Geode Capital Management LLC Sells 8,726 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Geode Capital Management LLC decreased its position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 0.1% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 7,976,630 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 8,726 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC’s holdings in CRH were worth $736,088,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CRH. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in CRH by 40.1% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 5,508 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 1,577 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of CRH by 15.9% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,958 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $738,000 after purchasing an additional 1,091 shares during the period. Atom Investors LP acquired a new position in shares of CRH during the 3rd quarter worth about $284,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its stake in CRH by 61.9% during the 3rd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 16,561 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,536,000 after purchasing an additional 6,335 shares during the period. Finally, Centiva Capital LP acquired a new stake in CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $230,000. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CRH Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of CRH opened at $90.64 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $61.30 billion, a PE ratio of 18.13, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $99.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.74.

CRH Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This is a positive change from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on CRH shares. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, CRH currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $109.64.

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.