Oppenheimer Reports 'Enhanced Growth Potential' for James Hardie Industries Following AZEK Acquisition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 29 2025
0mins
Should l Buy JHX?
Source: Yahoo Finance
Acquisition Impact: James Hardie Industries (JHX) has a promising growth outlook following its significant $8.75 billion acquisition.
Market Position: The acquisition is expected to enhance JHX's market position and drive future growth opportunities.
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Analyst Views on JHX
Wall Street analysts forecast JHX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for JHX is 24.50 USD with a low forecast of 21.00 USD and a high forecast of 30.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 22.950
Low
21.00
Averages
24.50
High
30.00
Current: 22.950
Low
21.00
Averages
24.50
High
30.00
About JHX
James Hardie Industries plc is an Ireland-based company, which is engaged in providing exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, and composite and PVC decking and railing products. The Company's segments include North America Fiber Cement, Asia Pacific Fiber Cement and Europe Building Products. The Company's North America Fiber Cement segment manufactures fiber cement interior linings, exterior siding products and related accessories in the United States and these products are sold in the United States and Canada. The Company's Asia Pacific Fiber Cement segment includes fiber cement products manufactured in Australia and sold in Australia and New Zealand. Its Europe Building Products segment includes fiber gypsum products manufactured in Europe, and fiber cement products manufactured in the United States that are sold in Europe. The Company’s brands include Hardie, TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, Versatex, fermacell and StruXure.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Investigation Launched: Girard Sharp LLP has initiated an investigation into James Hardie and select executives regarding potential securities law violations following a significant stock decline, indicating potential impacts on investors.
- Stock Price Collapse: On August 19, 2025, James Hardie reported a 12% sales decline in its North America Fiber Cement segment, leading to a nearly 35% drop in share price, raising concerns about possible misrepresentations prior to the merger.
- Investor Representation: Girard Sharp is seeking to represent former AZEK investors who suffered losses, emphasizing their commitment to protecting investor rights and pursuing recovery for affected parties.
- Legal Implications: The investigation not only addresses James Hardie's financial performance but also poses risks to its future market reputation and investor confidence, highlighting potential issues with transparency and compliance.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: James Hardie is set to announce its Q3 FY2026 financial results after U.S. market close on February 10 and before the Australian market opens on February 11, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Discussion: Following the earnings release, a conference call will be hosted by CEO Aaron Erter and CFO Ryan Lada, aimed at providing an in-depth analysis of the financial results and engaging with investors to bolster confidence.
- Global Market Presence: James Hardie markets its exterior home and outdoor living solutions across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with a product portfolio that includes fiber cement and PVC decking, showcasing its strong competitive position in the global market.
- Brand Influence: The company boasts several well-known brands, such as Hardie® and TimberTech®, which are recognized for their beauty, durability, and climate resilience, further solidifying its leadership in the building materials industry.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: James Hardie is set to announce its Q3 financial results for the fiscal year 2026 after the U.S. market closes on February 10, 2026, which may influence investor expectations regarding the company's future performance.
- Conference Call Discussion: Following the earnings release, the company will host a conference call led by CEO Aaron Erter and CFO Ryan Lada, aimed at providing in-depth analysis of the financial results and addressing investor inquiries.
- Webcast Information: The conference call will be webcast live on James Hardie's Investor Relations page, ensuring that global investors can access the latest updates in real-time, thereby enhancing transparency.
- Global Market Presence: James Hardie's products are marketed and sold across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, showcasing its significant global footprint in the building materials industry.
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- Manufacturing Optimization: James Hardie announced the closure of its Fontana, California, and Summerville, South Carolina manufacturing facilities within the next 60 days, which represent approximately 6% of its year-to-date North American volume, optimizing its production footprint by absorbing operations into other facilities.
- Cost Savings Projection: The company expects to achieve annualized cost savings of approximately $25 million starting in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, driven by reduced fixed costs and improved utilization across the remaining manufacturing network, thereby enhancing financial health.
- Estimated One-Time Charges: The anticipated one-time pre-tax charges related to the closures are estimated to be between $40 million and $44 million, primarily consisting of employee severance, transition-related costs, and asset impairments, with these charges expected to be recognized mainly in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, split evenly between cash and non-cash items.
- Guidance Reaffirmation: In connection with this announcement, James Hardie reaffirmed its guidance for the third quarter and full year of fiscal year 2026, demonstrating the company's confidence in future performance despite the short-term challenges posed by structural adjustments.
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- Investigation Launched: The Schall Law Firm is investigating whether former investors of AZEK suffered losses due to James Hardie's failure to disclose critical information post-acquisition, potentially violating securities laws.
- Performance Decline Impact: On August 19, 2025, James Hardie reported a significant sales decline in its North America Fiber Cement business, attributing it to 'normalization of channel inventories,' which led to a substantial drop in share price, indicating misleading statements about business strength prior to the merger.
- Investor Rights Protection: The Schall Law Firm encourages affected shareholders to participate in the investigation and offers free consultations, aiming to uphold investors' rights and ensure their access to information during the acquisition process.
- Legal Litigation Expertise: The firm specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation, representing investors globally, demonstrating its commitment and expertise in protecting investor interests.
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- Shareholder Rights Investigation: The Schall Law Firm is investigating whether former investors of AZEK suffered losses due to false statements made by James Hardie post-acquisition, raising potential securities law violations that could impact shareholder rights.
- Sales Decline Impact: On August 19, 2025, James Hardie reported a significant sales decline in its North America Fiber Cement business, attributing it to 'normalization of channel inventories,' which led to a substantial drop in the company's share price, undermining investor confidence.
- Pre-Merger Disclosure Issues: The investigation focuses on whether James Hardie misrepresented the strength of its North America Fiber Cement business prior to the merger with AZEK, potentially causing harm to shareholders.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Schall Law Firm encourages affected shareholders to reach out for free legal consultations, indicating the firm's commitment to protecting investor rights and providing legal support.
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