CRH vs LPX

For growth investors, CRH plc (CRH) is the stronger pick with 9.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 9% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX). CRH plc (CRH) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (18. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CRH plc (CRH) a "Buy" — based on 20 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, CRH plc (CRH) is the cheapest at 20.

4x versus Louisiana-Pacific Corporation at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, CRH plc is actually cheaper at 18. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, CRH plc (CRH) delivered a total return of +141.

1%, compared to +6. 9% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRH returned +341. 3% versus LPX's +324. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

20β versus CRH plc's 1. 35β — meaning CRH is approximately 12% more volatile than LPX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 77% for CRH plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CRH plc (CRH) is pulling ahead at 9.

0% versus -7. 9% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CRH plc grew EPS 9. 8% year-over-year, compared to -64. 7% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRH leads at 7. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

CRH plc (CRH) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

0% net margin versus 5. 4% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation — meaning it keeps 10. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRH leads at 14. 2% versus 9. 6% for LPX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRH leads at 36. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, CRH plc (CRH) trades at 18.

9x forward P/E versus 27. 6x for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LPX: 46. 2% to $102. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 1% for CRH plc (CRH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

20), 1. 6% yield, +324. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LPX: +324. 3%, CRH: +341. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.