BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2013.

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First Quarter Summary

    --  Shipment levels in all major product lines were in line with our first
        quarter expectations.
        o Aggregates shipments were 5 percent lower than last year's first
          quarter, which benefited from unseasonably warm and dry weather while
          2013 experienced wetter winter weather. Aggregates shipments were 4
          percent higher than the first quarter of 2011, which experienced
          normal seasonal weather.
        o Volumes in ready-mixed concrete and cement increased 6 percent and 14
          percent, respectively, due to improving levels of private
          construction.
    --  Aggregates pricing increased 5 percent versus the prior year.
    --  Gross profit was $18 million as compared to $22 million in the prior
        year and a loss of $7 million in the first quarter of 2011.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA was $26 million as compared to $47 million in the prior
        year and $5 million in the first quarter of 2011.
    --  Net earnings were a loss of $0.42 per diluted share versus a loss of
        $0.40 per diluted share in the prior year.

Don James, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our business segments performed as expected in the first quarter. We are reaffirming our outlook and remain on track to achieve earnings improvement again in 2013. Aggregates segment gross profit, while down versus the prior year, was in line with our expectations and up sharply versus the first quarter of 2011. We expected first quarter aggregates shipments to be lower than last year when shipments increased 10 percent due to favorable weather and the timing of shipments to several large projects. Demand for our products in many of our key markets continues to benefit from recovery in private construction activity, particularly residential. Most notably, we realized double-digit percentage increases in first quarter aggregates shipments in Arizona, California and Florida – driven by demand from housing. In other key markets, particularly Texas, shipments also increased, reflecting broad-based recovery across all end-markets. Housing starts, as measured on a seasonally adjusted annual rate, are now more than 1 million, indicating the beginnings of a broad-based recovery in residential construction. Growth in residential construction activity, and its traditional follow-on impact to private nonresidential construction, underpins our expectations for volume and earnings improvement in 2013. We continue to expect aggregates shipments in 2013 to increase 1 to 5 percent versus 2012 with the variability due primarily to the timing of the start of several large projects later this year."

Commentary on First Quarter 2013 Segment Results

Aggregates segment gross profit was $25 million compared to $34 million in the prior year. Aggregates pricing increased 5 percent versus the prior year and helped offset the earnings effect of lower volumes. Price improvement was broad-based with virtually all of the Company's markets realizing higher pricing versus the prior year. Aggregates shipments in Arizona, California, Florida and North Carolina showed strength, each increasing by at least 10 percent versus the prior year. Sales volumes at the Company's remotely-served sales yards along the central Gulf Coast also benefited from stronger demand, increasing approximately 25 percent versus the prior year. Shipments in the Midwest, Tennessee and Virginia were sharply lower versus the prior year. In the first quarter of 2012, volumes in these markets were boosted significantly by favorable weather and several large projects underway.

Unfavorable weather, lower production volumes and a geographic mix shift to remotely-supplied coastal sales yards distorted year-over-year cash cost comparisons. Additionally, planned cash costs for routine expenditures necessary to prepare for the start of seasonal construction activity increased versus the prior year. For example, repair and maintenance costs increased $4 million versus the prior year. These cost increases in the first quarter were consistent with the Company's operating plan and do not alter its view regarding achievement of full year cost targets. Gross profit from non-aggregates businesses improved $5 million to a loss of $7 million. Asphalt Mix segment gross profit was $2 million versus a loss of $1 million in the prior year. Unit profitability, as measured by materials margin, increased 19 percent due in part to a 7 percent decrease in the unit cost of liquid asphalt. Concrete segment gross profit improved $2 million due in part to a 6 percent increase in shipments. Cement segment gross profit in the first quarter was $1 million, up slightly versus the prior year.

2013 Outlook

"Our outlook for another year of earnings improvement remains on track. This view is supported by continued growth in private construction activity which should drive volume growth, improved pricing and cost management," said Mr. James.

"We believe economic and construction-related fundamentals that drive demand for our products are continuing to improve from the historically low levels created by the economic downturn. Leading indicators of private construction activity continue to improve. Residential housing starts in the U.S. are up sharply from a year ago and contract awards for private nonresidential buildings, measured in square feet, are up 16 percent. Consequently, aggregates demand in private construction is growing. Importantly, we are seeing significant housing start growth in several key states, including Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and Arizona. Growth in residential construction has historically been a leading indicator of other construction end uses.

"The passage of the federal highway bill, MAP-21, in July 2012 is providing stability and predictability to future highway funding. New highway projects, as measured by trailing twelve month contract awards, increased 1 percent versus the prior year's level – the first year-over-year growth since January 2011. The large increase in TIFIA funding contained in the new highway bill should also positively impact future demand.

