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Eagle Materials Inc. Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Results

    DALLAS, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eagle Materials Inc.
(NYSE: EXP and EXP.B) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter
ended March 31, 2005 and for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005.  Eagle produces and
distributes Cement, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Paperboard and Concrete and
Aggregates.

     *  Highest fourth quarter and fiscal year diluted EPS in company history
        - $1.48 and $5.73, respectively
     *  Gypsum Wallboard average net sales price increased 22% and 25% for the
        quarter and fiscal year, respectively
     *  Our wallboard company set a record for annual Production and sales
        volume - Both in excess of 2.5 BSF
     *  Highest fourth quarter and fiscal year Cement average net sales price
        in our history
     *  Our cement companies completed their 19th consecutive "sold out" year
        and set a record for fiscal year sales volume - 2.8 million tons
     *  Record paperboard Production and sales Volume for fiscal year
     *  Record aggregate sales volume in fourth quarter and fiscal year

    For the quarter ended March 31, 2005, revenues and net earnings were
$153.3 million and $27.5 million, respectively.  Revenues increased 25% year-
over-year and net earnings increased 71% year-over-year.  Diluted earnings per
share for the fourth quarter of FY 2005 were $1.48 compared with $0.85 in the
same period a year ago, a 74% increase.
    For the Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2005, EXP's net earnings increased 59%
to $106.7 million or $5.73 per diluted share from $66.9 million or $3.57 per
diluted share for the previous Fiscal Year.  Revenues for Fiscal 2005 of
$616.5 million were 23% greater than the $502.6 million for the previous
Fiscal Year.
    EXP remains well positioned to continue to achieve outstanding results
given our strong operational position supplying building materials to a robust
construction industry.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total
construction spending during March 2005 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of $1,051.8 billion, 8% above the March 2004 estimate of
$973.9 billion.  Increased spending across the construction industry as a
whole has led to record industry gypsum wallboard shipments in the first three
months of calendar 2005.  According to the Gypsum Association, approximately
8.6 billion square feet of wallboard were shipped in the first three months of
calendar 2005, a 2.5% increase over the prior record year.  Nationally, demand
for cement remains at record levels outpacing last year's consumption by 13%
through February 2005 according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
    The general construction outlook for the present calendar year remains
very favorable.  For calendar year 2005, we expect Wallboard demand to remain
strong and supply to be tight (with 90%+ industry capacity utilization) as a
result of continued high levels of activity in residential construction and
increasing repair/remodel and commercial construction activity.  Wallboard
pricing remains strong and a 10% price increase has just been implemented in
all of our markets.  U.S. cement imports are projected to fulfill over 25% of
the U.S. construction industry demand this year with the price of imported
cement continuing to be impacted by high freight rates and increasing
consumption in world markets.  Low inventories and strong demand continue to
put upward pressure on cement pricing with price increases of $5.00 to $8.00
per ton implemented in all of EXP's markets effective April 1, 2005.
    Based on the above factors, the Company expects to report earnings ranging
from $1.70 to $1.90 per diluted share for the first quarter of FY 2006 ending
June 30, 2005, and $6.40 to $6.90 per diluted share for FY 2006.
    The Company made several announcements during the fourth quarter
concerning future growth initiatives.  On January 10, 2005, we closed the
acquisition of the other 50% ownership interest in Illinois Cement Company.
On March 14, 2005, the Company announced its Board of Directors had approved
the expansion of the Illinois cement facility to 1.1 million tons.  The
expansion is expected to be completed by late 2006 with the plant's production
costs expected to decrease by approximately 20%.  On April 1, 2005, the
Company announced plans to build a greenfield wallboard plant in Georgetown,
South Carolina.  The new plant will be designed to produce approximately
750 mmsf annually and is expected to be completed by early 2007.

    DETAILS OF FINANCIAL RESULTS
    Historically, we conducted two of our cement plant operations through
joint ventures, Texas Lehigh Cement Company and Illinois Cement Company (the
"Joint Ventures").  On January 10, 2005, we purchased our partner's 50%
interest in Illinois Cement Company.  Beginning January 11, 2005, Illinois
Cement Company's results are fully consolidated with our results.  We continue
to utilize the equity method of accounting for our 50% interest in Texas
Lehigh Cement Company.  For segment reporting purposes only, we
proportionately consolidate our 50% share of the Joint Ventures' revenues and
operating earnings, which is consistent with the way management organizes the
segments within the Company for making operating decisions and assessing
performance.
    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.

