Morgan Stanley has recently raised CRH PLC (CRH) stock rating, as announced on July 9, 2024, according to Finviz. Earlier, on June 18, 2024, Stephens had initiated the stock to Overweight, setting a price target of $95. RBC Capital Mkts also initiated Outperform rating with a price target of $110. Additionally, Stifel reduced Hold rating on April 15, 2024, with a target price of $82. Vertical Research analysts, in their report published on March 22, 2024, also initiated Buy rating and set a price target of $105 for CRH PLC’s stock. Analyst ratings are significant because they provide insights into stock performance expectations, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment.
CRH PLC (CRH) Stock Trading Recap
On Monday, CRH PLC (CRH) stock saw a decline, ending the day at $92.23 which represents a decrease of $-1.25 or -1.34% from the prior close of $93.48. The stock opened at $92.86 and touched a low of $91.97 during the day, reaching a high of $93.4. The volume of shares traded was 2.25 million falling short of the average volume of 3.94 million.
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CRH Stock Performance and Moving Averages
In recent trading, CRH PLC (CRH) stock price has shown some volatility, fluctuating -0.05% over the last five trades and -0.71% over the past 30 trades. This represents a notable shift from earlier in the year. Over the last six months, the stock has risen by 18.85%, and it has gained 12.12% in the previous three months. Currently, CRH is trading at 0.93%, 3.73%, and 13.66% relative to its 20-Day, 50-Day, and 200-Day Simple Moving Averages, respectively.
As of the latest trading close, CRH, a Basic Materials sector stock, is trading -2.03% below its 52-week high but remains 78.77% above its 52-week low. The Average True Range (ATR) (14 days) of 1.73 highlights the stock’s average volatility, providing insight into how much the price typically fluctuates. This measure is crucial for understanding potential price swings and assessing overall market risk.
CRH PLC’s Profitability and Valuation Ratios
CRH PLC’s profitability metrics reveal strong financial health. The company currently boasts an operating margin of 12.27% and a profit margin of 8.96%, with a gross margin of 18.85%. The profit margin, also known as the revenue ratio or gross profit ratio, measures how efficiently a company converts sales into net income; higher margins indicate greater profitability.
In terms of valuation, CRH PLC’s market capitalization stands at $62.97 billion. Market cap represents the total value of all outstanding shares and is a key indicator of a company’s market value. The forward P/E ratio, which uses projected earnings for the next financial year, is 15.34. Additionally, the Price-to-Sales Ratio is 1.8, reflecting the market’s valuation of the company’s sales, while the Price-to-Book Ratio is 3.04, comparing the market value to the company’s book value.
Understanding Insider Trading
Investors often prefer to invest in shares held by company insiders, as management is typically more aligned with the company’s success and shareholder interests. Currently, insiders own just 0.86% of CRH PLC (CRH)’s shares, while financial institutions hold 84.46%.
