Vulcan releases fourth quarter 2014, full-year results

Vulcan Materials Co. announced the results for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2014 and for the full year of 2014.

Compared to the 2013 fourth quarter, Vulcan’s total revenues increased $75 million, or 11 percent, to $755 million. Gross profit increased $52 million, aggregates freight-adjusted revenues increased $68 million and non-aggregates gross profit improved $8 million.

Compared to the entire year of 2013, total revenues increased $223 million, or 8 percent. Gross profit increased $161 million, aggregates freight-adjusted revenues increased $218 million and non-aggregates gross profit improved $30 million.

In the 2014 fourth quarter aggregate sales were $594 million, up 20 percent from the 2013 fourth quarter. In addition, total aggregates shipments on a same-store basis increased 12 percent and overall fourth quarter aggregates shipments increased 15 percent compared to 2013’s fourth quarter.

On a same-store basis, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia each saw shipments increase by more than 14 percent compared to the 2013 fourth quarter.

Compared to 2013’s fourth quarter, freight-adjusted average sales price for aggregates increased 2 percent, or 21 cents per ton, with almost all markets experiencing price improvement. The average price for aggregates increased 4 percent, not including the impact of strong volume growth in lower priced markets such as Illinois and Arkansas.

Compared to 2013 as a whole, gross profit per ton increased 21 percent, with average freight-adjusted selling prices increasing 21 cents and gross profit per ton increasing 66 cents.

According to Vulcan, compared to last year, fourth quarter cost of revenues benefited approximately $7 million from lower diesel fuel costs, with most of this benefit coming from the aggregates segment.