Oldcastle APG, a CRH plc CRH company, has announced the acquisition of the bagged and bulk mulch and soil assets of H&H General Excavating. This strategic move expands Oldcastle APG’s Lawn & Garden division, reinforcing its leadership in outdoor living solutions.

Strengthening Northeast Market Presence

With the addition of H&H’s facilities in Spring Grove and York, PA, Oldcastle APG broadens its product range and enhances its service capabilities in the Northeast. The acquisition ensures greater customer access to high-quality mulch and soil products, aligning with the company’s mission to help customers "Live Well Outside."

The integration of these assets supports Oldcastle APG’s strategy of building a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor solutions. It also complements recent acquisitions, reinforcing the company’s growing influence along the East Coast.

CRH: A Market Leader in Outdoor Living

As North America’s premier provider of outdoor living solutions, Oldcastle APG continues to drive innovation and expansion. By enhancing its product portfolio and increasing its regional footprint, the company remains at the forefront of the industry, delivering top-tier solutions to customers nationwide.

This acquisition solidifies CRH’s commitment to strengthening its position in the market and offering superior products that meet the evolving needs of homeowners and landscape professionals alike.

Acquisition Strategies Bode Well for CRH

CRH consistently focuses on expanding its geographical footprint and product portfolio through strategic acquisitions. The company utilizes several opportunities to expand its product offerings in various fields comprising CRH’s solutions capabilities and road infrastructure, utility infrastructure and outdoor living.

In 2024, CRH completed 40 acquisitions worth $5 billion, a significant increase from $0.7 billion in 2023. The largest acquisition was a $2.1 billion purchase of cement and ready mixed concrete assets in Texas. In total, CRH spent $3.8 billion on acquisitions in the Americas and $1.2 billion internationally, including a majority stake in Australia's Adbri Ltd. The company also completed 10 divestitures, generating $1.4 billion, mainly from selling its European Lime operations. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, CRH completed 12 acquisitions worth $1.1 billion compared to $0.1 billion in the year-ago quarter.

CRH Share Price Performance

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Shares of this building materials provider solutions have risen 2.2% year to date, against the Zacks Building Products - Miscellaneous industry’s 2.4% dip. Despite solid fourth-quarter 2024 results and a 6% increased dividend announcement, CRH's stock price has experienced a decline in March 2025 (down 7.7% so far) due to several factors. The company reported fourth-quarter 2024 results in late February, wherein revenues of $8.9 billion came in below the consensus mark of $9.3 billion, raising concerns among investors about its financial performance.

Again, on March 24, 2025, CRH was removed from the FTSE All-World Index, highlighting a significant adjustment in its market presence. Adverse economic developments have impacted several European stocks, including CRH, reflecting broader market hesitancy.

CRH’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks

CRH currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Here are some better-ranked stocks from the Construction sector.

Quanex Building Products NX currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). Quanex delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 115.2%, on average. The stock has fallen 18.7% year to date (YTD). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The consensus estimate for Quanex’s 2025 sales indicates an increase of 44% and a rise of 16.4% for earnings per share (EPS), respectively, from a year ago.

Gibraltar Industries, Inc. ROCK currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Gibraltar delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.8%, on average. The stock has jumped 5% YTD.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Gibraltar’s 2025 sales and EPS implies an increase of 9.8% and 15.5%, respectively, from a year ago.

Janus International Group JBI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Janus surpassed earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other occasions, with the average surprise being 85.1%. The stock has risen 5.5% YTD.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Janus' 2025 sales and EPS suggests a decrease of 9.3% and 15.8%, respectively, from a year ago.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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