Press Releases

Eagle Materials Inc. Reports Record Second Quarter Results

Nov 1, 2005

DALLAS, Nov 01, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP and EXP.B) today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 ended September 30, 2005 and raised its annual earnings guidance. Eagle produces and distributes Gypsum Wallboard, Cement, Recycled Paperboard and Concrete and Aggregates. The following are highlights of our second quarter results:

*  HIGHEST QUARTERLY OPERATING EARNINGS IN WALLBOARD AND CEMENT IN
        COMPANY HISTORY
     *  RECORD HIGH QUARTERLY SALES VOLUME IN WALLBOARD
     *  GYPSUM WALLBOARD AVERAGE NET SALES PRICE INCREASED 21% FROM LAST
        YEAR'S SECOND QUARTER
     *  RECORD HIGH SECOND QUARTER SALES VOLUME IN CEMENT
     *  HIGHEST QUARTERLY CEMENT AVERAGE NET SALES PRICE IN OUR HISTORY --
        INCREASED 18% FROM LAST YEAR'S SECOND QUARTER

For the quarter ended September 30, 2005, revenues and net earnings were $222 million and $43 million, respectively. Revenues increased 36% over the prior year second quarter and net earnings increased 44% over the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 were $2.41 compared with $1.62 in the same period a year ago, a 49% increase.

The Company also raised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 to a range of $7.60 to $7.90 per diluted share, and expects to report earnings ranging from $1.80 to $2.00 per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 ending December 31, 2005.

Eagle remains well positioned to continue to achieve outstanding results given our strong operations, which enable us to supply building materials to a vibrant construction industry. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total construction spending during August 2005 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.11 trillion, 6% above the August 2004 estimate. The Gypsum Association reported approximately 27.1 billion square feet of wallboard were shipped in the first nine months of calendar 2005, a 5.5% increase over the same period in the prior record year. For calendar year 2005, we expect Wallboard demand to remain strong and supply to be tight (with 95%+ industry capacity utilization) as a result of continued high levels of activity in residential construction and increasing repair/remodel and commercial construction activity. Wallboard pricing remains strong and a $12 per thousand square feet (MSF) price increase was implemented on September 19, 2005 in all of our wallboard markets. Also, national demand for cement remains at record levels outpacing last year's consumption by approximately 5.8% through August 2005 according to the U.S. Geological Survey with imports projected to fulfill over 25% of the U.S. construction industry demand this year. Low inventories and strong demand continue to put upward pressure on cement pricing. We implemented price increases ranging from $3 to $5 per ton between July 1st and October 1st, in most of our cement markets.

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

Gypsum Wallboard revenues for the second quarter totaled $117 million, a 28% increase over the $92 million for the same quarter a year ago. Gypsum Wallboard's second quarter operating earnings were $37 million, up 62% from the $23 million for the same quarter last year. The revenue and earnings gain for the quarter resulted from higher sales prices and record sales volume. The average net sales price for this fiscal year's second quarter was $132 per MSF, 21% greater than the $110 per MSF for the same quarter last year. Gypsum Wallboard sales volume of 712 million square feet (MMSF) for the quarter increased 7% from the prior year's second quarter.

CEMENT

Operating earnings from Cement increased 35% to $23 million for the second quarter this year from $17 million for the same quarter last year. The earnings gain was due primarily to a record high average net sales price, record high sales volumes and the positive impact of the Illinois Cement acquisition. Cement revenues for the second quarter totaled $78 million, 38% greater than the $56 million for the same quarter a year ago. $9 million of the revenue gain is attributable to the acquisition of our partner's 50% interest in Illinois Cement Company, which closed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Cement sales volume for the second quarter totaled 887,000 tons, 20% above the 742,000 tons for the same quarter last year. To meet these strong market requirements, Eagle increased its lower margin purchased cement sales volumes to approximately 260,000 tons for the quarter.

