Xponance Inc. Purchases 9,314 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Xponance Inc. lifted its position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 15.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 68,529 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,314 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in CRH were worth $6,340,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its holdings in shares of CRH by 87.7% in 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 last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 4th quarter worth about $57,000. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Performance

NYSE CRH opened at $98.78 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $66.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $99.65 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $96.26. CRH plc has a one year low of $71.18 and a one year high of $110.97.

CRH Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.50%. This is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. CRH’s payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on CRH shares. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. 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. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CRH currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $109.25.

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.