Looking back on building materials stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Armstrong World (NYSE: AWI) and its peers.

Traditionally, building materials companies have built competitive advantages with economies of scale, brand recognition, and strong relationships with builders and contractors. More recently, advances to address labor availability and job site productivity have spurred innovation. Additionally, companies in the space that can produce more energy-efficient materials have opportunities to take share. However, these companies are at the whim of construction volumes, which tend to be cyclical and can be impacted heavily by economic factors such as interest rates. Additionally, the costs of raw materials can be driven by a myriad of worldwide factors and greatly influence the profitability of building materials companies.

The 9 building materials stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.2% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 10.2% since the latest earnings results.

Armstrong World (NYSE: AWI)

Started as a two-man shop dating back to the 1860s, Armstrong (NYSE: AWI) provides ceiling and wall products to commercial and residential spaces.

Armstrong World reported revenues of $388.3 million, up 5.6% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 3%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

“These results represent another strong year for Armstrong with record-setting sales and earnings for both the quarter and the full year as the key fundamental growth drivers of our business – Mineral Fiber average unit value growth, productivity and Architectural Specialties sales growth – were on full display,” said Vic Grizzle, President and CEO of Armstrong World Industries.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 13% since reporting and currently trades at $167.73.

Is now the time to buy Armstrong World? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Carlisle (NYSE: CSL)

Originally founded as Carlisle Tire and Rubber Company, Carlisle Companies (NYSE: CSL) is a multi-industry product manufacturer focusing on construction materials and weatherproofing technologies.

Carlisle reported revenues of $1.13 billion, flat year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $352.95.

Is now the time to buy Carlisle? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q4: UFP Industries (NASDAQ: UFPI)

Beginning as a lumber supplier in the 1950s, UFP Industries (NASDAQ: UFPI) is a holding company making building materials for the construction, retail, and industrial sectors.

UFP Industries reported revenues of $1.33 billion, down 9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

UFP Industries delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 14.8% since the results and currently trades at $90.56.

Read our full analysis of UFP Industries’s results here.

Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE: MLM)

Operating one of North America's largest networks of quarries, including 14 underground mines, Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE: MLM) is a natural resource-based building materials company that supplies aggregates, cement, and other construction materials for infrastructure and building projects.

Martin Marietta Materials reported revenues of $1.53 billion, up 8.6% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 5.1%. Overall, it was a softer quarter as it also recorded full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Martin Marietta Materials delivered the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 16.5% since reporting and currently trades at $590.98.

Read our full, actionable report on Martin Marietta Materials here, it’s free.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW)

Widely known for its success in the paint industry, Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a manufacturer of paints, coatings, and related products.

Sherwin-Williams reported revenues of $5.60 billion, up 5.6% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

The stock is down 8.1% since reporting and currently trades at $321.32.

Read our full, actionable report on Sherwin-Williams here, it’s free.

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