Vulcan Announces Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced results for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2014.

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Fourth Quarter Summary (compared with prior year's fourth quarter)

• Total revenues increased $75 million, or 11 percent, to $755 million
• Gross profit increased $52 million, or 45 percent, to $170 million 
• Aggregates freight-adjusted revenues increased $68 million, or 18 percent, to $455 million
  • Shipments increased 15 percent, or 5.5 million tons
    • Same-store shipments increased 12 percent, or 4.3 million tons
  • Segment gross profit increased $44 million, or 40 percent, to $156 million
  • Incremental gross profit as a percent of freight-adjusted revenues was 65 percent
    • Incremental gross profit margin was 79 percent, excluding acquisitions
  • Cash gross profit per ton was $5.18, an increase of 11 percent, or $0.50 per ton
  • Average sales price increased 2 percent, despite unfavorable mix impact
    • Exclusive of unfavorable mix, pricing increased 4 percent
• Non-aggregates gross profit improved $8 million, or 138 percent, collectively
• Adjusted EBITDA was $172 million, an increase of $41 million, or 32 percent
• Earnings from continuing operations were $0.29 per diluted share (including $0.02 per diluted share in expenses related mostly to business development activities) as compared to $0.08 in the fourth quarter of 2013

Full Year Summary (compared with prior year)

• Total revenues increased $223 million, or 8 percent, to $2,994 million
• Gross profit increased $161 million, or 38 percent, to $588 million
• Aggregates freight-adjusted revenues increased $218 million, or 14 percent, to $1,794 million
  • Shipments increased 11 percent, or 16.5 million tons
    • Same-store shipments increased 10 percent, or 15.0 million tons
  • Segment gross profit increased $131 million, or 32 percent, to $544 million
  • Incremental gross profit as a percent of freight-adjusted revenues was 60 percent
    • Incremental gross profit margin was 66 percent, excluding acquisitions
  • Cash gross profit per ton was $4.75, an increase of 9 percent, or $0.38 per ton
  • Average sales price increased 2 percent, despite unfavorable mix impact
    • Exclusive of unfavorable mix, pricing increased 3 percent
• Non-aggregates gross profit improved $30 million, or 220 percent, collectively
• Adjusted EBITDA increased $131 million, or 28 percent, to $600 million
• Earnings from continuing operations were $1.56 per diluted share (including $0.65 per diluted share related to gains on sale of assets, debt tender offer costs, expenses related to business development activities and restructuring charges) as compared to $0.16 per diluted share in the prior year.

Tom Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our teams across the organization executed very well in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on the growing recovery in construction activity and demand for our products.  Their efforts succeeded in converting more than 65 percent of our incremental aggregates revenues into incremental gross profit, and in doing so, they further improved the underlying profitability of our core aggregates business.  These results, continuing the pattern of strong execution on our aggregates-focused strategy throughout the year, were achieved despite price gains muted by a negative geographic and product mix.

This strong momentum bodes well for 2015, a year in which we expect a continued recovery in demand for our products and, importantly, an improving pricing and margin environment." 

Commentary on Quarterly and Full Year Segment Results

Aggregates Segment
The recovery in demand for our products and our strong local sales and operations execution continued in the fourth quarter.  Aggregates sales were $594 million, up 20 percent from the prior year's fourth quarter, supported by strong volume growth across most of the Company's footprint.  On a same-store basis, total aggregates shipments increased 12 percent from the prior year.  Overall, fourth quarter aggregates shipments increased 15 percent compared to the prior year. 

Shipment momentum continued to improve across most of our footprint, driven not only by large projects but also by strengthening construction activity across all end-use markets.  On a same-store basis, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia each saw shipments increase by more than 14 percent over the prior year's fourth quarter.  Shipments in Georgia were relatively flat with the prior year due mostly to wet weather.  In California, aggregates shipments for the quarter declined 9 percent due to unusually wet weather and delays on certain large projects.       

Freight-adjusted average sales price for aggregates increased 2 percent, or $0.21 per ton, versus the prior year's fourth quarter, with almost all of our markets realizing price improvement.  Excluding the impact of strong volume growth in several lower priced markets such as Illinois and Arkansas, the average price for aggregates increased 4 percent.  A number of key states saw fourth quarter price increases of approximately 5 percent or more.  Average sales price in two states saw modest declines due to negative product mix impact.

Despite modest price growth in the quarter, gross profit per ton increased 21 percent from the prior year.  While average freight-adjusted selling prices increased $0.21, our gross profit per ton increased $0.66, as our local leadership teams excelled at balancing price for service, sales and production mix, and operating efficiency and leverage.

On a trailing twelve month basis, and excluding the impact of recent acquisitions, gross profit per ton has increased 20 percent from the prior year to $3.39.  Over the same period, and on the same basis, incremental gross profit as a percent of incremental freight-adjusted revenues was 65 percent.  For the year, segment gross profit rose by 32 percent, or $131 million, while same-store aggregates shipments increased 10 percent, or 15 million tons. 

Compared to last year, fourth quarter cost of revenues for the Company benefitted approximately $7 million from lower diesel fuel costs, with most of this benefit realized in the Aggregates segment. 

