S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) will unveil its latest earnings on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Vulcan Materials Company is a producer of mainly crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt mix and concrete and cement.

Vulcan Materials Company Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net loss of 5 cents per share, a swing from profit of 14 cents in the year earlier quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 5 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down and dropped from a loss of 4 cents during the last month.

Past Earnings Performance: The company enters this earnings report having missed estimates the last four quarters. Last quarter, the company fell short of expectations by 13 cents, reporting a loss of of 62 cents per share against a mean estimate of net loss of 49 cents per share.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $726 million in revenue this quarter, a decline of 1.4% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $2.6 billion for the year, a rise of 1.6% from last year’s revenue of $2.56 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Vulcan Materials Company with 13 of 16 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen for the past three quarters. In first quarter, revenue declined 1.2% to $487.2 million while the figure fell 0.7% in fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year earlier and 4.5% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM), Texas Industries, Inc. (NYSE:TXI), Eagle Materials, Inc. (NYSE:EXP), CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH)and United Basalt Products Ltd. (NYSE:UBP).

Stock Price Performance: During May 2, 2011 to July 27, 2011, the stock price had fallen $10.71 (-23.7%) from $45.16 to $34.45. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between April 19, 2011 and May 2, 2011 when shares rose for nine-straight days, rising 7.4% (+$3.11) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between November 8, 2010 and November 17, 2010 when shares fell for eight-straight days, falling 10.3% (-$4.43) over that span. Shares are down $9.38 (-21.4%) year to date.

(Source: Xignite Financials)

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