Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Increases Position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 5.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 76,911 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 4,000 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in CRH were worth $7,116,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its holdings in CRH by 7.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,562,962 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $144,605,000 after acquiring an additional 114,072 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC lifted its position in shares of CRH by 22.1% during the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 32,557 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,012,000 after purchasing an additional 5,889 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of CRH by 10.5% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,450,632 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $226,732,000 after purchasing an additional 232,977 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of CRH by 31.8% in the fourth quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 23,253 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,151,000 after purchasing an additional 5,610 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its stake in CRH by 19.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 72,778 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $6,733,000 after buying an additional 12,076 shares during the period. 62.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CRH opened at $94.83 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $99.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $95.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $64.19 billion, a PE ratio of 18.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a fifty-two week low of $71.18 and a fifty-two week high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s payout ratio is currently 20.87%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a research report on Friday, February 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, CRH currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $109.25.

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.