secondqtrpr.htm
vulcanlogo.jpg                                                                                                 
 
July 30, 2007
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Investor Contact:  Mark Warren (205) 298-3220
 
Media Contact:  David Donaldson (205) 298-3220
 
                                                                       
 
VULCAN ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

 
 
Birmingham, Alabama– July 30, 2007 – Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) today announced second quarter earnings from continuing operations were $144 million, or $1.46 per diluted share.  Earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2006 were $1.50 per diluted share and included gains of $0.15 per share resulting from the sale of contractual rights at its Bellwood quarry in Atlanta, $0.06 per share resulting from an increase in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out and $0.03 per share referable to a change in accounting principle retrospectively applied.  Excluding these gains, comparable earnings per diluted share from continuing operations were $1.46 versus $1.26, an increase of 16 percent from the prior year’s second quarter (refer to Table E attached).
 
Don James, Vulcan’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The significant slowdown in residential construction, driven by excess inventory of single-family houses in many markets, resulted in lower than expected volumes in all major product lines, despite growth in private nonresidential and public infrastructure construction.  Pricing for each major product line increased versus the prior year’s second quarter, more than offsetting the earnings effect from lower volumes.
 
“Our business has demonstrated remarkable resilience to the weakness in residential construction activity.  We have managed to grow margins even as aggregates volumes have declined.  This performance reflects the strength inherent in our broad geographic and end-use markets and a pricing environment for aggregates that recognizes the high cost of replacing reserves.”
 
Operating Results – Second Quarter
 
Quarterly net sales approximated the prior year’s second quarter level.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 35 percent from 32 percent in the prior year due to higher earnings from aggregates and asphalt. 
 
Aggregates revenues and earnings increased from prior year’s levels due to higher pricing.  Aggregates prices increased 14.6 percent from the prior year’s second quarter.  The Company realized double-digit improvements in all major markets.  Aggregates second quarter volumes were 10 percent lower than in the prior year.
 
Asphalt earnings increased significantly from the prior year.  A 16 percent increase in prices more than offset the earnings effects of a 14 percent decline in shipments.  Second quarter asphalt earnings also benefited from slightly lower unit costs for liquid asphalt.  Second quarter concrete earnings were lower than the prior year.  A 7 percent increase in concrete prices was more than offset by the earnings effect of a 28 percent decrease in concrete shipments.
 
Selling, administrative and general expenses in the second quarter increased approximately $6 million from the prior year’s second quarter due mostly to higher employee-related costs and expenses associated with certain corporate initiatives, including the pending acquisition of Florida Rock Industries, improving business processes and the replacement of legacy information systems.
 
Other operating income in the prior year’s second quarter included a $24.8 million gain from the sale of contractual rights at the Company’s Bellwood quarry in Atlanta.  There is no comparable gain in this year’s second quarter.

 
Other income in the prior year’s second quarter included a $10.8 million gain in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out as compared with a $1.2 million gain in this year’s second quarter.  As of June 30, 2007, the Company has earned the $150 million maximum payment provided for underthe terms of the ECU earn-out agreement related to the sale of its Chemicals business.
 
All results are unaudited.
 
Outlook – Second Half of 2007
 
Commenting on Vulcan’s outlook for the remainder of 2007, Mr. James stated, “Private nonresidential and public infrastructure construction continue to grow.  We believe that growth in these end markets during the second half of the year will mitigate some of the slowdown in residential construction.  We believe aggregates volumes in the second half of 2007 will be approximately 2 percent lower than the prior year’s second half, resulting in a full year decline of approximately 7 percent as compared with 2006.
 
“Aggregates pricing momentum remains strong and we expect aggregates prices to increase 12 to 13 percent for the full year.
 
“As a result, for the second half of 2007, we expect earnings from continuing operations of $2.80 to $3.15 per diluted share.  For the full year, we expect record earnings of $5.18 to $5.53 per diluted share.
 
“We are confident about the future opportunities for our business.  We are well positioned in markets where population, household formation and employment continue to drive growth in demand for our products.  Price trends in aggregates continue to be favorable and the broad use of aggregates throughout the U.S. economy contributes to relatively stable demand over the long term.  Our reinvestment of capital to reduce production and transportation costs, add reserves and increase our operational footprint through strategic acquisitions and greenfield site development will make our business even stronger when residential construction recovers.”
 
