The struggling housing industry will not recover this year.
James Hardie Industries NYSE: JHX reported higher fiscal fourth-quarter revenue and adjusted EBITDA as the building products company benefited from the addition of AZEK, cost controls and early progress on integration initiatives, while management cautioned that construction markets remain challenging heading into fiscal 2027.
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for James Hardie (JHX) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended March 2026, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
James Hardie is rated a 'buy' at current levels, trading well below its historical EV/EBITDA average after a 47% selloff. JHX's dominant North American fiber cement siding position, resilient R&R exposure, and successful cost synergy execution underpin a durable secular growth thesis. The AZEK acquisition was expensive but strategically expands JHX into outdoor living; cost synergies are ahead of schedule, supporting future free cash flow growth.
James Hardie (JHX) witnessed a jump in share price last session on above-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions for the stock doesn't suggest further strength down the road.
James Hardie Industries plc is upgraded to Buy as Q3 2026 results signal operational turnaround and resilience amid soft housing markets. James Hardie's revenue rose 33.3% y/y to $1.2B, driven mainly by the AZEK acquisition, while organic growth remains modest. Despite a 740bps GAAP margin decline, adjusted EBITDA margin only slipped 70bps, and cost synergies are ahead of schedule.
Here is how James Hardie (JHX) and MasTec (MTZ) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Although the revenue and EPS for James Hardie (JHX) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.
James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) is initiated at BUY with a $30.17 target, reflecting a 46.3% upside by December 2025. Street overstates JHX's cyclicality; post-AZEK, ~70% of revenue is R&R/outdoor-living, providing structural resilience and smoother earnings. The AZEK acquisition synergies are underappreciated; cross-selling and dealer network leverage make management's revenue targets appear conservative.
The average of price targets set by Wall Street analysts indicates a potential upside of 34.2% in James Hardie (JHX). While the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric is questionable, the positive trend in earnings estimate revisions might translate into an upside in the stock.
James Hardie Industries plc ( JHX ) Q2 2026 Earnings Call November 18, 2025 8:00 AM EST Company Participants Joe Ahlersmeyer - Vice President of Investor Relations Aaron Erter - CEO & Executive Director Jonathan Skelly - President – AZEK Residential Conference Call Participants Trevor Allinson - Wolfe Research, LLC Keith Hughes - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division Lee Power - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Ryan Merkel - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division Timothy Wojs - Robert W.