Forterra (LON:FORT) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Forterra (LON:FORT) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported GBX 4.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Digital Look Earnings reports. Forterra had a net margin of 4.40% and a return on equity of 7.33%.

Here are the key takeaways from Forterra’s conference call:

• Resilient first-half performance despite weak demand: Like-for-like revenue fell 9% to £169 million as volumes declined, while adjusted EBITDA was £27 million and the margin improved 70 basis points to 16%. Adjusted PBT declined 12.7% to £14.5 million, and management expects full-year performance to remain in line with market consensus.
• Market conditions remain challenging: Domestic brick dispatches fell 8%, NHBC housing starts excluding flats and apartments were down 9%, and RMI activity remained subdued amid higher interest rates, reduced mortgage availability and weak consumer confidence. Management expects second-half demand to be broadly consistent with the first half.
• Pricing and energy hedging are supporting margins: Forterra implemented low-single-digit brick price increases plus transport and energy surcharges, while approximately 80% of expected 2026 gas usage and 2027 coverage is secured at pre-conflict pricing. The company also has layered energy positions through 2030 and electricity price certainty from its solar operations through 2040.
• Capital discipline and shareholder returns remain priorities: Net debt was £74.5 million, keeping leverage below 1.5x, and the £20 million share buyback is expected to be completed in the second half. Forterra also extended its £170 million revolving credit facility to July 2030, with lower interest costs and a move from secured to unsecured borrowing.
• Strategic growth initiatives are progressing: Desford continues to ramp up, Omnia brick slips have secured initial projects and a growing pipeline, and Forterra is exploring a calcined-clay joint venture. The company is also evaluating a roughly £60–£65 million Aircrete replacement facility, partly funded by the potential £25 million sale of the Hams Hall site, although no final investment decision has been made.

Forterra Trading Up 1.7%

Shares of FORT stock opened at GBX 138.36 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.75. The stock has a market cap of £283.77 million, a P/E ratio of 17.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.73. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 135.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 158.36. Forterra has a 1 year low of GBX 126.40 and a 1 year high of GBX 215.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on FORT shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on Forterra from GBX 320 to GBX 250 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on Forterra from GBX 220 to GBX 195 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Berenberg Bank lowered their price objective on Forterra from GBX 220 to GBX 170 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a GBX 204 target price on shares of Forterra in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Forterra has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of GBX 209.83.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Neil Ash acquired 11,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 133 per share, for a total transaction of £15,295. Also, insider Nigel Lingwood acquired 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 133 per share, with a total value of £33,250. Insiders have purchased 54,000 shares of company stock worth $7,164,500 in the last three months. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Forterra Company Profile

Forterra is a leading UK manufacturer of essential clay and concrete building products, with a unique combination of strong market positions in clay bricks, concrete blocks and precast concrete flooring. Our heritage dates back many decades and the durability, longevity and inherent sustainability of our products is evident in the construction of buildings that last for generations; wherever you are in Britain, you won’t be far from a building with a Forterra product within its fabric.

Our clay brick business combines our extensive secure mineral reserves with modern and efficient high-volume manufacturing processes to produce large quantities of extruded and soft mud bricks, primarily for the new build housing market.