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Relative Intelligence · Construction Materials

How CRH compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on CRH alone. It places CRH (CRH plc) against 19 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where CRH stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: CRH's full trading record, from July 1989 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against CRH →Chart CRH vs. 19 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in CRH have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in CRH over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of CRH over the same span and CRH's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 367 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of CRH; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M199720022007201220172022$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M19972004201120182025
  • USLM$876,790+8,668% total · +16.7% a year
  • CAT$615,591+6,056% total · +15.3% a year
  • NUE$361,333+3,513% total · +13.2% a year
  • VMI$296,253+2,863% total · +12.4% a year
  • SSD$216,751+2,068% total · +11.2% a year
  • MLM$189,502+1,795% total · +10.7% a year
  • CRH$159,236+1,492% total · +10.0% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
  • CXT$89,031+790% total · +7.8% a year
  • LPX$38,467+285% total · +4.8% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 759 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of CRH; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,000202120222023202420252026$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000202120222023202420252026
  • PWR$56,870+469% total · +41.6% a year
  • USLM$47,723+377% total · +36.7% a year
  • CAT$46,130+361% total · +35.8% a year
  • URI$29,622+196% total · +24.3% a year
  • NUE$25,527+155% total · +20.6% a year
  • VMI$20,517+105% total · +15.5% a year
  • CRH$20,309+103% total · +15.2% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • BCC$17,659+76.6% total · +12.0% a year
  • SSD$16,611+66.1% total · +10.7% a year
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CRH at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$57B
Industry
Construction Materials
Price history from
July 1989

Returns

Past 1 year
−26.4%total return
Past 3 years
+64.2%+18.0% a year
Past 5 years
+103%+15.2% a year
Past 10 years
+236%+12.9% a year
Best calendar year
+81.3%2023
Worst calendar year
−27.7%2002
Losing years
10 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
31.4%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.61return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−65.6%Jul 2007 to Aug 2010
From its all-time high
−34.4%below the peak

CRH against the whole market

Where CRH ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does CRH rank among all stocks?

This section ranks CRH on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how CRH stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureCRHRankStanding
1-year return−26.4%2,778 of 3,287bottom 16%
3-year return+64.2%1,341 of 3,017top 44%
5-year return+103%668 of 2,893top 23%
10-year return+236%757 of 2,202top 34%
Volatility, 5 years31.4%854 of 2,893top 30%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.61647 of 2,893top 22%
Worst decline, past 10 years−53.3%584 of 2,187top 27%

