Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC Sells 562,807 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC reduced its position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 10.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,931,536 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 562,807 shares during the period. CRH accounts for approximately 1.6% of Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC owned approximately 0.73% of CRH worth $456,266,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its stake in shares of CRH by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 2,335 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in CRH by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,810 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $630,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in CRH by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,367 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $405,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of CRH by 18.3% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 971 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, Manitou Investment Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of CRH by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. now owns 11,203 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,037,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Stock Performance

NYSE CRH opened at $88.09 on Friday. CRH plc has a 52 week low of $71.18 and a 52 week high of $110.97. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $99.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.62, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. This is a boost from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is presently 15.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CRH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. 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. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $109.64.

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.