Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. Sells 12,248 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. decreased its position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 23.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 40,916 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 12,248 shares during the quarter. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.’s holdings in CRH were worth $3,786,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of CRH. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in shares of CRH by 40.1% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 5,508 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $511,000 after acquiring an additional 1,577 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC increased its stake in shares of CRH by 82.5% in the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 12,543 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,163,000 after acquiring an additional 5,669 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at $405,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at $210,000. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Price Performance

NYSE CRH opened at $97.55 on Friday. CRH plc has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $110.97. The firm has a market cap of $66.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.51, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $99.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $96.27.

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 paid a $0.37 dividend. This is a positive change 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 dividend payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on CRH. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target 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. Finally, 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 note on Monday, January 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $109.25.

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.