What has beaten CRH on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). CRH sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than CRH with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to CRH; faint dots are 90 more of the 154 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than CRHRY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IX: +17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%WRB: +18.9% a year, volatility 22.9%RS: +24.8% a year, volatility 28.1%ORI: +17.0% a year, volatility 22.2%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%BFC: +19.0% a year, volatility 27.3%TJX: +19.9% a year, volatility 22.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%CM: +19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%MNST: +17.2% a year, volatility 24.9%NXTG: +16.2% a year, volatility 19.1%ALL: +17.0% a year, volatility 26.2%PCAR: +17.9% a year, volatility 26.1%SDCI: +20.6% a year, volatility 18.4%SPMO: +18.7% a year, volatility 20.8%DTM: +24.5% a year, volatility 25.2%RNR: +20.1% a year, volatility 27.8%EWT: +20.4% a year, volatility 24.2%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%CCEP: +19.7% a year, volatility 23.2%EHC: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.8%MSGS: +18.4% a year, volatility 25.6%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%PPA: +16.3% a year, volatility 18.9%AIRR: +18.3% a year, volatility 25.9%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%QTUM: +22.8% a year, volatility 28.1%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%GARP: +17.5% a year, volatility 22.5%FRDM: +17.3% a year, volatility 22.8%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%UMI: +18.7% a year, volatility 19.2%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%VLGEA: +17.8% a year, volatility 28.3%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%RTX: +18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%GS: +19.6% a year, volatility 28.6%BTI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.0%MO: +17.8% a year, volatility 21.4%BNY: +22.7% a year, volatility 24.4%WMB: +24.6% a year, volatility 24.0%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%KMI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.5%CTAS: +16.5% a year, volatility 23.1%AFL: +19.0% a year, volatility 20.8%ROST: +18.1% a year, volatility 29.5%TDG: +16.4% a year, volatility 28.0%ACGL: +20.1% a year, volatility 24.5%HEI: +17.3% a year, volatility 27.8%KOF: +22.3% a year, volatility 24.7%IHG: +21.4% a year, volatility 26.6%PAA: +27.0% a year, volatility 25.6%BCH: +25.2% a year, volatility 28.2%UNM: +30.6% a year, volatility 29.3%WES: +23.5% a year, volatility 27.6%CLH: +23.1% a year, volatility 28.6%RGA: +19.7% a year, volatility 27.3%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%BSAC: +19.5% a year, volatility 29.0%ARMK: +17.9% a year, volatility 28.5%OHI: +16.4% a year, volatility 24.2%ENSG: +19.8% a year, volatility 26.8%AM: +20.0% a year, volatility 25.9%PSO: +18.5% a year, volatility 27.9%CRH: +15.2% a year, volatility 31.4%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%NUE: +21.7% a year, volatility 37.4%VMI: +13.8% a year, volatility 32.7%TT: +22.7% a year, volatility 27.7%CMI: +19.9% a year, volatility 29.0%FSS: +23.3% a year, volatility 31.7%ACA: +23.1% a year, volatility 34.0%PAVE: +14.9% a year, volatility 21.6%GGG: +3.5% a year, volatility 22.9%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%ETR: +19.2% a year, volatility 22.4%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%IXN: +19.2% a year, volatility 26.2%RSPT: +16.9% a year, volatility 25.1%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%CRHSPY (S&P 500)CATUSLMPWRURINUETTCMIFSSACAPAVEGGGCOSTPGRTRVETRLLYIXNRSPTTDCAHWAB0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than CRHRY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IX: +17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%CASY: +29.9% a year, volatility 29.3%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%WRB: +18.9% a year, volatility 22.9%RS: +24.8% a year, volatility 28.1%ORI: +17.0% a year, volatility 22.2%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%NHC: +32.0% a year, volatility 28.5%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%BFC: +19.0% a year, volatility 27.3%TJX: +19.9% a year, volatility 22.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%VRTX: +22.6% a year, volatility 29.1%CM: +19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%COR: +24.2% a year, volatility 22.8%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%MNST: +17.2% a year, volatility 24.9%NXTG: +16.2% a year, volatility 19.1%ALL: +17.0% a year, volatility 26.2%PCAR: +17.9% a year, volatility 26.1%SDCI: +20.6% a year, volatility 18.4%SPMO: +18.7% a year, volatility 20.8%DTM: +24.5% a year, volatility 25.2%RNR: +20.1% a year, volatility 27.8%EWT: +20.4% a year, volatility 24.2%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%CCEP: +19.7% a year, volatility 23.2%EHC: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.8%MSGS: +18.4% a year, volatility 25.6%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%PPA: +16.3% a year, volatility 18.9%AIRR: +18.3% a year, volatility 25.9%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%QTUM: +22.8% a year, volatility 28.1%MPLX: +23.5% a year, volatility 18.8%GARP: +17.5% a year, volatility 22.5%FRDM: +17.3% a year, volatility 22.8%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.2%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%UMI: +18.7% a year, volatility 19.2%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%VLGEA: +17.8% a year, volatility 28.3%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%RTX: +18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%GS: +19.6% a year, volatility 28.6%BTI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.0%MO: +17.8% a year, volatility 21.4%BNY: +22.7% a year, volatility 24.4%WMB: +24.6% a year, volatility 24.0%MAR: +22.0% a year, volatility 28.6%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%KMI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.5%CTAS: +16.5% a year, volatility 23.1%AFL: +19.0% a year, volatility 20.8%ROST: +18.1% a year, volatility 29.5%TDG: +16.4% a year, volatility 28.0%ACGL: +20.1% a year, volatility 24.5%HEI: +17.3% a year, volatility 27.8%KOF: +22.3% a year, volatility 24.7%IHG: +21.4% a year, volatility 26.6%PAA: +27.0% a year, volatility 25.6%BCH: +25.2% a year, volatility 28.2%UNM: +30.6% a year, volatility 29.3%WES: +23.5% a year, volatility 27.6%CLH: +23.1% a year, volatility 28.6%RGA: +19.7% a year, volatility 27.3%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%BSAC: +19.5% a year, volatility 29.0%ARMK: +17.9% a year, volatility 28.5%OHI: +16.4% a year, volatility 24.2%ENSG: +19.8% a year, volatility 26.8%AM: +20.0% a year, volatility 25.9%PSO: +18.5% a year, volatility 27.9%CRH: +15.2% a year, volatility 31.4%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%USLM: +35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%PWR: +39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%URI: +24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%NUE: +21.7% a year, volatility 37.4%VMI: +13.8% a year, volatility 32.7%TT: +22.7% a year, volatility 27.7%CMI: +19.9% a year, volatility 29.0%FSS: +23.3% a year, volatility 31.7%ACA: +23.1% a year, volatility 34.0%PAVE: +14.9% a year, volatility 21.6%GGG: +3.5% a year, volatility 22.9%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%PGR: +21.3% a year, volatility 25.6%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%ETR: +19.2% a year, volatility 22.4%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%IXN: +19.2% a year, volatility 26.2%RSPT: +16.9% a year, volatility 25.1%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%CRHSPY (S&P 500)CATUSLMPWRURINUETTCMIFSSGGGCOSTPGRLLYRSPTTDCAHWAB
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than CRH?

