
CRH plc (CRH)
CRH is a global giant that supplies the essential building blocks—like cement, asphalt, and aggregates—that go into roads, bridges, and homes.
Is CRH plc a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: CRH is a global giant that supplies the essential building blocks—like cement, asphalt, and aggregates—that go into roads, bridges, and homes.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in key markets leads to sustained pricing power.
Long-term shift away from traditional building materials.
What does CRH plc do?
Think of CRH as the backbone of the construction industry; they provide the heavy-duty materials needed to build modern infrastructure. The cash rolls in from selling these materials to contractors and governments for large-scale projects. How much they benefit from government spending on public works is central, since their success is closely tied to the health of the global construction market.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and value, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.6% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 6% over the year
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 16%)
- Strong market position in essential building materials
- Consistent revenue growth
- Solid return on shareholder capital
- Momentum screens low (15/100)
- Economic slowdowns reducing construction activity
- Rising costs for energy and raw materials
- Changes in government policy regarding infrastructure funding
What do CRH plc's numbers mean?
How much money does CRH plc make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does CRH plc pay a dividend?
Yes - CRH plc currently pays a dividend of about 1.6% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does CRH plc report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
CRH plc is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-29 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-30 | $2.02 | $1.93 | Missed -4% |
| 2026-04-30 | $-0.23 | $-0.21 | Beat +8% |
| 2026-02-18 | $1.53 | $1.51 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-11-05 | $2.21 | $2.23 | In line |
| 2025-08-06 | $1.94 | $1.96 | In line |
| 2025-05-05 | $-0.09 | $-0.12 | Missed -38% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, CRH plc came in ahead of what analysts expected 1 time. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Basic Materials
What are the scenarios for CRH plc?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of CRH plc?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong market position in essential building materials
- Consistent revenue growth
- Solid return on shareholder capital
- Business is highly sensitive to economic cycles
- Relatively low dividend yield compared to some other sectors
- High beta suggests more price volatility than the average stock
- Economic slowdowns reducing construction activity
- Rising costs for energy and raw materials
- Changes in government policy regarding infrastructure funding
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, multi-year decline in global infrastructure investment
- A major shift in building technology that makes traditional cement and aggregates obsolete
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.