Despite a slowdown in infrastructure spending and rising fuel costs, Martin Marietta Materials reported solid third-quarter earnings Tuesday.

The company, which produces rock, gravel and other materials used to build roads, subdivisions and commercial buildings, had sales of $464 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, up 4.6 percent from the same period in 2010.

Excluding one-time charges, the company reported earnings per share of $1.11. That was above the $1.09 a share that was the consensus among analysts who follow the company.

Martin Marietta now expects to ship anywhere from 2 to 4 percent fewer materials in 2011 than it did a year ago. The company’s fuel costs for the quarter rose 16 percent.

Martin Marietta Materials, stung by rising fuel costs and bad weather in late March, reported first quarter earnings today that missed Wall Street estimates.

The Raleigh company, which produces rock, gravel and other materials used to build roads, subdivisions and commercial buildings, had sales of $306.2 million for the quarter that ended March 31, up from $295.6 million in the same period in 2010.

The company reported a loss of 39 cents per share for the quarter, compared to a loss of 54 cents per share in the first quarter of 2010.

That was a wider loss than the 36 cents loss per share expected by Wall Street analysts who cover the company.

Much of Martin Marietta's business is tied to residential, commercial and government construction projects, which makes it a barometer of the broader economy.

The company’s fortunes are also heavily dependent on the weather.

Bad weather during the last two weeks of March – when many state Departments of Transportation initiate road projects – hurt sales in the first quarter, CEO Ward Nye said during a conference call with analysts.

“Part of what we have said forever is this is an outdoor sport, and when the weather does what it does in March and what it did in April, it has an affect on the business,” he said.

The heat did not deter a field of more than 200 runners and walkers who turned out Saturday for the inaugural Run for the Heart 5K in Morrisville.

Veteran Triangle road racer Erik Olson, 32, of Durham covered the certified 5K course in 18 minutes flat, organizer Jim Young of Young & Associate timing company reported. Brian Smith, 27, of Carrboro, who set the pace for most of the race, followed in 18:04.

Janice Martin, 39, of Cary won the women's competition and finished eighth overall in 20:20. Cathy Gugerli, 39, of Cary was second in 22:26.