Investments that beat CRH over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat CRH over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks CRH's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than CRH follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than CRH's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× CRH's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than CRH's.

Screen the whole market against CRH for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with CRH?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
CRHCRH plc · this page
+15.2%31.4%0.61−53.3%+236%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.670.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against CRH. 6 of 18 passed at least one test.
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+31.1%31.9%1.01−43.4%+936%0.50—
USLMUnited States Lime & Minerals, Inc. · Construction Materials
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+35.6%36.1%1.03−45.9%+803%0.32—
PWRQuanta Services, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+39.3%37.2%1.08−45.5%+2,045%0.37—
URIUnited Rentals, Inc. · Equipment Rental
Higher return in most periods+24.3%39.1%0.75−63.3%+1,270%0.63—
NUENucor Corporation · Metals & Mining
Higher return in most periods+21.7%37.4%0.72−57.2%+569%0.49—
VMIValmont Industries, Inc. · Infrastructure
Higher return in most periods+13.8%32.7%0.56−48.9%+288%0.52—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Construction Materials and the categories next to it (Building Products, Engineering & Construction, Industrial Machinery, Equipment Rental), plus CRH's specific themes. 28 of 78 passed at least one test.
TTTrane Technologies plc · Building Products
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+22.7%27.7%0.88−40.5%+955%0.58—
CMICummins Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+19.9%29.0%0.77−44.0%+444%0.65—
FSSFederal Signal Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+23.3%31.7%0.82−33.0%+882%0.58—
ACAArcosa, Inc. · Construction Materials
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+23.1%34.0%0.78−36.8%—0.49—
PAVEGlobal X - U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF · Infrastructure Equity · Infrastructure Construction theme
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+14.9%21.6%0.75−44.1%—0.720.47%
GGGGraco Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Smaller losses in recent crashes+3.5%22.9%0.26−30.6%+263%0.54—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 710 of 3,537 passed at least one test.
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.43—
PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+21.3%25.6%0.89−30.3%+816%0.31—
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%0.32—
ETREntergy Corporation · Electric Utilities
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+19.2%22.4%0.90−42.0%+311%0.41—
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%0.12—
IXNiShares Global Tech ETF · Technology Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+19.2%26.2%0.81−36.3%+720%0.490.37%
RSPTInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+16.9%25.1%0.75−33.7%+572%0.550.40%
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+15.8%20.0%0.84−42.0%+310%0.48—
What these numbers mean for CRH
Annual return
CRH returned 15.2% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $20,300. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
CRH's volatility over the past 5 years was 31.4%, 1.8 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, CRH's return lands within 31.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
CRH's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.61, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so CRH earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
CRH's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 53.3%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 53.3% fall takes a 114% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, CRH's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.67 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against CRH instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a CRH holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 154 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than CRH with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with CRHExpense
1
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.43—
2
PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+21.3%25.6%0.89−30.3%+816%0.31—
3
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%0.32—
4
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+17.3%18.2%0.97−40.0%+352%0.59—
5
ETREntergy Corporation · Electric Utilities
Whole market+19.2%22.4%0.90−42.0%+311%0.41—
6
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.23—
7
CBOECboe Global Markets, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+21.5%25.1%0.91−43.2%+463%0.14—
8
IXORIX Corporation · Diversified Financials
Whole market+17.9%25.4%0.78−42.5%+284%0.47—
9
CASYCasey's General Stores, Inc. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+29.9%29.3%1.04−36.1%+537%0.29—
10
AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware
Whole market+18.5%28.0%0.75−38.5%+1,168%0.42—
11
