Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) shares tumbled 5.03% in intraday trading on Thursday, as investors focused on a year-over-year decline in profitability and pricing pressure, despite the company reporting quarterly revenue and adjusted earnings that exceeded Wall Street estimates.
The building materials supplier reported second-quarter net earnings from continuing operations of $256 million, down 12% from a year earlier, with diluted earnings per share from continuing operations dropping 12% to $4.26. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $5.00, down from $5.43 in the same quarter last year. While the adjusted figure beat the consensus estimate of $4.75, the decline in earnings and a 2% slip in average selling price per ton for aggregates to $22.74 weighed on sentiment. Revenue rose 21% to $1.95 billion, driven by a 17% increase in aggregates shipments, but the top-line growth was not enough to offset margin concerns.
The company also raised its full-year revenue guidance to $7.2-7.4 billion, above the consensus estimate of $7.1 billion, but merely reaffirmed its adjusted EBITDA outlook of $2.36-2.5 billion. The combination of higher revenue with unchanged EBITDA expectations suggests ongoing cost pressures or integration costs related to the pending $13.5 billion combination with Lhoist North America, adding to investor unease.