Earnings guidance provided in this press release does not reflect the pending merger with Florida Rock Industries, Inc.
 
Conference Call
 
Vulcan will release its earnings for the second quarter after the close of business on July 30, 2007, and host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. CDT on July 31, 2007.  Investors and other interested parties in the U.S. may access the teleconference live by calling (800) 798-2864 approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start.  International participants can dial (617) 614-6206.  The access code is 71364009.  A live webcast will be available via the Internet through Vulcan's home page at vulcanmaterials.com.  The conference call will be recorded and available for replay approximately two hours after the call through August 7, 2007.
 
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 asphalt and concrete.
 

Certain matters discussed in this release, including expectations regarding future performance, contain forward-looking statements that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with general economic and business conditions; changes in interest rates; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; changes in the level of spending for residential and private nonresidential construction; the highly competitive nature of the construction materials industry; pricing; weather and other natural phenomena; energy costs; costs of hydrocarbon-based raw materials; increasing healthcare costs; the timing and amount of any future payments to be received under two earn-outs contained in the agreement for the divestiture of the Company's Chemicals business; the Company’s ability to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions; risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transaction with Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (Florida Rock) including the ability to successfully integrate the operations of Florida Rock and to achieve the anticipated cost savings and operational synergies following the closing of the proposed transaction with Florida Rock; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Vulcan assumes no obligation to publicly update such statements.
 

 
                     
Table A
 
Vulcan Materials Company
                       
and Subsidiary Companies
                       
   
(Amounts and shares in thousands, except per share data)
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
 
June 30
   
June 30
 
(Condensed and unaudited)            
 
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
Net sales
  $
807,818
    $
807,781
    $
1,438,005
    $
1,450,053
 
Delivery revenues
   
71,026
     
80,381
     
128,026
     
146,797
 
Total revenues
   
878,844
     
888,162
     
1,566,031
     
1,596,850
 
                                 
Cost of goods sold
   
522,585
     
549,898
     
985,577
     
1,028,277
 
Delivery costs
   
71,026
     
80,381
     
128,026
     
146,797
 
Cost of revenues
   
593,611
     
630,279
     
1,113,603
     
1,175,074
 
                                 
Gross profit
   
285,233
     
257,883
     
452,428
     
421,776
 
Selling, administrative and general expenses
   
71,308
     
65,151
     
145,710
     
130,163
 
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment, net
   
4,852
     
1,304
     
51,239
     
2,061
 
Other operating expense (income), net
   
1,544
      (24,088 )    
3,578
      (23,463 )
Operating earnings
   
217,233
     
218,124
     
354,379
     
317,137
 
                                 
Other (expense) income, net
    (113 )    
10,756
     
1,089
     
22,849
 
Interest income
   
1,117
     
1,472
     
2,440
     
4,119
 
Interest expense
   
8,091
     
5,690
     
14,726
     
11,975
 
Earnings from continuing operations
                               
before income taxes
   
210,146
     
224,662
     
343,182
     
332,130
 
Provision for income taxes
   
66,465
     
72,314
     
110,162
     
107,878
 
Earnings from continuing operations
   
143,681
     
152,348
     
233,020
     
224,252
 
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
    (1,670 )     (1,715 )     (2,135 )     (3,534 )
Net earnings
  $
142,011
    $
150,633
    $
230,885
    $
220,718
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings from continuing operations
  $
1.50
    $
1.53
    $
2.44
    $
2.24
 
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.03 )
Net earnings per share
  $
1.49
    $
1.51
    $
2.42
    $
2.21
 
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings from continuing operations
  $
1.46
    $
1.50
    $
2.38
    $
2.20
 
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.04 )
Net earnings per share
  $
1.45
    $
1.48
    $
2.36
    $
2.16
 
                                 
Weighted-average common shares
                               
     outstanding:
                               
