DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended December 31, 2010. Notable items for the quarter include:

• Revenues of $103.9 million
• Net earnings of $5.5 million
• Diluted earnings per share of $0.12

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates

Operating earnings from Cement for the third quarter were $15.3 million, a 14% increase from the same quarter a year ago. The earnings increase reflects improved sales volumes and lower operating costs. Cement revenues for the quarter, including joint venture and intersegment revenues, totaled $54.9 million, 3% higher than the same quarter last year. Cement sales volumes for the quarter were 619,000 tons, 6% above the same quarter a year ago. The average net sales price this quarter was $80.11, 5% less than the same quarter last year.

Concrete and Aggregates reported operating earnings of $0.2 million for the third quarter, up $0.3 million from the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to improved sales volumes.

Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $10.3 million for the quarter, 13% higher than the same quarter a year ago. Concrete sales volume increased 19% from the same quarter a year ago to 113,000 cubic yards. Concrete average net sales price for the quarter of $62.72 per cubic yard was 6% less than the same quarter a year ago. Aggregates sales volume of 677,000 tons for this quarter was 45% higher than the sales volume for the same quarter a year ago. Aggregates average net sales price for the quarter was $5.02, down 20% compared to last year's third quarter.

Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard

Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard had a third quarter operating loss of $0.4 million compared to operating earnings of $0.9 million in the same quarter last year. Lower wallboard net sales prices and higher recycled fiber costs were the primary drivers of the quarterly earnings decline.

Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard revenues for the third quarter totaled $59.3 million, a 2% increase from the same quarter a year ago. The revenue increase reflects increased Paperboard sales prices offset by lower wallboard net sales prices.

The average Gypsum Wallboard net sales price this quarter was $86.65 per MSF, 3% less than the same quarter a year ago. Gypsum Wallboard sales volumes for the quarter of 386 million square feet (MMSF) were essentially flat with the same quarter last year. The average Paperboard net sales price this quarter was $477.75 per ton, 15% higher than the same quarter a year ago. Paperboard sales volumes for the quarter were 47,000 tons, 6% less than the same quarter a year ago.

Details of Financial Results

Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, one of our cement plant operations, is conducted through a 50/50 joint venture (the "Joint Venture"). We utilize the equity method of accounting for our 50% interest in the Joint Venture. For segment reporting purposes 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 in the Company for making operating decisions and assessing performance.

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.

About Eagle Materials Inc.

Eagle Materials Inc. manufactures and distributes Cement, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Paperboard, Concrete and Aggregates from 25 facilities across the US. The Company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

EXP's senior management will conduct a conference call to discuss the financial results, forward looking information and other matters at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (1:00 p.m. Central Time) on Tuesday, February 1, 2011. 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 belief at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to certain 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, natural gas and oil; changes in the cost and availability of transportation; unexpected operational difficulties; inability to timely execute announced capacity expansions; governmental regulation and changes in governmental and public policy (including, without limitation, climate change regulation); 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; changes in the demand for residential housing construction or commercial construction; 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, without limitation, natural gas and oil) could affect the revenues and operating earnings of our operations. In addition, changes in national or regional economic conditions and levels of infrastructure and construction spending could also adversely affect the Company's result of operations. These and other factors are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010. These reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed herein 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.

*From audited financial statements.

Eagle Materials Inc.
Steven R. Rowley, 214-432-2000
President & CEO
or
D. Craig Kesler, 214-432-2000
Executive Vice President & CFO
or
Robert S. Stewart, 214-432-2000
Executive Vice President

Source: Eagle Materials Inc.

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