*

CRH sees 2025 EBITDA of between $7.3 billion and $7.7

billion

*

Expects continued momentum in infrastructure and

non-residential

*

Protectionist policies could further boost 'reshoring'

(Adds CEO quotes throughout)

By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - CRH forecast core

profit growth of 6% to 12% in 2025 after the largest building

materials producer in the United States and Europe on Wednesday

posted 12% growth for 2024 on strong infrastructure and

non-residential activity.

The Irish-based, U.S.-listed firm said it did not expect a

let-up this year in those two key segments in North America,

where it makes about 75% of its profit, with similar trends and

some signs of residential recovery evident in Europe.

CRH has benefited in particular from an increase in public

capital spending in the U.S. in recent years that is still

filtering out into projects, and new CEO Jim Mintern said he

expected that to continue under the Trump administration.

"The new secretary for transport, Secretary (Sean) Duffy,

has come out early and says he wants to build big infrastructure

and he wants to try and remove some of the bureaucracy. So we're

very happy to see that," Mintern told Reuters.

Mintern, who was promoted from the role of chief financial

officer at the end of last year, said CRH was not assuming any

impact from potential tariffs in its 2025 guidance, noting that

its heavy products very rarely cross borders.

He added that a rise in global protectionist trade policies

could give a further boost to the "reshoring" of manufacturing

facilities such as data centres, pharmaceutical plants and chip

factories.

That trend has also been a recent boon for CRH, which is

currently working on projects with Intel ( INTC ), Samsung

Electronics ( SSNLF ), Ford and Micron Technology ( MU )

.

CRH expects 2025 full-year adjusted earnings before

interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $7.3

billion to $7.7 billion, up from $6.9 billion in 2024.

CRH's latest record earnings fell within its previously

forecasted range of $6.87 billion to $6.97 billion provided in

November.

Full-year revenues at the industrial giant rose 2% to $35.6

billion, while its EBITDA margin climbed 180 basis points to

19.5%, increasing on an annual basis for the 11th successive

year.