"Citi analyst Simon Thackray said that Boral's dividend payment and soft outlook for next year were disappointing.
"Any expectations for possible capital management in this result will be dashed by the lower dividend and higher net debt together with the outlook commentary for a fall in total activity in the core Australian construction market," Mr Thackray said.
Boral chief executive Mike Kane said the Australian home building boom had peaked.
"Clearly the outstanding pocket of strength in the Australian housing market has been NSW. We view the Australian housing market as at an all-time peak and therefore there's only one direction realistically for that market to go," he said.
"We think NSW will stay at the same level but we are seeing weakness in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia."