Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC Raises Stock Position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 9.3% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 36,944 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 3,157 shares during the quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in CRH were worth $3,418,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors raised its stake in CRH by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 2,335 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in CRH by 2.9% during the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 4,815 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $447,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in shares of CRH by 18.3% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 971 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $90,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of CRH by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. now owns 11,203 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,037,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. Finally, Baillie Gifford & Co. raised its stake in shares of CRH by 70.7% in the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 391 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the period. 62.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRH Stock Down 1.5 %

NYSE CRH opened at $97.34 on Friday. CRH plc has a 52 week low of $71.18 and a 52 week high of $110.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.11 billion, a PE ratio of 19.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $99.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $95.77.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s payout ratio is 20.87%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CRH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of CRH to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup reduced their price target 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research note on Monday, November 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $116.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $108.45.

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.