22,640 Shares in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Acquired by Essential Planning LLC.

Essential Planning LLC. acquired a new position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 22,640 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $2,171,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in CRH during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its holdings in CRH by 70.7% during the third quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 391 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CRH during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its holdings in CRH by 87.7% during the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.50% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on shares of CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $109.25.

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CRH Stock Up 4.0 %

CRH stock opened at $98.46 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $66.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.69, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The firm's fifty day moving average is $99.25 and its 200 day moving average is $95.99. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $71.18 and a 52-week high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This is an increase from CRH's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. CRH's dividend payout ratio is presently 20.87%.

CRH Company Profile

CRH plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials solutions in Ireland and internationally. It operates through four segments: Americas Materials Solutions, Americas Building Solutions, Europe Materials Solutions, and Europe Building Solutions. The company provides solutions for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings; and produces and sells aggregates, cement, readymixed concrete, and asphalt, as well as provides paving and construction services.

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