Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Grows Stock Holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 18.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 445,861 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 68,574 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank owned 0.07% of CRH worth $40,775,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in CRH by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 297 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of CRH by 336.4% during the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 336 shares of the construction company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of CRH during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in shares of CRH by 70.7% during the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 391 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

CRH has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Barclays began coverage on CRH in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $110.00 price objective for the company. DA Davidson lifted their target price on CRH from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. HSBC assumed coverage on CRH in a report on Monday, November 11th. They set a "buy" rating and a $116.00 price target for the company. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of CRH to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CRH currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $106.42.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of CRH stock traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $102.38. 2,656,390 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,841,636. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $95.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $86.32. CRH plc has a 12-month low of $62.45 and a 12-month high of $104.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.29.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 22nd will be paid a $0.262 dividend. This represents a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 22nd. CRH's dividend payout ratio is currently 37.20%.

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.