CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Shares Acquired by Gabelli Funds LLC

Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 55.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,300 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,300 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in CRH were worth $860,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its holdings in CRH by 214.3% during the fourth quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in CRH during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators increased its holdings in CRH by 87.7% in the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter worth about $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of CRH opened at $84.79 on Friday. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $71.18 and a 52-week high of $110.97. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $94.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.02. The company has a market capitalization of $57.34 billion, a PE ratio of 16.96, 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 was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. This is a boost from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. CRH’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CRH shares. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Loop Capital initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $114.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $112.36.

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.