Millennium Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 43.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,813,580 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 1,458,303 shares during the period. CRH makes up 0.2% of Millennium Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Millennium Management LLC owned 0.71% of CRH worth $445,352,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 214.3% during the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Co SC bought a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 87.7% during the 4th quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on CRH. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Loop Capital started coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $115.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of CRH in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CRH presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $112.58.

CRH Price Performance

Shares of CRH stock traded up $1.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $98.98. 3,180,808 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,801,833. CRH plc has a 52-week low of $71.18 and a 52-week high of $110.97. The stock has a market cap of $66.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.33. The stock's fifty day moving average is $91.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $96.32.

CRH (NYSE:CRH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The construction company reported ($0.12) earnings per share (EPS) 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.77 billion. As a group, equities analysts forecast that CRH plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CRH Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. CRH's dividend payout ratio is currently 23.52%.

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.