Feb 11 (Reuters) - Martin Marietta Materials ( MLM ) forecast weak annual sales on Wednesday, after reporting a fall in its ​fourth-quarter profit, as the building ‌material company navigates higher costs.

Shares of the ⁠company fell about 3% in premarket trading ⁠following the results.

An artificial-intelligence-led push ‌to build ‌more data centers, alongside energy and infrastructure projects, ​has supported aggregates ‌demand, nudging shipments up 2% in the quarter and prices over ​5%.

Still, higher costs ​of ‌fuel, energy, raw materials and equipment in an inflationary environment, coupled with acquisition ⁠charges, weighed on its earnings.

"Accelerating momentum ⁠in data centers and energy to offset continued softness in private nonresidential and residential construction," Martin Marietta CEO ⁠Ward ‌Nye said.

The company forecast 2026 ‌revenue between $6.42 billion and $6.78 billion, below ⁠analysts' estimate of $6.86 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Its overall revenue in the fourth quarter rose 9% to $1.53 billion from a year earlier.

Martin Marietta's quarterly net earnings ​fell to $279 million, or $4.62 per share, from $294 million, or $4.79 per share, a year ​ago.

(Reporting by Nathan ‌Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Shreya Biswas)