Vulcan Gears Up to Post Q2 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 31, with anticipated year-over-year growth in both revenues and earnings per share (EPS) driven by strong pricing, acquisitions, and stable public demand [1][9]. Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, VMC's adjusted earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.6% and increased by 25% year over year, while revenues fell short of the consensus by 2.5% but grew by 5.8% year over year [1]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VMC's second-quarter EPS has decreased to $2.59 from $2.66 over the past 30 days, indicating a 10.2% rise from the same quarter last year. Revenue estimates are pegged at $2.2 billion, reflecting a 9.2% year-over-year increase [3]. Revenue Drivers - VMC's revenue and earnings growth in Q2 are expected to be supported by strong pricing gains across product lines, accretive acquisitions, and stable demand in the legacy business. Increased infrastructure spending and public construction activity are anticipated to offset declines in private construction [4]. - The Aggregates business, which includes crushed stone, sand, and gravel, is projected to contribute significantly to revenue growth, with net sales expected to rise by 10% to $1.78 billion. Volumes and prices in this segment are expected to increase by 4.2% and 5.6%, respectively [6]. - The Asphalt Mix segment is expected to see net sales of $368.6 million, a 5% increase year over year, with volumes and prices projected to grow by 1.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The Concrete segment is anticipated to grow by 24.8% to $208.8 million, with volumes and prices expected to rise by 22.6% and 1.8% [7]. Challenges - VMC's top line may be impacted by adverse weather conditions, a decline in private non-residential construction, and some slowdown in housing. Additionally, price and cost challenges in the Cement segment, along with higher natural gas prices, are expected to pose headwinds [8]. - Higher cost inflation, a shortage of skilled labor, and rising wage expenses are likely to affect VMC's second-quarter margins, with gross profit margin anticipated to decline by 120 basis points year over year to 28.2% [9][10]. Earnings Prediction - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for VMC, as it has an Earnings ESP of -1.69% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [11][12].