Is cement a good investment?

Cement is a vital part of a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects, making it a good choice for investors who want exposure to long-term growth trends.

Do cement companies pay dividends?

A large number of cement companies do pay dividends. This is a mature business with strong cash generation capabilities, making it ripe for income investors focused on dividends.

What is the future outlook for cement stocks?

Cement remains a key building block in construction, which should create steady long-term demand for cement and stable earnings for the companies that supply it.

Are cement stocks cyclical?

Cement demand is tied to construction activity, which can be cyclical, driven by factors such as government investment and mortgage rates. Cement stocks tend to ebb and flow along with the construction cycle.

What is the average return on cement stocks historically?

Cement stocks doing business in established markets tend to be steady but not spectacular performers, making them ideal ballast in a portfolio. Emerging-market cement stocks tend to be more volatile, offering the potential for higher returns but also greater downside risk.

How do cement stocks compare with other infrastructure stocks?

Cement stocks occupy a specific niche within the infrastructure sector. The nature of cement makes it more tied to local market economic conditions than a commodity like steel, which is more easily transported over long distances.

6 Best Cement Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

6 Best Cement Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Kristi Waterworth – Updated Jun 16, 2026 at 12:10 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

U.S. needs more than $9.1 trillion for infrastructure, boosting cement demand.
Cement stocks offer steady investment due to essential role in construction.
Investing in top cement stocks can hedge against project-specific risks.

U.S. infrastructure needs an update, and that’s going to fuel demand for a lot of cement.

The American Society of Civil Engineers projects that the country needs to spend more than $9.1 trillion to repair failing bridges, crumbling roads, and aging dams.

Investors have seen construction stocks and infrastructure stocks trade up and down in recent years following talk of action from Washington, D.C. Infrastructure has been a constant topic of debate on Capitol Hill. While the money doesn't seem to flow as quickly as advocates would like, there is a steady stream of investment into the sector.

It’s hard to predict which individual projects might get funded, but we know spending on construction and infrastructure is increasing. For investors looking to buy stocks, cement stocks are a good way to mitigate project-specific uncertainty and take advantage of the trend, as it’s a raw material in demand no matter what is prioritized.

The cement industry is no longer just about crushing rock. Some trends shaping the future of the industry include:

The rise of "green" or carbon-light mixes, replacing traditional mixes with more environmentally friendly materials such as fly ash, slag, and clay.
Demand from data centers and large infrastructure projects.
"Smart" mixing using artificial intelligence (AI) models to adjust kiln temperatures and fuel mixes in real time to optimize energy use and reduce waste.
Shift towards prefabricated construction, where concrete is poured into molds at the factory, reducing waste.

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6 top cement stocks for 2026

For the purposes of this list, we are distinguishing between concrete -- the finished product used for home foundations, roads, and bridges -- and cement, the mixture of minerals combined with water and aggregates that makes concrete. Think of this as a list of companies that make those raw materials, not the companies that mix them together and sell concrete.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield
Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH)	$102.92	$68.8 billion	1.48%
Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)	$288.33	$37.4 billion	0.70%
James Hardie Industries Plc (NYSE:JHX)	$25.82	$15.0 billion	0.00%
Cemex (NYSE:CX)	$12.97	$19.6 billion	0.76%
Eagle Materials (NYSE:EXP)	$205.93	$6.4 billion	0.49%
Loma Negra Compañía Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anónima (NYSE:LOMA)	$11.25	$1.3 billion	0.00%

Data as of Jul 20, 2026. Showing 6 of 6 total entries.

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1. CRH plc

NYSE: CRH

Crh Plc

Today's Change

(-2.53%) $-2.67

Current Price

$102.92

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$69B

Day's Range

$102.63 - $105.71

52wk Range

$93.58 - $131.55

Volume

3.1M

Avg Vol

4.6M

Gross Margin

36.09%

Dividend Yield

1.48%

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Ireland’s CRH is a world leader in basic materials, supplying building products, aggregates, asphalt, and cement primarily in Europe and North America. In 2024 alone, CRH spent about $5 billion on 40 acquisitions.

