Invesco Ltd. Sells 918,826 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Invesco Ltd. reduced its position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 9.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,951,922 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 918,826 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. owned about 1.32% of CRH worth $828,232,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its position in CRH by 214.3% during the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its position in shares of CRH by 87.7% in the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of CRH during the fourth quarter worth $57,000. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

CRH Stock Up 1.8 %

CRH stock traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $84.75. 5,355,852 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,637,151. The stock has a market cap of $57.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a fifty-two week low of $71.18 and a fifty-two week high of $110.97. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $96.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $96.26.

CRH Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.75%. This is an increase from CRH's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH's dividend payout ratio is 22.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on CRH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Loop Capital started coverage on CRH in a report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price 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. One investment 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's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $110.00.

About CRH

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.