | 30.49% | 32.02% | 27.88% | 28.07% | 27.61% | 41.4% | 35.53% | 8.16% | 22.42% |
| Debt / Equity | 0.44x | 0.46x | 0.45x | 0.51x | 0.60x | 0.70x | 0.74x | 0.57x | 0.01x | 0.18x | 0.20x | 0.76x | 0.61x | 0.50x | 0.55x | 0.43x | 0.43x | 0.42x | 0.76x | 0.60x | 0.12x | 0.32x |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.92x | 2.06x | 0.97x | 0.42x | 1.93x | 3.41x | 0.27x | 0.18x | -4.49x | -4.74x | -0.42x | - | 3.26x | 2.16x | 6.16x | 2.99x | 7.75x | 1.45x | 7.57x | 4.95x | 0.54x | 2.55x |
| Book Value per Share | 36.45 | 34.75 | 31.40 | 27.33 | 24.06 | 20.74 | 18.13 | 19.26 | 15.94 | 14.29 | 13.28 | 14.71 | 16.28 | 19.43 | 15.04 | 14.29 | 14.14 | 14.36 | 12.44 | 12.49 | 12.03 | 10.78 |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying FOR stock.
As of 2025, Forestar Group Inc. (FOR) had total assets of $3.14B including $418.3M in current assets.
Forestar Group Inc. (FOR) carries total debt of $817.1M. Comparing total debt to cash helps evaluate the company's debt burden and net leverage.
Forestar Group Inc. (FOR) has total shareholders' equity (book value) of $1.77B ($34.75 book value per share). Book value represents the net worth of the company belonging to common stock holders.
Forestar Group Inc. (FOR) reported a current ratio of 0.94x. A current ratio above 1.0x indicates that the company has more current assets than current liabilities, suggesting sufficient short-term liquidity.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Potential Off-Balance-Sheet Leverage
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Asset Growth Outpaces Equity Returns
Forestar's total assets expanded 23% to $3.2B from 2024Q2 to 2026Q3, as reported in its financial statements, yet this balance sheet scaling has been accompanied by a sustained contraction in return on equity from 3.1% to 2.0%.
The growth in assets appears driven by ongoing land inventory accumulation, which is necessary to support the D.R. Horton supply agreement. However, the declining ROE suggests that the incremental capital deployed is generating lower returns, potentially indicating a shift toward lower-margin development projects or increased competitive pressure on land bids.
Conservative Capitalization Relative to Peers
With a reported debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44 as of 2026Q3, Forestar maintains a substantially lower leverage profile than homebuilder peers like LGI Homes (0.79) or Taylor Morrison (0.37), which may reflect a more conservative capital strategy or unique financing structures.
The $810.2M total debt load is primarily property-level financing tied to its land bank, and the $394.9M cash position provides meaningful coverage. However, the historically low D/E ratio for a developer warrants scrutiny into whether significant financing obligations may reside at the D.R. Horton parent level or through unconsolidated ventures, which would not be captured in this reported figure.
Retained Earnings Drive Equity Growth
Shareholders' equity increased 27% to $1.9B from 2024Q2 through 2026Q3, largely fueled by retained funds from operations rather than secondary offerings, indicating a focus on organic equity accumulation.
The growth in equity has provided a stable funding base for land acquisition without dilutive capital raises. Nevertheless, the minimal ROE suggests that this equity capital is not being efficiently monetized in the current cycle, which may pressure management to identify higher-return development opportunities to satisfy shareholder expectations.
Ample Cash Buffer Amid Operational Lumps
Forestar's $394.9M cash balance in 2026Q3 represents a robust 49% of its total debt and provides substantial coverage for near-term development obligations, according to recent balance sheet disclosures.
This liquidity position appears well-suited to absorb the inherent volatility of a development business, where cash flow from operations has swung from negative $157.0M in 2026Q1 to positive $256.3M in 2025Q4. However, investors should monitor how this cash is deployed across the development pipeline, as prolonged periods of elevated inventory could erode this buffer without corresponding lot sales.
Inventory Level Hints at Future Delivery Volume
The total asset base of $3.2B is almost entirely comprised of land inventory and development costs, suggesting a significant pipeline of lots that will convert to revenue over the next 12-18 months.
The growth in assets implies the company is actively positioning for future lot deliveries to its captive buyer. The pace of this inventory conversion is the critical variable for future cash flow; any slowdown in D.R. Horton's absorption rate or broader market demand would directly impact the velocity of this asset base turning into revenue and cash.
Anomalous Leverage Ratio Demands Scrutiny
The reported debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44 is exceptionally low for a capital-intensive land developer and may not reflect the company's true financial leverage if material financing is held off-balance-sheet by its parent.
This anomaly, previously flagged in prior analysis, suggests that the apparent financial strength could be overstated. The risk is that significant development loans or guarantees are provided by D.R. Horton, which would represent a contingent liability and a deeper operational dependency than the consolidated balance sheet alone indicates.