Robust start to financial year 2026

• Revenue at €4,536 million (previous year: €4,715 million), result¹ at €163 million (previous year: €235 million) 
• Cost discipline and efficiency – Transformation Accelerator Initiative with total savings of €405 million 
• Growth trajectory maintained – presence in Australia and Turkey expanded 
• Step change in efficiency and decarbonisation – new kiln line opened in Airvault 
• Attractive shareholder return – dividend increase of 9% to €3.60 per share proposed; third tranche of share buyback programme to start in the second quarter (+12% volume increase vs. second tranche) 
• Outlook for the financial year 2026 confirmed

“In a challenging geopolitical environment and under difficult weather conditions in many of Heidelberg Materials’ core markets, we have started the financial year 2026 with robust results,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials. “Thanks to our strong focus on cost discipline and price adjustments, we were able to partially compensate for declining volumes in the first quarter. In this volatile market environment, our ongoing Transformation Accelerator Initiative continues to make an important contribution to our results.”

“We maintained our growth trajectory through value-enhancing M&A transactions in attractive markets. In addition to the acquisition of the Maas Group in Australia, we further strengthened our position in Turkey by acquiring a majority stake in Akçansa. With the opening of the state-of-the-art kiln line at our largest French plant Airvault, we set new benchmarks in operational efficiency and decarbonisation.”

“A significant recovery in demand is already visible in many markets at the start of the second quarter. For the remainder of the year, we anticipate demand in our core markets to further stabilise. At the same time, we are maintaining strict cost discipline and price adjustments. Against this backdrop, we confirm our outlook for the financial year 2026.”

Cost discipline and efficiency

Heidelberg Materials has made a robust start to the 2026 financial year following a strong prior-year first quarter. Revenue declined by 4% in the first quarter to €4,536 million (previous year: 4,715). The result from current operations (RCO) decreased by €72 million to €163 million (previous year: 235). The RCOBD margin was 10.7% (previous year: 11.8%).

The Transformation Accelerator Initiative, launched in 2024, has already achieved significant savings totalling €405 million. Its focus is on optimising the production network, cross-functional efficiency improvements, and technical initiatives on a global scale. Based on the positive trend to date, Heidelberg Materials is confident that it will achieve its target of at least €500 million in savings by the end of 2026.

As part of its ongoing portfolio optimisation, Heidelberg Materials announced in March 2026 that it would permanently shut down the cement plant in Paderborn. At the Skövde site in Sweden, the company intends to focus its activities on cement production from 2027 onwards and to relocate most of its clinker production to the larger Swedish plant in Slite on Gotland.

Growth trajectory maintained

In the financial year 2026, Heidelberg Materials continued to consistently pursue its ongoing portfolio optimisation. In February, the company signed an agreement to acquire the construction business of the Maas Group, a listed diversified industrial group and a leading supplier of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, and asphalt in eastern Australia. The transaction includes 40 quarries with aggregates reserves of over 350 million tonnes, 22 ready-mixed concrete plants, two asphalt operations, and a recycling site.

In April 2026, Heidelberg Materials agreed to acquire the offered 39.72% stake of Sabanci Holding in Akçansa and increased its stake to 79.44%. This significantly strengthens Heidelberg Materials’ strategic position in Turkey, the Mediterranean Basin, and beyond. Akçansa operates three cement plants, 26 ready-mixed concrete plants, five aggregates quarries, and five cement terminals at five seaports in the Marmara, Aegean, and Black Sea regions.

Attractive shareholder return

The third and final tranche of the current share buyback programme is scheduled to start in the second quarter. Within the second tranche, shares with a total value of around €400 million had already been repurchased from June to the end of November 2025 and cancelled in January 2026. The share buyback programme has a maximum duration of three years and a volume of €1.2 billion.

With the ongoing share buyback programme and a 9% increase in the proposed dividend to €3.60 per share (previous year: €3.30), Heidelberg Materials underlines its strong focus on shareholder return.  

Outlook for the financial year 2026 confirmed

Heidelberg Materials remains confident about the current year. Demand in the core markets is expected to recover over the course of the year. The company anticipates rising energy costs as a result of the escalation in the Middle East. The additional costs are to be partially compensated for by surcharges and price adjustments. The focus will continue to be on strict cost management.

For the financial year 2026, Heidelberg Materials continues to expect a result from current operations (RCO) between €3.40 billion and €3.75 billion. ROIC is unchanged forecast at above 10%. For specific net Scope 1 CO₂ emissions, the Managing Board anticipates a further slight reduction compared to 2025.

The Quarterly Statement January to March 2026 with an overview of the financial figures for the first quarter of 2026 can be found under Reports and presentations.

¹ Result from current operations (RCO)

• About Heidelberg Materials
• Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of heavy building materials and solutions with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. Around 49,000 employees in almost 50 countries shape our growth path. Drawing on our global advantage, we create synergies in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, and technical excellence. As the industry’s front runner on the path to Net Zero, we enable our customers to lead the way towards a more sustainable future through our growing offering of low-carbon and circular building materials.