Framework Journal · one stock, one dated entry

Recorded 2026-07-24 · Permanent

An entry written while the outcome is still unknown. It will be scored by what the market does next, and it will never be edited to look cleverer than it was.

In plain words · CRH plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials solutions in Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally.

The label
Distribution

read at $99.87

CRH plc holds its Distribution at $99.87.

PHINPOOPSC
  • PHPhase · the trend structure carries the Distribution label
  • INInsiders · no filings inside 60 days, left as found
  • POPositioning · no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
  • OPOptions · no verdict drawn today, left as found
  • SCScreen · does not pass the values gate
  • edge confirmed
  • edge broken
  • edge forming

Each arm is one independent read. Conviction is not a single call, it is how many edges converge.

The investor read · the season, not the day

As held on the ledger · 2026-07-24
PhaseDistribution · caution
Quantitative stateConsolidating, no directional conviction, held for 200 days
Price$99.87
Valuation18.53 trailing · 14.92 forward price to earnings
Values screenFAIL · score 10.0
Beta1.19

The opportunity · what the numbers say it is worth

Our framework reads AVOID — it trades above our $99.54 fair value estimate, narrow competitive moat, 9.10% revenue growth.

Read at
$99.87
18.53 P/E · 14.92 fwd
Our fair value
$99.54
0% premium
Analyst target (avg)
$142.50
+43% to current
Target low $105.00Analyst target rangeTarget high $165.00
▲ current $99.87 · | average target

Price history & projections · where it has been, where the models see it going

$175$106$37TODAY5y agoPROJECTIONAnalyst high$165.00 +64%Analyst avg$142.50 +42%Our fair value$99.54 -1%Conservative$94.50 -6%

The valuation journey · where the price sits against fair value and the Street

Current
$99.87
you are here
Conservative
$94.50
-5%
Analyst avg
$142.50
+43%
Our fair value
$99.54
-0%
Analyst high
$165.00
+65%

Green marks levels above today's price, red below; the shaded band is the gap between the price and our fair value.

Reading the gap · Our more conservative model reads it as roughly fairly valued here, while the Street is more bullish — a quality-at-a-fair-price name rather than a deep-value one.

Revenue growth9.10%
Profit margin9.65%
Debt to equity83.23
Analyst consensusStrong Buy · 22 covering

Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; target range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.

The values screen, explained · five checks, plain English

This company is excluded by both standards. There are two widely recognised ways to check whether a company is suitable for a Muslim investor. It fails on both:

The common standard · AAOIFI
Used by most halal investing apps
✗ DOES NOT PASS
Our stricter standard · asset-based
The one Titan applies
✗ DOES NOT PASS

Why it fails. The problem is its debt ratio. Because both standards agree on this, it is a clear exclusion, not a borderline case.

What these two standards are, and how they differ →

  • Business activity Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines — no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending. Pass
  • Debt load Interest-bearing debt is 33.8% of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows. Fail
  • Interest-bearing cash Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 0.0% of assets, under the one-third limit. Pass
  • Receivables Money owed to the company is 14.4% of assets, under the 49% limit. Pass
  • Revenue purity Only 0.4% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources — under the 5% line. Pass

Every security is read against two recognised standards: our stricter asset-based screen (ratios measured against total assets) and the more widely used market-value standard (measured against market capitalisation). Where they agree we say so plainly; where they part ways — almost always on the debt check — we show both readings and mark it, because that disagreement is the finding, not a fault. We report the score; you and your scholar make the call.

The business, in plain words · what the numbers mean

Construction booms hide the cycle trap

Roads, offices and homes all need aggregates and cement, yet the building cycle rarely stays kind for long. CRH trades above our fair value with a negative margin of safety and a forward multiple that flatters peak earnings in a notoriously cyclical sector. We pass.

Revenue growth sits at nine percent and return on equity reaches sixteen percent, yet the narrow moat and ten percent profit margin leave little room for error once volumes turn. The ethical screen also flags excessive debt, ruling the name out regardless of analyst enthusiasm.

