Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on CRH, and emphasizes the importance of validating these recommendations with other indicators like the Zacks Rank [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations for CRH - CRH has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.39, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 19 brokerage firms [2]. - Among the 19 recommendations, 14 are Strong Buy and 2 are Buy, accounting for 73.7% and 10.5% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be wise, as studies show limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the best price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable ratings compared to negative ones [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative Indicator - The Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, is presented as a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently and reflects changes in earnings estimates, making it a timely indicator of future price movements [13]. Current Earnings Estimates for CRH - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRH's current year earnings has declined by 2% over the past month to $5.59, indicating growing pessimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [14]. - This decline in earnings estimates has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) for CRH, suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [15].

Core Insights - CRH plc is positioning itself for significant growth through major acquisitions in 2023, enhancing its geographical reach and material supply capabilities [1] - The company anticipates sustained demand for infrastructure projects, supported by funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - CRH is actively expanding its operations by making substantial acquisitions year-to-date [1] - The company is focusing on increasing its geographical presence and diversifying its materials supplies [1] Group 2: Market Outlook - There are durable expectations for infrastructure projects due to IIJA funding, which is likely to drive demand for materials [1]

Core Insights - Eco Material Technologies is being sold to CRH for a total consideration of $2.1 billion, positioning it for continued growth under CRH's management [1][4] - Eco Material was formed in 2022 through the merger of Boral Limited's North American fly ash business and Green Cement Inc, focusing on sustainable cement alternatives [2][6] - The company operates a national network for processing and recycling approximately seven million tons of fly ash and three million tons of synthetic gypsum annually, with additional capacity under construction [2][6] Company Overview - Eco Material Technologies is a leading independent supplier of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) in North America, emphasizing environmentally friendly, near-zero carbon cement production [1][6] - The company recycles over 10 million tons per year of materials, significantly reducing emissions and avoiding landfill use [6] Strategic Partnerships - One Equity Partners and Warburg Pincus played crucial roles in Eco Material's growth by providing investment and partnership, which helped build a strong foundation for future expansion [3][4] - The transaction is expected to leverage CRH's national distribution network and innovation capabilities to enhance service to customers [3][4] Future Outlook - The proposed transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is anticipated to close in 2025, marking a new chapter for Eco Material under CRH's stewardship [4]

Mergers and Acquisitions - CRH is in advanced talks to acquire Eco Material for $2.1 billion [1] Market Expansion - The acquisition represents a major expansion in the cement-alternatives market in North America [1]

Company Performance - CRH's stock closed at $98.54, reflecting a -1.52% change from the previous day's closing price, underperforming the S&P 500 which gained 0.02% [1] - Over the last month, CRH's shares increased by 9.33%, lagging behind the Construction sector's gain of 10.7% and outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 4.93% [1] Earnings Forecast - The upcoming earnings report for CRH is scheduled for August 6, 2025, with projected EPS of $1.84, indicating a 0.54% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to reach $10.33 billion, representing a 6.99% growth year-over-year [2] Annual Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast annual earnings of $5.62 per share and revenue of $37.96 billion, reflecting increases of +4.27% and +6.72% respectively compared to the previous year [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest a positive outlook for CRH's business and profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - CRH is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 17.81, which is below the industry average of 19.26, indicating a discount [6] - The PEG ratio for CRH stands at 1.58, compared to the industry average of 2.11, suggesting a more favorable valuation relative to expected earnings growth [6] Industry Context - The Building Products - Miscellaneous industry, part of the Construction sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 148, placing it in the bottom 41% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% of Zacks Rank outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Group 1: Stock Performance - CRH's stock increased by 1.37% to $95.54, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.06% [1] - Over the past month, CRH shares gained 4.8%, lagging behind the Construction sector's 6.08% and the S&P 500's 5.88% [1] Group 2: Upcoming Earnings - CRH is expected to release its earnings report on August 6, 2025, with an anticipated EPS of $1.84, reflecting a 0.54% decline year-over-year [2] - Revenue is projected at $10.33 billion, indicating a 6.99% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Group 3: Full-Year Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast CRH's full-year earnings at $5.62 per share and revenue at $38 billion, representing year-over-year increases of 4.27% and 6.81%, respectively [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest a positive outlook for CRH's business [3] Group 4: Zacks Rank and Valuation - CRH currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a recent consensus EPS projection down by 2.51% [5] - The company is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 16.78, which is lower than the industry average of 17.9 [5] Group 5: PEG Ratio and Industry Ranking - CRH has a PEG ratio of 1.47, compared to the average PEG ratio of 1.9 for the Building Products - Miscellaneous industry [6] - The Building Products - Miscellaneous industry ranks in the top 40% of all industries, with a Zacks Industry Rank of 97 [7]

