CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Sold by Sit Investment Associates Inc.

Sit Investment Associates Inc. lessened its stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 42.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 13,325 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 9,900 shares during the quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc.'s holdings in CRH were worth $1,233,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CRH. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its position in CRH by 214.3% during the fourth quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CRH during the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its holdings in CRH by 87.7% in the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.50% of the company's stock.

CRH Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CRH traded up $1.49 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $84.75. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,355,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,628,707. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $96.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $96.24. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from CRH's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.66%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CRH has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Loop Capital assumed coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a "buy" rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CRH has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $110.00.

CRH Company 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.