AEG vs JHX Comparison

Aegon is a life insurance and long-term savings business listed in the Netherlands. It listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in the 1980s and now has mature operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and four growth markets of Brazil, China, Portugal, and Spain. Over recent years, Aegon has been moving through an extensive transformation program where management has sought to divest noncore operations and improve the risk profile of the business. Financial assets are the parts of the group that are now being run off. Aegon is looking to cycle out of capital-consumptive and volatile-earnings products and recycle funds into capital-light and more predictable strategic businesses.

James Hardie is a manufacturer of fiber cement-based building products, selling primarily to the residential construction industry. North America is the primary geography, generating about 80% of group earnings. Here, it is the largest manufacturer of fiber cement, which is mainly used for exterior siding on houses. Following the Azek acquisition in 2025, it also produces wooden composite decking materials, siding trims, and accessories for outdoor areas including stair and deck railing. Businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, make up the rest of earnings.