CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) Receives $107.75 Consensus Price Target from Analysts

Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) have been given an average recommendation of “Buy” by the thirteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $107.75.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on CRH. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Monday, November 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $116.00 price target on the stock. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of CRH from $95.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on CRH from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised CRH to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators bought a new position in shares of CRH during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in CRH by 72.7% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 297 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its position in shares of CRH by 70.7% in the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 391 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the period. 62.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRH Price Performance

NYSE:CRH opened at $99.15 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $67.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.83, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.31. CRH has a 1 year low of $71.18 and a 1 year high of $104.23. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $97.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $92.16.

CRH Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a Variable dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 22nd were issued a $0.262 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. CRH’s payout ratio is 21.00%.

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.