High debt and exposure to construction swings create real downside when rates stay elevated or spending slows. The apparent value is a warning, not an opportunity. Analysis, not advice.

The fundamentals · plain-English read
Forward P/E14.9x
priced for continued growth
Trailing P/E18.5x
reasonably valued
Revenue growth9.1%
steady growth
Profit margin9.6%
thin but positive margins
Return on equity15.8%
a solid return on shareholder capital
Debt to equity0.83
moderate, manageable leverage
Current ratio1.59
healthy short-term liquidity
Beta1.19
moves a little more than the market
Market cap$66.7B
Employees83,032

The risks · The things to watch: its business and earnings are exposed to Ireland and to currency swings.

Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.

Latest news · what the market is reading on CRH

Headlines from third-party outlets, linked for reference — not our reporting, not advice.

Related securities · others in CRH's space worth a look

Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.

Where & how to trade · wherever in the world you are

CRH trades on a US exchange (the company is based in Ireland). As a US-listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering US markets. New to this, or investing from outside the US? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.

The trader read · the latest dated commentary

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis. Entered 2026-07-30 · Distribution

The dated journal · newest first, never edited

2026-07-30 Distribution $99.87 +0.0% Entry 10

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-28 Distribution $99.87 +0.0% Entry 9

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-27 Distribution $99.87 +0.0% Entry 8

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-26 Distribution $99.87 +0.0% Entry 7

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-25 Distribution $99.87 -3.0% Entry 6

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 3.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-24 Distribution $102.92 +0.0% Entry 5

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-23 Distribution $102.92 -2.0% Entry 4

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 2.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.

2026-07-18 Distribution $105.06 +0.0% Entry 3

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 9%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 23%. The street (24 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $143.

2026-07-03 Distribution $105.06 +0.0% Entry 2

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns.

2026-07-02 Distribution $105.06 Entry 1

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows good risk-adjusted returns.

Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.

The insider ledger · Form 4 filings, as filed

Most recent filings · CRH
DateInsiderTitleTypeSharesValue
2026-05-15 O'RIORDAIN PADRAIG Officer 1,492 $155,832
2026-05-13 FEARON RICHARD H Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 BOUCHER RICHARD AIDAN HUGH Director 3,339 ·
2026-05-13 MCKAY LAMAR Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 KHAN BADAR Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 MINTERN DENIS JAMES Chief Executive Officer 15,194 ·
2026-05-13 TALBOT SIOBHAN Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 DOWLING CAROLINE Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 PLATT GILLIAN L. Director 2,004 ·
2026-05-13 RHINEHART MARY K Director 2,004 ·

Public filings, recorded as found. The full tape lives at Insider Intelligence.

The political ledger · congressional disclosures

Disclosures naming CRH
DatePoliticianPartyTypeAmount
2026-04-13 Ro Khanna Democrat Sale 1K–15K
1 May2026 Ro Khanna Democrat buy 1K–15K

What holding actually paid · price plus dividends

If $1,000 had been placed · historical, not a promise
PeriodPrice thenPrice returnDivs per share$1,000 becameTotal return
1 month $112.16 -10.4% $0.39 $900 -10.0%
2 months $117.46 -14.4% $0.39 $859 -14.1%
3 months $99.37 +1.2% $0.39 $1,015 +1.5%
6 months $126.09 -20.3% $0.78 $803 -19.7%
1 year $92.24 +9.0% $0.78 $1,098 +9.8%
2 years $77.66 +29.4% $2.22 $1,323 +32.3%
3 years $46.24 +117.4% $4.25 $2,266 +126.6%
5 years $46.10 +118.0% $7.74 $2,348 +134.8%

Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever CRH does next, these words stay.

CRH plc · CRH · Distribution · $99.87
Recorded 2026-07-24 · before the outcome · scored mechanically

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