Investment Comparison: Investors in the Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates sector should consider Cemex (CX) and Vulcan Materials (VMC), with CX currently holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) compared to VMC's #3 (Hold).
Valuation Metrics: CX demonstrates stronger value metrics, including a forward P/E ratio of 11.77 and a PEG ratio of 1.24, while VMC has a forward P/E of 34.96 and a PEG ratio of 2.41, indicating that CX may be undervalued.
Value Grades: Based on various financial metrics, CX has earned a Value grade of B, whereas VMC has a Value grade of D, suggesting that CX is the more attractive option for value investors.
Future Recommendations: Zacks Investment Research is preparing to release its top 10 stock picks for 2026, with a history of significant gains, encouraging investors to stay informed for potential opportunities.
Wall Street analysts forecast VMC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VMC is 334.13 USD with a low forecast of 316.00 USD and a high forecast of 370.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
9 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast VMC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VMC is 334.13 USD with a low forecast of 316.00 USD and a high forecast of 370.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 303.270
Low
316.00
Averages
334.13
High
370.00
Current: 303.270
Low
316.00
Averages
334.13
High
370.00
B. Riley
Rohit Seth
Buy
initiated
$345
2026-01-16
Reason
B. Riley
Rohit Seth
Price Target
$345
AI Analysis
2026-01-16
initiated
Buy
Reason
B. Riley analyst Rohit Seth last night initiated coverage of Vulcan Materials with a Buy rating and $345 price target. As the largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates, Vulcan supplies essential inputs for highways, buildings, and data centers, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Vulcan operates like a toll road on U.S. construction. Every data center, road, and power plant needs materials, and these projects are less sensitive to pricing, contends Riley. It sees the company as "uniquely positioned" to benefit from accelerating high-intensity data center projects.
Citi
Anthony Pettinari
Buy
maintain
$342 -> $345
2026-01-08
Reason
Citi
Anthony Pettinari
Price Target
$342 -> $345
2026-01-08
maintain
Buy
Reason
Citi analyst Anthony Pettinari raised the firm's price target on Vulcan Materials to $345 from $342 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm updated estimates and targets in the homebuilding and building products group as part of its 2026 outlook. Citi continues to prefer heavy construction materials with exposure to infrastructure over the residential exposed names.
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DA Davidson
Brent Thielman
Buy
maintain
$315 -> $330
2025-11-04
Reason
DA Davidson
Brent Thielman
Price Target
$315 -> $330
2025-11-04
maintain
Buy
Reason
DA Davidson analyst Brent Thielman raised the firm's price target on Vulcan Materials to $330 from $315 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after its Q3 earnings beat. Profitability continues to drive higher here and while stronger Q3 volume shouldn't be annualized against today's broader market/demand backdrop, earnings growth into FY26 still appears achievable on modest costs and incremental Aggregates pricing, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Stifel
Brian Brophy
Buy
maintain
$316 -> $327
2025-11-03
Reason
Stifel
Brian Brophy
Price Target
$316 -> $327
2025-11-03
maintain
Buy
Reason
Stifel analyst Brian Brophy raised the firm's price target on Vulcan Materials to $327 from $316 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The company's Q3 results beat expectations due to strong aggregates volume, lower unit costs, and favorable price to cost, the analyst tells investors. The firm expects warehousing demand is starting to improve, which could bode well for 2026.
About VMC
Vulcan Materials Company is a supplier of construction aggregates and producer of aggregates-based construction materials. The Company’s segments include Aggregates, Asphalt and Concrete. The Aggregates segment produces and sells aggregates, such as crushed stone, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates and related products and services. This segment also includes a production stage and leased calcium operation located in Brooksville, Florida. This limestone quarry produces a supplement for end-use products such as animal feed and plastics. The Asphalt segment produces and sells asphalt mix in Alabama, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas and provides asphalt construction paving services in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. The Concrete segment produces and sells ready-mixed concrete in California, Maryland and Virginia. The Company provides the basic materials for the infrastructure delivered by trucks, ships, barges, and trains.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
