Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Centex Corporation (NYSE: CTX) has announced that FORTUNE has ranked the company No. 1 in its industry on the magazine’s annual list of “America’s Most Admired Companies” for 2005.
FORTUNE selects “America’s Most Admired Companies” from among the largest U.S. companies in 65 industry categories. In evaluating companies in their respective industries, FORTUNE asked more than 10,000 executives at these companies to rate candidates on eight key attributes of reputation:
Innovation: Centex has developed and uses industry-leading technologies to promote innovative construction, supply chain management, customer information and service, and information systems;
Use of assets: Centex invests its resources in land and people that enable the company to grow;
Employee talent: Centex not only hires the best and the brightest, but offers networking opportunities and more than $1 million in scholarships to college students;
Management: Centex has been named among the top 20 companies for leaders by Chief Executive magazine;
Investment value: A $100 investment in Centex stock in March 1999 was worth $368 in March 2004;
Social responsibility: Centex is the largest supporter in its industry of Habitat for Humanity and is a leader in land conservation activities. In 2004, the Myrtle Beach Division was awarded Habitat’s prestigious “Golden Brick” award for their contributions to Habitat;
Financial soundness: As of March 31, 2004, Centex’s net earnings five-year compounded annual growth rate was 29 percent; and
Products and services: Centex has built quality homes for more than 55 years and stands behind its products with a two-year fit-and-finish warranty — twice the industry standard. Centex Homes is the only builder on the Grand Strand that offers the two year warranty on its homes.
In addition to its recognition from industry leaders on the FORTUNE list, Centex Homes was named the most admired builder by its industry peers in November 2004. The company nearly swept all of the industry’s prestigious APEX award honors, which are presented by Hanley Wood, the leading business-to-business media company serving the housing and construction industry.
“When those in your industry vote you as their ‘most admired,’ it’s quite an honor,” said Mike Wyatt, Centex Homes Myrtle Beach Division President. “Our division works hard day after day to bring the Grand Strand its very best value in housing. Those efforts have gained us recognition from FORTUNE, as well as from J. D. Power & Associates who recently named us a ‘Certified New-Home Builder’ based on the outstanding service we provide to our customers.”
About Centex Homes
Centex Homes is the largest and most respected homebuilder within the Grand Strand area of coastal South Carolina. Centex Homes has developed 14 communities from Brunswick County, N.C. to Georgetown, S.C., with additional communities planned for future development.
Centex Homes, a J.D. Power & Associates “Certified New-Home Builder,” was named “#1 in its Industry” by Fortune Magazine and has been honored with Habitat for Humanity’s coveted “Golden Brick Award.” In addition, Centex Homes was endorsed as America’s “Most Admired Big Builder” by its competitors. In both 2003 and 2004, the nation’s 100 largest builders gave their highest honor, the APEX Award, to Centex Homes.
For more than 55 years, Centex Homes has been one of the nation's leading and most respected homebuilders, and today operates in approximately 90 markets in 25 states. The company is a subsidiary of Dallas-based Centex Corporation (NYSE: CTX), a Fortune 500 company.
Contact: Chrissy Selwa or Jamie Wilburn, LHWH
(843) 448-1123 or cselwa@lhwl.com
Complete press kits and photos at www.lhwh.com