Basic
   
95,578
     
99,430
     
95,376
     
99,988
 
Assuming dilution
   
98,157
     
101,636
     
98,023
     
102,153
 
Cash dividends declared per share
                               
of common stock
  $
0.46
    $
0.37
    $
0.92
    $
0.74
 
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and
                               
amortization from continuing operations
  $
63,903
    $
55,170
    $
124,705
    $
108,843
 
Effective tax rate from continuing operations
    31.6 %     32.2 %     32.1 %     32.5 %
                                 





               
Table B
 
Vulcan Materials Company
                 
and Subsidiary Companies
                 
                   
   
(Amounts in thousands)
       
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
June 30
   
December 31
   
June 30
 
(Condensed and unaudited)
 
2007
   
2006
   
2006
 
                   
Assets
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $
34,593
    $
55,230
    $
71,191
 
Accounts and notes receivable:
                       
Accounts and notes receivable, gross
   
464,165
     
394,815
     
612,484
 
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,246 )     (3,355 )     (4,238 )
Accounts and notes receivable, net
   
460,919
     
391,460
     
608,246
 
Inventories:
                       
Finished products
   
251,486
     
214,508
     
204,114
 
Raw materials
   
11,803
     
9,967
     
10,138
 
Products in process
   
2,494
     
1,619
     
1,959
 
Operating supplies and other
   
20,329
     
17,443
     
18,452
 
Inventories
   
286,112
     
243,537
     
234,663
 
Deferred income taxes
   
18,531
     
25,579
     
19,281
 
Prepaid expenses
   
14,711
     
15,388
     
13,830
 
Total current assets
   
814,866
     
731,194
     
947,211
 
Investments and long-term receivables
   
5,004
     
6,664
     
6,729
 
Property, plant and equipment:
                       
Property, plant and equipment, cost
   
4,119,748
     
3,897,618
     
3,668,316
 
Less: Reserve for depr., depl., & amort.
    (2,114,125 )     (2,028,504 )     (1,953,064 )
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
2,005,623
     
1,869,114
     
1,715,252
 
Goodwill
   
650,205
     
620,189
     
630,802
 
Other assets
   
213,951
     
200,673
     
189,500
 
Total assets
  $
3,689,649
    $
3,427,834
    $
3,489,494
 
                         
                         
                         
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
                       
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $
727
    $
630
    $
32,547
 
Short-term borrowings
   
224,000
     
198,900
     
217,000
 
Trade payables and accruals
   
161,032
     
154,215
     
186,978
 
Other current liabilities
   
126,350
     
133,763
     
181,022
 
Total current liabilities
   
512,109
     
487,508
     
617,547
 
Long-term debt
   
321,365
     
322,064
     
322,645
 
Deferred income taxes
   
293,199
     
287,905
     
278,778
 
Other noncurrent liabilities
   
340,386
     
319,458
     
289,608
 
Total liabilities
   
1,467,059
     
1,416,935
     
1,508,578
 
Shareholders' equity:
                       
Common stock, $1 par value
   
139,705
     
139,705
     
139,705
 
Capital in excess of par value
   
248,153
     
191,695
     
172,079
 
Retained earnings
   
3,124,385
     
2,982,526
     
2,803,275
 
Accumulated other comprehensive
                       
  income (loss)
   
2,924
      (4,953 )     (2,213 )
Treasury stock at cost
    (1,292,577 )     (1,298,074 )     (1,131,930 )
Shareholders' equity
   
2,222,590
     
2,010,899
     
1,980,916
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $
3,689,649
    $
3,427,834
    $
3,489,494
 
                         





         
Table C
 
Vulcan Materials Company
           
and Subsidiary Companies
           
             
   
(Amounts in thousands)
 
   
Six Months Ended
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
June 30
 
(Condensed and unaudited)
 
2007
   
2006
 
             
Operating Activities
           
Net earnings
  $
230,885
    $
220,718
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
               
net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization
   
124,705
     
108,861
 
Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (51,239 )     (2,061 )
Net gain on sale of contractual rights
   
-
      (24,849 )
Contributions to pension plans
    (584 )     (778 )
Share-based compensation
   
8,282
     
8,354
 
Increase in assets before initial
               
effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
    (113,828 )     (143,068 )
Increase in liabilities before initial
               
effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
   
19,570
     
33,588
 
Other, net
   
148
      (6,664 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
217,939
     
194,101
 
                 
                 
