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Eagle Materials Inc. Reports Highest Third Quarter Net Earnings (Up 51%) and Diluted EPS (Up 57%) in Company History and Raises Annual Earnings Guidance

    DALLAS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eagle Materials Inc.
(NYSE: EXP and EXP.B) today reported financial results for the third quarter
of fiscal 2006 ended December 31, 2005 and raised its fiscal 2006 earnings
guidance.  Eagle produces and distributes Gypsum Wallboard, Cement, Recycled
Paperboard and Concrete and Aggregates.  The following are highlights of our
third quarter results:

     * HIGHEST THIRD QUARTER OPERATING EARNINGS IN WALLBOARD AND CEMENT IN OUR
       HISTORY
     * RECORD HIGH THIRD QUARTER SALES VOLUME IN WALLBOARD
     * WALLBOARD AVERAGE NET SALES PRICE INCREASED 32% FROM LAST YEAR'S THIRD
       QUARTER
     * RECORD HIGH THIRD QUARTER SALES VOLUME IN CEMENT
     * HIGHEST QUARTERLY CEMENT AVERAGE NET SALES PRICE IN OUR HISTORY --
       INCREASED 16% FROM LAST YEAR'S THIRD QUARTER
     * REPURCHASED NEARLY 1.0 MILLION SHARES OF OUR STOCK (5%) IN THE THIRD
       QUARTER

    For the quarter ended December 31, 2005, revenues and net earnings were
$211.5 million and $39.0 million, respectively.  Revenues increased 41% over
the prior year third quarter and net earnings increased 51% over the same
period last year.  Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal
2006 were $2.20 compared with $1.40 in the same period a year ago, a 57%
increase.
    The Company also raised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 to a range
of $8.50 to $8.70 per diluted share, and expects to report earnings ranging
from $2.00 to $2.20 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006
ending March 31, 2006.
    Eagle remains well positioned to continue to achieve outstanding financial
results given our low cost operations, which supply building materials to a
strong construction industry.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total
construction spending during November 2005 was estimated at a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of $1.1 trillion, 8% above the November 2004 estimate.
The Gypsum Association reported approximately 36.2 billion square feet of
wallboard was shipped by U.S. manufacturers in calendar 2005, a 5.4% increase
over the prior record year.  For calendar year 2006, we expect Wallboard
demand to remain strong and supply to be tight (with 95%+ industry capacity
utilization).  Wallboard pricing remains strong and an average $20 per
thousand square feet (MSF) price increase was implemented in mid-December 2005
in all of our wallboard markets.  Also, national demand for cement remains at
record levels outpacing last year's consumption by approximately 5.7% through
October 2005 according to the U.S. Geological Survey with imports projected to
fulfill over 25% of the U.S. construction industry demand this year.  Low
inventories and strong demand continue to put upward pressure on cement
pricing.  We implemented price increases ranging from $8 to $10 per ton on
January 1st, in our Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Texas cement markets.  Price
increases ranging from $5 to $10 per ton have been announced for our Illinois,
Nevada and California cement markets for early Spring.

    GYPSUM WALLBOARD
    Gypsum Wallboard revenues for the third quarter totaled $122 million, a
40% increase over the $87 million for the same quarter a year ago.  Gypsum
Wallboard's third quarter operating earnings were $39 million, up 93% from the
$20 million for the same quarter last year.  The revenue and earnings gain for
the quarter resulted from higher sales prices and record third quarter sales
volume.  The average net sales price for this fiscal year's third quarter was
$144 per MSF, 32% greater than the $109 per MSF for the same quarter last
year.  Gypsum Wallboard sales volume of 699 million square feet (MMSF) for the
quarter increased 11% from the prior year's third quarter.

    CEMENT
    Operating earnings from Cement increased 38% to $20 million for the third
quarter this year from $14 million for the same quarter last year.  The
earnings gain was due primarily to a record high average net sales price,
record third quarter sales volumes and the positive impact of the Illinois
Cement acquisition.  Cement revenues, including joint venture and intersegment
sales, for the third quarter totaled $67 million, 36% greater than the $49
million for the same quarter a year ago.  Nearly $8 million of the revenue
gain is attributable to the acquisition of our partner's 50% interest in
Illinois Cement Company, which closed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
Cement sales volume for the third quarter totaled 746,000 tons, 19% above the
627,000 tons for the same quarter last year.  To meet these strong market
requirements, Eagle increased its lower margin purchased cement sales volumes
for the quarter to approximately 165,000 tons, up 69% over last year's
quarter.

