Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Raises Stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 214.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 352 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.’s holdings in CRH were worth $33,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in CRH by 40.1% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 5,508 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $511,000 after purchasing an additional 1,577 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of CRH by 15.9% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,958 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $738,000 after buying an additional 1,091 shares during the period. Atom Investors LP acquired a new position in CRH in the third quarter valued at approximately $284,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its position in CRH by 61.9% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 16,561 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,536,000 after acquiring an additional 6,335 shares during the period. Finally, Centiva Capital LP acquired a new stake in CRH during the third quarter worth $230,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Up 2.0 %

NYSE:CRH opened at $90.64 on Thursday. CRH plc has a 52 week low of $71.18 and a 52 week high of $110.97. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $99.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.74. The company has a market cap of $61.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. This is a boost from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. CRH’s payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced 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. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $109.64.

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.