Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH) Position Raised by Exane Asset Management

Exane Asset Management increased its holdings in Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 22.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 226,087 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 41,013 shares during the quarter. CRH makes up about 11.3% of Exane Asset Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. Exane Asset Management's holdings in CRH were worth $19,889,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CRH. Stratos Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in CRH by 21.0% in the first quarter. Stratos Investment Management LLC now owns 77,110 shares of the construction company's stock worth $6,783,000 after purchasing an additional 13,401 shares in the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in CRH by 6.2% in the first quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 293,170 shares of the construction company's stock worth $25,790,000 after purchasing an additional 17,004 shares in the last quarter. Ninety One SA PTY Ltd raised its holdings in CRH by 8.9% in the first quarter. Ninety One SA PTY Ltd now owns 61,484 shares of the construction company's stock worth $5,400,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares in the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd raised its holdings in CRH by 9.1% in the first quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 2,779,171 shares of the construction company's stock worth $244,484,000 after purchasing an additional 231,345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Callan Capital LLC bought a new position in CRH in the first quarter worth about $203,000. 62.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRH Price Performance

NYSE:CRH traded down $0.70 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $95.19. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,318,304 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,880,017. Crh Plc has a fifty-two week low of $74.03 and a fifty-two week high of $110.97. The firm's 50 day moving average is $93.39 and its 200-day moving average is $94.52. The firm has a market cap of $64.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.26.

CRH (NYSE:CRH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The construction company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by ($0.06). CRH had a return on equity of 15.88% and a net margin of 9.17%. The company had revenue of $6.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.77 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that Crh Plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

CRH Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were given a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. CRH's dividend payout ratio is presently 23.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital assumed coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of CRH from $127.00 to $108.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $115.00 price objective on the stock. DA Davidson restated a "neutral" rating and set a $105.00 price objective (down previously from $120.00) on shares of CRH in a report on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $112.82.

About CRH

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.