CRH gives investors exposure not just to cement demand and U.S. infrastructure spending, but also to the rising demand in emerging markets such as Brazil. In the United States, CRH does business via the Ash Grove Cement brand.

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2. Vulcan Materials

NYSE: VMC

Vulcan Materials

Today's Change

(-1.75%) $-5.14

Current Price

$288.33

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$37B

Day's Range

$287.06 - $298.85

52wk Range

$252.35 - $331.09

Volume

689.9K

Avg Vol

1.1M

Gross Margin

27.68%

Dividend Yield

0.70%

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Vulcan Materials is a U.S.-focused heavyweight that provides aggregates, asphalt, and cement to construction and industrial customers in the U.S. Sun Belt. Although the company has facilities in the Bahamas and Mexico, investors buying into Vulcan today are betting on the U.S. market rather than global demand.

Vulcan still sees opportunities to grow in its home market. In 2021, the company bought U.S. Concrete for $1.3 billion to expand its footprint in Texas and the northeastern U.S.

3. James Hardie Industries

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NYSE: JHX

James Hardie Industries Plc

Today's Change

(-4.23%) $-1.14

Current Price

$25.82

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$15B

Day's Range

$25.75 - $26.80

52wk Range

$16.46 - $29.82

Volume

6.2M

Avg Vol

7.4M

Gross Margin

35.77%

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James Hardie is perhaps best known for its Hardie Board products, durable fiber-cement building materials that are durable replacements for exterior wood and other construction materials. The Ireland-based company produces a range of finished cement products used in commercial and residential construction, including exterior siding, wallboard, flooring, trim, fencing, and decking.

Hardie isn’t the same roads-and-bridges play as some of these companies, but it has expanded the addressable market for cement products. It should benefit from an eco-friendly push to use new materials and make projects more durable.

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4. Cemex

NYSE: CX

Cemex

Today's Change

(-0.99%) $-0.13

Current Price

$12.97

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$20B

Day's Range

$12.77 - $13.02

52wk Range

$7.63 - $13.67

Volume

3.6M

Avg Vol

5.1M

Gross Margin

31.72%

Dividend Yield

0.76%

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Cemex is Latin America’s largest supplier of cement and sells a range of basic materials and aggregates throughout its native Mexico, the U.S., and around the world. Cemex is one of the best cement stocks to buy for true global exposure, with operations spanning more than 50 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Cemex has also been a leader in sustainability, pledging to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels and to reduce dust emissions by 95%. Its efforts should help it to win business from all-important government customers trying to balance the need for construction with climate priorities.

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5. Eagle Materials

NYSE: EXP

Eagle Materials

Today's Change

(-3.77%) $-8.07

Current Price

$205.93

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$6.4B

Day's Range

$204.92 - $217.03

52wk Range

$171.99 - $245.53

Volume

349.7K

Avg Vol

424.3K

Gross Margin

28.27%

Dividend Yield

0.49%

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Eagle Materials sells cement and a wide range of other building materials, including gypsum wallboard and aggregates. The company, which is focused on the U.S. construction market, manufactures and distributes its products from more than 70 facilities located in the U.S.

Eagle doesn’t offer the same geographic or product diversification as some of the other companies on this list, but it has a significant business selling to the red-hot housing market.

6. Loma Negra

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NYSE: LOMA

Loma Negra Compañía Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anónima

Today's Change

(-0.79%) $-0.09

Current Price

$11.25

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.3B

Day's Range

$11.08 - $11.32

52wk Range

$7.04 - $13.20

Volume

164.8K

Avg Vol

417.6K

Gross Margin

21.14%

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Loma Negra is smaller than the others on this list and focuses primarily on the market in its native Argentina and neighboring countries. The company produces cement, aggregates, lime, and ready-made concrete mixtures for construction companies and industrial users.

Loma is more of a pure-play investment in emerging markets, but demand from South America should significantly increase in the years to come as local economies continue to develop.

How to buy cement stocks

Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one.

Search for the stock: Enter the ticker into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.

Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.

Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.

Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.

Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Benefits and risks of investing in cement stocks

Investing in cement stocks is often viewed as a bedrock strategy for long-term portfolios. Because cement is the primary ingredient in concrete, the industry acts as a direct proxy for global economic development.

Some factors to consider include:

Sustained infrastructure demand: Governments worldwide are currently engaged in massive infrastructure renewals. In the U.S., the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to fuel projects through 2026.
High barriers to entry: The cement industry has local "moats" protecting established players. New facilities require massive upfront investment and specialized permits, and because of its weight, transporting cement over long distances is inefficient.
Urban renewal and multifamily living: Apartment buildings and other land-efficient multiunit dwellings use more cement than single-family homes, which are typically built of wood or brick.
Hedge against inflation: Because cement companies can often pass along rising input costs, such as energy and labor, to customers, it is often seen as a hedge against inflation. Since cement is an essential but relatively small portion of a total construction project, builders are usually "price takers."
Environmental regulations: The regulatory environment should always be considered when investing in cement stocks. This is an ever-evolving situation, and regulations can be enacted that create additional hurdles for manufacturers, hurting profitability.
Construction is a cyclical industry: Investors should pay attention to companies' financial health to ensure they have the wherewithal to survive a downturn.

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The bottom line

Some investors tend to shy away from stock market sectors such as cement, fearing the commodity nature of the product makes it too cyclical. But given the need for increased infrastructure spending to replace aging roads and bridges, plus the substantial demand for new housing over the next decade, it appears we are in the early stages of a long-term supercycle for cement demand.

Even if it is cyclical, cement has so many different end users that demand is unlikely to drop off if a particular segment of users hits hard times. Cement stocks aren’t likely to ever be confused with high-growth tech stocks, but they offer greater stability and predictability that can help balance a diversified portfolio.

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FAQ

Investing in cement stocks: FAQ

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About the Author

Kristi Waterworth has been a contributing real estate and financial expert at The Motley Fool, covering real estate, investing, and personal finance topics, since 2020. Kristi has been interviewed by various TV media outlets and podcasts for her real estate investing expertise – from residential real estate to digital real estate and everything in between. Kristi’s journalist career spans over 25 years, and she has written about real estate investing, homeownership, and home construction specifically for the last decade. She was also previously a licensed Realtor and general building contractor before the Great Recession and housing market collapse. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American history from Columbia College in Missouri.

TMFMaldivesBlue

@MaldivesBlues

6 Best Cement Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

6 top cement stocks for 2026

1. CRH plc

Key Data Points

2. Vulcan Materials

Key Data Points

3. James Hardie Industries

Key Data Points

4. Cemex

Key Data Points

5. Eagle Materials

Key Data Points

6. Loma Negra

Key Data Points

How to buy cement stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in cement stocks

The bottom line

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FAQ

Investing in cement stocks: FAQ

Is cement a good investment?

Is cement a good investment?

Do cement companies pay dividends?

Do cement companies pay dividends?

What is the future outlook for cement stocks?

What is the future outlook for cement stocks?

Are cement stocks cyclical?

Are cement stocks cyclical?

What is the average return on cement stocks historically?

What is the average return on cement stocks historically?

How do cement stocks compare with other infrastructure stocks?

How do cement stocks compare with other infrastructure stocks?

About the Author

Read Next

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Premium Investing Services

6 top cement stocks for 2026

3. James Hardie Industries

Key Data Points

6. Loma Negra

How to buy cement stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in cement stocks

The bottom line

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The Largest Materials Companies by Market Cap in July 2026

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Investing in cement stocks: FAQ

Is cement a good investment?

Is cement a good investment?

Do cement companies pay dividends?

Do cement companies pay dividends?

What is the future outlook for cement stocks?

What is the future outlook for cement stocks?

Are cement stocks cyclical?

Are cement stocks cyclical?

What is the average return on cement stocks historically?

What is the average return on cement stocks historically?

How do cement stocks compare with other infrastructure stocks?

How do cement stocks compare with other infrastructure stocks?

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points