James Hardie Reports First Quarter FY26 Results; Issues FY26 Guidance Reflecting Closing of AZEK Acquisition

Q1 FY26 Net Sales of $900 Million With Average Net Sales Price Growth Across All Regions
Operating Income of $139 Million, Adjusted EBITDA of $226 Million
AZEK June Quarter Results Exceeded Guidance with +MSD% Deck, Rail & Accessories Sell-Through Growth
Integration On-Track, Early Cost Synergy Achievement and Quick Commercial Synergy Wins
James Hardie Industries plc (“James Hardie” or the “Company”), a leading provider of exterior home and outdoor living solutions, announced results for its first quarter ending June 30, 2025.
Aaron Erter, CEO said, “Our first quarter results were largely as we had anticipated, and reflect an expected normalization of channel inventories, due to moderating growth expectations by customers as uncertainty built throughout April and early May. We remain committed to outperforming market demand over the long term and are employing strategies to deliver on this commitment, notwithstanding near-term conditions. Our actions are centered around our value proposition to customers, and our solid execution against these strategies amplifies our expansive material conversion opportunity. We are resolute in our strategy that is grounded in being homeowner focused, customer and contractor driven. In essence this means that the driving force of our business is our unwavering commitment to delivering winning solutions across the customer value chain.”
Mr. Erter continued, “AZEK again exceeded guidance, sustaining top line momentum and impressive profitability. For Deck, Rail & Accessories, solid sell-through growth demonstrates the resilient demand profile of the category and TimberTech’s strong value proposition. We are working diligently to integrate and deliver on cost and commercial synergies on an accelerated timeline, positioning ourselves to capture the expansive material conversion opportunity ahead and deliver on our long-term value creation commitments to shareholders. Early enthusiastic feedback on our combination with AZEK from dealer customers has been very encouraging, and our confidence in the strategic logic of the combined enterprise is greater than ever. I am so proud of the focus and dedication shown by our One Hardie Team over the last 50 days, and I am confident that together we are elevating James Hardie to be a clear leader in the building products industry.”
Segment Business Update and Results
North America Fiber Cement
Net sales decreased (12%), due primarily to lower volumes driven by soft market demand and inventory management by our customers, partially offset by an increase in average net sales price. Volume declines were similar across Single-Family Exteriors and Interiors, while Multi-Family volumes grew modestly. Single-Family Exteriors declined primarily due to a softening outlook for new construction across the South, where James Hardie has built strong leadership positions with large homebuilders in key long-term growth markets like Texas, Florida and Georgia. Housing markets in these geographies have been especially impacted in the near term by affordability challenges and elevated housing inventory. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased (400bps) to 32.1%, due to unfavorable production cost absorption associated with lower volumes in addition to unfavorable raw materials, partially offset by a higher average net sales price and Hardie Operating System (HOS) savings.
In North America, the Company remains committed to delivering a superior value proposition to customers and a leading margin profile to support our capital allocation priorities despite near-term market headwinds. James Hardie’s significant material conversion opportunity and investments across the North American manufacturing footprint have positioned the Company well to capitalize as the market returns to growth and the long-term housing fundamentals play through. The Company is investing across the value chain and growing its contractor base to capture the repair & remodel opportunity. Similarly, in new construction, efforts to deepen exclusivity and increase trim attachment rates support growth and share gain with large homebuilders. In a clear demonstration of the appreciation for James Hardie’s innovative product solutions and unrivaled business support, the Company continues to secure multi-year, national hard siding and trim exclusivity agreements, including with Beazer Homes in July.
Asia Pacific Fiber Cement
Net sales decreased (10%), or (8%) in Australian dollars, with an EBITDA margin of 35.4%, an increase of +140bps. For the segment, lower volumes, higher average net sales price and the increase in margins were each primarily attributable to the closure of the Philippines manufacturing operations in August 2024. Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) together saw volume and average net sales price each increase by low single-digits, leading to a mid-single digit increase in net sales in Australian dollars. ANZ EBITDA grew modestly and EBITDA margin was flat as the benefit from top-line growth and HOS savings were offset by increased investment in sales and marketing initiatives.
In ANZ, the Company is driving growth through new customer acquisitions and project conversion enabled by customer collaboration. The Company is influencing how homeowners build, and driving growth through Co-Creation and leveraging the James Hardie brand. The teams are innovating to accelerate material conversion with a key focus on new construction, specifically the conversion of brick & masonry. Overall, while market demand remains challenged, the ANZ team is focused on finding further manufacturing efficiencies and driving HOS savings to underpin the segment’s consistent profitability.
Europe Building Products
Net sales increased +7%, or +2% in Euros, driven by higher average net sales price partially offset by lower volumes, with Germany declining low single-digits and the UK growing mid-single digits. EBITDA margin increased +50bps to 16.0%, attributable to a higher average net sales price, as well as lower freight and raw material costs. Higher SG&A expense relates to increased investment in sales teams supporting growth strategies for high-value products.
Markets across Europe remain challenged, particularly in Germany, the Company’s largest European market, where improvement is anticipated to be more gradual. Growth in high-value products remains a strategic priority, as leveraging a broader and deeper product portfolio should accelerate share gains and customer wins. Therm25TM fiber gypsum flooring continues to receive praise across the industry, most recently being recognized by Plus X Award across several categories, including innovation, quality and sustainability. The team has a solid plan to expand margins comprised of purposeful investment to drive operating leverage alongside sales growth and HOS savings from the optimization of our production footprint and freight management.
