May 18 (Reuters) - James Hardie Industries Plc JHX.AX , the world's top fiber cement building materials maker, said its full-year net profit rose 13 percent on robust performance in North America in the fourth quarter.
Net profit for the year grew to $276.5 million, compared with $244.4 million a year ago.
That beat the $231.96 million mean estimate of seven analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The Australian company had slashed its full-year adjusted net profit forecast to a range of $245 million to $255 million in its third-quarter results announcement in February, warning of uncertainty in the U.S. housing market.
Adjusted full-year net profit came in at $248.6 million, compared with $242.9 million last year.
James Hardie makes four-fifths of its sales in North America.