Investing Activities
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (234,800 )     (187,273 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
   
55,492
     
4,742
 
Proceeds from sale of contractual rights, net of cash transaction fees
   
-
     
24,888
 
Proceeds from sale of Chemicals business
   
8,418
     
3,930
 
Payment for businesses acquired, net of acquired cash
    (58,861 )     (20,355 )
Proceeds from sales and maturities of medium-term investments
   
-
     
175,140
 
Decrease in investments and long-term receivables
   
1,660
     
240
 
Other, net
   
718
     
543
 
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
    (227,373 )    
1,855
 
                 
Financing Activities
               
Net short-term borrowings
   
25,100
     
217,000
 
Payment of short-term debt and current maturities
    (320 )     (240,305 )
Payment of long-term debt
    (47 )    
-
 
Purchases of common stock
    (4,800 )     (335,224 )
Dividends paid
    (87,610 )     (73,855 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
32,963
     
19,537
 
Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options
   
23,511
     
9,626
 
Other, net
   
-
     
3,318
 
Net cash used for financing activities
    (11,203 )     (399,903 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (20,637 )     (203,947 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
55,230
     
275,138
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $
34,593
    $
71,191
 
                 





                     
Table D
 
                         
1.  Supplemental Cash Flow Information
                       
                         
Supplemental information referable to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
       
for the six months ended June 30 is summarized below (amounts in thousands):
       
               
2007
   
2006
 
                         
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
                   
Cash paid during the period for:
                       
Interest, net of amount capitalized
    $
14,904
    $
18,059
 
Income taxes
     
61,994
     
57,958
 
                             
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
                 
Accrued liabilities for purchases of property, plant and equipment
     
26,518
     
15,194
 
Debt issued for purchases of property, plant and equipment
     
10
     
-
 
Proceeds receivable from exercise of stock options
     
216
     
-
 
Accrued liabilities for purchases of treasury stock
     
-
     
17,678
 
                             
                             
                             
                             
2.  Net Sales and Unit Shipments
                           
   
(Amounts in thousands)
                 
                             
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30
   
June 30
 
Net Sales by Product - Customer
 
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                             
Aggregates, excluding freight
                           
to remote distribution sites
  $
551,575
    $
531,902
    $
975,424
    $
958,754
 
Freight to remote distribution sites
   
37,545
     
37,810
     
69,454
     
70,824
 
Aggregates
   
589,120
     
569,712
     
1,044,878
     
1,029,578
 
Asphalt mix
   
126,016
     
126,111
     
222,861
     
211,311
 
Concrete
   
55,568
     
72,510
     
103,596
     
137,083
 
Other products
   
37,114
     
39,448
     
66,670
     
72,081
 
                                 
Total net sales
  $
807,818
    $
807,781
    $
1,438,005
    $
1,450,053
 
                                 
Unit Shipments
                               
                                 
Aggregates
                               
Customer tons
   
60,323
     
66,623
     
106,028
     
119,915
 
Internal tons *
   
2,780
     
3,486
     
5,118
     
6,359
 
Aggregates - tons
   
63,103
     
70,109
     
111,146
     
126,274
 
                                 
Asphalt mix - tons
   
2,609
     
3,041
     
4,645
     
5,305
 
                                 
Concrete - cubic yards
   
586
     
817
     
1,090
     
1,567
 
                                 
* Represents tons shipped primarily to our other operations (e.g., asphalt mix and concrete).
         
Revenue from internal shipments is not included in net sales as presented in the
         
accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
                         



                     
Table E
 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Performance Measures
                       
   
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30
   
June 30
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
GAAP Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
  $
210,146
    $
224,662
    $
343,182
    $
332,130
 
Gain on sale of contractual rights (1)
   
-
      (24,849 )    
-
      (24,849 )
Gain on sale of California real estate, net (2)
   
-
     
-
      (41,332 )    
-
 
Gain from adjustment in the carrying value
                               
   of the ECU earn-out (3)
    (1,229 )     (10,805 )     (1,929 )     (22,986 )
Retrospective adjustment related to a change in accounting
                         
   principle (4)
   
