CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Sold by Korea Investment CORP

Korea Investment CORP trimmed its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 51.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 453,138 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 474,309 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORP owned 0.07% of CRH worth $41,924,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CRH during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its position in shares of CRH by 87.7% in the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management purchased a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter worth about $57,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in CRH by 111.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 668 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 352 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CRH opened at $92.10 on Friday. CRH plc has a one year low of $71.18 and a one year high of $110.97. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $99.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.58. The company has a market capitalization of $62.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. This is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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