United States Lime Misses Q3 2026 Estimates as Kiln Costs and Diesel Bite
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on October 30, 2026.
Revenue grew 4.1% year over year yet still missed expectations, with diesel costs and inefficiencies from the new Texas kiln pushing gross profit below last year's level. Management flagged permitting delays on large projects and early signs of a slowdown in Texas residential construction, and gave no quantitative guidance.
Continue ReadingShow less
United States Lime & Minerals reported Q3 2026 earnings of $1.32 per diluted share, missing expectations even as revenue rose 4.1% year over year. Cost pressure, not demand, set the quarter.
Gross profit slipped to $50.80 million from $52.20 million a year earlier, pulled down by a sharp rise in diesel prices and by production inefficiencies as the company integrated its new Texas kiln. That drag more than offset higher average selling prices and stronger steel-sector volumes.
Sponsored
CEO Timothy W. Byrne acknowledged the cost pressure directly: "We saw modest increases in both volumes and sales prices for our lime and limestone products in the third quarter 2026, while our expenses reflected the impact of the sharp rise in diesel prices." He also struck a cautious note on demand, saying the company is "monitoring indications that Texas' residential construction is beginning to slow down" and flagging permitting delays on certain large construction projects.
Final commissioning of the Texas kiln is expected in Q4 2026, which should remove the inefficiency drag. Management remains optimistic about longer-term construction demand but offered no quantitative guidance. Margin recovery hinges on kiln costs fading on schedule.
Sources
Mentioned: USLM