PRESS RELEASE, January 30, 2026 Rapala VMC Corporation (“Rapala VMC”) is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with Okuma Fishing Tackle Co Ltd (“Okuma”) in Australia, bringing the globally respected Okuma range into the Rapala Australia product portfolio. The agreement is set to commence on February 1, 2026. The addition of Okuma strengthens Rapala Australia’s overall offering and expands its ability to serve anglers across all fishing situations and environment, from freshwater to saltwater, an ...

Company Overview - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) has a market capitalization of $39.9 billion and is a leading producer and supplier of construction aggregates in the United States, operating through Aggregates, Asphalt, and Concrete segments [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts anticipate VMC to report Q4 earnings of $2.11 per share on a diluted basis, reflecting a decrease of 2.8% from $2.17 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For FY2025, VMC is expected to report an EPS of $8.40, which is an increase of 11.6% from $7.53 in fiscal 2024, and a further rise of 15.6% year over year to $9.71 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - VMC stock has increased by 12.5% over the past year, which is lower than the S&P 500 Index's gain of 16.3% but matches the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's surge of 12.5% during the same period [4] Recent Financial Results - In the third quarter, VMC reported revenues of $2.29 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 14.4%, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 26.5% to approximately $735 million [5] - Aggregates shipments increased by around 12% to 64.7 million tons, driven by strong demand from public infrastructure projects, alongside improved pricing and reduced unit cash costs [5] - Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, projecting adjusted EBITDA between $2.35 billion and $2.45 billion [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on VMC stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall; out of 22 analysts, 14 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," and seven give a "Hold" rating [6] - The average analyst price target for VMC is $328.01, indicating a potential upside of 8.7% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Cemex (CX) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) indicates that CX presents a better value opportunity for investors at this time [1]. Valuation Metrics - CX has a forward P/E ratio of 12.04, significantly lower than VMC's forward P/E of 34.81 [5]. - The PEG ratio for CX is 1.27, while VMC's PEG ratio stands at 2.40, suggesting that CX is more reasonably priced relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - CX's P/B ratio is 1.23, compared to VMC's P/B of 4.43, indicating that CX is undervalued in terms of market value versus book value [6]. Earnings Outlook - CX holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger improvement in earnings outlook compared to VMC, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][7]. - The estimate revision activity for CX has been stronger than that of VMC, reinforcing the conclusion that CX is the superior option for value investors [7].

Core Insights - The construction materials sector is experiencing growth due to increased public infrastructure spending, but not all companies are benefiting equally [1][20] - Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials are outperforming Amrize in capturing infrastructure-related opportunities [15][20] Infrastructure Spending Context - Federal infrastructure legislation is driving demand for construction materials, with an addressable market exceeding $200 billion annually [2] - Public construction activity is expected to remain strong through 2025, sustaining demand for raw materials [2] Company Profiles - Amrize operates over 1,000 sites and generated nearly $12 billion in annual revenue, focusing on both infrastructure and residential markets [5] - Vulcan Materials specializes in aggregates with a revenue of $7.88 billion, utilizing an asset-light model [7] - Martin Marietta operates across 26 states and generated $6.90 billion in revenue, emphasizing an aggregates-led platform [8] Performance Comparison - Vulcan Materials reported a 12% volume growth in aggregates shipments and a 5% increase in selling prices, resulting in a gross profit of $612 million [10] - Martin Marietta achieved record revenues and margins, with aggregates revenues up 17% to $1.46 billion and an operating margin of 27.9% [11] - Amrize's revenue grew 6.6% to $3.68 billion, but it missed earnings estimates and faced margin pressures due to equipment outages [12] Valuation Metrics - Martin Marietta trades at the highest multiples in the sector, with 32x earnings and 5.41x sales, reflecting strong operational performance [13] - Vulcan Materials has a valuation of 34x earnings, while Amrize trades at 28x earnings, indicating market skepticism about its growth potential [13] Management Insights - Martin Marietta's CEO emphasized the company's strong growth foundation and operational execution [14] - Vulcan Materials' CEO highlighted the benefits of their strategic disciplines leading to strong earnings growth [14] - Amrize's CEO focused on long-term positioning despite current challenges [14] Conclusion - Martin Marietta and Vulcan Materials are effectively capitalizing on infrastructure spending through strong volume growth and margin expansion, while Amrize faces execution challenges [15][20]

Core Viewpoint - Vulcan Materials Inc. has shown positive stock performance, with a 1.11% increase in the current session, a 5.63% increase over the past month, and an 8.82% increase over the past year, leading to optimism among long-term shareholders [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The current trading price of Vulcan Materials is $300.07 [1] - The stock has increased by 5.63% over the past month and 8.82% over the past year [1] Group 2: Price-to-Earnings Ratio Analysis - The P/E ratio is a critical metric for long-term shareholders to evaluate market performance against historical earnings and industry standards [5] - Vulcan Materials has a lower P/E ratio compared to the aggregate P/E of 39.27 for the Construction Materials industry, suggesting potential undervaluation [6] - A low P/E ratio can indicate either undervaluation or weak growth prospects, necessitating cautious interpretation [9][10]

