CRH plc Just Missed Earnings - But Analysts Have Updated Their Models

Investors in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) had a good week, as its shares rose 2.2% to close at US$103 following the release of its full-year results. Revenues of US$36b were in line with forecasts, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) came in below expectations at US$5.02, missing estimates by 7.6%. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Check out our latest analysis for CRH

Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for CRH from 18 analysts is for revenues of US$37.8b in 2025. If met, it would imply a credible 6.2% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to swell 14% to US$5.85. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$38.4b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$5.93 in 2025. So it's pretty clear that, although the analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results.

There were no changes to revenue or earnings estimates or the price target of US$115, suggesting that the company has met expectations in its recent result. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic CRH analyst has a price target of US$130 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$90.00. There are definitely some different views on the stock, but the range of estimates is not wide enough as to imply that the situation is unforecastable, in our view.

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the CRH's past performance and to peers in the same industry. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of CRH'shistorical trends, as the 6.2% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2025 is roughly in line with the 6.5% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry, which analyst estimates (in aggregate) suggest will see revenues grow 6.3% annually. So although CRH is expected to maintain its revenue growth rate, it's only growing at about the rate of the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. They also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, with the company predicted to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$115, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for CRH going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here..

It is also worth noting that we have found 1 warning sign for CRH that you need to take into consideration.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.