Update to Reporting Segments
As a result of the closing of The AZEK® Company (AZEK) acquisition on July 1, 2025, beginning with the second quarter of FY26, James Hardie expects to classify its business into four reportable segments:
- Siding & Trim, consisting of the legacy North America Fiber Cement segment and the acquired Exteriors business from AZEK
- Deck, Rail & Accessories, consisting of AZEK’s Deck, Rail & Accessories business
- Australia & New Zealand, consisting of the legacy Asia Pacific Fiber Cement segment
- Europe, consisting of the legacy Europe Building Products segment
Outlook
FY26 Guidance
Speaking to the Company’s market outlook, Mr. Erter said, “Presently, demand in both repair & remodel and new construction in North America is challenging. Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners. Homeowners are deferring large-ticket remodeling projects like re-siding, and affordability remains the key impediment to improvement in single-family new construction, where more recently, homebuilders are moderating their demand expectations and slowing starts to align their home inventory with a decelerating pace of traffic and sales. In May, we built into our full-year guidance an assumption that end market demand could decline by approximately mid-single digits, driven by expectations for further decline in repair & remodel. Over the course of the summer, single-family new construction activity has been weaker than anticipated and we have adjusted our expectations to account for softer demand. Furthermore, we believe it is prudent to plan for further inventory calibration by our channel partners into the back half of the calendar year. Amidst this dynamic, we are also conservatively expecting to benefit from recent homebuilder exclusivity wins and new product launches more so in FY27 and beyond, rather than in the back half of FY26 as previously planned.”
Mr. Erter continued, “The material conversion opportunity that lies ahead is substantial. Through our focused strategies and organic investments, we have bolstered our leadership position to benefit disproportionately as the industry continues to move away from installing wood and vinyl siding. Now, with the acquisition of AZEK, we have greatly expanded our overall material conversion opportunity, establishing a comprehensive offering of exterior home and outdoor living solutions that will drive sustained above-market growth over the long-term.”
Rachel Wilson, CFO, added with respect to financial guidance, “We continue to navigate a dynamic near-term environment while also remaining focused on scaling the organization and investing where we see returns to drive long-term profitable growth. For FY26, we are issuing guidance that now reflects three quarters of inorganic contribution from AZEK in addition to the organic James Hardie business.
- Net Sales for Siding & Trim: $2.675 to $2.850 billion
- Net Sales for Deck, Rail & Accessories: $775 to $800 million
- Total Adjusted EBITDA: $1.05 to $1.15 billion
- Free Cash Flow: At least $200 million
Note: All guidance includes a partial-year contribution from the AZEK acquisition which was incorporated into James Hardie results beginning at closing on July 1, 2025. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. FY26 Free Cash Flow guidance includes an estimated ~$315mm of incremental Interest Expense and Transaction & Integration costs related to the AZEK acquisition.
Cash Flow, Capital Investment & Allocation
Operating cash flow totaled $207 million for the first quarter of FY26, driven by net income, adjusted for non-cash items of $205 million and lower working capital of $84 million, partially offset by $29 million of asbestos claims and handling costs paid. Capital expenditures were $103 million.
During Q1 FY26, the Company invested $25 million related to capacity expansion, primarily related to our new Prattville ColorPlus® facility and brownfield expansion of our fiber gypsum facility in Orejo, Spain, both of which are expected to be completed in Q2 FY26. For FY26, the Company estimates total capital expenditures will be approximately $400 million, which includes AZEK expenditures of approximately $75 million.
During Q1 FY26, in anticipation of closing the AZEK transaction the Company used $291 million to repay its existing term loan and announced the successful syndication of new credit facilities including a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility and $2.5 billion senior secured Term Loan A, which reduced commitments under the Company’s bridge facility at the time. In connection with issuing the new credit facilities, the Company also entered into a $1.0 billion interest rate swap to both increase interest rate certainty and lower interest expense. Also during the quarter, the Company successfully closed $1.7 billion of senior secured notes, with the proceeds placed into escrow. At the end of the quarter, the credit facilities were undrawn, the notes were included in long-term debt and the proceeds from the notes were accounted for in restricted cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet.
Subsequent to the end of Q1 FY26, on July 1st the Company successfully completed its previously announced acquisition of AZEK. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the Company drew on its Term Loan A and used cash on hand and the proceeds from the senior secured notes to repay AZEK’s outstanding debt and satisfy the cash consideration component of the transaction. To satisfy the stock component of the transaction, the company also issued 148.9 million shares of common stock to AZEK shareholders.
The transaction increased total shares outstanding to approximately 580 million, and increased the company’s long-term debt to approximately $5.1 billion, including $2.5 billion of Term Loan A, $1.7 billion of senior secured notes and $0.9 billion of other notes outstanding prior to the transaction. The Company did not draw on its revolving credit facility in connection with the closing of the transaction.
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About James Hardie
James Hardie Industries plc is the world’s #1 producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. We market our fiber cement products and systems under the Hardie™ brand, such as Hardie® Plank, Hardie® Panel, Hardie® Trim, Hardie® Backer, Hardie® Artisan Siding, Hardie™ Architectural Collection, and other brand names such as Cemboard®, Prevail®, Scyon®, Linea® and Hardie™ Oblique™ cladding. We are also a market leader in the European premium timber frame and dry lining business, especially in Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. We market our fiber gypsum and cement-bonded boards under the fermacell® brand and our fire-protection boards under the AESTUVER® brand. James Hardie Industries plc is a limited liability company incorporated in Ireland with its registered office at 1st Floor, Block A, One Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2, D02 FD79, Ireland.
Contact:
Joe Ahlersmeyer, CFA – Vice President, Investor Relations – investors@jameshardie.com – (773) 970-1213
Source: James Hardie Industries plc