    PAPERBOARD
    Eagle's Paperboard operation reported third quarter revenues (including
sales to Eagle's Wallboard operations -- see Attachment 4 for a detail of
intersegment revenues) of $31 million which is nearly even with last year's
third quarter.  Paperboard operating earnings of $4 million for the third
quarter this year were down 29% from last year's third quarter operating
earnings due primarily to increased energy costs and sales of lower margin
containerboard grade paper.  For this year's third quarter, Paperboard sales
volume was 67,000 tons, down 3% from last year's sales volume of 69,000 tons.
This year's third quarter average net sales price of $463 per ton was a third
quarter record and was 2% above last year's third quarter average net sales
price of $454 per ton.

    CONCRETE AND AGGREGATES
    Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $22 million for this year's
third quarter, 36% greater than the $16 million for the third quarter a year
ago.  Concrete and Aggregates reported a $1.3 million operating profit for
this year's third quarter, up 41% from the $0.9 million operating profit for
the same quarter last year, due to increased pricing and volume in both of our
markets.
    Concrete sales volume increased 21% for the third quarter this year to
210,000 cubic yards from 173,000 cubic yards for the same quarter last year.
Our Concrete quarterly average net sales price of $64.32 per cubic yard for
the third quarter of fiscal 2006 was a record and was 18% higher than the
$54.36 per cubic yard for the third quarter a year ago.  Our Aggregates
operation reported sales volume of 1.4 million tons for the current quarter,
13% greater than the 1.2 million tons reported in the third quarter last year.
Our Aggregates quarterly average net sales price was a record high $5.91 per
ton during the third quarter and was 14% above last year's third quarter
Aggregates average net sales price.

    DETAILS OF FINANCIAL RESULTS
    We conduct one of our cement plant operations through a 50/50 joint
venture, Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP (the "Joint Venture").  We utilize the
equity method of accounting for our 50% interest in the Joint Venture.  For
segment reporting purposes only, we proportionately consolidate our 50% share
of the Joint Venture's revenues and operating earnings, which is consistent
with the way management organizes the segments within the Company for making
operating decisions and assessing performance.
    Our results for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 include 100% of Illinois
Cement Company.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2005, Illinois Cement
Company was a 50% owned joint venture and was accounted for utilizing the
equity method of accounting.
    In addition, for segment reporting purposes we report intersegment
revenues as a part of a segment's total revenues.  Intersegment sales are
eliminated on the income statement.  Refer to Attachment 4 for a
reconciliation of the amounts referred to above.

    Eagle is holding an investor conference on January 26, 2006 at 8:30 a.m.
Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time).  During that investor conference,
Eagle's senior management will discuss the financial results, forward looking
information and other matters.  The investor conference will be webcast
simultaneously on the EXP Web site http://www.eaglematerials.com .  A replay
of the webcast and the presentation will be archived on that site for one
year.  For more information, contact EXP at 214-432-2000.

    Forward-Looking Statements.  This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements may be identified
by the context of the statement and generally arise when the Company is
discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations.  These statements are not
historical facts or guarantees of future performance but instead represent
only the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made regarding
future events which are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and other
factors many of which are outside the Company's control.  Actual results and
outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such
forward-looking statements.  The principal risks and uncertainties that may
affect the Company's actual performance include the following: the cyclical
and seasonal nature of the Company's business; public infrastructure
expenditures; adverse weather conditions; availability of raw materials;
changes in energy costs including without limitation increases in the cost of
natural gas; changes in the cost and availability of transportation;
unexpected operational difficulties; governmental regulation and changes in
governmental and public policy; changes in economic conditions specific to any
one or more of the Company's markets; competition; announced increases in
capacity in the gypsum wallboard and cement industries; general economic
conditions; and interest rates.  For example, increases in interest rates,
decreases in demand for construction materials or increases in the cost of
energy (including natural gas) or transportation could affect the revenues or
operating earnings of our operations.  In addition, changes in national and
regional economic conditions and levels of infrastructure and construction
spending could also adversely affect the Company's results of operations.
These and other factors are described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.  This report is filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and may be obtained free of charge
through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov .  All
forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date
hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from
expectations expressed in this press release will increase with the passage of
time.  The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement
to reflect future events or changes in the Company's expectations.

