CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Stock Holdings Lowered by Park West Asset Management LLC

Park West Asset Management LLC cut its stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 4.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 568,000 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 24,000 shares during the period. CRH comprises about 4.2% of Park West Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Park West Asset Management LLC owned 0.08% of CRH worth $52,551,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC grew its stake in CRH by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 40,843,362 shares of the construction company's stock worth $3,781,004,000 after acquiring an additional 4,687,345 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in CRH by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 39,163,930 shares of the construction company's stock worth $3,624,719,000 after purchasing an additional 145,101 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in CRH by 17.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 16,788,918 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,553,194,000 after purchasing an additional 2,437,868 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter worth $1,391,245,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 10.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,609,451 shares of the construction company's stock worth $796,546,000 after buying an additional 826,758 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.50% of the company's stock.

CRH Price Performance

CRH stock traded up $2.23 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $98.51. 4,690,436 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,742,600. The firm's fifty day moving average is $92.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $96.03. The company has a market capitalization of $66.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. CRH plc has a fifty-two week low of $71.18 and a fifty-two week high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were 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 was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. CRH's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.66%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CRH has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Citigroup reduced their price target on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Loop Capital assumed coverage on CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price objective on the stock. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, CRH currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $112.36.

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.