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Vulcan Materials Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $654.0 million against $659.5 million. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 30.3 percent, against 31.4 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Per-share earnings higher year over year: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.47 against $2.43. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.59 against $2.45 in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Freight-adjusted prices rose: Freight-adjusted selling prices rose $0.86 per ton, or 4 percent on a reported basis, to $22.97. On a mix-adjusted basis the increase was 5 percent. Source
  • Cash gross profit per ton higher: Segment gross profit was $567.3 million, or $9.47 per ton. Cash gross profit was $720.1 million, or $12.02 per ton, against $11.88 a year earlier. Source
  • Unit cash costs rose 7 percent: Freight-adjusted unit cash cost of sales rose $0.72 per ton, or 7 percent. Excluding higher diesel fuel costs, cash cost of sales rose 3 percent. Source
  • $318 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $318 million to shareholders in the quarter: $250 million of common stock repurchases and $68 million of dividends. Capital expenditures were $176 million. Source
  • Portfolio moves tied to growth strategy: Management said the recent portfolio actions align with its aggregates-led growth strategy. Source
  • Focus on compounding unit profitability: Management said its focus remains on compounding aggregates unit profitability to drive earnings growth and cash generation. Source

“Commercial and operational execution drove solid results in the second quarter.”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026between $2.4 and $2.6 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $2.4 to $2.6 billion was reiterated and not changed from the first-quarter release. Source
  • Ended: The company completed the divestiture of its California ready-mixed concrete operations in early June 2026, which had been announced earlier. Source
  • New: The company acquired a quarry in southern Colorado and a rail yard in Dallas-Fort Worth from Brannan Sand & Gravel during the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Second-quarter revenue rose 2.5 percent: Total revenues were $2,155.8 million against $2,102.4 million a year earlier. Gross profit was $625.5 million against $625.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $654.0 million against $659.5 million. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 30.3 percent, against 31.4 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Per-share earnings higher year over year: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.47 against $2.43. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.59 against $2.45 in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Six-month net earnings rose: Net earnings attributable to Vulcan were $488.9 million for the six months, against $449.8 million. Year-to-date adjusted diluted EPS was $3.93, against $3.45. Source
  • Effective tax rate lower: The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 20.1 percent in the quarter, against 22.0 percent a year earlier. Source

Aggregates segment results

  • Aggregates shipments rose 1 percent: Second-quarter aggregates shipments were 59.9 million tons against 59.3 million. Management linked the increase to public construction activity and large projects. Source
  • Freight-adjusted prices rose: Freight-adjusted selling prices rose $0.86 per ton, or 4 percent on a reported basis, to $22.97. On a mix-adjusted basis the increase was 5 percent. Source
  • Cash gross profit per ton higher: Segment gross profit was $567.3 million, or $9.47 per ton. Cash gross profit was $720.1 million, or $12.02 per ton, against $11.88 a year earlier. Source
  • Rainfall hit two regions: Shipments in Texas and some Southeastern markets were affected by rainfall, with the greatest effect in May and June. Source

“These results demonstrate the resiliency of our uniquely advantaged pure-play aggregates business.”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Asphalt and concrete segments

  • Non-aggregates cash gross profit $73 million: Asphalt and concrete gross profit was $58 million and cash gross profit was $73 million. Asphalt gross profit was $49.8 million and concrete gross profit $8.4 million. Source
  • Asphalt margin at 15 percent: Asphalt gross profit margin was 15 percent, though shipments fell on weather and liquid asphalt costs rose. Prior-year results included the Houston business. Source
  • California concrete in results for two months: Second-quarter concrete results included two months of the California business. Concrete gross profit was $8.4 million, against $8.5 million a year earlier. Source

Costs and margins

  • Unit cash costs rose 7 percent: Freight-adjusted unit cash cost of sales rose $0.72 per ton, or 7 percent. Excluding higher diesel fuel costs, cash cost of sales rose 3 percent. Source
  • Selling and admin costs fell: SAG expense was $141.3 million, 2 percent lower than a year earlier. As a share of revenue it was 6.6 percent, down 30 basis points. Source
  • Asset sale loss against prior gain: Losses on sales of property, plant and equipment and businesses were $11.3 million, against a $1.2 million gain a year earlier. Other operating expense was $17.4 million, against $10.9 million. Source

“Our aggregates business is executing well, and we reiterate our full-year outlook to deliver between $2.4 and $2.6 billion of Adjusted EBITDA.”

Ronnie Pruitt, Vulcan Materials’ Chief Executive Officer

Pricing and demand

  • Pricing environment described as positive: Management described the pricing environment as positive, with widespread growth across the company's footprint. Source
  • Construction backdrop supports price growth: Management said the construction environment remains supportive of continued aggregates price growth. Source
  • Asphalt mix price up: Asphalt mix sales price was $85.74 per ton, against $81.29 a year earlier, on lower shipments of 3.4 million tons. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $318 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $318 million to shareholders in the quarter: $250 million of common stock repurchases and $68 million of dividends. Capital expenditures were $176 million. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks and dividends rose: Year-to-date purchases of common stock were $399.8 million, against $38.1 million. Dividends paid were $135.4 million, against $130.7 million. Source
  • Leverage below target range: Total debt to trailing-twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA was 1.9 times, below the company's target range of 2.0 to 2.5 times. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 1.7 times. Source
  • Return on invested capital up: Trailing-twelve-month return on average invested capital was 16.1 percent, up 20 basis points from the prior year. Source
  • Year-to-date capital spending and operating cash: Year-to-date purchases of property, plant and equipment were $370.4 million, against $270.9 million. Operating cash flow was $584.6 million, against $593.2 million. Source

Strategy and portfolio actions

  • Portfolio moves tied to growth strategy: Management said the recent portfolio actions align with its aggregates-led growth strategy. Source
  • Focus on compounding unit profitability: Management said its focus remains on compounding aggregates unit profitability to drive earnings growth and cash generation. Source
  • Acquisition pipeline described as active: Management said the pipeline for strategic acquisitions remains active and that the company has the financial flexibility to pursue the most value-accretive deals. Source

Leadership and transition charges

  • Pruitt became CEO January 2026: The release ties the transition charges to the appointment of Ronnie Pruitt as CEO, effective January 1, 2026, and to related organizational changes. Source
  • No transition charges in quarter: CEO transition and reorganization charges were nil in the second quarter. The six-month total of $8.6 million was recorded in the first quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Aggregates shipments (tons) Source59.9 million tons
Asphalt mix shipments (tons) Source3.4 million tons
Ready-mixed concrete (cubic yards) Source1.0 million cubic yards

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Rainfall, mainly in May and June, reduced aggregates shipments in Texas and some Southeastern markets. Source
  • External: Management cited significant energy inflation as a pressure during the quarter, alongside weather. Source
  • External: Higher liquid asphalt costs, together with weather, reduced asphalt shipments in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The divestiture had been expected to close in the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals. The release reports it was completed in early June. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated the full-year range. The release does not describe progress against it. Source

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.