     (1) Summary of Consolidated Earnings
     (2) Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business (Quarter)
     (3) Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business (Nine Months)
     (4) Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Cement Revenues
     (5) Consolidated Balance Sheets



     Attachment 1

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                       Summary of Consolidated Earnings
                (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                                 (unaudited)

                                          Quarter Ended December 31,
                                      2005            2004          Change

    Revenues                       $211,515        $149,802           41%

    Earnings Before Income Taxes    $58,866         $37,935           55%

    Net Earnings                    $38,987         $25,867           51%

    Earnings Per Share:

           -  Basic                   $2.23           $1.41           58%

           -  Diluted                 $2.20           $1.40           57%

    Average Shares Outstanding:

           -  Basic              17,518,921      18,314,248           -4%

           -  Diluted            17,746,156      18,529,155           -4%


                                        Nine Months Ended December 31,
                                      2005            2004          Change

    Revenues                       $638,098        $463,205           38%

    Earnings Before Income Taxes   $174,777        $119,346           46%

    Net Earnings                   $117,217         $79,199           48%

    Earnings Per Share:

           -  Basic                   $6.59           $4.29           54%

           -  Diluted                 $6.50           $4.24           53%

    Average Shares Outstanding:

           -  Basic              17,789,951      18,450,206           -4%

           -  Diluted            18,022,828      18,660,612           -3%



     Attachment 2

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                          Quarter Ended December 31,
                                      2005            2004          Change
    Revenues*

      Gypsum Wallboard             $122,450         $87,199           40%
                                         58%             58%
      Cement (Wholly Owned) **       50,311          27,891           80%
                                         24%             19%
      Paperboard                     17,156          18,885           -9%
                                          8%             13%
      Concrete & Aggregates          21,598          15,827           36%
                                         10%             10%
      Other, net                        ---             ---          ---%
                                          0%              0%
          Total                    $211,515        $149,802           41%
                                        100%            100%

    Operating Earnings

      Gypsum Wallboard              $38,856         $20,121           93%
                                         61%             49%
      Cement:
        Wholly Owned **              14,005           6,788          106%
        Joint Venture **              6,052           7,708          -21%
                                     20,057          14,496           38%
                                         31%             35%
      Paperboard                      4,195           5,903          -29%
                                          7%             14%
      Concrete & Aggregates           1,321             937           41%
                                          2%              2%
      Other, net                       (348)           (137)        -154%
                                         -1%              0%
          Total Operating Earnings   64,081          41,320           55%
                                        100%            100%

      Corporate General Expenses     (3,835)         (2,810)
      Interest Expense, net          (1,380)           (575)

          Earnings Before
           Income Taxes             $58,866         $37,935           55%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.
     ** Reflects purchase of the other 50% interest in Illinois Cement
        Company.



     Attachment 3

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                  Revenues and Earnings by Lines of Business
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                         Nine Months Ended December 31,
                                      2005            2004          Change
    Revenues*

      Gypsum Wallboard             $344,394        $261,295           32%
                                         54%             56%
      Cement (Wholly Owned) **      168,105          92,247           82%
                                         26%             20%
      Paperboard                     55,153          55,753           -1%
                                          9%             12%
      Concrete & Aggregates          68,167          53,717           27%
                                         11%             12%
      Other, net                      2,279             193        1,081%
                                          0%              0%
           Total                   $638,098        $463,205           38%
                                        100%            100%

    Operating Earnings

      Gypsum Wallboard             $103,782         $59,983           73%
                                         55%             47%
      Cement:
        Wholly Owned **              40,266          22,885           76%
        Joint Venture **             18,461          21,421          -14%
                                     58,727          44,306           33%
                                         31%             34%
      Paperboard                     17,447          19,845          -12%
                                          9%             16%
      Concrete & Aggregates           7,999           5,550           44%
                                          4%              4%
      Other, net                      1,932            (776)         349%
                                          1%             -1%
          Total Operating Earnings  189,887         128,908           47%
                                        100%            100%

      Corporate General Expenses    (10,900)         (7,408)
      Interest Expense, net          (4,210)         (2,154)

          Earnings Before
           Income Taxes            $174,777        $119,346           46%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.
     ** Reflects purchase of the other 50% interest in Illinois Cement
        Company.



