$CRH

On CNBC, Kathryn Thompson of Thompson Research Group said AI investors focus too much on near-term chip pricing and should consider “old school” infrastructure themes. She cited $5+ trillion projected AI-related spend over five years and power as a bottleneck. The article highlights Martin Marietta (MLM), CRH (CRH), Ferguson (FERG), Generac (GNRC), and Cisco (CSCO) with recent revenue/EPS and valuation/backlog figures.

CRH plc shares fell 3.3% as investors weighed financing and balance sheet risk around its pending $8.5 billion Arcosa acquisition. CRH’s Q2 release showed higher revenue, profit and margins and it reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance. An SEC filing cited a new $2.5 billion three-year term loan and expected bridge financing before closing.

CRH plc reported Q2 2026 results with higher year-on-year revenue and net income, raised its quarterly dividend to $0.39 per share, and reaffirmed full-year 2026 earnings guidance. The company also continued a multi-year share buyback program. The article cites 2026 net income guidance of $3.9B to $4.1B and projects $46.8B revenue and $5.6B earnings by 2029.

The U.S. Justice Department and Tennessee’s attorney general intervened in CRH’s subsidiary APAC-Tennessee’s planned purchase of Standard Construction, alleging the deal could reduce competition and raise asphalt prices for the Tennessee DOT. As part of a settlement, APAC-Tennessee will divest two hot-mix asphalt plants in western Tennessee to Dunn Construction.

CRH plans to acquire Arcosa for about $8.5B, with closing expected in Q1 2027 subject to approvals. The deal would add about 35M tons of annual aggregates, targeting over 265M tons U.S. production, and add energy infrastructure exposure. CRH targets $175M annual cost synergies by year three and says the deal should be accretive within 12 months, but notes higher financing and integration risk.

A federal judge dismissed a proposed class action against CRH Healthcare, doing business as Peachtree Immediate Care, over claims that website tracking technologies (including Google Analytics) transmitted patients’ protected health information to third parties. The court said the plaintiff failed to show compensable damages and found an ECPA exemption for parties to the communication. The plaintiff has 14 days to amend.

Global Cement Newsletter reviews 1H 2026 results for major cement producers outside China. CRH sales rose on Eco Material Technologies and higher aggregates prices; Heidelberg Materials saw slight cement revenue declines except North America; Holcim reported 5% organic growth. Cemex’s Mexico strength lifted sales and volumes; UltraTech Cement sales rose 16% YoY to US$2.57bn in 1Q FY2027. Also covers Ararat Cement management change, IKN Czech appointment, and Mitsubishi UBE Cement IPO plans.

CRH said it acquired Pisgah Stone Products LLC to expand its Northern Utah aggregates network via CRH Americas Materials. The deal adds Pisgah quarry operations in Wellsville, Utah, supplying hard-rock limestone for asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. Financial terms were not disclosed. CRH cited strong regional population and infrastructure demand.

CRH’s Americas Materials unit said it acquired Pisgah Stone Products LLC, a Northern Utah aggregates producer. CRH expects the deal to add hard-rock limestone reserves to support its long-term regional strategy amid construction and infrastructure demand. Pisgah, based in Wellsville, supplies limestone for asphalt and concrete, serving business and government customers.

CRH reported 2Q26 revenues of US$10.8bn, up 6% year over year, and net income up 13% to US$1.5bn. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% to US$2.6bn, with margins improving. CRH completed three non-core divestments and invested US$1.4bn in 17 acquisitions YTD, and agreed to buy Arcosa for US$8.5bn. It reaffirmed 2026 guidance: net income US$3.9-4.1bn, adjusted EBITDA US$8.1-8.5bn, EPS US$5.60-6.05.