Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Acquires Shares of 208,291 CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 208,291 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,721,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators grew its stake in shares of CRH by 87.7% in the 4th 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 during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on CRH. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price target on shares of CRH in a research report on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $109.25.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of CRH stock opened at $97.40 on Tuesday. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The company has a market capitalization of $65.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.48, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The company’s fifty day moving average is $99.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $96.21.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.52%. CRH’s payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

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.