CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Sold by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 733,761 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 85,225 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.11% of CRH worth $68,049,000 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 CRH. Cetera Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the first quarter valued at about $1,277,000. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of CRH by 510.9% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 22,751 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,963,000 after acquiring an additional 19,027 shares in the last quarter. LGT Group Foundation grew its holdings in shares of CRH by 8,189.3% in the 2nd quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 1,599,827 shares of the construction company's stock worth $119,955,000 after acquiring an additional 1,580,527 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in CRH by 35.7% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,238,173 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $317,778,000 after purchasing an additional 1,114,177 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in CRH by 286.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 54,148 shares of the construction company's stock worth $4,671,000 after purchasing an additional 40,135 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on CRH shares. Truist Financial raised their price target on CRH from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $110.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com lowered shares of CRH from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their target price on CRH from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $101.90.

CRH Stock Performance

CRH stock traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, hitting $100.67. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,966,516 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,639,707. The stock's fifty day moving average is $91.44 and its 200 day moving average is $84.15. CRH plc has a 1-year low of $58.12 and a 1-year high of $102.45.

CRH (NYSE:CRH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The construction company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.85. The company had revenue of $9.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.16 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that CRH plc will post 5.41 earnings per share for the current year.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.262 per share. This represents a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 22nd.

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.