CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Position Boosted by Royal London Asset Management Ltd.

Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 455,560 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,061 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned about 0.07% of CRH worth $42,148,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vinva Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of CRH by 197.8% during the fourth quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd now owns 12,929 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,195,000 after purchasing an additional 8,588 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. lifted its holdings in CRH by 15.7% in the fourth quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 68,529 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $6,340,000 after acquiring an additional 9,314 shares during the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter worth about $18,721,000. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in CRH by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. now owns 48,227 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,462,000 after acquiring an additional 766 shares during the last quarter. Finally, William Blair Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in CRH by 903.8% in the fourth quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 403,052 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $37,290,000 after acquiring an additional 362,899 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Performance

CRH stock opened at $97.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $66.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $99.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.27.

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 is a positive change from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. CRH’s payout ratio is 15.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Citigroup cut their price target on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. 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, March 11th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. One equities research 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $109.25.

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.