Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp Sells 83,006 Shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp cut its position in CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) by 13.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 531,443 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 83,006 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp owned 0.08% of CRH worth $49,271,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators raised its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of CRH during the fourth quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of CRH by 111.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 668 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. 62.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CRH Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE:CRH opened at $98.34 on Wednesday. CRH plc has a 12 month low of $71.18 and a 12 month high of $110.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.67, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.62.

CRH Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com raised CRH from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Berenberg Bank set a $120.00 target price on CRH in a report on Friday, February 28th. Citigroup lowered their price target 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. reduced their price objective on shares of CRH from $118.00 to $114.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CRH currently has an average 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.