-
      (176 )    
-
      (436 )
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes,
                               
  as adjusted (5)
  $
208,917
    $
188,832
    $
299,921
    $
283,859
 
                                 
GAAP Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
  $
1.46
    $
1.50
    $
2.38
    $
2.20
 
After-tax gain per diluted share resulting from the sale of
                               
   contractual rights (1)
   
-
      (0.15 )    
-
      (0.15 )
After-tax gain per diluted share resulting from sale of
                               
   California real estate, net (2)
   
-
     
-
      (0.25 )    
-
 
After-tax gain per diluted share resulting from the adjustment
                         
   in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out (3)
   
-
      (0.06 )     (0.01 )     (0.13 )
After-tax gain per diluted share resulting from the retrospective
                         
   adjustment related to a change in accounting principle (4)
   
-
      (0.03 )    
-
      (0.03 )
Earnings per share from continuing operations, net of tax,
                               
  as adjusted (5)
  $
1.46
    $
1.26
    $
2.12
    $
1.89
 
                                 
(1) During the second quarter of 2006, the Company recognized a $25 million pretax gain from the sale of its contractual rights to mine the
 
Bellwood quarry in Atlanta, Georgia. The City of Atlanta plans to convert the property into a city park and greenspace as part of a larger
 
economic growth and development project around the city's perimeter. The Company worked with city and county officials to achieve
 
this mutually beneficial transaction. The Company will continue operating the quarry for approximately 2 years subsequent to the sale
 
as it transitions customers to its existing 12 quarries in the greater Atlanta area and to a new, zoned site purchased in 2004 in
 
 anticipation of the Bellwood sale.
                               
                                 
(2) In January 2007, the Company sold approximately 125 acres of vacant land located in San Bernardino County, California resulting
 
in a pretax gain of $43.8 million. The amounts shown above are net of the related incentives ratably applied in accordance with U.S.
 
 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
                               
                                 
(3) In June 2005, the Company sold substantially all the assets of its Chemicals business, known as Vulcan Chemicals, to a subsidiary of
 
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Basic Chemicals. Subject to certain conditions as defined in a separate earn-out agreement, Basic
 
Chemicals is required to make payments based on ECU and natural gas prices during the five-year period beginning July 1, 2005, capped
 
at $150 million (ECU earn-out or ECU derivative). The ECU earn-out is accounted for as a derivative instrument; accordingly, it is reported
 
at fair value. Changes to the fair value of the ECU derivative are recorded within continuing operations pursuant to SAB Topic 5:Z:5.
 
                                 
(4) On January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FSP AUG AIR-1 "Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" and retrospectively
 
adjusted prior year financial statements, as required under the FSP. One result of the retrospective application of this change in
 
accounting principle was an increase in the cumulative undistributed earnings at a certain wholly owned foreign subsidiary, and an
 
increase in the associated deferred tax liability. During the second quarter of 2006, we determined that the cumulative undistributed
 
earnings at this foreign subsidiary would be indefinitely reinvested offshore, and accordingly reversed the associated deferred tax
 
liability pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 23, "Accounting for Income Taxes - Special Areas." Consistent with
 
our prior determination that the cumulative undistributed earnings would be indefinitely reinvested offshore, the deferred tax liability
 
arising from the retrospective adjustments was reversed, resulting in a favorable adjustment to the provision for income taxes for
 
 the three and six months ended June 30, 2006.
                               
                                 
(5) The Company prepares and reports its financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Internally, management monitors the operating
 
performance of its Construction Materials business using non-GAAP metrics similar to those above. These non-GAAP measures
 
 exclude the effects of the items described more fully above.
                               
                                 
                                 
In Management's opinion, these non-GAAP measures are important indicators of the ongoing operations of our Construction Materials
 
business and provide better comparability between reporting periods because they exclude items that may not be indicative of or are
 
unrelated to our core business and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our core operations. The Company does not,
 
nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for,
 
financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes the disclosure of the effects of these items increases
 
the reader's understanding of the underlying performance of the business and that such non-GAAP financial measures provide investors
 
with an additional tool to evaluate our financial results and assess our prospects for future performance.