AGM is a time to boast for CRH

BUILDING materials group CRH holds its annual general meeting this afternoon, giving shareholders their first victory parade since the company announced record profits in March and broke the billion-euro barrier for the first time.

The company’s profitability makes it part of an elite group of Irish blue-chips that previously included just AIB and Bank of Ireland.

But not everything will be rosy. The company’s share price has failed to set the market alight this year and is down 2% on its opening price in 2005. It is more than 12% off the peak of €22.25 reached last year and has failed to match its peer group of European construction companies.