Construction Materials

Here is a quick peek at stocks that have abnormally high daily put/call ratios today relative to their average…. 1. Cemex SaB (NYSE: CX) 4,684 puts, 110 calls 2. Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL) 3,761 puts, 133 calls 3. CIT Group (NYSE: CIT) 3,333 puts, 315 calls 4. Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) 19,841...

Jefferies is increasing its EPS estimates on shares of Martin Marietta (NYSE: MLM) from $2.57 to $2.85 for 2011 and from $3.72 to $4.02 for 2012 mainly due to lower production costs and a lower expected interest cost. “Our price target remains $113 and we are retaining our Buy rating,” Jefferies...

Goldman Sachs maintained its Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE: MLM) Neutral rating in a research report published today. In the report, Goldman Sachs states, "We modify our 2011-12E EPS to $2.55/$4.10 from $2.65/$3.70 driven by a slower pace of aggregates volume recovery in 2011 balanced by a...

Sterne Agee has a Neutral rating and a $90 price target on shares of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM). In a note to clients, Sterne Agee writes, "MLM's 4Q10 results proved that its cost-cutting actions over the last several years are paying off, as the company reported a strong...

Below are the top mid-cap general building material stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of dividend yield. RPM International Inc (NYSE: RPM) has a dividend yield of 3.50%. RPM's shares closed at $23.91 yesterday. MDU Resources Group Inc (NYSE: MDU) has a dividend yield of 3.10%. MDU's shares...

Shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) are higher on the session by 3.24%, currently trading at $44.34. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past four months and is currently trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Options traders are buying calls on the name...

Jefferies has upgrades Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP) from Underperform to Hold and has raised the price target from $24 to $28.

Jefferies is out with its report today on Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC), raising its price target from $47 to $52. In a note to clients, Jefferies writes, "Rolling our estimate of mid-cycle profitability to what it would be if it occurred in 2011, rather than in 2010, increases our price target to $...

Jefferies is out with its report today on Texas Industries (NYSE: TXI), retaining Hold. In a note to clients, Jefferies writes, "We are retaining our Hold rating. The current share price is only just below our mid-cycle based valuation, which assumes an EBITDA seven times our current year forecast...

Jefferies is out with its report today on Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), downgrading EXP from Hold to Underperform. In a report sent to clients, Jefferies notes, "Our unchanged price target of $24/share is 15% below the current share price. We are therefore downgrading our rating on the shares to...

Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended December 31, 2010. Notable items for the quarter include: Revenues of $103.9 million Net earnings of $5.5 million Diluted earnings per share of $0.12

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Aegon N.V (AEG) Alterra Cap Holdings (ALTE) Amer Caresource Holdings (ANCI) AU Optronics Corp (AUO) Cemex SAB (CX) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. AEGON N V (AEG): Free Stock Analysis Report ALTERRA CAP HLD (ALTE): Free...

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Aegon N.V (AEG) Alterra Cap Holdings (ALTE) Amer Caresource Holdings (ANCI) AU Optronics Corp (AUO) Cemex SAB (CX) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. AEGON N V (AEG): Free Stock Analysis Report ALTERRA CAP HLD (ALTE): Free...

Jefferies & Company has raised the price target on Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) from $47 to $52 and maintains its Buy rating.

Jefferies & Company has raised the price target on Martin Marietta (NYSE: MLM) from $111 to $113 and maintains its Buy rating.