greeksoup/ stock research

Eagle Materials Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record fiscal 2026 revenue, lower profit: Fiscal 2026 revenue was $2.3 billion, up 2%, with gross profit margin of 28.3% and operating cash flow of $614 million, as management described it. Source
  • Fourth quarter revenue rose, profit fell: Fourth quarter revenue was $479.1 million, up 2%. Net earnings of $60.2 million fell 10%, and adjusted EBITDA of $136.1 million fell 4%. Source
  • Fourth quarter cement volume up 15%: Fourth quarter Cement revenue rose 15% to $245.7 million, and operating earnings rose 31% to $36.1 million. The net price fell 2% to $153.99 per ton. Source
  • Wallboard volume down on residential softness: Annual wallboard volume was 2.8 billion square feet, down 7%, and the average net price fell 4% to $226.08 per MSF. Management cited residential softness. Source
  • Net leverage 1.9x, up from 1.8x: Debt ended the year at $1.8 billion and net debt at $1.5 billion. The net leverage ratio was 1.9x, compared with 1.8x at the third quarter and 1.5x a year earlier. Source
  • Laramie kiln line nearing commissioning: The Mountain Cement modernization in Laramie, Wyoming is about 60% complete. Commissioning of the new kiln line is expected to begin in late calendar 2026. Source
  • Duke wallboard line due second half 2027: Construction of the Duke, Oklahoma wallboard plant modernization started in fall 2025. The new wallboard line is expected to be commissioned in the second half of calendar 2027. Source

“On the strategic front, we made significant progress modernizing our Laramie, Wyoming Cement plant and our Duke, Oklahoma Gypsum Wallboard plant.”

Michael Haack, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Laramie (Mountain Cement) kiln line commissioning Sourcelate calendar 2026commissioning to begin in late calendar 2026New
Duke wallboard line commissioning Sourcesecond half of calendar 2027second half of calendar 2027New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Commissioning timing for the Laramie kiln line and the Duke wallboard line appears in this release. The third quarter release did not state these dates. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Record fiscal 2026 revenue, lower profit: Fiscal 2026 revenue was $2.3 billion, up 2%, with gross profit margin of 28.3% and operating cash flow of $614 million, as management described it. Source
  • Annual net earnings and EPS declined: Annual net earnings were $423.8 million, down 9%, and adjusted EBITDA was $774.5 million, down 5%. Diluted EPS fell 4% for the year. Source
  • Fourth quarter revenue rose, profit fell: Fourth quarter revenue was $479.1 million, up 2%. Net earnings of $60.2 million fell 10%, and adjusted EBITDA of $136.1 million fell 4%. Source
  • Revenue sequentially lower than third quarter: Fourth quarter revenue of $479.1 million compares with $556.0 million in the third quarter release, which reported gross margin of 28.9%.

Heavy materials segment results

  • Heavy materials revenue and earnings up 10%: Heavy Materials revenue rose 10% to $1.6 billion for fiscal 2026, on higher Cement and Aggregates volume and prior-year acquired aggregates businesses. Source
  • Cement volume up 8% for year: Cement revenue rose 8% to $1.3 billion including joint venture revenue, and operating earnings rose 3% to $328.3 million. The average net price fell 1% to $155.18 per ton. Source
  • Fourth quarter cement volume up 15%: Fourth quarter Cement revenue rose 15% to $245.7 million, and operating earnings rose 31% to $36.1 million. The net price fell 2% to $153.99 per ton. Source
  • Concrete and Aggregates revenue up 19%: Concrete and Aggregates revenue rose 19% to $283.3 million, including $30.6 million from acquired businesses. Annual operating earnings were $12.9 million. Source
  • Aggregates volume rose, organic 24%: Excluding acquired businesses, Aggregates revenue rose 6% and sales volume rose 24% for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Fourth quarter seasonal operating loss: Concrete and Aggregates reported a fourth quarter operating loss of $2.6 million, compared with $9.4 million a year earlier. Management attributed the loss to seasonal trends. Source

“Amid geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing fiscal and trade policy disruptions, our combined businesses delivered”

Michael Haack, President and CEO

Light materials segment results

  • Light materials revenue down 9%: Light Materials revenue decreased 9% to $881.4 million, and operating earnings decreased 15% to $331.4 million, on lower wallboard volume and net prices. Source
  • Wallboard volume down on residential softness: Annual wallboard volume was 2.8 billion square feet, down 7%, and the average net price fell 4% to $226.08 per MSF. Management cited residential softness. Source
  • Fourth quarter wallboard volume down 4%: Fourth quarter wallboard volume fell 4% to 690 million square feet, after a 14% decline in the third quarter. The average net price fell 8% to $213.27 per MSF. Source
  • Freight added to sequential price decline: The Gypsum Wallboard net price fell about $12 per MSF sequentially, of which about $2 was associated with higher fourth-quarter freight costs. Source
  • Paperboard volume and price in fourth quarter: Recycled Paperboard volume rose 5% to 88,000 tons in the fourth quarter. The average price was $587.33 per ton, down 1%. Fiscal year volume was 341,000 tons, down 3%. Source
  • Light materials fourth-quarter earnings down 14%: Light Materials fourth-quarter operating earnings were $78.3 million, down 14%, reflecting lower wallboard volume and net prices. Source

