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.