CP
CRH PUBLIC LTD CO (CRH)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Record Q3 with revenue $11.07B (+5% y/y), Adjusted EBITDA $2.70B (+10% y/y), and diluted EPS $2.21 (+12% y/y), driven by pricing, solid demand, and M&A; margins expanded 100 bps (Adj. EBITDA) and 50 bps (net income) y/y .
- Mixed vs S&P Global consensus: slight revenue miss ($11.14B est.) but slight EPS beat ($2.21 est.); management raised FY25 Adjusted EBITDA midpoint to $7.65B and reaffirmed net income and EPS ranges . Values with asterisks are from S&P Global.
- Guidance change: FY25 Adjusted EBITDA midpoint raised (to $7.60–$7.70B from $7.50–$7.70B), capital expenditure tightened lower ($2.7–$2.8B vs $2.8–$3.0B), net income and EPS maintained; dividend declared at $0.37 (+6% y/y) and new $0.3B buyback tranche .
- 2026 setup constructive: strong U.S. infrastructure funding runway (IIJA 60% yet to be deployed), robust reindustrialization/data center activity, ongoing pricing discipline; CFO flagged Eco Material timing/financing costs make Q4 EPS dilutive, with ~$200M of net incremental M&A EBITDA expected in 2026 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Broad-based outperformance: Q3 revenue +5% y/y to $11.07B, Adjusted EBITDA +10% to $2.70B, diluted EPS +12% to $2.21; Adj. EBITDA margin +100 bps to 24.3% on pricing and acquisitions .
- Segment execution: Americas Building Solutions Adjusted EBITDA +22% y/y with notable margin expansion, aided by asset optimization and land disposals; International Solutions Adjusted EBITDA +15% y/y with +170 bps margin expansion on pricing and efficiencies .
- Positive forward narrative and guidance: FY25 Adjusted EBITDA midpoint raised; CEO emphasized “record third quarter performance” and confidence in benefiting from transportation, water, and reindustrialization megatrends .
What Went Wrong
- Financing headwind and leverage up: Interest expense rose to $209M in Q3 (from $164M), and Net Debt increased to $15.0B, reflecting acquisitions and capital returns; gross debt was $18.7B at quarter-end .
- EPS dilution in Q4 from Eco Material transaction timing and related costs; management flagged this near‑term drag despite positive strategic fit .
- Revenue modestly below S&P Global consensus while Adjusted EBITDA benefited in part from $110M gains on disposal of long‑lived assets in Q3, tempering pure operating leverage optics .
Financial Results
Estimates vs Actual (Q3 2025):
- Revenue: $11.14B* consensus vs $11.07B actual → slight miss .
- Diluted EPS: $2.21* consensus vs $2.21 actual → slight beat.
Values with asterisks are from S&P Global.
Segment snapshot (y/y in Q3):
- Americas Materials Solutions: Revenue +6%; Adjusted EBITDA +5%; margin “approximately 28%” with strength in aggregates (+4% price; +6% mix-adjusted) and steady cement (+1%) .
- Americas Building Solutions: Revenue +2%; Adjusted EBITDA +22%; margin expansion aided by asset optimization (land disposals) and strong energy/data center demand .
- International Solutions: Revenue +5%; Adjusted EBITDA +15%; margin +170 bps on pricing, efficiencies, and M&A .
KPIs and other items:
- Gain on disposal of long‑lived assets: $110M in Q3 .
- Interest expense: $209M in Q3; Interest income $37M .
- Net Debt: $15.0B; Cash & equivalents plus restricted cash: $4.3B; Undrawn committed facilities: $4.2B .
- Dividend: $0.37 per share declared (+6% y/y) .
- Data centers: ~98 active projects across stages; strong early involvement via critical water/energy infrastructure .
Guidance Changes
Dividend: $0.37 per share declared for payment Dec 17, 2025 (+6% y/y) .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We are pleased to report a record third quarter performance and raise the midpoint of our adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2025” (CEO) .
- “As the leading infrastructure play in North America, we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on transportation, water and reindustrialization megatrends” (CEO) .
- “Our margin improvement… will be our twelfth consecutive year… we don’t see any structural ceiling to where we can take the margins” (CEO) .
- “Eco Material… creates a unique national distribution network… early integration is progressing well” (COO) .
- “We have invested $3.5B in 27 value accretive acquisitions year-to-date” (CFO) .
Q&A Highlights
- 2026 outlook: backlog/bidding visibility supports low-single-digit aggregates volume growth and mid-single-digit pricing; EBITDA from 2025 M&A expected to add ~$200M net incremental in 2026 (CFO) .
- Margins: management reiterated no structural ceiling; growth capex and automation underpin further expansion in 2026 despite ongoing inflation (CEO/COO) .
- Guidance drivers: Q3 benefited partly from land sales, though YTD land sales are down y/y; Eco timing/financing costs make 2025 EPS dilutive even as EBITDA contributes (CEO/CFO) .
- Roads funding: IIJA deployment still early; state budgets strong; positive early discussions on 2026 reauthorization tilt more dollars to roads/bridges (COO) .
- Building Solutions: strong profit growth and margin expansion from energy/data center demand and asset optimization; Outdoor Living resilient in R&R (CEO/COO) .
Estimates Context
- Versus S&P Global: Q3 revenue modest miss ($11.14B* est. vs $11.07B actual), EPS slight beat ($2.21* est. vs $2.21 actual). Management raised FY25 Adjusted EBITDA midpoint and maintained EPS, suggesting mix/operational levers are offsetting higher interest and transaction timing .
- Forward consensus snapshots: Q4 2025 revenue $9.46B*, EPS $1.54*; Q1 2026 revenue $7.08B*, EPS -$0.18*; Q2 2026 revenue $10.75B*, EPS $2.12* (seasonality evident). Values with asterisks are from S&P Global.
Values with asterisks are from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Durable Compounding: Q3 delivered record revenue/EPS/margins with 100 bps y/y Adj. EBITDA margin expansion; management raised FY25 Adj. EBITDA midpoint while maintaining EPS—a constructive quality signal .
- Infrastructure Flywheel: IIJA deployment runway and strong state budgets, plus CRH’s #1 U.S. road paver position and connected portfolio, support multi‑year volume and margin tailwinds .
- AI/Data Center Exposure: Deepening participation (≈98 projects) with early‑phase critical infrastructure work enhances share of wallet and pricing power .
- Portfolio & Scale: Eco Material adds national cementitious reach and logistics/innovation advantages; integration “going really well,” supporting future synergies .
- Watch Near‑Term EPS Noise: Eco-related timing/financing costs dilute EPS in Q4 despite EBITDA contribution; higher interest expense and elevated net debt are near‑term drags .
- 2026 Setup: Management indicates additional margin expansion next year, with ~$200M net incremental M&A EBITDA and continued pricing momentum .
- Capital Returns Intact: Ongoing buybacks ($0.3B tranche) and dividend growth (+6% y/y to $0.37) continue alongside disciplined growth capex .
Appendix: Additional Tables
Estimates vs Actual (Q3 2025) – S&P Global
Values with asterisks are from S&P Global.
Segment Performance (Q3 2025 y/y)
Key Items (Q3 2025)