Mr. James continued, "Aggregates demand in our markets from residential construction is expected to increase approximately 20 percent while demand from private nonresidential buildings is expected to increase approximately 8 percent compared to 2012. Our current expectation is for aggregates demand from public construction, including highways and other infrastructure, to approximate 2012. However, the recent upturn in trailing twelve month contract awards for highways provides some optimism that aggregates demand from public infrastructure could grow modestly in 2013. As we look at the projects that could impact our 2013 aggregates volumes, we continue to see a disproportionately greater number of large, discrete highway and industrial projects. The timing and quantity of shipments to these projects remains challenging to predict. As a result, our full year shipments in 2013 are expected to increase 1 to 5 percent with most of the expected year-over-year growth to occur in the second half of the year.

"We will continue our focus on effectively managing controllable costs and achieving improved pricing. Although the relatively severe winter weather in many of our central and eastern markets had an unfavorable effect on the first quarter's cash costs, we remain on track to realize our cash costs objectives for 2013. The geographic breadth of pricing gains achieved in 2012 and so far this year reinforces our expectations for continued price growth in 2013. We expect full year freight-adjusted price growth of approximately 4 percent in 2013.

"Additionally, earnings in each of our non-aggregates segments should improve versus the prior year. Asphalt materials margin increased throughout 2012 and we expect material margins to increase again in 2013 and contribute to earnings growth in this segment. Full year concrete volumes and materials margin are expected to improve in 2013 as housing starts continue recovering in key states. Concrete volumes in the first quarter increased 6 percent versus the prior year due in part to increased private construction activity in Florida. We expect the increased private construction activity to continue leading to improved unit profitability in the Concrete segment. Cement earnings should improve in 2013 due mostly to lower production costs. As a result, collectively, full year earnings from these segments are expected to contribute significantly to earnings improvement in 2013."

Conference Call

Vulcan will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. CDT on May 2, 2013. A live webcast will be available via the Company's website at www.vulcanmaterials.com. Investors and other interested parties in the U.S. may also access the teleconference live by calling 800-540-4153 approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start. International participants can dial 973-582-2825. The access code is 55427875. The conference call will be recorded and available for replay at the Company's website approximately two hours after the call. Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, a major producer of asphalt mix and concrete and a leading producer of cement in Florida.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER

This document contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical fact, including statements about Vulcan's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Generally, these statements relate to future financial performance, results of operations, business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings (including EBITDA and other measures), dividend policy, shipment volumes, pricing, levels of capital expenditures, intended cost reductions and cost savings, anticipated profit improvements and/or planned divestitures and asset sales. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "believe," "should," "would," "expect," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "can," "may" or similar expressions elsewhere in this document. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including but not limited to general business conditions, competitive factors, pricing, energy costs, and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports Vulcan periodically files with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments, and business decisions may vary significantly from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. The following risks related to Vulcan's business, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: risks that Vulcan's intentions, plans and results with respect to cost reductions, profit enhancements and asset sales, as well as streamlining and other strategic actions adopted by Vulcan, will not be able to be realized to the desired degree or within the desired time period and that the results thereof will differ from those anticipated or desired; uncertainties as to the timing and valuations that may be realized or attainable with respect to planned asset sales; those associated with general economic and business conditions; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; the effects of the sequestration on demand for our products in markets that may be subject to decreases in federal spending; changes in Vulcan's effective tax rate; the increasing reliance on technology infrastructure for Vulcan's ticketing, procurement, financial statements and other processes could adversely affect operations in the event such infrastructure does not work as intended or experiences technical difficulties; the impact of the state of the global economy on Vulcan's businesses and financial condition and access to capital markets; changes in the level of spending for private residential and private nonresidential construction; the highly competitive nature of the construction materials industry; the impact of future regulatory or legislative actions; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; pricing of Vulcan's products; weather and other natural phenomena; energy costs; costs of hydrocarbon-based raw materials; healthcare costs; the amount of long-term debt and interest expense incurred by Vulcan; changes in interest rates; the impact of Vulcan's below investment grade debt rating on Vulcan's cost of capital; volatility in pension plan asset values and liabilities which may require cash contributions to the pension plans; the impact of environmental clean-up costs and other liabilities relating to previously divested businesses; Vulcan's ability to secure and permit aggregates reserves in strategically located areas; Vulcan's ability to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions; the potential of goodwill or long-lived asset impairment; the potential impact of future legislation or regulations relating to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions or the definition of minerals; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the reports filed by Vulcan with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this communication are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Vulcan disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this document except as required by law.

