MML Investors Services LLC Acquires 5,277 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH - Free Report) by 14.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 40,635 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 5,277 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in CRH were worth $3,760,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in CRH. Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of CRH by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,839,561 shares of the construction company's stock worth $262,714,000 after acquiring an additional 17,918 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in CRH by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,830,255 shares of the construction company's stock worth $169,334,000 after purchasing an additional 877,386 shares during the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in CRH by 46.3% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 559 shares of the construction company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. Farringdon Capital Ltd. acquired a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth $442,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in CRH by 11.4% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 3,819,389 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $353,370,000 after buying an additional 392,028 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company's stock.

CRH Price Performance

CRH traded up $1.10 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $96.52. The stock had a trading volume of 3,505,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,718,829. 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 $65.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $92.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $96.00.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from CRH's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.66%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CRH has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Loop Capital began coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of CRH from $127.00 to $108.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, CRH presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price 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.