PAPERBOARD

EXP's Paperboard operation reported second quarter revenues (including sales to EXP's Wallboard operations -- see Attachment 4 for a detail of intersegment revenues) of $33 million which is even with last year's second quarter. Paperboard operating earnings of $7 million for the second quarter this year were nearly flat with last year's second quarter operating earnings. For this year's second quarter, Paperboard sales volume was 69,000 tons, down 1% from last year's sales volume of 70,000 tons. This year's second quarter average net sales price of $471 per ton was a quarterly record and was 3% above last year's second quarter average net sales price of $459 per ton.

CONCRETE AND AGGREGATES

Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $25 million for this year's second quarter, 16% greater than the $21 million for the second quarter a year ago. Concrete and Aggregates reported a $3.2 million operating profit for this year's second quarter, up 30% from the $2.5 million operating profit for the same quarter last year, due to increased pricing in both of our markets and increased concrete volumes.

Concrete sales volume increased 5% for the second quarter this year to 240,000 cubic yards from 229,000 cubic yards for the same quarter last year. Our Concrete quarterly average net sales price of $62 per cubic yard for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 was a record and was 15% higher than the $54 per cubic yard for the second quarter a year ago. Our Aggregates operation reported sales volume of 1.6 million tons for the current quarter, 3% less than the 1.7 million tons reported in the second quarter last year. Our Aggregates quarterly average net sales price was a record high $5.89 during the second quarter and was 15% above last year's second quarter Aggregates average net sales price.

DETAILS OF FINANCIAL RESULTS

We conduct one of our cement plant operations through a 50/50 joint venture, Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP (the "Joint Venture"). We utilize the equity method of accounting for our 50% interest in the Joint Venture. For segment reporting purposes only, we proportionately consolidate our 50% share of the Joint Venture's revenues and operating earnings, which is consistent with the way management organizes the segments within the Company for making operating decisions and assessing performance.

Our results for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 include 100% of Illinois Cement Company. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, Illinois Cement Company was a 50% owned joint venture and was accounted for utilizing the equity method of accounting.

In addition, for segment reporting purposes we report intersegment revenues as a part of a segment's total revenues. Intersegment sales are eliminated on the income statement. Refer to Attachment 4 for a reconciliation of the amounts referred to above.

EXP's senior management will conduct a conference call to discuss the financial results, forward looking information and other matters at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Central Time) on Wednesday, November 2, 2005. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on the EXP Web site http://www.eaglematerials.com . A replay of the webcast and the presentation will be archived on that site for one year. For more information, contact EXP at 214-432-2000.

Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statement and generally arise when the Company is discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance but instead represent only the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and other factors many of which are outside the Company's control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. The principal risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's actual performance include the following: the cyclical and seasonal nature of the Company's business; public infrastructure expenditures; adverse weather conditions; availability of raw materials; changes in energy costs including without limitation increases in the cost of natural gas; changes in the cost and availability of transportation; unexpected operational difficulties; governmental regulation and changes in governmental and public policy; changes in economic conditions specific to any one or more of the Company's markets; competition; announced increases in capacity in the gypsum wallboard and cement industries; general economic conditions; and interest rates. For example, increases in interest rates, decreases in demand for construction materials or increases in the cost of energy (including natural gas) or transportation could affect the revenues or operating earnings of our operations. In addition, changes in national and regional economic conditions and levels of infrastructure and construction spending could also adversely affect the Company's results of operations. These and other factors are described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. This report is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and may be obtained free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this press release will increase with the passage of time. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or changes in the Company's expectations.

(1)  Summary of Consolidated Earnings
     (2)  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business (Quarter)
     (3)  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business (Six Months)
     (4)  Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Cement Revenues
     (5)  Consolidated Balance Sheets



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 1


                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                       Summary of Consolidated Earnings
                (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                                 (unaudited)

                                         Quarter Ended September 30,
                                     2005            2004           Change

    Revenues                       $221,784        $163,112           36%
    Earnings Before Income Taxes    $65,729         $45,977           43%
    Net Earnings                    $43,322         $30,119           44%
    Earnings Per Share:
      - Basic                         $2.44           $1.64           49%
      - Diluted                       $2.41           $1.62           49%
    Average Shares Outstanding:
      - Basic                    17,749,065      18,406,628           -4%
      - Diluted                  18,001,934      18,615,388           -3%