                                                           Table A

Vulcan Materials Company

and Subsidiary Companies

                                               (Amounts and shares in thousands,

                                               except per share data)



                                               Three Months Ended

Consolidated Statements of Earnings            March 31

(Condensed and unaudited)                      2013        2012



Net sales                                      $ 504,554   $ 499,851

Delivery revenues                              33,608      36,031

Total revenues                                 538,162     535,882



Cost of goods sold                             486,899     477,893

Delivery costs                                 33,608      36,031

Cost of revenues                               520,507     513,924



Gross profit                                   17,655      21,958

Selling, administrative and general expenses   64,655      64,912

Gain on sale of property, plant & equipment

and businesses, net                            4,110       6,526

Restructuring charges                          (1,509)     (1,411)

Exchange offer costs                           -           (10,065)

Other operating income (expense), net          (5,659)     1,625

Operating loss                                 (50,058)    (46,279)



Other nonoperating income, net                 2,373       3,098

Interest expense, net                          52,752      52,266

Loss from continuing operations

before income taxes                            (100,437)   (95,447)

Benefit from income taxes                      (38,818)    (38,397)

Loss from continuing operations                (61,619)    (57,050)

Earnings on discontinued operations, net of    6,783       4,997
tax

Net loss                                       $ (54,836)  $ (52,053)

Basic earnings (loss) per share:

Continuing operations                          $ (0.47)    $ (0.44)

Discontinued operations                        0.05        0.04

Net earnings (loss) per share                  $ (0.42)    $ (0.40)



Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

Continuing operations                          $ (0.47)    $ (0.44)

Discontinued operations                        0.05        0.04

Net earnings (loss) per share                  $ (0.42)    $ (0.40)

Weighted-average common shares

outstanding:

Basic                                          130,186     129,593

Assuming dilution                              130,186     129,593

Cash dividends declared per share

of common stock                                $ 0.01      $ 0.01

Depreciation, depletion, accretion and

amortization                                   $ 75,597    $ 85,167

Effective tax rate from continuing operations  38.6%       40.2%

                                                             Table B

Vulcan Materials Company

and Subsidiary Companies



                                   (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)



Consolidated Balance Sheets        March 31     December 31  March 31

(Condensed and unaudited)          2013         2012         2012





Assets

Cash and cash equivalents          $ 188,081    $ 275,478    $ 191,172

Accounts and notes receivable:

 Accounts and notes receivable,    328,202      303,178      325,383
 gross

 Less: Allowance for doubtful      (6,030)      (6,198)      (7,207)
 accounts

  Accounts and notes receivable,   322,172      296,980      318,176
  net

Inventories:

 Finished products                 267,783      262,886      271,634

 Raw materials                     27,148       27,758       23,819

 Products in process               6,168        5,963        5,077

 Operating supplies and other      39,475       38,415       40,803

  Inventories                      340,574      335,022      341,333

Current deferred income taxes      38,844       40,696       43,394

Prepaid expenses                   24,762       21,713       24,574

Assets held for sale               12,929       15,083       -

  Total current assets             927,362      984,972      918,649

Investments and long-term          41,707       42,081       29,172
receivables

Property, plant & equipment:

 Property, plant & equipment,      6,668,630    6,666,617    6,698,952
 cost

 Less: Reserve for depr., depl. &  (3,507,394)  (3,507,432)  (3,349,258)
 amort.

  Property, plant & equipment,     3,161,236    3,159,185    3,349,694
  net

Goodwill                           3,095,801    3,086,716    3,086,716

Other intangible assets, net       691,840      692,532      695,852

Other noncurrent assets            160,529      161,113      135,956

  Total assets                     $ 8,078,475  $ 8,126,599  $ 8,216,039







Liabilities and Equity

Current maturities of long-term    $ 140,604    $ 150,602    $ 144,706
debt

Trade payables and accruals        116,677      113,337      125,101

Other current liabilities          212,572      171,671      211,286

Liabilities of assets held for     -            801          -
sale

  Total current liabilities        469,853      436,411      481,093

Long-term debt                     2,525,420    2,526,401    2,669,752

Noncurrent deferred income taxes   614,405      657,367      704,166

Deferred revenue                   73,392       73,583       -

Other noncurrent liabilities       680,476      671,775      615,421

  Total liabilities                4,363,546    4,365,537    4,470,432

Equity:

