Howard Capital Management Inc. Invests $400,000 in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Howard Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 4,318 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $400,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. TCW Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of CRH by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 46,801 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $4,330,000 after acquiring an additional 3,614 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Funds Management LTD bought a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $7,729,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators grew its position in shares of CRH by 87.7% during the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 131.6% during the fourth quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 44,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,071,000 after purchasing an additional 25,000 shares during the period. Finally, ING Groep NV raised its position in shares of CRH by 474.0% in the fourth quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 574,000 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $53,106,000 after buying an additional 474,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CRH opened at $100.36 on Tuesday. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $71.18 and a 52-week high of $110.97. The company has a market capitalization of $68.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a fifty day moving average of $98.02 and a 200-day moving average of $94.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on CRH. StockNews.com cut CRH from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of CRH to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Barclays started coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of CRH from $95.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.75.

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.