    GYPSUM WALLBOARD
    Gypsum Wallboard revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $88.8 million, a
17% increase over the $75.6 million for the same quarter a year ago.  Gypsum
Wallboard's fourth quarter operating earnings were $21.6 million, up 64% from
the $13.2 million for the same quarter last year.  The revenue and earnings
gain for the quarter resulted from higher sales prices partially offset by
lower sales volume and increased production costs.  The average net sales
price for this fiscal year's fourth quarter was $115.24 per thousand square
feet (MSF), 22% greater than the $94.67 per MSF for the same quarter last
year.  Gypsum Wallboard sales volume of 614 million square feet (MMSF)
declined 3% from the prior year's fourth quarter primarily because of reduced
rail transportation availability.
    Fiscal 2005 operating earnings from Gypsum Wallboard were $81.6 million,
an increase of 129% compared to $35.6 million for fiscal 2004.  Revenues from
Gypsum Wallboard were $350.1 million for fiscal 2005, 28% higher than last
year's revenues of $272.9 million.

    CEMENT
    Operating earnings from Cement increased 46% to $13.3 million for the
fourth quarter this year from $9.1 million for the same quarter last year.
The earnings gain was due primarily to higher net sales prices and higher
sales volume and the resulting positive impact of the Illinois Cement
acquisition.  Cement revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $49.6 million,
41% greater than the $35.4 million for the same quarter a year ago.
$4.2 million of the revenue gain is attributable to the purchase of the other
50% interest in Illinois Cement Company.  Cement sales volume for the fourth
quarter totaled 626,000 tons, 24% above the 504,000 tons for the same quarter
last year.  Purchased cement sales volume of 139,000 tons for the fourth
quarter were 110,000 tons greater than purchased cement sales volume for the
fourth quarter a year ago.  Prices have increased since the beginning of the
calendar year in each of our markets resulting in a Company record fourth
quarter average Cement net sales price of $73.59 per ton compared to
$64.79 per ton for the same quarter a year ago.
    Fiscal 2005 operating earnings from Cement were $57.6 million, an increase
of 14% compared to $50.5 million for fiscal 2004.  Revenues from Cement were
$211.3 million for fiscal 2005, 16% higher than last year's revenues of
$181.8 million.

    PAPERBOARD
    EXP's Paperboard operation reported fourth quarter revenues of
$28.6 million, down 3% from revenues of $29.3 million for last year's fourth
quarter.  Paperboard operating earnings of $5.6 million for the fourth quarter
this year were level with the $5.6 million for last year's fourth quarter.
For this year's fourth quarter, Paperboard sales volume was 59,000 tons, down
11% from last year's sales volume of 66,000 tons.  Gypsum Paperboard's sales
volumes were negatively impacted by the transportation issues experienced in
our wallboard operation and customer outages.  This year's fourth quarter
average net sales price of $466.59 per ton was 6% above last year's fourth
quarter net sales price of $438.55 per ton.
    Fiscal 2005 operating earnings from Paperboard were $25.4 million, an
increase of 21% compared to $20.9 million for fiscal 2004.  Revenues from
Paperboard were $125.2 million for fiscal 2005, 11% higher than last year's
revenues of $112.4 million.

    CONCRETE AND AGGREGATES
    Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $16.2 million for the fourth
quarter, 30% greater than the $12.5 million for the fourth quarter a year ago.
Concrete and Aggregates reported a $2.2 million operating profit for this
year's fourth quarter, up 445% from the $0.4 million for the same quarter last
year, due to increased sales volume and pricing in both of our markets.
    Concrete sales volume increased 19% for the fourth quarter this year to
179,000 cubic yards from 151,000 cubic yards for the same quarter last year.
EXP's Concrete average net sales price of $57.35 per cubic yard for the
current quarter was 7% higher than the $53.62 per cubic yard for the fourth
quarter a year ago.
    Our Aggregates operations reported sales volume of 1,082,000 tons for the
current quarter, 35% above sales volume of 802,000 tons for the fourth quarter
last year.  Aggregates average net sales price increased 1% from the prior
year to $5.32 per ton.
    Fiscal 2005 operating earnings from Concrete and Aggregates were
$7.7 million, an increase of 30% compared to $6.0 million for fiscal 2004.
Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $70.8 million for fiscal 2005, 12%
higher than last year's revenues of $63.1 million.