 Common stock, $1 par value        129,952      129,721      129,389

 Capital in excess of par value    2,585,696    2,580,209    2,547,959

 Retained earnings                 1,220,512    1,276,649    1,281,080

 Accumulated other comprehensive   (221,231)    (225,517)    (212,821)
 loss

  Total equity                     3,714,929    3,761,062    3,745,607

  Total liabilities and equity     $ 8,078,475  $ 8,126,599  $ 8,216,039

                                                                   Table C

Vulcan Materials Company

and Subsidiary Companies



                                                       (Amounts in thousands)



                                                       Three Months Ended

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                  March 31

(Condensed and unaudited)                              2013        2012



Operating Activities

Net loss                                               $ (54,836)  $ (52,053)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to

net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization    75,597      85,167

Net gain on sale of property, plant & equipment and    (17,141)    (17,862)
businesses

Contributions to pension plans                         (1,132)     (1,124)

Share-based compensation                               4,933       1,877

Deferred tax provision                                 (39,918)    (30,966)

Changes in assets and liabilities before initial

effects of business acquisitions and dispositions      22,349      45,828

Other, net                                             (2,719)     (1,723)

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities   (12,867)    29,144



Investing Activities

Purchases of property, plant & equipment               (26,851)    (18,848)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment      1,623       10,750

Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of transaction   18,164      11,827
costs

Payment for businesses acquired, net of acquired cash  (60,212)    -

Other, net                                             2           31

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities   (67,274)    3,760



Financing Activities

Payment of current maturities and long-term debt       (10,016)    (90)

Dividends paid                                         (1,299)     (1,295)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options                3,203       3,483

Other, net                                             856         331

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   (7,256)     2,429



Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (87,397)    35,333

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year         275,478     155,839

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $ 188,081   $ 191,172

                                                                       Table D

Segment Financial Data and Unit Shipments

                               (Amounts in thousands, except per unit
                               data)



                               Three Months Ended

                               March 31

                               2013             2012

Total Revenues

Aggregates segment (a)         $ 358,999        $ 355,618

Intersegment sales             (33,604)         (31,120)

Net sales                      325,395          324,498

Concrete segment (b)           99,889           92,471

Intersegment sales             -                (451)

Net sales                      99,889           92,020

Asphalt Mix segment            67,287           71,356

Intersegment sales             -                -

Net sales                      67,287           71,356

Cement segment (c)             22,693           20,516

Intersegment sales             (10,710)         (8,539)

Net sales                      11,983           11,977

Total

Net sales                      504,554          499,851

Delivery revenues              33,608           36,031

Total revenues                 $ 538,162        $ 535,882

Gross Profit

Aggregates                     $ 24,786         $ 34,049

Concrete                       (10,079)         (12,305)

Asphalt Mix                    1,937            (660)

Cement                         1,011            874

Total gross profit             $ 17,655         $ 21,958



Depreciation, depletion, accretion and
amortization

Aggregates                     $ 55,889         $ 62,361

Concrete                       7,976            11,172

Asphalt Mix                    2,037            2,251

Cement                         3,906            4,021

Other                          5,789            5,362

Total DDA&A                    $ 75,597         $ 85,167



Unit Shipments

Aggregates customer tons (d)   25,601           27,186

Internal tons (e)              2,258            2,266

Aggregates - tons              27,859           29,452



Ready-mixed concrete - cubic   1,023            964
yards

Asphalt Mix - tons             1,229            1,284



Cement customer tons           122              108

Internal tons (e)              126              109

Cement - tons                  248              217



Average Unit Sales Price (including internal
sales)

Aggregates (freight-adjusted)  $ 10.72          $ 10.25
(f)

Ready-mixed concrete           $ 92.02          $ 91.78

Asphalt Mix                    $ 53.76          $ 54.21

Cement                         $ 82.92          $ 78.28

(a) Includes crushed stone, sand and gravel, sand, other aggregates,
as well as transportation and service revenues associated with the
aggregates

business.

(b) Includes ready-mixed concrete, concrete block, precast concrete,
as well as building materials purchased for resale.

(c) Includes cement and calcium products.

(d) Includes tons marketed and sold on behalf of a third-party
pursuant to a volumetric production payment (VPP) agreement.

(e) Represents tons shipped primarily to our downstream operations
(i.e., asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete). Sales from internal
shipments

are eliminated in net sales presented above and in the accompanying
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

(f) Freight-adjusted sales price is calculated as total sales dollars
less freight to remote distribution sites divided by total sales units
excluding third-party

VPP tons.

