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

Vulcan Materials Company Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 7 cents per share, a decline of 12.5% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 9 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has risen from 6 cents during the last month.

Past Earnings Performance: The company beat estimates last quarter after falling short in the prior two. In the second quarter, the company reported net income of 7 cents per share versus a mean estimate of a loss of 6 cents per share. In the first quarter, the company missed estimates by 13 cents.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $779.7 million in revenue this quarter, a rise of 4.9% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $2.57 billion for the year, a rise of 0.4% from last year’s revenue of $2.56 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Vulcan Materials Company with 12 of 14 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, the company’s loss narrowed to a loss of $8.1 million (6 cents a share) from a loss of $24 million (19 cents) a year earlier, beating analyst expectations. Revenue fell 4.6% to $702 million from $736.2 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen in the past four quarters. Revenue declined 1.2% in the first quarter from the year earlier, dropped 0.7% in fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year-ago quarter and 4.5% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM), Lafarge S.A. (LFRGY), Texas Industries, Inc. (NYSE:TXI), Eagle Materials, Inc. (NYSE:EXP), CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH), Salbookh Trading Co. K.S.C.C (SALBOOKH), Dolnoslaskie Surowce Skalne SA (DSS), Forward Investment & Deve. Ente. Ltd (FIDE), and United Basalt Products Ltd. (NYSE:UBP).

Stock Price Performance: During September 29, 2011 to October 27, 2011, the stock price had risen $5.68 (19.6%) from $28.95 to $34.63. 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% (+$3.09) 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 10.4% (-$4.41) over that span. Shares are down $8.86 (-20.4%) year to date.

(Source: Xignite Financials)

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