Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. MLM reported better-than-expected results in first-quarter 2019, backed by solid segmental performance, higher shipments, and strong pricing and cost-management efforts.The company’s adjusted earnings came in at 68 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 21 cents. Also, the reported figure increased significantly from the year-ago level of 16 cents per share. Shares of this leading supplier of building materials, including aggregates, cement, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt, were up more than 5% at the time of writing.Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. QuoteTotal revenues (including Product and services and Freight revenues) of $939 million increased 17.1% year over year.Segment DiscussionThe Building Materials business includes aggregates, cement, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and paving product lines. Total revenues in the said segment increased 18% year over year to $864.9 million. Product and services revenues amounted to $809.1 million, up 17.5% from $688.4 million a year ago. Freight revenues totaled $55.6 million, up 25.8% from the year-ago figure of $44.3 million.Within Product and services, Aggregates’ total revenues amounted to $541.5 million, increasing 27.4% from the year-ago quarter. Cement revenues also grew 11% to $99 million from $89.2 million in the year-ago quarter. However, Ready Mixed Concrete’s total revenues declined 3.4% year over year to $211.2 million. Asphalt and paving product lines revenues also fell 3.1% from the year-ago quarter to $15.8 million.Heritage aggregates’ pricing and shipments improved 4% and 12.5%, respectively, in the reported quarter. Moreover, pricing and shipments, including acquisitions and divestitures, increased 2.3% and 24.2%, respectively, year over year.Geographically, Mid-America Group heritage operations’ shipment grew 18.4% from the prior-year period, owing to infrastructure, commercial and residential projects in the Carolinas. Pricing in the said region also grew 3.1% on the back of increased shipments of lower-priced base stone in 2019.The Southeast Group heritage operation also reported an increase of 16.7% from the prior-year quarter, given strength of North Georgia and Florida markets. Moreover, West Groups’ aggregate shipments improved 6.3% from a year ago, primarily backed by strong non-residential construction activity in Texas, which more than offset weather-related impact in Colorado.The Magnesia Specialties segment, which includes magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and dolomite lime products, reported total revenues of $74.1 million, up 6.9% year over year. The upside was driven by strong domestic steel production and increased global demand for magnesia chemical products.Operating HighlightsConsolidated gross margin improved 140 basis points (bps) to 15.2%. Its earnings from operations jumped 77.1% from the year-ago level to $69.2 million. Also, adjusted EBITDA of $158.9 million increased 28.2% year over year.Liquidity and Cash FlowMartin Marietta's cash and cash equivalents as of Mar 31, 2019 were $37.4 million compared with $44.9 million recorded on Dec 31, 2018. Net cash provided by operations came in at $117.9 million at the end of first-quarter 2019 compared with $105 million at the end of the comparable period of 2018.2019 View ReaffirmedTotal revenues in 2019 are expected in the band of $4.480-$4.680 billion. Gross profit is projected in the range of $1,110-$1,210 million. The company expects EBITDA within $1.17-1.28 billion. The company also expects capital expenditure in the range of $350-$400 million.Aggregates Product line total revenues are projected in the range of $2.80-$2.91 billion. Aggregates volume growth is expected in the range of 6-8%. Average selling price is likely to grow 3-5% from a year ago. Cement total revenues are estimated in the band of $420-$450 million. Ready Mixed Concrete and Asphalt and Paving’s total revenues are anticipated within $1.24-$1.31 billion.The company expects Magnesia Specialties Business’ net sales between $290 million and $300 million.Moreover, within Aggregates, Infrastructure shipments are likely to grow in high-single digits. Non-residential shipments are also projected to increase in mid-high single digits. Moreover, residential shipments are expected to rise in mid-single digits. ChemRock/Rail shipments are likely to marginally increase from the prior-year figure.Zacks Rank & Peer ReleasesMartin Marietta currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.United Rentals URI reported first-quarter 2019 results, wherein both the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, as well as improved on a year-over-year basis. Adjusted earnings of $3.31 per share beat the consensus mark of $3.06 by 8.3% and increased 15.3% from the prior-year figure of $2.87. Total revenues of $2.12 billion also surpassed the consensus mark of $2.07 billion by 2.5%. Moreover, revenues rose 22.1% year over year.Owens Corning OC reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 by 3.6%. Also, net sales of $1.67 billion missed analysts’ expectation of $1.69 billion by 1.5% in the reported quarter. Moreover, both the top and bottom lines decreased 34.1% and 1%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis.Masco Corporation MAS reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 44 cents per share, lagging the consensus mark of 47 cents by 6.4%. Also, total net sales of $1,908 million missed analysts’ expectation of $2,007 million by 4.9%. Moreover, on a year-over-year basis, adjusted earnings and net sales decreased 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. Also, net sales (excluding acquisitions and currency) fell 2% from the prior-year quarter.Is Your Investment Advisor Fumbling Your Financial Future?See how you can more effectively safeguard your retirement with a new Special Report, “4 Warning Signs Your Investment Advisor Might Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future.”Click to get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Masco Corporation (MAS): Free Stock Analysis Report Owens Corning Inc (OC): Free Stock Analysis Report United Rentals, Inc. (URI): Free Stock Analysis Report Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research