Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Has $29.41 Million Stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its holdings in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 9.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 317,890 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 27,448 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in CRH were worth $29,412,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 62.5% in the fourth quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 314,654 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $29,112,000 after purchasing an additional 121,041 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in shares of CRH by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 3,245 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $300,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,391,245,000. Caisse Des Depots ET Consignations bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,274,000. Finally, NEOS Investment Management LLC lifted its position in CRH by 22.9% during the fourth quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 69,408 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $6,422,000 after acquiring an additional 12,921 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CRH opened at $88.09 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.62, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $99.77 and its 200 day moving average is $96.76. CRH plc has a 52 week low of $71.18 and a 52 week high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.68%. CRH’s payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CRH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $109.64.

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.