                                                                     Table E

1. Supplemental Cash Flow Information



Supplemental information referable to the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three
months ended March 31 is summarized below:

                                                         (Amounts in thousands)

                                                         2013        2012





Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

Cash paid during the period for:

Interest                                                 $ 1,426     $ 175

Income taxes                                             584         1,816



Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing
Activities

Accrued liabilities for purchases of property, plant &   5,404       3,895
equipment



2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures



Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) does not define "free cash
flow," "Aggregates segment cash gross profit," "Earnings Before Interest,
Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization" (EBITDA) and "cash earnings." Thus, free
cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to net cash provided by
operating activities or any other liquidity measure defined by GAAP. Likewise,
aggregates segment cash gross profit, EBITDA and cash earnings should not be
considered as alternatives to earnings measures defined by GAAP. We present
these metrics for the convenience of investment professionals who use such
metrics in their analyses, and for shareholders who need to understand the
metrics we use to assess performance and to monitor our cash and liquidity
positions. The investment community often uses these metrics as indicators of a
company's ability to incur and service debt. We use free cash flow, Aggregates
segment cash gross profit, EBITDA, cash earnings and other such measures to
assess liquidity and the operating performance of our various business units
and the consolidated company. We do not use these metrics as a measure to
allocate resources. Additionally, we adjust EBITDA for certain items to provide
a more consistent comparison of performance from period to period.
Reconciliations of these metrics to their nearest GAAP measures are presented
below:



Free Cash Flow



Free cash flow deducts purchases of property, plant & equipment from net cash
provided by operating activities.



                                                         (Amounts in thousands)

                                                         Three Months Ended

                                                         March 31

                                                         2013        2012



Net cash provided by (used for) operating                $ (12,867)  $ 29,144
activities

Purchases of property, plant & equipment                 (26,851)    (18,848)

Free cash flow                                           $ (39,718)  $ 10,296



Aggregates segment Cash Gross Profit

Aggregates segment cash gross profit adds back noncash charges for
depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization (DDA&A) to Aggregates
segment gross profit.

                                                         (Amounts in thousands)

                                                         Three Months Ended

                                                         March 31

                                                         2013        2012

Aggregates segment

Gross profit                                             $ 24,786    $ 34,049

DDA&A                                                    55,889      62,361

Aggregates segment cash gross profit                     $ 80,675    $ 96,410

                                                                     Table F



Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures (Continued)

EBITDA and Cash
Earnings



EBITDA is an acronym for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and
Amortization. Cash earnings adjusts EBITDA for net interest expense and current
taxes.



                                     (Amounts in thousands)

                                     Three Months Ended

                                     March 31

                                     2013                2012        2011



Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA
and Cash Earnings



Net loss                             $ (54,836)          $ (52,053)  $ (54,733)

Benefit from income taxes            (38,818)            (38,397)    (37,430)

Interest expense, net                52,752              52,266      42,250

Earnings on discontinued operations, (6,783)             (4,997)     (9,889)
net of tax

EBIT                                 (47,685)            (43,181)    (59,802)

Plus: Depreciation, depletion,       75,597              85,167      90,586
accretion and amortization



EBITDA                               $ 27,912            $ 41,986    $ 30,784

Less: Interest expense, net          (52,752)            (52,266)    (42,250)

Current taxes                        4,407               8,626       (11,600)

Cash earnings                        $ (20,433)          $ (1,654)   $ (23,066)



Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT



EBITDA                               $ 27,912            $ 41,986    $ 30,784

Recovery from legal settlement       -                   -           (25,546)

Gain on sale of real estate and      (3,259)             (5,979)     -
businesses

Restructuring charges                1,509               1,411       -

Exchange offer costs                 -                   10,065      -

Adjusted EBITDA                      $ 26,162            $ 47,483    $ 5,238

Less: Depreciation, depletion,       75,597              85,167      90,586
accretion and amortization

Adjusted EBIT                        $ (49,435)          $ (37,684)  $ (85,348)





EBITDA Bridge                        Three Months Ended

(Amounts in millions)                March 31

                                     EBITDA

2012 Actual                          $ 42

Plus: Gain on sale of real estate    (6)
and businesses

Restructuring charges                1

Exchange offer costs                 10

2012 Adjusted EBITDA                 47



Increase / (Decrease) due to:

Aggregates: Volumes                  (9)

Selling Prices                       13

Higher costs and other items         (19)

Concrete                             (1)

Asphalt Mix                          3

Other                                (7)

2013 Adjusted EBITDA                 27



Plus: Gain on sale of real estate    3
and businesses

Restructuring charges                (2)

2013 Actual                          $ 28

SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company

Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205) 298-3220; Media Contact: David Donaldson (205) 298-3220

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