Vulcan Materials Company reported second-quarter mix-adjusted aggregates pricing up 5% and cash gross profit per ton rising to $12.02 from $11.88, while unit cash costs increased 7% with diesel a major contributor. Management targets 4-6% aggregate price growth for 2026 and expects to finish near the high end of the range, with cost growth decelerating to support further unit-profitability gains. Aggregates shipments increased 1% in the second quarter and 3% in the first half despite disruptive weather, and trailing 12-month highway awards in Vulcan markets remained up double digits while other public infrastructure awards increased 20%. VMC trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 27.86, compared with 20.91 for its Zacks sub-industry, 20.28 for the Zacks sector and 20.69 for the S&P 500, and the ratio is slightly below Vulcan's five-year median of 28.68. Diesel produced a $26 million second-quarter headwind, part of almost $40 million of energy-related inflation, and management said third-quarter gross margins may remain below the prior-year level before improving in the fourth quarter. Total debt to trailing-12-month adjusted EBITDA stood at 1.9 times, below management's 2-2.5-times target range, and Vulcan had $1.58 billion of available capacity under its unsecured credit line. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of D and a VGM Score of D, alongside a Growth Score of C and a Momentum Score of C.
Vulcan Materials CompanyAggregates pricing up 5%, cash gross profit per ton up, and management guides 4-6% price growth for 2026.
CRH PLC ADR
Martin Marietta Materials Inc