James Hardie Industries Plunges 26.13% on Earnings Miss

On August 20, 2025, James Hardie Industries experienced a significant drop of 26.13% in pre-market trading, marking a substantial decline in investor confidence.

The company's fiscal first-quarter results for 2026 fell short of Wall Street's expectations, with revenue, earnings, and guidance all coming in below consensus. This earnings miss has led to a severe shock to investor confidence, resulting in a sharp decline in the stock price.

James Hardie's net income for the quarter fell to $62.6 million ($0.15 per share) from $155.3 million ($0.36 per share) in the prior year. The decline in earnings was attributed to challenging construction conditions and affordability issues in the North American market, where net sales declined by 12% due to lower volumes.

The company's strategic integration efforts and internal expectations were met, but the pronounced softness in the North American single-family housing market weighed heavily on the results. The bleak earnings forecast for the fiscal year further contributed to the stock's decline, with shares plummeting to their lowest levels in recent history.