Steven J. Hilton has been a key figure at Meritage Homes Corporation since 2006, serving as CEO until January 1, 2021. During his time, he guided the company through various challenges, notably securing performance-based bonuses tied to impressive metrics like...

Steven J. Hilton has been a key figure at Meritage Homes Corporation since 2006, serving as CEO until January 1, 2021. During his time, he guided the company through various challenges, notably securing performance-based bonuses tied to impressive metrics like customer satisfaction and home closings. In 2019, his total compensation neared $9.2 million, reflecting his success as a leader. Interestingly, Hilton is noted for significant fluctuations in his holdings, with values surpassing $68 million in late 2021 before experiencing some drops in 2022. His insider trading activity peaked around 2021, reaching over $140 million in one month. After announcing his retirement, he transitioned to an Executive Chairman role, continuing his influence on the company. Hilton's career showcases a blend of dedication and performance, making notable impacts in the competitive home-building industry.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Meritage Homes CEOs

M

Steven J. Hilton

Founder and Ex-CEO of Meritage Homes

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

Born

June 10, 1966 - 58 years ago

CEO of Meritage Homes for

14 years 7 months (May 2006 - Jan 2021)

Previous Experience

Co-founded Monterey Homes in 1985, which became publicly traded and combined with Legacy Homes in 1997 to form Meritage Homes Corporation.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Steven J. Hilton

N

Eugene J. Bredow

CEO of NVR

2023 Compensation

Stock

$250.00K

Salary

$500.00K

Bonus

$150.00K

Other

$50.00K

Total Holdings

$20.85M

B

Allan P. Merrill

CEO of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

2020 Compensation

Stock

$4.96M

Salary

$926.38K

Bonus

$2.81M

Other

$108.70K

Total Holdings

$27.48M

T

Douglas C. Yearley, Jr.

CEO of Toll Brothers

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$7.80M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$44.98M

P

Ryan R. Marshall

CEO of Pultegroup

2023 Compensation

Stock

$10.97M

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$4.09M

Other

$35.21K

Total Holdings

$73.36M

Holdings

See how much did Steven J. Hilton make over time.

Steven J. Hilton's holdings saw substantial changes throughout his career at Meritage Homes. Notably, his wealth reached impressive heights, with values above $68 million in late 2021. However, fluctuations were noteworthy; while he recorded a massive peak in insider trades...

Steven J. Hilton's holdings saw substantial changes throughout his career at Meritage Homes. Notably, his wealth reached impressive heights, with values above $68 million in late 2021. However, fluctuations were noteworthy; while he recorded a massive peak in insider trades by the end of 2021, values dropped in subsequent months, reflecting the volatile nature of stock ownership. In 2022, for instance, figures dipped into the $40 million range before recovering; by early 2023, Hilton's holdings rebounded slightly above $49 million. This journey through peaks and troughs illustrates the challenges CEOs face in maintaining wealth while driving company performance and navigating market conditions.

Mar 11, 2025

M

shares

MTH @ $74.20

W

shares

WAL @ $73.47

Total Stock Sold

$167.80M

MTH

$150.66M

4,624,998 MTH shares

WAL

$17.13M

354,025 WAL shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Steven J. Hilton didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra MTH4,624,998 shares worth $108.59M and WAL354,025 shares worth $12.42M.
This is -27.88% and $46.78M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

WAL

62,000 shares

WAL

MTH

235,000 shares

MTH

Recent Charitable Transactions

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Dec 31, 2024

Charity

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Nov 26, 2024

Charity

MTH

5,500 shares

MTH

Dec 21, 2023

Charity

MTH

8,000 shares

MTH

May 11, 2023

Charity

MTH

9,000 shares

MTH

Nov 19, 2021

Charity

MTH

15,000 shares

MTH

Sep 11, 2019

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Steven J. Hilton.

MTH

9,907 shares

MTH

Feb 28, 2025

Received

MTH

6,739 shares

MTH

Feb 20, 2025

Received

MTH

$2.46M

MTH at $74.51/share

Feb 10, 2025

Purchase

MTH

$2.46M

MTH at $74.51/share

Feb 10, 2025

Sale

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Dec 31, 2024

Charity

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Dec 31, 2024

Charity

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Nov 26, 2024

Charity

MTH

20,000 shares

MTH

Nov 26, 2024

Charity

MTH

$749.94K

MTH at $159.39/share

Mar 1, 2024

Sale

MTH

5,905 shares

MTH

Mar 1, 2024

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Steven J. Hilton make over time.

In 2020, Steven J. Hilton's total compensation was approximately $9.6 million, primarily consisting of a salary of $1 million, with no bonuses or stock grants that year. His compensation plan is focused on aligning with performance metrics, including returns on assets and customer ratings. Throughout his tenure, Hilton's compensation has varied significantly, peaking in 2019 when he earned nearly $9.2 million. His performance-based cash bonuses were substantial in previous years, demonstrating the company’s success and Hilton's effective leadership during his tenure. This performance-driven approach reflects his efforts to deliver long-term value to shareholders.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$1.04M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align with performance metrics and market competitiveness, focusing on long-term value creation for stockholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2020.

Other

$43.51K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes health insurance premiums and 401(k) match.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock vested in 2020 as the focus is on the compensation structure excluding stock grants.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include adjusted EBITDA, number of home closings, and customer satisfaction ratings.

Other Meritage Homes CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Meritage Homes

Phillipe Lord

CEO of Meritage Homes

January 2021 - Present