                                        Six Months Ended September 30,
                                     2005            2004           Change

    Revenues                       $426,583        $313,403           36%
    Earnings Before Income Taxes   $115,911         $81,411           42%
    Net Earnings                    $78,230         $53,332           47%
    Earnings Per Share:
      - Basic                         $4.36           $2.88           51%
      - Diluted                       $4.31           $2.85           51%
    Average Shares Outstanding:
      - Basic                    17,926,216      18,518,556           -3%
      - Diluted                  18,161,900      18,726,654           -3%



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 2

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                          Quarter Ended September 30,
                                     2005            2004           Change

    Revenues*

      Gypsum Wallboard             $117,105         $91,840           28%
                                         53%             56%
      Cement (Wholly Owned) **       60,459          31,400           93%
                                         27%             19%
      Paperboard                     18,908          18,743            1%
                                          9%             12%
      Concrete & Aggregates          24,157          20,936           15%
                                         10%             13%
      Other, net                      1,155             193          498%
                                          1%            ---%
        Total                      $221,784        $163,112           36%
                                        100%            100%

    Operating Earnings

      Gypsum Wallboard              $37,075         $22,862           62%
                                         52%             46%
      Cement:
        Wholly Owned **              15,759           8,025           96%
        Joint Venture **              6,883           8,789          -22%
                                     22,642          16,814           35%
                                         32%             34%
      Paperboard                      7,088           7,216           -2%
                                         10%             15%
      Concrete & Aggregates           3,226           2,482           30%
                                          4%              5%
      Other, net                      1,155             193          498%
                                          2%            ---%
        Total Operating Earnings     71,186          49,567           44%
                                        100%            100%

      Corporate General Expenses     (3,963)         (2,719)
      Interest Expense, net          (1,494)           (871)

        Earnings Before Income
         Taxes                      $65,729         $45,977           43%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.
     ** Reflects purchase of the other 50% interest in Illinois Cement
        Company.



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 3

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                         Six Months Ended September 30,
                                     2005            2004           Change

    Revenues*

      Gypsum Wallboard             $221,944        $174,096           27%
                                         52%             56%
      Cement (Wholly Owned) **      117,794          64,356           83%
                                         27%             20%
      Paperboard                     37,997          36,868            3%
                                          9%             12%
      Concrete & Aggregates          46,569          37,890           23%
                                         11%             12%
      Other, net                      2,279             193        1,081%
                                          1%            ---%
        Total                      $426,583        $313,403           36%
                                        100%            100%

    Operating Earnings

      Gypsum Wallboard              $64,926         $39,862           63%
                                         51%             46%
      Cement:
        Wholly Owned **              26,261          16,097           63%
        Joint Venture **             12,410          13,713          -10%
                                     38,671          29,810           30%
                                         31%             34%
      Paperboard                     13,252          13,942           -5%
                                         11%             16%
      Concrete & Aggregates           6,678           4,613           45%
                                          5%              5%
      Other, net                      2,279            (639)         457%
                                          2%             -1%
        Total Operating Earnings    125,806          87,588           44%
                                        100%            100%

      Corporate General Expenses     (7,065)         (4,598)
      Interest Expense, net          (2,830)         (1,579)

        Earnings Before Income
         Taxes                     $115,911         $81,411           42%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.
     ** Reflects purchase of the other 50% interest in Illinois Cement
        Company.



