Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is one of the Best Cement Stocks to Buy For the Long Term. On March 2,  Citi analyst Anthony Pettinari raised the firm’s price target on Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) from $780 to $804, while maintaining a Buy rating. Earlier, on February 26, Jefferies also raised the price target from $761 to $785 and maintained a Buy rating on the stock.

​The bullish sentiment follows the company’s asset exchange with Quikrete Holdings, Inc. on February 23. As a result of this deal, the company acquired aggregates operations producing  roughly 20 million tons per year in Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, and Vancouver, BC (Canada). The deal also includes $450 million in cash. In return, Martin Marietta sold its Midlothian cement plant, related cement terminals, Texas ready-mixed concrete plants, and some non-core land.

​Analysts at Jefferies expect the company to pursue mergers and acquisitions to fill the gap created by the exchange. The firm also noted that the deal dragged the company’s “price-to-mix” by 250 basis points in 2026 as the company acquired lower margin aggregates in exchange for a high margin cement business. However, the firm noted that the company can optimize the new assets’ profitability to match corporate averages. The company can boost its gross profit by $50 million and offset the drag.

​Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is a leading US-based supplier of construction aggregates like crushed stone, sand, and gravel, operating ~390 quarries, mines, and yards across 28 states, Canada, and The Bahamas.

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