Core Insights - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is a leading producer of construction aggregates in the United States, with a market cap of approximately $38.6 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Vulcan Materials reported total revenue of $2.3 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of about 14.4% [5] - Shipments in the core aggregates business rose by 12% year-over-year, while cash gross profit per ton increased to $11.84, marking the eleventh consecutive quarter of double-digit gains in unit profitability [5] - Year-to-date, VMC shares have risen by 13.8%, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average's YTD gains of 12.5% [4] Stock Performance - VMC's stock has declined by 6.1% from its 52-week high of $311.74, reached on October 15 [3] - Over the past three months, VMC has underperformed compared to the Dow Jones Industrials Average, which gained 4.7% during the same period [3] - The stock has been trading above the 200-day moving average since late June but has mostly traded below the 50-day moving average since mid-October [4] Competitive Landscape - Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) has outperformed VMC with an 18.5% return year-to-date and 6.5% gains over the past year [6] - Despite this, VMC has a consensus "Strong Buy" rating from 22 analysts, with a mean price target of $324.19, indicating a potential upside of 9.6% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. mining stocks experienced a significant rally, driven by government plans to increase stakes in key mineral companies, which has historically boosted stock prices [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - U.S. mining stocks saw a broad increase, with notable gains including an 8% rise for Albemarle (ALB.US), over 4% for Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US), and over 2% for MP Materials (MP.US) [1] Group 2: Government Actions - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in acquiring stakes in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, which has contributed to rising stock prices [1] - Specific transactions include a $400 million investment for a 15% stake in MP Materials (MP.US), a $670 million stake in magnet producer VMC (VMC.US), and a $35.6 million stake in Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) for 10% [1] - In September, the government announced plans to acquire shares in Lithium Americas (LAC.US), which is developing the largest lithium deposit in the U.S., as part of a restructuring of a $2.23 billion existing loan agreement with the Department of Energy [1]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. mining stocks experienced a broad rally, driven by government plans to increase stakes in key mineral companies, which has historically boosted stock prices [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - U.S. mining stocks saw significant gains, with Albemarle (ALB.US) rising by 8%, Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) increasing by over 4%, and MP Materials (MP.US) up by over 2% [1] Group 2: Government Actions - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in acquiring stakes in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, which has led to increased stock prices for these companies [1] - Notable transactions include a $400 million investment for a 15% stake in MP Materials (MP.US), a $670 million investment in magnet producer VMC (VMC.US), and a $35.6 million investment for a 10% stake in Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) [1] - In September, the government announced plans to acquire shares in Lithium Americas (LAC.US), which is developing the largest lithium deposit in the U.S., as part of a restructuring of a $2.23 billion existing loan agreement with the Department of Energy [1]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is increasingly investing in key mineral companies to enhance supply chain security and support the development of the technology industry, marking a shift in strategy for ensuring stable and controllable supply sources [1][2] Group 1: Government Investment Strategy - The U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in key mineral and mining companies over the past year, focusing on rare metals, battery materials, and high-performance magnets [1] - Notable investments include a $400 million acquisition of a 15% stake in MP Materials, a $670 million investment in magnet manufacturer VMC, and a $35.6 million stake in Trilogy Metals [1] - The government aims to strengthen its industrial base in global resource competition through these investments, which are expected to become more common in the future [1][2] Group 2: Industry Collaboration and Demand - There is a growing collaboration between the U.S. government and mineral companies, driven by increasing demand for high-performance metals and materials in various industries, including missile guidance systems, radar, jet engines, electric vehicles, and energy storage [2] - The equity investment strategy is seen as a crucial tool for building a more complete mineral supply system and supporting the development of emerging industries [2] - U.S. officials emphasize the importance of exploring more collaborative approaches with the industry to create a robust foundation for critical material supply through both capital and policy support [2]

Core Viewpoint - Rapala VMC Corporation is redeeming its existing hybrid capital securities, reflecting a strategic financial decision to manage its capital structure effectively [3][4][5]. Group 1: Redemption of Capital Securities - Rapala VMC will redeem all outstanding Existing Capital Securities amounting to EUR 1,500,000, which is 5.00% of the initial nominal amount of EUR 30 million [4]. - The redemption will occur on December 12, 2025, at a price of 101% of the nominal amount plus any accrued interest [5]. - This redemption notice is irrevocable, and all redeemed securities will be cancelled [6]. Group 2: Company Overview - Rapala VMC Group is a leading global fishing tackle company with a significant distribution network [6]. - The company reported net sales of EUR 221 million in 2024 and employs approximately 1,400 people across 40 countries [6]. - The Group's brand portfolio includes well-known names such as Rapala, VMC, Sufix, and 13 Fishing, with manufacturing facilities located in Finland, France, Estonia, and the UK [6].