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CRH Public Ltd. Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9% on demand and deals: Revenue reached $7.4 billion, up from $6.8 billion, with positive underlying demand, disciplined commercial execution and acquisition contributions cited as drivers. Source
  • Net loss widened on charges and interest: Net loss was $0.2 billion, compared with $0.1 billion, on higher depreciation, impairment charges and interest. Diluted loss per share was $0.27 against $0.15. Source
  • Americas Materials Solutions grew fastest: Revenue rose 21% on underlying demand and acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA reached $103 million, a 3.8% margin, from $59 million a year earlier. Source
  • Group adjusted EBITDA margin rose: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.0% against 7.3%, while the net loss margin was (2.4%) against (1.5%). The margin is described as ahead of the prior year. Source
  • Early-season project activity supported growth: Jim Mintern cited early-season momentum, disciplined commercial execution and positive acquisition contributions as the reasons for the start of the year. Source
  • Net debt rose to $15.8 billion: Net debt was $15.8 billion, up from $14.2 billion at December 31, 2025. Management attributed the increase to the seasonal operating outflow, acquisitions, buybacks and capital expenditure. Source

“Notwithstanding the current geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, we are encouraged by the continued strength of underlying demand across our key markets.”

Jim Mintern, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income SourceFY 2026$3.9 billion to $4.1 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$8.1 billion to $8.5 billionKept
Diluted EPS SourceFY 2026$5.60 to $6.05Kept
Capital expenditure SourceFY 2026$2.8 billion to $3.0 billionKept
Assumptions SourceFY 2026about $0.7 billion interest expense, net; about 24% effective tax rate; about 675 million diluted sharesKept
Adjusted EBITDA mid-point reconciliation SourceFY 2026net income $4.0bn; income tax $1.3bn; interest $0.7bn; D&A $2.3bn; Adjusted EBITDA $8.3bnKept
Share buybacks Sourceto be completed no later than July 28, 2026$0.3 billion trancheNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: FY 2026 financial guidance reaffirmed; the ranges for net income, Adjusted EBITDA, diluted EPS and capital expenditure are unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • New: Agreement to buy Axius Water, a North American water quality solutions provider, for $0.7 billion. Source
  • New: Agreement to sell three non-core businesses: construction accessories ($0.7bn), lawn and garden ($1.1bn) and MoistureShield ($0.1bn), which closed on April 6. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9% on demand and deals: Revenue reached $7.4 billion, up from $6.8 billion, with positive underlying demand, disciplined commercial execution and acquisition contributions cited as drivers. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 18%: Adjusted EBITDA reached $0.6 billion against $0.5 billion, which management attributed to operational discipline and acquisition contributions. Source
  • Net loss widened on charges and interest: Net loss was $0.2 billion, compared with $0.1 billion, on higher depreciation, impairment charges and interest. Diluted loss per share was $0.27 against $0.15. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas Materials Solutions grew fastest: Revenue rose 21% on underlying demand and acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA reached $103 million, a 3.8% margin, from $59 million a year earlier. Source
  • Americas Building Solutions flat on profit: Revenue fell 1% to $1.67 billion as subdued new-build residential demand and weather offset acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA held at $287 million, with cost control offsetting inflation. Source
  • International Solutions profit up 32%: Revenue rose 5% to $2.98 billion, helped by acquisitions, pricing and currency, despite weather and divestitures. Adjusted EBITDA reached $196 million, a 6.6% margin from 5.3%. Source

“During the quarter, we continued our active portfolio management, reallocating capital into higher-growth, more connected businesses.”

Jim Mintern, Chief Executive Officer

Products and road activity

  • Road Solutions revenue up 16%: Road Solutions revenue rose on robust project activity, with paving and construction supported by backlog conversion and acquisitions. Source
  • International readymix pricing up 3%: International readymixed concrete volumes rose 2%, supported by acquisitions, while pricing increased 3%. Cement pricing was 3% ahead and aggregates pricing in line. Source

Margins, costs and charges

  • Group adjusted EBITDA margin rose: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.0% against 7.3%, while the net loss margin was (2.4%) against (1.5%). The margin is described as ahead of the prior year. Source
  • Depreciation rose on acquisitions and capex: Depreciation, depletion and amortization reached $0.6 billion, up $0.1 billion, due to acquisitions and higher growth capital expenditure. Source
  • Interest expense up on higher debt: Interest expense rose to $203 million from $181 million, while interest income fell to $21 million from $37 million on lower rates and deposits. Source
  • Impairment on construction accessories sale: A $48 million impairment was recorded in International Solutions on the agreed sale of construction accessories. Diluted EPS before impairment was ($0.20). Source

Demand and project activity

  • Early-season project activity supported growth: Jim Mintern cited early-season momentum, disciplined commercial execution and positive acquisition contributions as the reasons for the start of the year. Source
  • Public infrastructure spending underpins demand: Management expects favorable underlying demand across key end-markets, supported by significant public investment in infrastructure and continued reindustrialization activity. Source
  • International weather hit volumes: International revenue rose 5% despite weather-impacted volumes and divestitures, as acquisitions, pricing momentum and currency tailwinds more than offset them. Source

Acquisitions and divestitures

  • Five acquisitions closed in quarter: Five value-accretive acquisitions were completed for $0.1 billion of consideration in the quarter. Source
  • Three more acquisitions in April: Three further acquisitions closed in April for $0.1 billion of total consideration. Source
  • Divestiture cash proceeds lower: Cash proceeds from divestitures and long-lived asset disposals fell to $34 million from $107 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Net debt rose to $15.8 billion: Net debt was $15.8 billion, up from $14.2 billion at December 31, 2025. Management attributed the increase to the seasonal operating outflow, acquisitions, buybacks and capital expenditure. Source
  • Operating cash outflow in quarter: Net cash used in operating activities was $616 million, against $659 million a year earlier. Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangibles were $601 million. Source
  • Liquidity and share buybacks continued: Undrawn committed facilities total $4.5 billion, available until May 2030. About 2.9 million shares were repurchased for $0.3 billion, against 3.2 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Axius Water closing expected in Q2: Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Source
  • Two divestitures expected to close: The construction accessories and lawn and garden sales are expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions. Source
  • Dividend payment on June 17: The $0.39 quarterly dividend is payable June 17, 2026, to shareholders on the register at May 15, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Aggregates volumes, Americas Materials Solutions Source+14% year-over-year
Cement volumes, Americas Materials Solutions Source+10%
Asphalt volumes, Americas Materials Solutions Source+13%
Readymixed concrete volumes, Americas Materials Solutions Source+12%
Aggregates volumes, International Solutions Source+8%
Asphalt volumes, International Solutions Source+8%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects repair and remodel to hold up while new-build residential stays subdued, a factor that weighed on Americas Building Solutions revenue. Source
  • External: The guidance does not assume further changes to global trade policies, impairments or other unforeseen events. Source
  • External: The reaffirmed guidance assumes normal seasonal weather and no further major dislocations in the geopolitical or macroeconomic environment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to maintaining its robust balance sheet and expects to keep an investment-grade credit rating. Source
  • Not stated: Quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share, up 5% on the prior year, under a policy of consistent long-term dividend growth. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.