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Vulcan Materials Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 17 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA rose 13 percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $2,324 million against $2,057 million, with margin at 29.3 percent versus 27.7 percent. Net earnings attributable to Vulcan were $1,077 million against $912 million; Adjusted diluted EPS was $8.00 against $7.53. Source
  • Mix-adjusted pricing rose 6 percent: Freight-adjusted price averaged $21.98 per ton for the year, up from $21.08. Reported pricing rose 4 percent for the full year, while mix-adjusted pricing rose 6 percent. Source
  • Cash gross profit per ton reached $11.33: Cash gross profit per ton was up 7 percent, the twelfth consecutive quarter of at least high single-digit improvement on a trailing-twelve months basis. Fourth-quarter cash gross profit per ton was $10.73 against $11.50. Source
  • Fourth-quarter reported price trailed mix-adjusted: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 28.7 percent against 33.0 percent, and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.1 percent against 29.7 percent. Mix-adjusted price rose 5 percent in the quarter, reported price 2 percent. Source
  • Public and private demand expected to strengthen: For 2026, management expects continued public construction strength and improving private nonresidential activity, which it said would support earnings growth alongside pricing. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose 29 percent: Cash from operations was $1.8 billion in 2025, or $1,813.0 million in the cash flow statement. Capital spending was $703 million for the year, including $261 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • California ready-mixed sale agreed, pending approvals: The sale of California ready-mixed concrete businesses is pending regulatory approvals. Management said the downstream sales are consistent with the aggregates-led strategy and generate cash proceeds for future growth. Source

“positions us well to continue compounding results and creating value for our shareholders in 2026 and beyond.”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$2.4 to $2.6 billionNew
Aggregates total shipments Source2026up 1 to 3 percentNew
Aggregates freight-adjusted price Source2026improvement of 4 to 6 percentNew
Asphalt and Concrete segment cash gross profit Source2026approximately $290 millionNew
Asphalt and Concrete segment contribution split Source2026about 85 percent Asphalt, 15 percent ConcreteNew
Selling, administrative and general expense Source2026$580 to $590 millionNew
Interest expense Source2026approximately $225 millionNew
Capital spending for maintenance and growth projects Source2026$750 to $800 millionNew
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization Source2026approximately $700 millionNew
Effective tax rate Source202622 to 23 percentNew
Net earnings attributable to Vulcan Source2026$1.1 to $1.3 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The October release described 2026 only in qualitative terms, with modest shipment growth and mid-single digit pricing growth. This release gives numeric 2026 guidance.
  • New: Ronnie Pruitt is identified as Chief Executive Officer in this release. The October release said the Board named him CEO effective January 1, 2026. Source
  • New: The 2026 Asphalt and Concrete cash gross profit figure excludes the California ready-mixed concrete assets now held for sale. Source

Full-year results and earnings

  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA rose 13 percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $2,324 million against $2,057 million, with margin at 29.3 percent versus 27.7 percent. Net earnings attributable to Vulcan were $1,077 million against $912 million; Adjusted diluted EPS was $8.00 against $7.53. Source
  • Fourth-quarter per-share earnings were lower: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.91 against $2.23, and Adjusted EPS was $1.70 against $2.17. Full-year diluted EPS was $8.15 against $6.91. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose, gross profit fell: Fourth-quarter revenue was $1,913 million against $1,854 million, while gross profit was $487 million against $537 million. Net earnings attributable to Vulcan were $252 million against $294 million. Source

Aggregates segment performance

  • Mix-adjusted pricing rose 6 percent: Freight-adjusted price averaged $21.98 per ton for the year, up from $21.08. Reported pricing rose 4 percent for the full year, while mix-adjusted pricing rose 6 percent. Source
  • Cash gross profit per ton reached $11.33: Cash gross profit per ton was up 7 percent, the twelfth consecutive quarter of at least high single-digit improvement on a trailing-twelve months basis. Fourth-quarter cash gross profit per ton was $10.73 against $11.50. Source
  • Full-year shipments rose 3 percent: Aggregates shipments were 226.8 million tons against 219.9 million. Fourth-quarter shipments were 55.1 million tons, up 2 percent from 53.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Segment gross margin rose to 31.2 percent: Aggregates segment gross profit rose 8 percent for the year to $1,965 million. Fourth-quarter segment gross profit was $435.8 million against $486.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth-quarter reported price trailed mix-adjusted: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 28.7 percent against 33.0 percent, and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.1 percent against 29.7 percent. Mix-adjusted price rose 5 percent in the quarter, reported price 2 percent. Source

“As we look to 2026, I’m encouraged about the demand backdrop in our markets.”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Asphalt and concrete segments

