We recently published a list of 10 Best Construction Materials Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) stands against the other best construction materials stocks.

The New Administration: Implications for the Building Materials and Construction Sector

Donald Trump’s policy agenda including deregulation, tariffs, and tax cuts, has different implications for different investment sectors, according to market experts. As reported by CNBC, the housing and related sectors will be negatively impacted if Trump’s policies of tariffs, tax cuts, and mass deportations drive inflation since the Fed would have to keep the interest rates higher for longer than anticipated which would likely drive mortgage rates up. At the same time, deregulation could be a boosting factor for the industry if it lowers costs for developers and accelerates building timelines. Although Trump plans to open up federal land for building and create tax incentives for homebuyers, there is not much clarity on the front as of now.

It is important to consider that U.S. homebuilder sentiment rose to a seven-month high in November. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose to 46 in November from 43 in October. Meanwhile, expectations for sales in the next 6 months climbed to the highest since April 2022 after Trump’s win in the election. This was backed up by the optimism regarding more residential construction under the new government. Commenting on the situation, NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, stated:

“With the elections now in the rear view mirror, builders are expressing increasing confidence that Republicans gaining all the levers of power in Washington will result in significant regulatory relief for the industry that will lead to the construction of more homes and apartments”

Although the sentiment around construction has improved, the market continues to be subject to various challenges including elevated materials costs, a limited supply of building lots, and labor shortages. A negative consequence of Trump’s administration could also be the planned deportation of immigrants, considering the fact that the construction market is one of the biggest employers of immigrant workers.

Our Methodology

In order to compile a list of the 10 best construction materials stocks to buy now, we first use a stock screener to make an extended list of the relevant companies with the highest market caps. Moving on, we shortlisted the top 10 stocks from our list which had the highest number of hedge fund holders. The 10 best construction materials stocks to buy now have been arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund holders, as of Q3.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) serves as a leading provider of building materials solutions. The firm is a vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete, cement, paving, and construction services. It has a global footprint with operations spanning 28 countries. Its global business operates as two divisions, CRH Americas and CRH Europe. CRH also manufactures high value-added building products for use in residential and non-residential construction projects.

CRH’s unique offering of materials, products, and value-added services makes it an essential partner for road and critical utility infrastructure, commercial building projects, and outdoor living solutions. The firm boasts an unmatched size and scale. It is the largest building materials business in North America, with operations in 48 US states and 7 Canadian provinces. Simultaneously, CRH is a market leader in Europe and has a regional leadership position in Asia. The firm’s products are used in some of the most iconic construction projects across the globe.

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) demonstrated a robust performance for Q3, with strong double-digit growth in Adjusted EBITDA and EPS despite adverse weather. Total revenues were up 4% over the year. For the upcoming 2025, the firm sees favorable underlying demand across its key end-use markets, driven by significant public investment in infrastructure and re-industrialization activity. Furthermore, a low interest rate environment will enable the recovery of new-build residential construction activity.

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) is a Fortune 500 company that manufactures a diverse range of superior building materials, products, and solutions used in construction projects globally. The firm is attractively positioned to capture strong growth opportunities across the Americas and internationally. The positive outlook for the future positions the company for growth. As of Q3, the stock is held by 80 hedge funds.

Overall, CRH ranks 1st on our list of best construction materials stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of CRH as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than CRH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.