CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Sold by Assenagon Asset Management S.A.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. decreased its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 30.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 956,106 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 410,333 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.14% of CRH worth $88,459,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rockland Trust Co. acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the fourth quarter valued at about $230,000. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter valued at about $246,000. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $235,000. Graypoint LLC lifted its position in shares of CRH by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,315 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $307,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $463,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

CRH Trading Up 3.3 %

Shares of CRH stock traded up $3.03 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $95.72. 3,812,099 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,190,677. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $66.42 and a 52-week high of $104.23. The company has a fifty day moving average of $97.62 and a 200-day moving average of $90.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.29.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a yield of 1.4%. CRH's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Hsbc Global Res raised CRH to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. DA Davidson lifted their price target on CRH from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. HSBC started coverage on shares of CRH in a research note on Monday, November 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $116.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target 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.