Vulcan Materials Currently 3.30% Below its May 6th Crash Low of $48.72 (VMC)

Vulcan Materials is currently trading 3.30% below its May 6th low of $48.72. Investors are looking to see if the shares can regain the May ‘flash crash’ level which may act as short-term resistance.

In the past 52-weeks, shares of Vulcan Materials have traded between a low of $39.14 and a high of $62 and are now at $47.13, which is 20.40% above that low price.

Aggregate Shipments Fall 21% in Q4

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that an estimated 255 million metric tons of crushed stone was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2009, a decrease of 20% compared with that of the same period of 2008. The estimated annual output of crushed stone produced for consumption in 2009 was 1.11 billion metric tons, a 23% decrease compared with that of 2008.

Region needs quarry

California’s roads are crumbling, and we’re running out of construction materials to build schools, hospitals and churches in our communities.

In just 20 years, a dozen quarries in Riverside and San Diego counties will close because of exhausted reserves or expired permits, leaving this growing region without enough rocks and gravel to meet its needs. The proposed Liberty Quarry project would help address that shortfall and would be run by Granite Construction, which has a strong history of monitoring and minimizing environmental impacts and carries a solid safety record.

Granite Construction CEO to retire

Calling it “a bittersweet time,” William G. Dorey, president and chief executive officer of Granite Construction, announced his retirement Monday after 42 years with the company.

James H. Roberts, 53, who has been with the Granite since 1981 and served as executive vice president and chief operating officer since September 2009, will be stepping into the top slot when Dorey leaves Aug. 31. His appointment must be confirmed at the 2010 annual meeting.