CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Bought by Park Avenue Securities LLC

Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 22.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,557 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 5,889 shares during the quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC's holdings in CRH were worth $3,012,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators bought a new position in shares of CRH during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in CRH by 72.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 297 shares of the construction company's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of CRH during the third quarter worth $35,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 70.7% during the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 391 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the 2nd quarter worth $49,000. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRH Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of NYSE CRH traded up $2.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $97.69. 3,858,317 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,231,501. The stock has a market cap of $66.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.54, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.31. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $97.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $90.35. CRH plc has a 12-month low of $68.15 and a 12-month high of $104.23.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a Variable dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 22nd were given a dividend of $0.262 per share. This represents a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. CRH's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on CRH shares. HSBC assumed coverage on CRH in a research report on Monday, November 11th. They set a "buy" rating and a $116.00 target price on the stock. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of CRH to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, CRH has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $107.75.

CRH 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.