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

AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 173.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,722,786 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,092,630 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC’s holdings in CRH were worth $159,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in CRH during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its stake in shares of CRH by 214.3% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators lifted its position in CRH by 87.7% during the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 505 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC grew its holdings in CRH by 46.3% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 559 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CRH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Loop Capital assumed coverage on CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $114.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on shares of CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Citigroup dropped their target price 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, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $112.36.

CRH Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of CRH stock opened at $93.44 on Wednesday. CRH plc has a 12 month low of $71.18 and a 12 month high of $110.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $92.24 and a 200 day moving average of $96.01. The firm has a market cap of $63.19 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.58%. CRH’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.66%.

CRH Company 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.