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 4

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
  Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues
                                 (unaudited)

                                          Sales Volume
                              Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                               September 30,            September 30,
                          2005      2004   Change   2005      2004     Change

    Gypsum Wallboard
     (MMSF's)              712       664      7%    1,409     1,305      8%

    Cement (M Tons):
      Wholly Owned         681       393     73%    1,352       811     67%
      Joint Venture        206       349    -41%      433       689    -37%
                           887       742     20%    1,785     1,500     19%
    Paperboard (M Tons):
      Internal              29        28      4%       58        56      4%
      External              40        42     -5%       84        84    ---%
                            69        70     -1%      142       140      1%

    Concrete (M Cubic
     Yards)                240       229      5%      473       417     13%

    Aggregates (M Tons)  1,616     1,673     -3%    3,188     2,884     11%


                                        Average Net Sales Price*
                                Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                                 September 30,            September 30,
                            2005      2004   Change   2005      2004   Change

    Gypsum Wallboard
     (MSF)                 $132.35   $109.65    21%  $125.83   $105.60    19%
    Cement (Ton)            $82.55    $70.05    18%   $80.54    $69.18    16%
    Paperboard (Ton)       $471.39   $458.88     3%  $464.39   $452.20     3%
    Concrete (Cubic Yard)   $61.58    $53.51    15%   $60.00    $54.12    11%
    Aggregates (Ton)         $5.89     $5.14    15%    $5.79     $5.32     9%

     *Net of freight and delivery costs billed to customers.


                                     Intersegment and Cement Revenues
                                 Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                                 September 30,             September 30,
                               2005         2004         2005         2004

    Intersegment Revenues:
      Cement                   $1,679         $997       $3,277       $1,778
      Paperboard               14,538       14,018       29,400       27,686
      Concrete and Aggregates     411          323          858          622
                              $16,628      $15,338      $33,535      $30,086

    Cement Revenues:
      Wholly Owned            $60,459      $31,400     $117,794      $64,356
      Joint Venture            15,970       24,050       32,826       46,780
                              $76,429      $55,450     $150,620     $111,136



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 5

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                            September 30,           March 31,
                                        2005            2004          2005*

    ASSETS
    Current Assets -
      Cash and Cash Equivalents        $11,045          $6,383        $7,221
      Accounts and Notes Receivable,
       net                              92,053          62,321        70,952
      Inventories                       60,927          44,388        63,482
        Total Current Assets           164,025         113,092       141,655
    Property, Plant and Equipment -    825,708         723,670       788,447
      Less: Accumulated Depreciation  (282,004)       (250,031)     (264,088)
        Property, Plant and
         Equipment, net                543,704         473,639       524,359
    Investments in Joint Ventures       26,340          49,265        28,181
    Goodwill                            68,552          40,290        66,960
    Other Assets                        16,191          14,914        18,846
                                      $818,812        $691,200      $780,001

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S
     EQUITY
    Current Liabilities -
      Note Payable                     $48,200         $30,800       $30,800
      Accounts Payable and Accrued
       Liabilities                      98,721          83,443        91,069
      Current Portion of Long-term
       Debt                                ---              80           ---
        Total Current Liabilities      146,921         114,323       121,869
    Long-term Debt                      45,000          19,000        54,000
    Deferred Income Taxes              115,468         105,199       118,764
    Stockholders' Equity -
      Preferred Stock, Par Value
       $0.01; Authorized 5,000,000
       Shares None Issued                  ---             ---           ---
      Common Stock, Par Value $0.01;
       Authorized 50,000,000 Shares;
       Issued and Outstanding
       9,517,959, 9,667,907 and
       9,726,009 Shares, respectively.
       Class B Common Stock, Par Value
       $0.01; Authorized 50,000,000
       Shares; Issued and Outstanding,
       8,225,584, 8,655,769 and
       8,499,269 Shares, respectively.     177             183           182

    Capital in Excess of Par Value         ---             ---           ---
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive
     Losses                             (1,842)         (1,877)       (1,842)
    Unamortized Restricted Stock          (506)           (573)         (557)
    Retained Earnings                  513,594         454,945       487,585
      Total Stockholders' Equity       511,423         452,678       485,368
                                      $818,812        $691,200      $780,001

     *From audited financial statements.

SOURCE Eagle Materials Inc.

Steven R. Rowley, President and Chief Executive Officer, or Arthur R. Zunker, Jr.,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, both of Eagle Materials Inc.,
+1-214-432-2000
http://www.prnewswire.com

Copyright (C) 2005 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

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