CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Sold by Aviso Financial Inc.

Aviso Financial Inc. cut its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 34.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,076 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 554 shares during the quarter. Aviso Financial Inc.’s holdings in CRH were worth $100,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its holdings in shares of CRH by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 2,335 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its holdings in CRH by 18.3% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 971 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in CRH by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. now owns 11,203 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,037,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Graypoint LLC increased its position in shares of CRH by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,315 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $307,000 after buying an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of CRH by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 18,124 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,677,000 after buying an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on CRH. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup reduced their target price on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a research report on Friday, February 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $109.25.

CRH Stock Performance

CRH opened at $97.08 on Friday. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $99.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $96.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.71 billion, a PE ratio of 19.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.87%.

About CRH

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.