Finance
Holcim Beats Forecasts With First Quarter Figures
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Holcim reported stronger-than-expected Q1 2026 results, with sales of CHF 3.52 billion and recurring EBIT of CHF 431 million beating consensus forecasts. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance amid a cautious global construction environment.
Holcim beats first-quarter forecasts despite construction sector softening
Holcim’s First-Quarter 2024 Financial Performance and Outlook
By John Revill
First-Quarter Results Exceed Expectations
ZURICH, April 24 (Reuters) - Swiss cement giant Holcim reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Friday, confirming its full-year outlook despite concerns about a slowing global economy weighing on confidence in the construction sector.
Sales and Operating Profit
Holcim said its sales fell 4.8% to 3.52 billion Swiss francs ($4.47 billion) in the three months to the end of March, beating analyst forecasts for 3.42 billion Swiss francs.
Recurring operating profit (EBIT) fell to 431 million francs, ahead of analyst forecasts for 407 million francs in a company-compiled consensus.
Factors Impacting Results
The figures were impacted by Holcim’s exit from Nigeria and other markets, wet weather in Europe, and a translation effect from the strong Swiss franc.
Portfolio Reshaping and Acquisitions
Also during the quarter, the company reshaped its portfolio through five transactions, including the acquisition of a majority stake in Peru's Cementos Pacasmayo and an agreement to acquire building materials operations in Colombia.
CEO Commentary and Industry Sentiment
"With our resilient and proven business model across all economic cycles and market conditions, we confirm our full-year 2026 guidance," said CEO Miljan Gutovic, who described the results as robust, but did not refer to the conflict in the Middle East.
Construction Sector Outlook
Construction industry sentiment has softened since the beginning of the year, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors halving its construction growth forecast for 2026 to around 1–2%.
Chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said global confidence in residential and non‑residential construction had turned more negative than at the end of 2025.
Guidance and Future Expectations
Holcim said it still expected to increase its annual sales by 3-5% after removing currency effects and acquisitions, and to improve its recurring operating profit by 8% to 10%.
During the first quarter, its results fell within its target range, increasing its organic sales by 3.9%, and operating profit by 8.3%.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.7867 Swiss francs)
(Reporting by John Revill and Cian Muenster, Editing by Friederike Heine and Rashmi Aich)
Key Takeaways
- •Q1 net sales came in at CHF 3.52 billion, topping analyst estimates of around CHF 3.415 billion consensus (holcim.com).
- •Recurring EBIT of CHF 431 million exceeded the consensus estimate of CHF 407 million (holcim.com).
- •Despite sales declining 4.8%, Holcim reaffirmed its FY 2026 outlook, expecting 3%–5% organic net sales growth and 8%–10% recurring EBIT growth (spglobal.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Holcim beats forecasts with first quarter figures
1How did Holcim perform in the first quarter of 2024?
Holcim beat analyst forecasts for both sales and recurring operating profit despite a 4.8% decline in sales.
2What were Holcim's reported sales in Q1 2024?
Holcim reported sales of 3.52 billion Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2024.
3Did Holcim’s profits exceed analyst expectations?
Yes, Holcim's recurring operating profit (EBIT) was 431 million francs, ahead of the consensus forecast of 407 million francs.
4Has Holcim changed its outlook for the full year?
No, Holcim has confirmed its full year outlook despite concerns about a slowing global economy.
5What is the exchange rate used in Holcim’s Q1 report?
The report uses an exchange rate of $1 = 0.7867 Swiss francs.
