James Hardie Industries plc
(ASX:JHX) will pay a special dividend in the third quarter thanks to a 64 per cent rise in profit for the three months to December 31, 2013. Net operating profit jumped to $43.7 million for the quarter. That’s up from $26.7 million in the previous corresponding period.
The company puts the increase down to a rise in US housing approvals but warned that while US housing activity has been improving, economic conditions remained uncertain and cost of sales were volatile.
The dual Australia and US listed building materials group will pay a special US28 cent dividend on May 30 as well as its first half dividend of US8 cents per security on March 28.
