What Management Said
Read the full Q1 2026 transcript ↗Details on these risks, other legal disclaimers, and reconciliations of any non-GAAP financial measures are defined and described in our earnings release, supplemental presentation, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We generated $447 million of adjusted EBITDA, a 9% increase over the prior year. SAG expenses were lower than the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA margin grew. Aggregate shipments in the first quarter support the anticipated return to growth for 2026.
Shipments increased 5% compared to the prior year due to both improving demand and fewer extreme weather days than in the prior year. The sequential growth from the prior quarter demonstrates the success of our January first price increases and discussions are already underway for mid-year increases. From a demand perspective, we still expect strong public activity and improving private non-residential opportunities to drive year-over-year shipments growth in 2026 and mitigate the ongoing challenges facing residential construction. Our footprint is advantaged, and this public demand provides a solid foundation for shipments and supports a healthy pricing environment.
With approximately 650 million square feet under construction or announced, we anticipate data centers and other related investments to be a positive catalyst for future aggregates demand. As I said earlier, we continue to expect overall growth in aggregate shipments in 2026. We carry good momentum from our solid start to the year and continue to expect to deliver between $2.4 billion and $2.6 billion of adjusted EBITDA for the full year. The earnings from our aggregates-led business continue to compound and drive attractive cash generation.
What went well
- Adjusted EBITDA reached $447 million, a 9% increase over the prior year, with gross profit margin expanding in each segment and adjusted EBITDA margin growing.
- Aggregate shipments increased 5% versus the prior year, driven by improving demand and fewer extreme weather days, supporting the anticipated return to growth for 2026.
- Mix adjusted freight adjusted aggregates price improved 4% over the prior year first quarter, in line with expectations, with sequential growth reflecting the January 1 price increases.
- Trailing twelve months aggregates cash gross profit per ton rose to $11.38, and management noted that versus 2024 cash gross profit per ton is up 23% while total aggregates cash cost of sales rose only 1%.
- SAG expenses were 2% lower than the prior year, and trailing twelve months return on invested capital improved 30 basis points to 16%.
What went wrong
- A sharp run-up in diesel prices that began in February hit March costs and is expected to squeeze the second quarter most acutely, with roughly $25 million of diesel impact anticipated in Q2 before pricing actions flow through.
- Residential construction remained pressured by affordability, continuing to weigh on the concrete side of the business.
- Reported pricing landed at the lower end of full year guidance due to difficult year over year comparisons, as the company lapped high priced hurricane relief work in Tennessee and North Carolina plus a mix shift toward base products.
Guidance Changes
| Metric | Period | Current guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EBITDA | FY2026 | $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion (reiterated; solid start and momentum support the full year range despite near term diesel headwinds) |
| Aggregates cash cost of sales (year over year) | Q2 2026 | could approach double the Q1 rate, closer to high single digits including diesel (raised for Q2 specifically due to the diesel spike, with margin impact expected to moderate in the second half) |
| Aggregates cash cost of sales | FY2026 | low single digit increase (reiterated; where it lands in the range depends on how diesel develops) |
Performance Breakdown
| Metric | YoY | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EBITDA | +9% | strong operational and commercial execution, margin expansion across segments |
| Aggregate shipments | +5% | improving demand plus fewer extreme weather days, with backlog converting to shipments faster on data center work |
| Aggregates mix adjusted price | +4% | realization of January 1 price increases, partly offset by mix shift to base products and tougher comps |
| Aggregates freight adjusted unit cash cost of sales | +4% | input cost inflation and better weather enabling more stripping and project work, partly mitigated by Vulcan Way of Operating efficiencies |
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
| Topic | Previous mention | Current period | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel and energy costs | not a major factor entering the quarter | run-up starting in February creates a near term headwind, most acute in Q2 at about $25 million, managed via surcharges, usage levers, and pricing | — |
| Data centers | leading private non-residential growth | approximately 650 million square feet under construction or announced, accelerating and now accompanied by active energy build-out projects | — |
| Highway funding reauthorization | efforts underway in Washington | IIJA expires later this year; new bill expected at higher funding, with discussions around $500 billion to $700 billion and a smooth transition given unspent funds | — |
| Mid-year price increases | typical annual cadence | sent to all markets several weeks earlier than last year, confirming a back-half weighted pricing trajectory | — |
| M&A and greenfield | expanding reach a core strategy | active pipeline with several bolt-on acquisitions expected to finalize in coming months, plus three new plants and seven distribution yards coming online | — |
Q&A Summary
What were the key puts and takes across price, volume, and cost, and how do you think about them for the balance of the year given diesel and macro moves?
Volumes benefited from backlog converting to shipments, especially data centers, aided by normalized weather; pricing was at the lower end of guidance due to lapping hurricane relief work and base mix; cost growth was held to 4% with diesel impact appearing in March. Management noted cash gross profit per ton is up 23% versus 2024 while total cash cost rose only 1%.
Given diesel cost impacts starting to hit, what gives you confidence in reiterating the full year guidance?
Downstream and delivery costs are covered by surcharges; operational diesel usage can be managed through stripping timing and VWO efficiencies. Mid-year increases were already announced. Q2 aggregates cash cost of sales could approach double the Q1 rate, high single digits, before moderating in the second half.
Can you give detail on the mid-year price increases and any non-fuel cost knock-on effects from the Middle East conflict?
No other cost impacts seen yet; mid-years went out to all markets a few weeks ago, earlier than last year. Asphalt side has index protection and little resistance; concrete side conversations will be more spirited given residential headwinds, but the company has a long track record of recovering costs and keeping the gains.
Can you size the second quarter diesel drag in dollars?
The company burns about 57 million gallons of diesel per year; with retail diesel a couple of dollars higher than at the start of the year, the Q2 impact is estimated at roughly $25 million. Liquid asphalt is a secondary energy exposure with about a third of work indexed. The still-owned California ready-mix contributed about $10 million of cash gross profit in Q1 and offsets some near term energy headwind.
With mid-years added, are you exiting above the 4% to 6% full year pricing range, and how does 2026 differ from 2022 inflation response?
Exiting the year will need to be at the higher end because of the math and building momentum; too early to call mid-year success as it is market by market. Unlike 2022, where residential tailwinds helped concrete customers accept increases, today residential is soft, so the pricing dynamic differs.
Are you seeing any choppiness among M&A sellers, and what markets and deal types are you targeting?
Very active pipeline; focus is aggregates-led, willing to take downstream and exit if unwanted, targeting high growth areas including energy build-out markets. Macro and energy pressures may accelerate some family-owned sellers but generational decisions are complex. Several deals expected to close before year end, complemented by three new plants and seven distribution yards.
How did volumes cadence through the quarter and what about April?
Started slower in January with cold in the Northeast and Midwest, then built momentum through February and March as the South, Texas, Southeast, and California saw more normal weather. April is going as expected, with full year shipment growth still expected in the low single digit range.
Can you fully pass through higher truck rates, and does that push more volume to rail?
Delivery is a pass-through covered by surcharges, so it is neither a headwind nor tailwind. Rail can capture more volume where yards exist, and those yards sit in high growth markets; rising transportation costs can widen Vulcan's logistical advantages given its footprint positions.
More on Vulcan Materials CO
Reported 2026-04-29 · figures from the Vulcan Materials CO Q1 2026 earnings call.
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