James Hardie Faces Investor Class Actions Over Alleged North America Destocking Misstatements

Overview

• Complaints filed on behalf of shareholders allege the company misled the market by portraying strength in North America fiber cement sales despite distributor destocking.
• The consolidated action, captioned Laborers' District Council & Contractors' Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc, No. 1:25‑cv‑13018, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
• Plaintiffs cite a class period of May 20 through Aug. 18, 2025, and assert claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b‑5.
• On Aug. 19, 2025, the company disclosed a 12% North America sales decline tied to destocking first observed in April–May, and the stock fell more than 34% the next day.
• Law firms including Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, Lowey Dannenberg, Levi & Korsinsky, and Hagens Berman are notifying investors and soliciting participants on a contingency basis.