Olga Yastremska/iStock via Getty Images I'm staying positive on CRH plc ( CRH ). I think management's FY26 EBITDA outlook is understated. This considers the favorable read-throughs from the Q1 beat. My earlier February 20, 2026, update drew attention to CRH's potential to expand inorganically and penetrate non-U.S. markets. Top-line Acceleration Was A Surprise The group's most recent numbers were ...
Olga Yastremska/iStock via Getty Images I'm staying positive on CRH plc ( CRH ). I think management's FY26 EBITDA outlook is understated. This considers the favorable read-throughs from the Q1 beat. My earlier February 20, 2026, update drew attention to CRH's potential to expand inorganically and penetrate non-U.S. markets. Top-line Acceleration Was A Surprise The group's most recent numbers were disclosed in a media release published on Thursday, April 30. CRH's Jan-Mar '26 turnover came in 9.1% higher YoY at $7.37 billion. This represented a big improvement from 4Q25's +6.2% and 1Q25's +3.4%. According to S&P Capital IQ, the analysts had previously forecasted a more modest 4.7% increase to $7,037 million. In my opinion, its "Americas Materials Solutions/AMS" unit was the standout in the latest three-month period with a 21.4% growth in segment sales. CRH indicated at the earnings briefing that it provided "over 0.5 million tons of asphalt and 250,000 tons of aggregates" for the "reconstruction of I-95 (highway) in South Carolina." Management cited this to illustrate the robust "infrastructure demand" that boosted AMS's quarterly performance. I've been impressed with the firm's emphasis on yield management too. Its Q1 "Americas Aggregates pricing" went up "+5% on a mix-adjusted basis" based on the results slides . It charged 3% more for overseas cement products during the same timeframe. Also, I wrote in the late-Feb submission that the company's "FCF generated last year is sufficient to fund another 12 quarters of inorganic activity." As I anticipated, M&As contributed $0.27 billion and $0.16 billion of incremental revenues for CRH's AMS and International operations, respectively. Separately, CRH registered a 1Q26 normalized EBITDA of $586M. That's equivalent to an 18.4% year-on-year increase and a 9.2% beat versus consensus. Its EBITDA-to-sales widened by 70 bps YoY to 8.0% for the three months of 2026. I've identified several factors driving the profitability enh...
Dubai Airports is scaling up flight movements after months of disruption caused by conflict in the Middle East. Passenger traffic in the first quarter declined more than 20% compared to the same period last year reflecting the impact of regional airspace turmoil. CEO Paul Griffiths told Joumanna Bercetche on Horizons Middle East and Africa that the airport will ramp up operations in the coming mon...
Dubai Airports is scaling up flight movements after months of disruption caused by conflict in the Middle East. Passenger traffic in the first quarter declined more than 20% compared to the same period last year reflecting the impact of regional airspace turmoil. CEO Paul Griffiths told Joumanna Bercetche on Horizons Middle East and Africa that the airport will ramp up operations in the coming months, with transfer passengers helping drive the recovery. (Source: Bloomberg)
Olemedia Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) rose above $80,000 for the first time in more than three months as Asian stocks approached record highs. The original cryptocurrency climbed as much as 1.9% Monday morning in Singapore to $80,393, its highest level since Jan. 31. Other tokens, including Ether ( ETH-USD ), also rose. Markets are digesting mixed messages over Iran. President Donald Trump said the U.S. wo...
Olemedia Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) rose above $80,000 for the first time in more than three months as Asian stocks approached record highs. The original cryptocurrency climbed as much as 1.9% Monday morning in Singapore to $80,393, its highest level since Jan. 31. Other tokens, including Ether ( ETH-USD ), also rose. Markets are digesting mixed messages over Iran. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would begin guiding ships not involved in the conflict through the Strait of Hormuz, but a senior Iranian official warned that Tehran would consider any U.S. interference in the Strait a ceasefire breach, according to an AFP report. Analysts at CryptoQuant say that BTC's return to $80,000 is being powered by buyers who don’t fully trust it, a dynamic reflected in both positioning data and on-chain signals, CoinDesk reported. ETF inflows and leveraged longs have driven a steady climb recently, but the underlying demand picture remains uneven. U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs have pulled in roughly $2.7B over the past three weeks, helping lift total net assets above $100B and providing a clear source of real-money support, the report said. On Polymarket ( POLYMARKET ) meanwhile , traders are pricing a 56% chance that bitcoin reaches $85,000 this month, but only a 23% probability of $90,000, suggesting expectations are skewed toward a gradual grind higher rather than a breakout. More on Bitcoin USD BITX: The 2x Bitcoin Leveraged ETF Explained Whale's Insight: Every New Fed Chair, Every Bitcoin Crash Bitcoin: Struggling Against Resistance In A High-Stakes Consolidation Phase Both up 7%: RIOT Platforms sets earnings tone—will MSTR follow? Estimates here Bitcoin nears $80K, but macro headwinds cap gains
Apple, Amazon and Starbucks spotlight the challenges of long-term investing, from massive gains to periods of underperformance and tough holding decisions.
Apple, Amazon and Starbucks spotlight the challenges of long-term investing, from massive gains to periods of underperformance and tough holding decisions.
Good morning . Donald Trump said the US will help some ships exit the Strait of Hormuz. Two Armenian summits will host nearly 50 European leaders. And Swiss lawmakers meet to discuss a law that will shape UBS’ future. Listen to the day’s top stories . Market Snapshot S&P 500 futures 7,269.25 +0.2% Nasdaq 100 futures 27,944.25 +0.4% WTI crude oil futures $101.75 -0.2% Euro $1.17 +0.1% Market data a...
Good morning . Donald Trump said the US will help some ships exit the Strait of Hormuz. Two Armenian summits will host nearly 50 European leaders. And Swiss lawmakers meet to discuss a law that will shape UBS’ future. Listen to the day’s top stories . Market Snapshot S&P 500 futures 7,269.25 +0.2% Nasdaq 100 futures 27,944.25 +0.4% WTI crude oil futures $101.75 -0.2% Euro $1.17 +0.1% Market data as of 05:42 AM GMT. Data is subject to provider delays. President Donald Trump said the US will guide neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz starting today, after he’d earlier suggested Iran’s latest peace proposal might not be enough to satisfy him. The US Navy will not be involved in the latest effort, the Wall Street Journal reported. Oil fluctuated as traders grappled with the mixed Mideast signals. Asian shares traded near record highs and US futures rose, after tech companies’ earnings beat expectations to keep the sector buoyant. Check out our Markets Today live blog for all the latest news and analysis relevant to UK assets. Major OPEC+ nations agreed to add 188,000 barrels a day to their crude output quota next month, a symbolic increase after the UAE’s exit from the bloc. Meanwhile, flagship UAE oil firm Adnoc will accelerate a growth plan with $55 billion in project awards. Twin European summits in Armenia this week are heating up major powers’ contest for influence over energy and trade routes in the key Caucasus region. At the first of them, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce that the country wants to join the European Union’s €90 billion Ukraine loan plan. In corporate news, Swiss lawmakers gather today to kickstart a legislative process that could impose $20 billion in additional capital requirements on UBS. Gamestop is proposing a $56 billion takeover of eBay. And Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile surged to its highest level ever in its first quarter under new Chief Executive Officer Greg Abel. Rubio Plans Italy Visit After Trump’s Clashes Wit...