Group 1: Company Performance - CRH closed at $92.88, reflecting a -1.39% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.32% [1] - Over the past month, CRH shares increased by 4.88%, outperforming the Construction sector's gain of 4.6% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.51% [1] Group 2: Upcoming Financial Results - CRH is set to announce its earnings on August 6, 2025, with an expected EPS of $1.84, a decrease of 0.54% from the prior-year quarter [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $10.33 billion, indicating a 6.99% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2] Group 3: Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $5.64 per share and revenue at $38.11 billion, representing changes of +4.64% and +7.14% from the prior year, respectively [3] Group 4: Analyst Estimates and Stock Performance - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for CRH reflect short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analysts' confidence in performance [4] - Estimate alterations are linked to stock price performance, and investors can utilize the Zacks Rank for actionable insights [5] Group 5: Zacks Rank and Valuation - CRH currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate having decreased by 2.06% in the past month [6] - The Forward P/E ratio for CRH is 16.69, which is a discount compared to the industry average of 18.29, and the PEG ratio is 1.46, below the industry average of 1.95 [7] Group 6: Industry Context - The Building Products - Miscellaneous industry, part of the Construction sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 68, placing it in the top 28% of over 250 industries [8]

Group 1 - CRH's stock increased by 1.77% to $91.52, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.11% and the Dow's gain of 1.19%, but underperformed compared to the Construction sector which gained 2.35% [1] - The upcoming financial results for CRH are anticipated to show an EPS of $2.07, reflecting an 11.89% increase year-over-year, with revenue expected to be $10.44 billion, indicating an 8.11% growth [2] - For the full year, analysts expect CRH to report earnings of $5.76 per share and revenue of $38.13 billion, representing increases of 6.86% and 7.18% respectively from the previous year [3] Group 2 - Recent changes in analyst estimates for CRH are important as they reflect short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating confidence in the company's performance [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, has shown a track record of outperformance, with 1 stocks returning an average of 25% annually since 1988; CRH currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5][6] - CRH's Forward P/E ratio is 15.61, which is lower than the industry average of 16.42, suggesting a valuation discount [6] Group 3 - CRH has a PEG ratio of 1.37, which is below the industry average PEG ratio of 1.75, indicating a favorable valuation relative to expected earnings growth [7] - The Building Products - Miscellaneous industry, which includes CRH, is ranked 96 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the top 40% of over 250 industries, suggesting strong performance potential [8]

