Proficio Capital Partners LLC Invests $69,000 in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 68,650 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $69,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors raised its holdings in shares of CRH by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 2,335 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in shares of CRH by 18.3% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in CRH by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Manitou Investment Management Ltd. now owns 11,203 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,037,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. grew 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 valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Graypoint LLC boosted its position in CRH by 5.4% during the fourth quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,315 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $307,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the company’s stock.

CRH Trading Down 3.8 %

Shares of NYSE:CRH opened at $94.68 on Friday. CRH plc has a 12 month low of $71.18 and a 12 month high of $110.97. The company has a market capitalization of $64.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.94, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $99.29 and its 200 day moving average is $95.98.

CRH Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. This is an increase from CRH’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. CRH’s dividend payout ratio is presently 20.87%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on CRH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup dropped their price objective on CRH from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 price objective on CRH in a research note on Friday, February 28th. One 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average 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.