Rock Products

DEC 2012

Rock Products is the aggregates industry's leading source for market analysis and technology solutions, delivering critical content focusing on aggregates-processing equipment; operational efficiencies; management best practices; comprehensive market

Issue link: https://rock.epubxp.com/i/97730

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 11 of 51

IN THE KNOW Martin Marietta Third-Quarter Results Show Increases n n n n n n Earnings per diluted share of $1.36 compared with $1.07. Consolidated net sales of $539.1 million compared with $445.0 million. Heritage aggregates product line pricing increased 4.1 percent; volume decreased 3.8 percent. Specialty Products net sales of $49.4 million and record third���quarter earnings from operations of $17.0 million. Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A;) decreased 140 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Consolidated earnings from operations of $91.1 million compared with $80.0 million. PRODUCER NEWS ���Our strong third���quarter results reflect both revenue and profit growth that demonstrate the underlying strength of our legacy operations as well as the contri��� bution from our recent acquisitions in the Denver market,��� said Ward Nye, president and CEO of Martin Marietta Materials. ���In terms of our overall perform��� ance, the heritage aggregates business benefitted from both continued strong pricing trends and increased productivity, and the specialty products business gen��� erated record earnings from operations. Our bottom line continued to reflect the diligent manner in which we control costs. As a result, our earnings per diluted share of $1.36, a 27 percent increase over the prior��� year quarter, is especially noteworthy given that our team achieved this in an uncertain economic climate that has been marked by a reluctance by governmen��� tal bodies and private industry to commit to long��� range capital projects. ���We also see several positive trends in construction activity. First, we continue to benefit from recovery and growth in the residential sector end���use market, which is reporting a 14 percent increase in heritage aggregates product line shipments over the prior���year quarter. Second, with the passage of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP���21, a 27��� month Federal surface transportation bill intended to expedite project approvals and limit spending for pro��� grams unrelated to core transportation needs, federal highway funds can be obligated with more certainty. Consequently, many of our key states are taking steps to utilize various funding alternatives to support im��� portant infrastructure projects. Finally, it seems a backlog of construction work is awaiting, what we be��� lieve to be, a general restoration of confidence in the 10 ROCKproducts ��� DECEMBER 2012 current economic and political environment. We an��� ticipate these positive trends will continue and pro��� vide the prospect for increasing volume momentum as we move forward into 2013.��� Nye continued, ���Consolidated net sales increased over 20 percent, with the recently acquired Denver, Col��� orado, area businesses contributing $92 million in the quarter. These operations once again exceeded our ex��� pectations, reflecting positive construction trends in that market where the rate of growth in highway con��� tract awards ranks among the highest in the country, FAST FACT Martin Marietta Materials Inc. announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012. The company reported: Strong third-quarter results reflect both revenue and profit growth that demonstrate the underlying strength of company���s legacy operations. and, importantly, construction���related employment is well above the national average. Nonresidential con��� struction activity also continues to improve in the market with commercial real estate realizing in��� creased lease rates and decreasing vacancies. Year���to��� date housing permits in Colorado increased more than 60 percent, outpacing the national average, while sin��� gle���family home sales have increased significantly over the prior���year period. ���Heritage aggregates product line pricing increased 4.1 percent in the quarter over the prior-year period. Pricing growth was led by our Southeast Group, with an overall increase of 5.1 percent over the prior-year quarter, driven by improvement in all of its markets along with favorable product mix. The West Group reported a heritage aggregates product line price increase of 4.8 percent, with shipments to the energy sector being a significant driver of this improvement. The Mideast Group had a 3.5 percent increase in its heritage aggregates product line average selling price, led by growth in our North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia markets.��� www.rockproducts.com

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Rock Products - DEC 2012