Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Shares Gap Down Following Weak Earnings

Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $327.65, but opened at $295.95. Vulcan Materials shares last traded at $303.40, with a volume of 519,581 shares traded.

The construction company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.11 by ($0.41). Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 13.47% and a net margin of 14.19%.The company had revenue of $1.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.17 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is currently 23.28%.

Vulcan Materials News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Vulcan Materials this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Full‑year strength and cash flow: Vulcan said full‑year 2025 delivered earnings growth, margin expansion and operating cash flow rose ~29% to $1.8B, and management expects aggregates demand growth and a favorable pricing environment to support 2026 earnings — a fundamental cash‑flow positive datapoint that supports valuation. VULCAN REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend raise: Vulcan announced a quarterly dividend of $0.52 (up from $0.49), marking a ~6.1% increase and signaling confidence in cash flow and capital allocation — supportive for income‑oriented investors. (Ex‑dividend March 9).
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector context: Analysts note housing weakness but resilient public/infrastructure spending — this mixed backdrop means Vulcan’s aggregates demand outlook depends on public works and price execution more than housing alone. What’s in Store For These 5 Construction Stocks This Earnings Season?
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 earnings miss: Vulcan reported EPS of $1.70 vs. consensus ~ $2.11–$2.13 (multiple outlets) and revenue of $1.91B vs. est. ~$1.95B — EPS declined from $2.17 a year ago. The earnings shortfall is the primary catalyst for the stock decline as it raises near‑term execution and pricing concerns. Vulcan Materials earnings missed by $0.43, revenue fell short of estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Pricing power worries: Ahead of results, analysts flagged mounting concerns about Vulcan’s ability to push prices amid mixed end‑market demand; the miss reinforces that risk and could pressure near‑term margins if pricing lags. Vulcan Materials faces earnings test as pricing power concerns mount
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst and market reaction: Multiple headlines (Zacks, MSN, MarketBeat coverage) highlight the miss and revenue shortfall; the immediate market response is negative as investors re‑price growth/earnings visibility for 2026. Vulcan Materials (VMC) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Lag Estimates

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. B. Riley Financial assumed coverage on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $345.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James Financial lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Citigroup upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $342.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $310.00 to $317.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $279.00 to $278.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.38.

Insider Activity at Vulcan Materials

In related news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 7,135 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.81, for a total value of $2,146,279.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP David P. Clement sold 2,000 shares of Vulcan Materials stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $288.55, for a total transaction of $577,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 832 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $240,073.60. This trade represents a 70.62% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 9,800 shares of company stock worth $2,919,554 in the last ninety days. 0.61% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vulcan Materials

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 100.0% during the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 84 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. NBT Bank N A NY acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. acquired a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The stock has a market cap of $39.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.14, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $301.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $296.17.

About Vulcan Materials

Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) is a U.S.-based producer of construction materials that supplies the building and infrastructure markets. The company’s primary products include construction aggregates such as crushed stone, sand and gravel, as well as asphalt mixes and ready-mixed concrete. These materials are used in a wide range of projects including highways, commercial and residential construction, and public infrastructure.

Vulcan operates an integrated network of quarries, asphalt plants and concrete facilities to produce and deliver materials to contractors, municipalities and private developers.