Operating Margin - Vulcan Materials Co (NYSE:VMC)

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Price: 288.34 USD 1.03%

Market Cap: 38.1B USD

20.1%

Current

17%

Average

5.2%

Industry

Operating Margin represents how efficiently a company is able to generate profit through its core operations.

Higher ratios are generally better, illustrating the company is efficient in its operations and is good at turning sales into profits.

Operating Margin

20.1%

Operating Profit

1.6B

Revenue

7.9B

Operating Margin Across Competitors

Country		Company	Market Cap	Operating Margin
US		Vulcan Materials Co NYSE:VMC	38.1B USD	20%
IE	C	CRH PLC NYSE:CRH	85.3B USD	14%
CH		Holcim AG SIX:HOLN	41.2B CHF	17%
DE		HeidelbergCement AG XETRA:HEI	39.1B EUR	31%
US		Martin Marietta Materials Inc NYSE:MLM	37.8B USD	24%
IN		UltraTech Cement Ltd NSE:ULTRACEMCO	3.4T INR	13%
US	A	Amrize AG SIX:AMRZ	24.2B CHF	16%
DE	H	Heidelberg Materials AG XMUN:HEI	25.4B EUR	31%
IN		Grasim Industries Ltd NSE:GRASIM	1.9T INR	15%
CN		Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd SSE:600585	117.3B CNY	12%
MX		Cemex SAB de CV NYSE:CX	17B USD	10%

Vulcan Materials Co
Glance View

Economic Moat

None

Market Cap

38.1B USD

Industry

Construction

Vulcan Materials Co. has established itself as a dominant force in the construction industry, carving a substantial niche as the largest supplier of construction aggregates in the United States. Founded in 1909, Vulcan has weathered the fluctuations of an ever-evolving economy by sticking to the basics of what societies need: essential materials that form the backbone of infrastructure. The company mines, produces, and sells aggregates such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel, which are critical components used in a wide array of construction projects—from roads and bridges to commercial buildings and homes. Vulcan's operations span across a network of quarries, strategically positioned to service its markets efficiently, ensuring that its materials are readily available for projects that shape our cities and communities. The company's revenue model hinges on its ability to efficiently extract and sell these materials, as well as its capability to adapt to the changing needs of the construction sector. Besides its primary aggregates business, Vulcan also engages in the production of asphalt and ready-mixed concrete, providing a comprehensive suite of products needed by contractors. By leveraging economies of scale and operating a vertically integrated business model, Vulcan enhances its profitability and competes effectively against local and regional players. The demand for Vulcan's materials ties closely to government infrastructure spending and real estate development, making it sensitive to economic cycles while also benefiting from large-scale public and private construction investments. Through strategic acquisitions and a commitment to sustainability, Vulcan continues to solidify its position as a cornerstone of the nation's development landscape.

View VMC Analysis

VMC Intrinsic Value

What is Intrinsic Value?

Economic Moat is a concept popularized by Warren Buffett to describe a company's durable competitive advantage. It represents the 'moat' that protects a company from competitors and helps it sustain profitability over the long term. Our analysis of the past 10 years showed that companies with a wide economic moat significantly outperformed the market, delivering +645% returns compared to +189% for the S&P 500.

Our research into Economic Moat performance spans the past 10 years and focuses on companies with a wide economic moat. For this analysis, we calculated the average stock price returns of these companies, comparing them to the performance of the S&P 500 index over the same period.

The results were compelling: wide moat stocks achieved a remarkable +645% average return, compared to +188% for the broader market. This difference highlights the long-term benefits of investing in businesses that can maintain their market position and pricing power over time.

Note: This research does not account for survivorship bias. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Determining whether a company has an economic moat requires both a deep dive into financial metrics and a qualitative assessment of its competitive position. Our analysts conduct a rigorous evaluation that focuses on identifying structural advantages that enable a company to sustain profitability and defend its market share over the long term.

The process begins with an analysis of a company’s historical financial performance. We assess how consistently the company has generated returns above its cost of capital and whether those returns have been stable or improving. However, financial performance alone doesn’t reveal the full picture. To understand the sources of these advantages, we evaluate five key drivers of economic moats:

Network Effect: We analyze whether the value of a company’s product or service grows as its user base expands. Platforms like payment systems or marketplaces benefit from this self-reinforcing.

Switching Costs: We assess whether customers face significant costs or disruptions when switching to a competitor’s product or service. High switching costs create customer stickiness and provide pricing power.

Intangible Assets: Strong brands, patents, and regulatory licenses can protect a company’s market position by creating barriers for competitors or enabling premium pricing. For example, a well-recognized consumer brand may command higher customer loyalty and margins.

Efficient scale: Occurs when a market is optimally served by one or a few players, making it unprofitable for new entrants to compete. This typically happens in industries with high fixed costs or geographic constraints, such as utilities or pipelines.

Cost Advantage: Companies with structural cost advantages can produce goods or services at a lower cost than their competitors, enabling them to offer competitive pricing or maintain higher margins. These advantages often arise from economies of scale, superior supply chain management, or proprietary technology. Firms like Walmart leverage their massive scale to negotiate better terms with suppliers, allowing them to undercut competitors on price.

By examining these factors in combination with a company’s financial performance and market positioning, we classify each company into one of three categories:

This rigorous evaluation ensures that our moat ratings are both comprehensive and reliable, giving investors the tools they need to make well-informed, long-term decisions.

The AI Assistant may sometimes provide inaccurate information.

Make your own investment decisions or consult a licensed financial advisor.

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Vulcan Materials Co
NYSE:VMC