Vulcan Materials 3Q report

Vulcan Materials Co. announced record net sales of $749 million and record net earnings of $122 million, or $1.17 per diluted share in the third quarter. These amounts represent a 15 percent increase in net sales and a 23 percent increase in net earnings from the prior year’s levels. According to Vulcan's CEO Don James, "Overall demand remains strong and aggregates pricing gains achieved thus far in 2005 provide momentum as we move into 2006. Our challenge is to continue to achieve productivity improvements in order to meet increased demand and offset higher costs for energy and materials. Energy-related costs have become particularly acute since Hurricane Katrina in late August. For the fourth quarter, we expect diesel fuel costs to increase approximately $13 million from last year’s fourth quarter." Your comment?