Core Insights - CRH reported revenue of $6.76 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.4% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) was -$0.12, a decline from -$0.02 in the same quarter last year [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.88 billion, resulting in a surprise of -1.86% [1] - The EPS also missed the consensus estimate of -$0.08, leading to a surprise of -50.00% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Revenue from Americas Materials Solutions was $2.24 billion, below the average estimate of $2.36 billion from three analysts [4] - Revenue from International Solutions reached $2.83 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $2.74 billion from three analysts [4] - Revenue from Americas Building Solutions was $1.68 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $1.70 billion from three analysts [4] Stock Performance - CRH shares have returned +21.8% over the past month, significantly outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which saw a change of +0.4% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Performance - Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 increased by 3% to $6.8 billion compared to the same period in 2024[100] - Net loss for the first quarter of 2025 was $98 million, a decrease of $212 million from a net income of $114 million in the first quarter of 2024[120] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $495 million, an increase of $50 million or 11% compared to the first quarter of 2024[100] - The gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2025 was 27.2%, a decrease of 50 basis points from 27.7% in the first quarter of 2024[111] - Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 3% to $1.8 billion in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to a 9% increase in labor costs[112] - The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 40%, compared to an effective tax rate of (19%) in the first quarter of 2024[117] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $1.485 billion, compared to $1.050 billion for the same period in 2024[170] Revenue Breakdown - The Americas Materials Solutions segment reported total revenues of $2.2 billion, a 2% increase from the first quarter of 2024[124] - Total revenues for Road Solutions increased by 5%, with asphalt volumes up 4% and pricing up 3%[126] - Americas Building Solutions reported total revenues of $1,682 million, a 1% decrease from Q1 2024, with adjusted EBITDA down 7% to $287 million[128] - International Solutions achieved total revenues of $2,831 million, a 7% increase, and adjusted EBITDA rose by 22% to $149 million[132] - Essential Materials saw total revenues increase by 7%, with aggregates and cement volumes up 9% and 11%, respectively[133] - Road Solutions' total revenues were 11% ahead of the comparable period, with readymixed concrete volumes up 22%[134] Cash Flow and Debt - Net cash used in operating activities was $659 million for Q1 2025, a decrease of $53 million compared to Q1 2024[151] - Total short and long-term debt was $15.7 billion at March 31, 2025, up from $12.7 billion a year earlier[148] - Net Debt at March 31, 2025, was $12.7 billion, compared to $9.6 billion at the same time last year[148] - Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.1 billion for Q1 2025, compared to a net cash used of $0.2 billion in Q1 2024[154] - Proceeds from debt issuances in Q1 2025 were $3.0 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion compared to the same period in 2024[154] - Payments on debt in Q1 2025 were $1.5 billion, up from $0.7 billion in Q1 2024[154] - Dividends paid in Q1 2025 were $nil billion, compared to $0.8 billion in Q1 2024[154] - The company has $15.7 billion in short and long-term debt, with $1.4 billion maturing in Q2 2025[162] Investments and Acquisitions - Eight acquisitions were completed in the first quarter of 2025 for a total consideration of $0.6 billion, compared to $2.2 billion in the same period of 2024[101] - The company invested $0.6 billion in acquisitions during Q1 2025, a decrease of $1.6 billion from the same period in 2024[153] Market Outlook - The outlook for 2025 remains positive, with expectations of continued demand driven by public investment in infrastructure and resilient repair and remodel activity[103] Debt Management and Hedging - The company's debt ratings as of March 31, 2025, were BBB+ from S&P and Fitch, and Baa1 from Moody's, all with a stable outlook[161] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had fixed rate debt of $13.9 billion (87%) and floating rate debt of $2.1 billion (13%), compared to $10.8 billion (76%) and $3.5 billion (24%) as of December 31, 2024[181] - The impact of a 100bps increase in interest rates on the variable rate cash and debt portfolio would be approximately $12 million favorable as of March 31, 2025, compared to $2 million favorable at December 31, 2024[182] - The gross notional amount of the company's foreign exchange forward contracts was $3.4 billion at March 31, 2025, down from $4.6 billion at December 31, 2024[184] - A 10% weakening in foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. Dollar would increase the fair market value of foreign currency contracts by approximately $24 million as of March 31, 2025[185] - The company manages commodity price risks through negotiated supply contracts and forward contracts to mitigate the impact of price volatility in oil, electricity, coal, and carbon credits[186] - The company has derivative hedging programs in place to neutralize variability arising from changes in commodity indices, with a timeframe of up to four years[187] - The company may enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against exchange rate fluctuations on cash flows denominated in foreign currencies[184] - The company maintains net debt in the same relative ratio as capital employed to act as an economic hedge against currency asset fluctuations[184] Cash and Liquidity - Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2025, were $3.4 billion, compared to $3.8 billion at December 31, 2024[181] - The company's interest rate swaps to convert fixed rate debt to floating rate debt were $1.4 billion as of March 31, 2025, unchanged from previous periods[181] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had a $4.0 billion U.S. Dollar Commercial Paper Program, with $0.1 billion outstanding[159] - The company issued $1.25 billion of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2030 and $1.25 billion of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2035 in January 2025[156]