    EXP's senior management will conduct a conference call to discuss the
financial results, forward looking information and other matters at 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Central Time) on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.  The
conference call 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) 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, 2004.  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 (Fiscal Year)
     (4)  Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Cement Revenues
     (5)  Consolidated Balance Sheets



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 1

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

                                                  Quarter Ended March 31,
                                            2005            2004        Change

    Revenues *                        $    153,336    $    122,264        +25%
    Earnings Before Income Taxes      $     38,743    $     24,593        +58%
    Net Earnings                      $     27,488    $     16,111        +71%
    Earnings Per Share:
        - Basic                       $       1.50    $       0.86        +74%
        - Diluted                     $       1.48    $       0.85        +74%
    Average Shares Outstanding: **
        - Basic                         18,302,055      18,798,906         -3%
        - Diluted                       18,523,971      18,982,165         -2%



                                                 Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
                                            2005            2004        Change

    Revenues *                        $    616,541    $    502,622        +23%
    Earnings Before Income Taxes      $    158,089    $    102,123        +55%
    Net Earnings                      $    106,687    $     66,901        +59%
    Earnings Per Share:
        - Basic                       $       5.79    $       3.60        +61%
        - Diluted                     $       5.73    $       3.57        +61%
    Average Shares Outstanding: **
        - Basic                         18,413,675      18,584,399         -1%
        - Diluted                       18,627,758      18,736,368         -1%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.
     ** We purchased approximately 157,000 and 662,000 shares during the
        quarter and fiscal year, respectively



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 2

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

                                                 Quarter Ended March 31,
                                           2005          2004         Change
    Revenues*

        Cement (Wholly Owned) (A)    $    33,233    $    18,281        +82%
                                              22%            15%
        Gypsum Wallboard                  88,806         75,649        +17%
                                              58%            62%
        Paperboard                        15,323         15,773         -3%
                                              10%            13%
        Concrete & Aggregates             15,974         12,284        +30%
                                              10%            10%
        Other, net                           ---            277       -100%
                                               0%             0%
            Total                    $   153,336    $   122,264        +25%
                                             100%           100%
    Operating Earnings

        Cement:
            Wholly Owned (A)         $     7,809    $     4,120        +90%
            Joint Venture (A)              5,501          5,002        +10%
                                          13,310          9,122        +46%
                                              31%            32%
        Gypsum Wallboard                  21,633         13,163        +64%
                                              51%            46%
        Paperboard                         5,561          5,587        ---%
                                              13%            20%
        Concrete & Aggregates              2,192            402       +445%
                                               5%             1%
        Other, net                            55            277        -80%
                                               0%             1%
            Total Operating Earnings      42,751         28,551        +50%
                                             100%           100%

        Corporate General Expenses        (2,872)        (3,283)
        Interest Expense, net             (1,136)          (675)

            Earnings Before
             Income Taxes            $    38,743    $    24,593        +58%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.

     (A) - Includes 100% of Illinois Cement Company beginning January 11,
           2005; before the January 11, 2005 acquisition, Illinois Cement
           Company was a 50% owned JV accounted for utilizing the equity
           method of accounting



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 3

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

                                              Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
                                           2005           2004        Change
    Revenues*

        Cement (Wholly Owned) (A)    $   125,480    $   102,250        +23%
                                              20%            20%
        Gypsum Wallboard                 350,101        272,924        +28%
                                              57%            54%
        Paperboard                        71,076         63,110        +13%
                                              12%            13%
        Concrete & Aggregates             69,691         62,096        +12%
                                              11%            12%
        Other, net                           193          2,242        -91%
                                               0%             1%
            Total                    $   616,541    $   502,622        +23%
                                             100%           100%
    Operating Earnings

        Cement:
            Wholly Owned (A)         $    30,694    $    26,539        +16%
            Joint Venture (A)             26,922         23,911        +13%
                                          57,616         50,450        +14%
                                              34%            44%
        Gypsum Wallboard                  81,616         35,604       +129%
                                              48%            31%
        Paperboard                        25,406         20,942        +21%
                                              15%            18%
        Concrete & Aggregates              7,742          5,971         30%
                                               5%             5%
        Other, net                          (721)         2,242       -132%
                                              -2%             2%
            Total Operating Earnings     171,659        115,209        +49%
                                             100%          100%

        Corporate General Expenses       (10,280)       (9,272)
        Interest Expense, net             (3,290)       (3,814)

            Earnings Before
             Income Taxes            $   158,089    $  102,123        +55%

     *  Net of Intersegment and Joint Venture Revenues listed on Attachment 4.

