James Hardie Industries (JHX) Stock Plunges Amid Inventory “Destocking” Revelation -- Hagens Berman

Core Insights - James Hardie Industries experienced a 34% drop in share price following the disclosure of significant issues in its North America business, which is its largest segment [1] - An investigation by Hagens Berman is underway to determine if the company misled investors regarding its sales practices and business model sustainability [1][4] Financial Performance - In May 2025, James Hardie assured investors of a business model capable of "structurally grow through expansions and contractions" [3] - However, on August 19, 2025, the company reported disappointing Q1 2026 results, revealing a 12% year-over-year decline in North America sales volumes due to customer "destocking" [3] Investigation Details - The investigation focuses on when and to what extent James Hardie's management was aware of the inventory destocking and whether this information was properly disclosed to investors [4] - Hagens Berman is examining if the company misled investors by presenting a facade of sustained demand while potentially overloading channel partners with excess products [5]