Vulcan Materials Company VMC is scheduled to release third-quarter 2020 results on Nov 5, before the opening bell.In the last reported quarter, the company’s adjusted earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.9% and 1%, respectively. On a year-over-year basis, earnings improved 8.1% but revenues decreased 0.4%.Vulcan’s earnings topped the consensus mark in two of the last four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, with the average surprise being 6.5%.Trend in Estimate RevisionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings per share has been downwardly revised by 0.6% over the past 30 days to $1.63. This indicates a decrease of 3% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.38 billion, suggesting a 3.1% year-over-year decline.Vulcan Materials Company Price and EPS Surprise Vulcan Materials Company price-eps-surprise | Vulcan Materials Company QuoteFactors to NoteVulcan is expected to have generated lower earnings and revenues on a year-over-year basis in the third quarter, given weakness in non-residential construction activities and reduced state DOT spending. Also, headwinds from California wildfires and wetter weather in the Southern United States are expected to reflect on third-quarter results. Its business and earnings are sensitive to changes in construction spending, particularly housing and public construction in the Southeast, Texas, and California. Also, Vulcan has a sizable presence in the South.Notably, publicly-funded construction accounts for significant part (approximately 45-55%) of Vulcan’s total aggregate shipments. The Aggregates business (including crushed stone, sand and gravel, and sand and other aggregates) has been a major contributor to revenue growth. The slowing of highway contract awards, difficult comparisons, uncertainty around state DOTs funding and soft non-residential housing activity are expected to have weighed on its third-quarter earnings.Nonetheless, efforts to enhance operational excellence, acquisition synergies and cost-control measures are expected to have aided the bottom line to some extent. While volumes are likely to have been pressured, aggregates unit margins are expected to have improved, given higher prices and lower diesel fuel costs.What Our Quantitative Model PredictsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Vulcan this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here.Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -0.31%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Zacks Rank: Vulcan currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Stocks Worth a LookHere are some companies in the Zacks Construction sector, which according to our model have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their respective quarters to be reported.TopBuild Corp. BLD has an Earnings ESP of +1.43% and holds a Zacks Rank #2.Installed Building Products, Inc. IBP has an Earnings ESP of +4.24% and carries a Zacks Rank #2.D.R. Horton, Inc. DHI has an Earnings ESP of +2.26% and carries a Zacks Rank #3.Legal Marijuana: An Investor’s DreamImagine getting in early on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027. Although marijuana stocks did better as the pandemic took hold than the market as a whole, they’ve been pushed down. This is exactly the right time to get in on selected strong companies at a fraction of their value before COVID struck. Zacks’ Special Report, Marijuana Moneymakers, reveals 10 exciting tickers for urgent consideration.Download Marijuana Moneymakers 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 Vulcan Materials Company (VMC): Free Stock Analysis Report D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI): Free Stock Analysis Report Installed Building Products, Inc. (IBP): Free Stock Analysis Report TopBuild Corp. (BLD): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research