CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the ten ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $95.70.

CRH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Stephens began coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of CRH from $109.00 to $99.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of CRH from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of CRH from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $87.00 to $88.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of CRH from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday.

CRH Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of CRH stock opened at $81.90 on Tuesday. CRH has a 52 week low of $51.59 and a 52 week high of $88.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.24 billion, a PE ratio of 13.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $78.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $79.55.

CRH (NYSE:CRH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The construction company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.85. The firm had revenue of $9.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.16 billion. Analysts expect that CRH will post 5.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 23rd. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is currently 25.59%.

Institutional Trading of CRH

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Financial Corp IN purchased a new stake in CRH during the first quarter worth about $26,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in CRH by 336.4% during the second quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 336 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in CRH by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 400 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in CRH by 71.5% during the first quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 415 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new stake in CRH during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

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.