CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Bought by Capula Management Ltd

Capula Management Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 238.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,811 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 27,338 shares during the period. Capula Management Ltd's holdings in CRH were worth $3,591,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of CRH during the fourth quarter worth $1,391,245,000. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 40,843,362 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $3,781,004,000 after buying an additional 4,687,345 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of CRH by 17.0% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 16,788,918 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,553,194,000 after buying an additional 2,437,868 shares in the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. grew its holdings in CRH by 4,264.7% during the fourth quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 1,034,527 shares of the construction company's stock worth $95,714,000 after acquiring an additional 1,010,825 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in CRH by 32,560.1% in the fourth quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 951,714 shares of the construction company's stock worth $88,053,000 after acquiring an additional 948,800 shares in the last quarter. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on CRH. Loop Capital assumed coverage on shares of CRH in a research note on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on shares of CRH in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com raised CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $110.00.

CRH Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE CRH traded up $1.49 during trading on Friday, reaching $84.75. The company had a trading volume of 5,355,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,637,151. CRH plc has a twelve month low of $71.18 and a twelve month high of $110.97. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $96.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $96.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.31 billion, a PE ratio of 16.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. This is a positive change from CRH's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. CRH's dividend payout ratio is 22.66%.

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.