Vulcan Materials (VMC) reported $2 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2024, representing a year-over-year decline of 8.3%. EPS of $2.22 for the same period compares to $2.29 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 billion, representing a surprise of -1.34%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -5.13%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.34.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Vulcan performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Average unit sales price per ton - Aggregates (freight adjusted): $21.27 versus $21.20 estimated by four analysts on average.
• Unit shipments - Aggregates: 57,700 KTon versus 59,740.56 KTon estimated by four analysts on average.
• Unit shipments - Asphalt mix: 4,100 KTon versus the three-analyst average estimate of 4,039.63 KTon.
• Unit shipments - Ready-mixed concrete: 900 KCuYd compared to the 1,011.27 KCuYd average estimate based on three analysts.
• Average unit sales price per ton - Asphalt mix: $80.88 compared to the $79.82 average estimate based on three analysts.
• Average unit sales price per cubic yard - Ready-mixed concrete: $185.61 compared to the $181.93 average estimate based on three analysts.
• Net sales- Aggregates: $1.57 billion compared to the $1.63 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.3% year over year.
• Net sales- Asphalt: $381.10 million compared to the $369.63 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.8% year over year.
• Net sales- Concrete: $174.40 million compared to the $186.61 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of -52.2% year over year.
• Net sales- Aggregates intersegment sales: -$124 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of -$131.92 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -19.7%.
• Gross profit- Aggregates: $498.50 million compared to the $528.70 million average estimate based on six analysts.
• Gross Profit- Asphalt: $60.20 million compared to the $63.98 million average estimate based on six analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Vulcan here>>>

Shares of Vulcan have returned +4.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research