CRH (NYSE:CRH) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume – Here’s Why

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 10,252,415 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 109% from the previous session’s volume of 4,896,726 shares.The stock last traded at $94.58 and had previously closed at $97.59.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on CRH. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $109.64.

CRH Trading Down 2.9 %

The company has a market cap of $64.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $99.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $96.36.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.56%. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Institutional Trading of CRH

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in CRH by 214.3% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

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.