CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Acquired by Avantax Advisory Services Inc.

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 48,345 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 520 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in CRH were worth $4,473,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors raised its holdings in CRH by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 2,335 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its holdings in CRH by 18.3% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 971 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in CRH by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. now owns 11,203 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,037,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Graypoint LLC raised its holdings in CRH by 5.4% during the fourth quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,315 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $307,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC raised its holdings in CRH by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 18,124 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,677,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. 62.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CRH Stock Up 2.6 %

Shares of NYSE:CRH opened at $97.08 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $65.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a 52 week low of $71.18 and a 52 week high of $110.97. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $99.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.03.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.52%. This is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s payout ratio is currently 20.87%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CRH has been the subject of several research reports. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price 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.