Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.41 EPS

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41, Zacks reports. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The company had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of Vulcan Materials stock traded down $5.92 during trading on Friday, reaching $252.68. The company's stock had a trading volume of 782,641 shares, compared to its average volume of 738,957. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83. The business's fifty day moving average price is $266.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $261.44. The firm has a market cap of $33.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.84. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $225.36 and a one year high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. Vulcan Materials's payout ratio is presently 28.61%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Vulcan Materials from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Raymond James reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $305.00.

Vulcan Materials Company Profile

Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The company provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities.