Jefferies has resumed its coverage of building materials firm CRH PLC (LSE:CRH, NYSE:CRH) with a 'Buy' rating, and, named it among its list of top sector picks.
Also in that list are European group's Heidelberg, Holcim, Saint-Gobain and Geberit.
For CRH in particular, Jefferies said CRH’s US infrastructure exposure and margin opportunities position it strongly for the second half of 2025 and beyond.
The broker's analysts, in a note, highlighted updated their forecasts for Europe are ahead of consensus, but lag for the United States market.
They now expect mid-single digit cement price increases in Europe from 2026, linked to changes in carbon credit allocation, which gives scope for "industry rationalisation" to support firm's like CRH.
Jefferies highlighted that a predicted upcoming step-up in US federal and state infrastructure spending also supports the thesis.
The broker note comes ahead of CRH's September Investor Day, which Jefferies reckons will be an opportunity to reinforce the share's “resilient, reliable multi-year growth potential”.