Principal Securities Inc. Boosts Stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,762 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 307 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in CRH were worth $1,921,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of CRH. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its position in shares of CRH by 7.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,562,962 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $144,605,000 after purchasing an additional 114,072 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of CRH by 22.1% during the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 32,557 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,012,000 after acquiring an additional 5,889 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of CRH by 31.8% in the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 23,253 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,151,000 after purchasing an additional 5,610 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its holdings in shares of CRH by 19.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 72,778 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $6,733,000 after purchasing an additional 12,076 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in CRH by 48.2% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,484,746 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $231,206,000 after purchasing an additional 808,061 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Price Performance

Shares of CRH stock opened at $110.44 on Wednesday. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The company has a 50-day moving average of $97.47 and a 200 day moving average of $94.00. The firm has a market cap of $75.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.09, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.30.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on CRH. Barclays initiated coverage on CRH in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $110.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of CRH from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded CRH to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CRH currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price 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.