That was the subject line on an end-of-day email from one of the major business media enterprises on a Wednesday afternoon in mid-September. It was the day the Fed held its regular meeting, and ended speculation as to whether the all-but-assured rate cut would be 25 basis points, or a more aggressive 50 points. And 50 it was, but it…
Read MoreTag: Allen-Villere Partners
Welcome to the Aggregates Almanac, 2024 Edition
Welcome to the 2024 edition of the “Aggregates Almanac: The Ultimate Information Resource for Quarry Operators.” Published now for the eighth year in a row, feedback from our readers indicates that this publication is widely used and valued; and retained as a go-to information source. Our updated and improved North American Buyers’ Guide gives producers all of the information they…
Read MoreFirst Look – October 2024
SEMCO Debuts AggNexusThe live event – held Sept. 9-10 on the University of Texas, Austin campus, and sponsored by SEMCO Publishing, parent company of Rock Products – engaged representatives of technology-savvy multinational or independent cement, aggregate, concrete and asphalt producers plus allied software developers or service providers. Wendling QuarriesDeWitt, Iowa-based Wendling Quarries announced that it is “honored and humbled to…
Read MoreThe AVP Pulse Index for October
Oct. 1, 2024 – The AVP Pulse Index this month dropped 0.4% month-over-month, while increasing 3.5% year-over-year; and 14% over the past 36 months. The proprietary AVP Pulse Index – a joint effort between mergers and acquisition advisors Allen-Villere Partners and Rock Products – illustrates the health of the industry in one single trend line, using relevant data that is updated monthly…
Read MoreA Mid-Year Look at the Housing Market
Interest rates have been elevated for a long time now, a stretch spanning the longest period for high interest rates that we can remember. Starting in March 2022, rates have ratcheted up to their current levels and have been there for 2½ years now. But as I have been predicting for some time, rates will come down, although the timing…
Read MoreFirst Look – September 2024
TOP NEWS Summit MaterialsSummit Materials Inc. announced results for the second quarter ended June 29, reporting that net revenue increased $395.1 million, or 58.1%, in the second quarter to $1,075.5 million. In the quarter, $464.0 million of net revenue was due to acquisitions, primarily the Argos USA transaction Martin Marietta MaterialsMartin Marietta Materials Inc. reported results for the second quarter…
Read MoreFirst Look – August 2024
TOP NEWS Heidelberg MaterialsHeidelberg Materials has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Highway Materials Inc., one of the largest independent aggregates and asphalt producers in the Greater Philadelphia market. Holcim USHolcim US has acquired King William Sand & Gravel Co. Inc., a private company with a long-standing presence in King William County, Va. With this strategic transaction, Holcim…
Read MoreThe AVP Pulse Index for July
July 18, 2024 – The AVP Pulse Index this month rose 0.1% month-over-month, while increasing 1.7% year-over-year, and 10.1% over the past 36 months. The proprietary AVP Pulse Index – a joint effort between mergers and acquisition advisors Allen-Villere Partners, and Rock Products – illustrates the health of the industry in one single trend line, using relevant data that is updated monthly…
Read MoreA Desk of Their Own
Last month, I wrote about the push across America of the “Return-To-Office” (RTO) movement, and how “Work-From-Home” is slowly becoming less tolerable to employers. As I related last month, Walmart is laying off hundreds of white-collar jobs, and forcing others to relocate, many to their headquarters town of Bentonville, Ark. Others, like JP Morgan Chase, has a CEO in Jamie…
Read MoreThe AVP Pulse Index for June
June 24, 2024 – The AVP Pulse Index this month rose 0.1% month-over-month, while increasing 3.8% year-over-year. The index is up 10.5% over the past 36 months. The proprietary AVP Pulse Index – a joint effort between mergers and acquisition advisors Allen-Villere Partners, and Rock Products – illustrates the health of the industry in one single trend line, using relevant data that…
Read More