01—Abstract
Summary
Summary of the 20-F filed March 8, 2019. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.
CRH plc's 2018 annual report highlights a year of significant progress and strong financial performance, characterized by record profit delivery and strategic portfolio management.
The company successfully completed major acquisitions, including Ash Grove Cement Company for approximately €2.9 billion, and divested non-core assets, such as its Americas Distribution business for €2.4 billion. This active portfolio management contributed to an increase in EBITDA to €3.4 billion and a profit after tax of €2.5 billion. CRH also returned €789 million to shareholders through its buyback program and proposed a 6%a increase in its final dividend.
The company's strategy remains focused on value creation through continuous business improvement, operational excellence, and disciplined capital allocation. CRH announced a new multi-year business improvement initiative aimed at increasing EBITDA margin by 300 basis points by 2021 and simplified its organizational structure into three divisions: Europe Materials, Americas Materials, and Building Products. These strategic moves position CRH for continued growth and value creation, underpinned by favorable market conditions in the Americas and positive momentum in Europe.
02—Key points
Key Highlights
- Record EBITDA of €3.4 billion, a 7% increase from the prior year.
- Profit after tax increased by 31% to €2.5 billion, boosted by the profit on disposal of the Americas Distribution business.
- Completed significant acquisition of Ash Grove Cement Company for c. €2.9 billion, strengthening market position in North America.
- Divested Americas Distribution business for c. €2.4 billion, optimizing the portfolio.
- Returned €789 million to shareholders through share repurchases as part of a €1 billion buyback program.
- Proposed a 6% increase in the full-year dividend to 72.0c per share.
- Initiated a multi-year business improvement initiative targeting a 300bps EBITDA margin improvement by 2021 and simplified the group structure into three divisions.
03—Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What were CRH's key financial performance indicators in 2018?
In 2018, CRH reported EBITDA of €3.4 billion, an increase of 7% from the previous year. Profit after tax rose by 31% to €2.5 billion. Earnings per share (EPS) increased by 33% to 302.4c. The company also maintained a Net Debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.1x, despite significant investment activity.
How did CRH manage its portfolio in 2018?
CRH actively managed its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and divestments. The company completed the acquisition of Ash Grove Cement Company for c. €2.9 billion and divested its Americas Distribution business for €2.4 billion. Total business and asset disposal proceeds in 2018 amounted to €3.0 billion. A strategic review of the Distribution business in Europe was also underway.
What is CRH's outlook for 2019?
CRH expects continued growth in the US economy, with positive trends in housing construction and non-residential construction, alongside increased federal funding for infrastructure. In Europe, the outlook is positive with continued progress in key markets, despite Brexit-related uncertainty. The company anticipates progress in the Philippine cement market due to continued economic growth.
What strategic initiatives did CRH implement in 2018?
CRH announced a multi-year business improvement initiative to deliver 300bps of EBITDA margin improvement by 2021. This includes organizational simplification into three divisions (Europe Materials, Americas Materials, and Building Products) and a focus on operational excellence and cash generation.
04—Continue