Demand and construction activity

  • Public and large private projects supported volume: Management cited continued public construction activity, large private non-residential projects and more typical weather patterns as supporting volumes in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Demand uncertainty from policy and geopolitics: Management said evolving geopolitical, trade and fiscal-policy conditions create some near-term uncertainty in demand for the company's products. Source
  • Third quarter residential market challenged: The third quarter release described the residential construction market as challenged, while public infrastructure and private non-residential spending remained elevated.
  • Long record in challenging markets: Management pointed to a long track record of navigating challenging market conditions. Source

“Employee health, safety, and environmental stewardship remain paramount priorities, and I am proud that our team continues to advance our leadership in these areas.”

Michael Haack, President and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Corporate G&A up about 21%: Fiscal 2026 corporate general and administrative expenses rose about 21%, mainly from $4.8 million of technology upgrade costs and $7.8 million of compensation-related costs. Source
  • Lower maintenance costs aided cement: Fourth quarter cement operating earnings reflected higher volume and lower operating costs, namely maintenance costs, partly offset by lower net prices. Source
  • Paperboard prices track input costs: Paperboard prices follow pricing provisions in long-term sales agreements that factor in changes to input costs, management said. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash returned through buybacks and dividends: Fiscal 2026 repurchases totaled about 1.7 million shares for $382 million. Total cash returned through repurchases and dividends was $414 million. Source
  • Fourth quarter buybacks smaller than third: Fourth quarter repurchases were about 338,000 shares for $71.5 million, compared with about 648,000 shares for $142.6 million in the third quarter release. Source
  • Net leverage 1.9x, up from 1.8x: Debt ended the year at $1.8 billion and net debt at $1.5 billion. The net leverage ratio was 1.9x, compared with 1.8x at the third quarter and 1.5x a year earlier. Source
  • Third-quarter notes issue extended maturities: In the third quarter the company issued $750 million of 10-year senior notes at 5.00%, with part of the proceeds used to repay the bank credit facility.
  • Excess cash goes to shareholders: The third stated allocation priority is returning excess cash to shareholders, primarily through the share repurchase program. Source

Strategy and plant modernization

  • Laramie kiln line nearing commissioning: The Mountain Cement modernization in Laramie, Wyoming is about 60% complete. Commissioning of the new kiln line is expected to begin in late calendar 2026. Source
  • Duke wallboard line due second half 2027: Construction of the Duke, Oklahoma wallboard plant modernization started in fall 2025. The new wallboard line is expected to be commissioned in the second half of calendar 2027. Source
  • Plant projects expected to add capacity: Management expects the two plant investments to increase capacity, reduce operating costs, and improve production flexibility and reliability. Source
  • Five-year capital deployment totals: Over the past five fiscal years the company invested $388.4 million in acquisitions, $905.0 million in organic capital expenditures, and $2.2 billion in buybacks and dividends. Source

Safety and people

  • Hazard observation reporting up 24%: Hazard observation reporting improved 24% in fiscal 2026. Management called it the most valuable leading indicator for preventing incidents. Source
  • Zero incidents remains stated goal: Management said the company continues to strive for zero safety incidents. Source
  • Investment in people and assets: Management cited ongoing disciplined investment in people and assets as supporting continued success over the long term. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 May 2026

  • Laramie kiln line commissioning: Commissioning of the new kiln line at the Laramie plant is expected to begin in late calendar 2026. Source
  • Duke wallboard line commissioning: The new Duke wallboard line is expected to be commissioned in the second half of calendar 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Cement sales volume, fiscal 2026 Source7.5 million tons, up 8%
Cement sales volume, fourth quarter Source1.4 million tons, up 15%
Aggregates sales volume, fiscal 2026 Source6.6 million tons, up 70%
Concrete sales volume, fiscal 2026 Source1.2 million cubic yards, flat
Gypsum Wallboard sales volume, fiscal 2026 Source2.8 billion square feet, down 7%
Gypsum Wallboard sales volume, fourth quarter Source690 million square feet, down 4%
Recycled Paperboard sales volume, fiscal 2026 Source341,000 tons, down 3%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Geopolitical, trade and fiscal-policy conditions were described as creating near-term uncertainty in demand for the company's products. Source
  • Demand: Residential construction softness reduced annual wallboard volume and the average net price. Source
  • Demand: Seasonal lower demand reduced operating leverage in Concrete and Aggregates in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operational: Higher fourth-quarter freight costs were part of the sequential decline in wallboard net prices. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third quarter release described good progress on the two modernization projects. This release gives Laramie at about 60% complete and a Duke construction start in fall 2025.

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.