     Attachment 4

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
  Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues
                                 (unaudited)

                                              Sales Volume

                                 Quarter Ended           Nine Months Ended
                                  December 31,              December 31,
                            2005     2004    Change    2005     2004    Change

    Gypsum Wallboard         699      628      11%    2,108    1,933       9%
    (MMSF's)

    Cement (M Tons):
      Wholly Owned           556      340      64%    1,908    1,151      66%
      Joint Venture          190      287     -34%      623      976     -36%
                             746      627      19%    2,531    2,127      19%
    Paperboard (M Tons):
      Internal                28       27       4%       86       83       4%
      External                39       42      -7%      123      126      -2%
                              67       69      -3%      209      209       0%
    Concrete
     (M Cubic Yards)         210      173      21%      683      590      16%

    Aggregates (M Tons)    1,396    1,230      13%    4,584    4,114      11%



                                     Average Net Sales Price*

                            Quarter Ended               Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,                  December 31,
                       2005      2004     Change     2005      2004     Change

    Gypsum           $143.98   $108.95      32%    $131.85   $106.68      24%
    Wallboard (MSF)
    Cement (Ton)      $83.24    $71.75      16%     $81.34    $69.94      16%
    Paperboard (Ton) $462.95   $453.50       2%    $463.93   $452.64       2%
    Concrete
     (Cubic Yard)     $64.32    $54.36      18%     $61.32    $54.19      13%
    Aggregates (Ton)   $5.91     $5.19      14%      $5.83     $5.28      10%

     * Net of freight and delivery costs billed to customers.


                                      Intersegment and Cement Revenues

                                    Quarter Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                     December 31,          December 31,
                                   2005       2004       2005       2004
    Intersegment Revenues:
      Cement                      $1,345       $791     $4,622     $2,569
      Paperboard                  14,322     13,133     43,722     40,819
      Concrete and Aggregates        306        210      1,164        832
                                 $15,973    $14,134    $49,508    $44,220

    Cement Revenues:
      Wholly Owned               $50,311    $27,891   $168,105    $92,247
      Joint Venture               14,893     20,147     47,719     66,927
                                 $65,204    $48,038   $215,824   $159,174



     Attachment 5

                             Eagle Materials Inc.
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                             December 31,            March 31,
                                         2005            2004          2005*
    ASSETS
    Current Assets -
      Cash and Cash Equivalents        $60,174         $18,539        $7,221
      Accounts and Notes
       Receivable, net                  80,231          59,164        70,952
      Inventories                       67,111          46,609        63,482
          Total Current Assets         207,516         124,312       141,655
    Property, Plant and Equipment -    837,423         725,694       788,447
      Less: Accumulated Depreciation  (290,902)       (255,555)     (264,088)
          Property, Plant and
           Equipment, net              546,521         470,139       524,359
    Investments in Joint Ventures       25,642          47,323        28,181
    Goodwill                            68,013          40,290        66,960
    Other Assets                        15,992          15,599        18,846
                                      $863,684        $697,663      $780,001

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
    Current Liabilities -
      Note Payable                        $---         $30,100       $30,800
      Accounts Payable and
       Accrued Liabilities             114,773          86,654        91,069
      Current Portion of
       Long-term Debt                      ---              80           ---
          Total Current Liabilities    114,773         116,834       121,869
    Long-term Debt                     200,000             ---        54,000
    Deferred Income Taxes              115,828         107,228       118,764
    Stockholders' Equity -
      Preferred Stock, Par Value
       $0.01; Authorized 5,000,000
       Shares None Issued                  ---             ---           ---
      Common Stock, Par Value $0.01;
       Authorized 50,000,000 Shares;
       Issued and Outstanding
       8,686,786, 9,680,124 and
       9,726,009 Shares, respectively.
       Class B Common Stock, Par Value
       $0.01; Authorized 50,000,000
       Shares; Issued and Outstanding,
       8,111,884, 8,655,769 and 8,499,269
       Shares, respectively.               168             183           182

    Capital in Excess of Par Value         ---             143           ---
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive
     Losses                             (1,842)         (1,877)       (1,842)
    Unamortized Restricted Stock          (481)           (565)         (557)
    Retained Earnings                  435,238         475,717       487,585
      Total Stockholders' Equity       433,083         473,601       485,368
                                      $863,684        $697,663      $780,001

     * From audited financial statements.


SOURCE Eagle Materials Inc.




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    CONTACT:
    Steven R. Rowley, President & CEO, or Arthur
    R. Zunker, Jr., Senior Vice President & CFO, both of Eagle
    Materials Inc., +1-214-432-2000