UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Has $427 Million Holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lowered its stake in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 9.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,615,220 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 487,974 shares during the quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned approximately 0.68% of CRH worth $427,000,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its holdings in CRH by 214.3% in the fourth quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CRH in the fourth quarter worth $38,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in CRH by 859.6% in the fourth quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 499 shares of the construction company's stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

CRH Stock Performance

Shares of CRH traded down $1.06 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $94.10. 5,235,921 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,809,492. CRH plc has a 1-year low of $71.18 and a 1-year high of $110.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.58 billion, a PE ratio of 18.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.33. The business's 50 day moving average price is $91.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.33.

CRH (NYSE:CRH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The construction company reported ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.06) by ($0.06). CRH had a net margin of 9.86% and a return on equity of 16.35%. The company had revenue of $6.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.77 billion. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that CRH plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CRH Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. CRH's payout ratio is 23.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on CRH shares. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $115.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of CRH from $127.00 to $108.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Loop Capital assumed coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $112.58.

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.