Asphalt, Concrete and Calcium Segments
In the fourth quarter, asphalt gross profit improved $2 million due to improved margins and earnings from recently completed acquisitions.  Same-store asphalt volumes approximated those of the prior year but were short of expectations due to the delayed start of several large projects until 2015.  For the full year, Asphalt segment gross profit increased $5 million from the prior year.

Concrete gross profit was $3 million compared to a loss of $5 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year.  Last year's fourth quarter results included the Company's Florida concrete business that was sold in the first quarter of 2014.  On a same-store basis, volume, pricing and unit profitability improved, driven primarily by increased private construction activity.  As a result, same-store gross profit increased $3 million.  For the full year, Concrete segment gross profit improved $27 million overall and $6 million on a same-store basis.

The Company's cement business was also sold in the first quarter along with the Florida concrete assets.  The Company retained its calcium products business that is now reported separately as a segment.  In the fourth quarter, the Calcium business reported revenues of $2.5 million and gross profit of $1.1 million – both results are improvements versus the prior year's fourth quarter.

Selling, Administrative and General

Fourth quarter selling, administrative and general (SAG) expenses were $8 million higher versus the prior year.  This year-over-year increase resulted primarily from higher costs related to performance-based incentives and business development expenses.  Absent these items, SAG expenses were in line with the prior year's fourth quarter.  The Company intends to further leverage SAG expenses to sales in the coming year.

Capital Allocation

During 2014, the Company generated approximately $1 billion in cash from the sale of assets and the results of operations.  Included in this amount is the $721 million of cash associated with the sale of the Company's Florida concrete and cement businesses in March.

The Company reduced long-term debt in 2014 by $517 million.  At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company's ratio of Total Debt to Trailing Twelve Month Adjusted EBITDA was 3.3.  This ratio compares favorably to the 2013 year end ratio of 5.4.

In 2014, the Company invested a total of $332 million in strategic bolt-on acquisitions.  Collectively, these acquisitions include 442 million tons of proven and probable reserves in strategic, high growth markets:  San Francisco, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Dallas, Texas; and northern Virginia and Washington D.C.  Additionally, the acquisitions in Phoenix include associated asphalt operations. 

The Company expects these recent acquisitions will contribute approximately $50 million to EBITDA in 2015, compared to the $9 million contribution in 2014.  This earnings benefit will be realized in the Company's Aggregates, Asphalt and Concrete segments.

In January of 2015, the Company completed transactions in which it exited the ready mix concrete business in California and added thirteen asphalt plant locations in Arizona that expand the Company's service capabilities.  The Company will continue to supply aggregates to its former ready mix concrete plants in California.  These transactions, which continue the strategic redeployment of capital undertaken throughout 2014, should be immediately accretive to earnings. 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment during 2014 totaled $225 million, with approximately $15 million of the planned investments being successfully deferred into 2015.  At the end of the fourth quarter, cash and cash equivalents were $141 million, and the Company had no outstanding borrowing on its revolving credit facility.

The Company returned $29 million in cash to shareholders in 2014 through its dividend.  We expect to accelerate the return of capital through dividends, or other mechanisms, as earnings grow.

Outlook

Regarding the Company's outlook for 2015, Mr. Hill stated, "Vulcan-served markets continue to show favorable above-average growth, with Vulcan markets growing faster than U.S. markets as a whole.  Although aggregates demand remains well below normal levels, this steady and gradual improvement is a further indication of construction activity recovery.  We continue to convert higher volumes into higher unit margins and are very well positioned for significant future earnings growth."

Based on these market trends, the Company expects to generate Adjusted EBITDA of $775 to $825 million in 2015. 

The following assumptions, which represent the mid-point of current management expectations, support the Company's outlook for strong year-over-year growth in EBITDA.  The Company intends to update these expectations on a quarterly basis, as necessary.

• Full year aggregates shipments of approximately 180 million tons, up 11 percent from the prior year.  Same-store volumes are expected to increase 8 percent, or 13 million tons. 
• Full year increase in average freight-adjusted aggregates pricing of 6 percent, with unit margins continuing to grow faster than pricing. 
• Aggregates segment gross profit to be approximately $735 million, compared to $544 million in 2014.
• Non-aggregates gross profit to be $70 million, compared to $44 million in 2014.
• Selling, administrative and general (SAG) expenses of approximately $265 million, excluding business development-related expenses.
• Capital spending of approximately $250 million to support the increased level of shipments and further improve production costs and operating efficiencies.
• Interest expense of $160 million.
• Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization expense of approximately $270 million.

Mr. Hill concluded, "We are excited about the volume growth, pricing momentum and strong margin expansion we see across our markets.  As we continue to execute our sales and operating plans, we remain focused on further improving the profitability of our businesses, strategically expanding our asset base to serve the needs of our customers, and continuing our disciplined management of capital."

Conference Call
Vulcan will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. CT on February 5, 2015.  A 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 855.877.0343 approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start.  International participants can dial 678.509.8772.  The conference ID is 73121649.  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, and a major producer of other construction materials.

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: those associated with general economic and business conditions; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; changes in Vulcan's effective tax rate that can adversely impact results; the increasing reliance on information 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 or is subjected to cyber attacks; 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.