James Hardie earnings: FY26 profit drops as sales lift 25%

James Hardie shares are in focus after the company posted higher sales but a sharp fall in annual profit, pointing to synergies from its AZEK deal.

The James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX) share price is in focus today after the building products group posted full-year net sales of US$4.84 billion, up 25%, while net profit fell sharply year-on-year.

Male building supervisor stands and smiles with his arms crossed at a building site with workers behind him.

Image source: Getty Images

What did James Hardie report?

  • Full-year net sales: US$4.84 billion, up 25% (Q4: US$1.40 billion, up 45%)
  • Net profit after tax: US$104.0 million, down 75%
  • Adjusted EBITDA: US$1.27 billion, up 17% year on year
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin: 26.2% (down from 27.8%)
  • Organic net sales: down 2% in FY26 (excluding AZEK acquisition)
  • No dividend declared or paid for the year

What else do investors need to know?

James Hardie completed its largest-ever acquisition with the purchase of AZEK on 1 July 2025. The company reported that integration is progressing well, delivering both cost and commercial synergies ahead of schedule. Cost savings from facility closures and operational initiatives were highlighted, with $25 million in annualised savings expected to begin from FY27.

Australian and New Zealand operations delivered steady results, with local currency sales holding firm and EBITDA margins remaining in the mid-30% range. European sales also grew despite challenging economic conditions, buoyed by fibre gypsum products and resilience in key markets.

Across the group, market softness—particularly in North America—affected organic growth, especially in the core Siding & Trim division, but the contribution from AZEK and disciplined cost management supported improved profitability.

What's next for James Hardie?

For FY27, James Hardie expects pro forma Adjusted EBITDA growth of 4% to 8%, with positive organic sales growth anticipated in the Siding & Trim division. The company is targeting free cash flow of at least US$500 million, an increase of over US$200 million year on year.

Management says synergy realisation and operational discipline remain key, while no material recovery in end markets is assumed in company guidance. With channel inventories now normalised, James Hardie expects to benefit from improved pricing, product mix, and cost leverage.

James Hardie share price snapshot

Over the past year, James Hardie shares have declined 30%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

More on Materials Shares

A woman draws on a clear screen a graph that shows a falling horizontal line.
Materials Shares

ASX lithium shares take a hit amid 20% fall in lithium price

The lithium carbonate price has fallen nearly 20% over the past month.

Read more »

Two colleagues working with company financial results.
Materials Shares

Zimplats: September 2026 quarterly earnings

Zimplats reports steady progress on major projects despite a dip in quarterly output.

Read more »

A couple cheers as they sit on their lounge looking at their laptop and reading about the rising Redbubble share price
Materials Shares

PLS Group is making a $1.9 billion bet on lithium. Should investors follow?

I take a closer look at what this expansion could mean for shareholders.

Read more »

a female steel worker wearing a high visibility vest with her protective helmet tucked under her arm smiles as she carries a clipboard in a large warehouse of steel products.
Materials Shares

BlueScope upgrades first-half FY2027 earnings guidance

BlueScope has upgraded its 1H FY2027 earnings guidance, with underlying EBIT now expected to approach $1.1 billion.

Read more »

A small child in a sandpit holds a handful of sand above his head and lets it trickle through his fingers.
Materials Shares

Why have Lynas Rare Earths crashed 42% in 6 months?

The shares are also down 7% for the year to date.

Read more »

Two business men looking at financial data, charts, and graphs on a digital tablet and a laptop computer.
Materials Shares

Alcoa posts higher net income, sets sights on AliGroup completion

Alcoa reported third quarter 2026 results, with higher net income and progress on the AliGroup acquisition.

Read more »

A woman sits in a cafe wearing a polka dotted shirt and holding a latte in one hand while reading something on a laptop that is sitting on the table in front of her
Materials Shares

Orora FY26 earnings: Cans strong, Glass under pressure

Orora's FY26 results show strength in Cans but ongoing challenges for Glass, including a substantial non-cash impairment.

Read more »

Three people at a building site discussing a plan whilst eating.
Materials Shares

Fletcher Building posts higher volumes in Q1 FY27, residential lags

Fletcher Building posted Q1 FY27 sales volume growth in several key business units, though residential activity stayed challenging.

Read more »