     (A) - Includes 100% of Illinois Cement Company beginning January 11,
           2005; before the January 11, 2005 acquisition, Illinois Cement
           Company was a 50% owned JV accounted for utilizing the equity
           method of accounting



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 4

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

                                               Sales Volume
                                   Quarter Ended           Fiscal Year Ended
                                      March 31,                March 31,
                                 2005   2004  Change    2005     2004   Change
    Cement (M Tons):
         Wholly Owned (A)         415    246    69%    1,566    1,340    17%
         Joint Venture (A)        211    258   -18%    1,187    1,178     1%
                                  626    504    24%    2,753    2,518     9%

    Gypsum Wallboard (MMSF's)     614    632    -3%    2,547    2,437     5%

    Paperboard (M Tons):
        Internal                   33     38   -13%      159      157     1%
        External                   26     28    -7%      109      107     2%
                                   59     66   -11%      268      264     2%

    Concrete (M Cubic Yards)      179    151    19%      769      762     1%

    Aggregates (M Tons)         1,082    802    35%    5,196    4,228    23%



                                        Average Net Sales Price*
                             Quarter Ended               Fiscal Year Ended
                                 March 31,                 March 31,
                              2005       2004  Change    2005     2004  Change

    Cement (Ton) (A)        $ 73.59    $ 64.79   14%   $ 70.77  $ 66.02   7%
    Gypsum Wallboard (MSF)  $115.24    $ 94.67   22%   $108.74  $ 86.97  25%
    Paperboard (Ton)        $466.59    $438.55    6%   $455.73  $416.71   9%
    Concrete (Cubic Yard)   $ 57.35    $ 53.62    7%   $ 54.92  $ 52.79   4%
    Aggregates (Ton)        $  5.32    $  5.26    1%   $  5.29  $  5.24   1%

     * Net of freight and delivery costs billed to customers.



                                          Intersegment and Cement Revenues
                                              (dollars in thousands)
                                        Quarter Ended      Fiscal Year Ended
                                           March 31,             March 31,
                                        2005       2004       2005       2004
    Intersegment Revenues:
         Cement                      $  1,040   $    638   $  3,609   $  3,290
         Paperboard                    13,289     13,485     54,108     49,256
         Concrete and Aggregates          263        179      1,095      1,021
                                     $ 14,592   $ 14,302   $ 58,812   $ 53,567

    Cement Revenues:
         Wholly Owned (A)            $ 33,233   $ 18,281   $125,480   $102,250
         Joint Venture (A)             15,327     16,484     82,254     76,306
                                     $ 48,560   $ 34,765   $207,734   $178,556

     (A) - Includes 100% of Illinois Cement Company beginning January 11,
           2005; before the January 11, 2005 acquisition, Illinois Cement
           Company was a 50% owned JV accounted for utilizing the equity
           method of accounting



     Eagle Materials Inc.
     Attachment 5

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

                                                               March 31,
                                                           2005        2004 *
    ASSETS
    Current Assets -
      Cash and Cash Equivalents                         $  7,221    $  3,536
      Accounts and Notes Receivable, net                  70,952      54,352
      Inventories                                         63,482      48,890
        Total Current Assets                             141,655     106,778
    Property, Plant and Equipment -                      823,724     715,735
      Less:  Accumulated Depreciation                   (299,365)   (234,930)
        Property, Plant and Equipment, net               524,359     480,805
    Investments in Joint Ventures                         28,181      51,503
    Goodwill                                              66,960      40,290
    Other Assets                                          18,846      13,599
                                                        $780,001    $692,975
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities -
      Note Payable                                      $ 30,800    $ 24,100
      Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities            91,069      69,991
      Current Portion of Long-term Debt                      ---          80
        Total Current Liabilities                        121,869      94,171
    Long-term Debt                                        54,000      58,700
    Deferred Income Taxes                                118,764     101,082
    Stockholders' Equity -
      Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01;
       Authorized 5,000,000; None Issued                     ---         ---
      Common Stock, Par Value $0.01;
       Authorized 50,000,000 Shares;
       Issued and Outstanding 9,726,009
       and 9,606,945 Shares; respectively.
       Class B Common Stock, Par Value $0.01;
       Authorized 50,000,000 Shares; Issued and
       Outstanding, 8,499,269 and
       9,161,469 Shares, respectively.                       182         188
    Capital in Excess of Par Value                           ---      28,223
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses                (1,842)     (1,877)
    Unamortized Restricted Stock                            (557)       (591)
    Retained Earnings                                    487,585     413,079
    Total Stockholders' Equity                           485,368     439,022
                                                        $780,001    $692,975
     * 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