  • Non-aggregates cash gross profit rose 18 percent: Asphalt and concrete segment gross profit was $210 million for the year, up 15 percent, and cash gross profit was $322 million. Fourth-quarter gross profit was $51 million and cash gross profit $73 million. Source
  • Asphalt gross margin held at 13 percent: Asphalt gross profit margin was 13 percent. Asphalt segment gross profit was $41.0 million in the fourth quarter against $46.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Concrete margin rose 220 basis points: Concrete gross margin rose to 4 percent. Management said unit cash gross profit benefited from acquired operations. Fourth-quarter concrete gross profit was $10.1 million against $4.6 million. Source

Costs, SAG and tax

  • Fourth-quarter SAG expense declined: Fourth-quarter SAG expense was $136 million, 1 percent lower than a year earlier, and 40 basis points lower as a share of revenue. Full-year SAG was 7.1 percent of revenues. Source
  • Other operating items swung to income: Other operating income was $9 million for 2025, against $104 million of expense in 2024. The 2024 expense included an $87 million goodwill write-off for Northern California concrete and $18 million of charges on divested operations. Source
  • Unit cash cost rose 2 percent: Freight-adjusted unit cash cost of sales rose 2 percent for the year, even with several fourth-quarter timing impacts. Management cited a continued focus on cost management and operating efficiencies. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose for the year: Full-year effective tax rate from continuing operations was 22.1 percent against 21.4 percent. The fourth-quarter rate was 21.7 percent against 12.7 percent. Source

“Growing demand, coupled with our Vulcan Way of Selling and Vulcan Way of Operating disciplines, will drive another year of earnings growth”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Demand and public construction

  • Public construction supported shipments: Management said fourth-quarter shipments continued to benefit from healthy public construction activity. The release describes this as the basis for the shipment growth in the quarter. Source
  • Public and private demand expected to strengthen: For 2026, management expects continued public construction strength and improving private nonresidential activity, which it said would support earnings growth alongside pricing. Source
  • Pricing growth described as widespread: Management said pricing growth in 2025 was across the footprint, and described the pricing environment as already healthy heading into 2026. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose 29 percent: Cash from operations was $1.8 billion in 2025, or $1,813.0 million in the cash flow statement. Capital spending was $703 million for the year, including $261 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Shareholder returns reached $698 million: Repurchases exceeded dividends in 2025. The October release showed buybacks of $38.1 million for the first nine months, so most of the year's repurchases came in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Leverage at 1.9 times Adjusted EBITDA: Total debt was $4,362 million, or 1.9 times Adjusted EBITDA and 1.8 times on a net debt basis. Weighted average debt maturity was 14 years at an effective interest rate of 5 percent. Source
  • Year-end cash fell to $183 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $183.3 million, down from $559.7 million. The company repaid $550 million of short-term debt during the year along with $400.5 million of current and long-term debt. Source
  • Return on invested capital 15.7 percent: Trailing-twelve-month ROIC was 15.7 percent, against 16.2 percent a year earlier. The company defines it as Adjusted EBITDA divided by average invested capital, a non-GAAP measure. Source

Portfolio moves and leadership

  • Houston asphalt and construction services sold: The company completed the disposition of its asphalt and construction services assets in the greater Houston market in the fourth quarter. Source
  • California ready-mixed sale agreed, pending approvals: The sale of California ready-mixed concrete businesses is pending regulatory approvals. Management said the downstream sales are consistent with the aggregates-led strategy and generate cash proceeds for future growth. Source
  • Pruitt named CEO effective January 1: The Board named Ronnie Pruitt Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, as announced on October 13, 2025. He signs this release as CEO.

Coming up, as management said on 17 February 2026

  • California ready-mixed sale closing: Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Aggregates shipments (tons), full year Source226.8 million tons
Asphalt mix shipments (tons), full year Source13.4 million tons
Ready-mixed concrete (cubic yards), full year Source4.5 million cubic yards
Freight-adjusted sales price per ton, full year Source$21.98
Cash gross profit per ton, full year Source$11.33

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the prior-year fourth quarter was aided by post-hurricane demand in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, which sets a comparison for this quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing of the California ready-mixed sale depends on regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source
  • Regulatory: Acquisition-related charges relate to acquisitions needing federal antitrust clearance. They were $2.0 million for 2025, against $16.3 million for 2024. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The October release expected the California transaction to close in the fourth quarter. This release gives a second-quarter 2026 expectation instead.
  • Not stated: The October release expected full-year shipments to show growth similar to the first nine months of 2025. The result is reported in the aggregates results.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.