Barings LLC Acquires 41,305 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Barings LLC grew its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 963,165 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 41,305 shares during the period. CRH comprises about 1.7% of Barings LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Barings LLC owned about 0.14% of CRH worth $72,218,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 39.8% in the fourth quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 5,580 shares of the construction company's stock worth $386,000 after purchasing an additional 1,590 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 93.5% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 793,952 shares of the construction company's stock worth $54,910,000 after purchasing an additional 383,586 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 287.7% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 32,432 shares of the construction company's stock worth $2,243,000 after purchasing an additional 24,066 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new stake in CRH during the fourth quarter worth approximately $858,000. Finally, Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft bought a new stake in CRH during the fourth quarter worth approximately $457,000. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRH Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE CRH traded up $1.38 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $86.66. The stock had a trading volume of 2,599,888 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,199,937. The firm has a market cap of $59.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.30. The business's fifty day moving average price is $82.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $81.38. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $51.59 and a 52-week high of $91.02.

CRH (NYSE:CRH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The construction company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates 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 5.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 23rd. This represents a yield of 1.7%. CRH's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.82%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on CRH shares. Stephens started coverage on CRH in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup reduced their price objective on CRH from $109.00 to $99.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on CRH from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. StockNews.com cut CRH from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on CRH from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $95.70.

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.