Heidelberg Materials reported a sharp drop in third-quarter operating results, hit by harsh winter weather and a challenging geopolitical backdrop. The German building-materials giant said results from current operations before depreciation and amortization fell 12.3% on a like-for-like basis to €484 million ($566 million) compared with the prior-year period.

Results from current operations—the company's preferred metric—plummeted 30.3% to €163 million. The figures narrowly missed analyst expectations, with consensus forecasts calling for €485 million and €162 million respectively, according to a company-compiled poll. Harsh winter conditions across Europe disrupted construction activity during the quarter, compounding pressures from the broader geopolitical environment.

Despite the decline, management struck an optimistic tone, pointing to early signs of demand recovery. The results underscore how vulnerable building-materials producers remain to weather disruptions and economic uncertainty, as construction projects stalled across key European markets during the period.