WRBW. R. Berkley Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+18.9%22.9%0.87−45.3%+443%0.21—
12
RSReliance Steel & Aluminum Co. · Metals & Mining
Whole market+24.8%28.1%0.93−40.8%+626%0.51—
13
TTTrane Technologies plc · Building Products
Same or nearby category+22.7%27.7%0.88−40.5%+955%0.58—
14
ORIOld Republic International Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+17.0%22.2%0.82−47.8%+349%0.47—
15
IXNiShares Global Tech ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+19.2%26.2%0.81−36.3%+720%0.490.37%
16
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Whole market+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.42—
17
NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Medical - Care Facilities
Whole market+32.0%28.5%1.12−35.3%+394%0.31—
18
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. · Banks
Whole market+17.3%24.3%0.78−43.6%+537%0.60—
19
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.22—
20
RSPTInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+16.9%25.1%0.75−33.7%+572%0.550.40%
21
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.350.48%
22
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.560.40%
23
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%23.4%0.94−42.9%+242%0.35—
24
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+16.8%26.1%0.73−42.0%+374%0.25—
25
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.16—
26
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.39—
27
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.17—
28
GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.8%24.9%0.95−30.5%+200%0.19—
29
BFCBank First Corporation · Banks - Regional
Whole market+19.0%27.3%0.78−39.8%+496%0.32—
30
TJXThe TJX Companies, Inc. · Specialty Retail
Whole market+19.9%22.3%0.93−42.5%+361%0.57—
31
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.230.40%
32
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.33—
33
VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.6%29.1%0.85−41.6%+521%0.20—
34
CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks
Whole market+19.2%21.6%0.93−47.3%+395%0.61—
35
CORCencora, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+24.2%22.8%1.07−32.4%+406%0.39—
36
GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+26.3%24.9%1.07−41.6%+654%0.53—
37
MNSTMonster Beverage Corporation · Food & Beverages
Whole market+17.2%24.9%0.77−30.4%+285%0.37—
38
NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology
Whole market+16.2%19.1%0.89−33.6%+330%0.550.70%
39
ALLThe Allstate Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+17.0%26.2%0.73−41.4%+356%0.12—
40
PCARPACCAR Inc · Commercial Vehicles
Whole market+17.9%26.1%0.76−37.9%+314%0.59—
41
SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Bonds
Whole market+20.6%18.4%1.12−45.7%—-0.060.80%
42
SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF · US Momentum Equity
Whole market+18.7%20.8%0.93−30.9%+499%0.510.13%
43
DTMDT Midstream, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+24.5%25.2%1.00−23.6%—0.44—
44
RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. · Insurance
Whole market+20.1%27.8%0.80−40.7%+215%0.14—
45
EWTiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF · International Equity
Whole market+20.4%24.2%0.89−38.9%+468%0.430.59%
46
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%0.06—
47
CCEPCoca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC · Food & Beverages
Whole market+19.7%23.2%0.90−48.8%+292%0.37—
48
EHCEncompass Health Corporation · Health Care Facilities
Whole market+18.4%26.8%0.77−39.5%+340%0.36—
49
MSGSMadison Square Garden Sports Corp. · Entertainment
Whole market+18.4%25.6%0.79−41.6%+432%0.28—
50
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals
Whole market+21.0%26.8%0.85−40.7%+165%0.45—
51
PPAInvesco Aerospace & Defense ETF · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+16.3%18.9%0.90−43.9%+344%0.510.58%
52
AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial RenaissanceTM ETF · US Industrials
Whole market+18.3%25.9%0.78−42.4%+407%0.680.69%
53
CMICummins Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+19.9%29.0%0.77−44.0%+444%0.65—
54
ACTEnact Holdings Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+20.5%24.3%0.89−20.2%—0.45—
55
FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF · Technology
Whole market+21.8%24.3%0.94−38.0%—0.420.19%
56
QTUMDefiance Quantum ETF · Technology
Whole market+22.8%28.1%0.87−38.5%—0.490.40%
57
MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+23.5%18.8%1.22−75.2%+350%0.35—
58
GARPiShares MSCI USA Quality GARP ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+17.5%22.5%0.83−31.4%—0.570.15%
59
FRDMFreedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF · International
Whole market+17.3%22.8%0.82−40.5%—0.510.49%
60
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%0.06—
61
DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF · International
Whole market+20.9%19.2%1.09−31.3%+348%0.430.45%
62
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.31—
63
UMIUSCF Midstream Energy Income Fund · Energy
Whole market+18.7%19.2%0.99−48.1%—0.400.85%
64
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.2%29.4%1.13−54.9%+483%0.27—
65
VLGEAVillage Super Market, Inc. · Grocery Stores
Whole market+17.8%28.3%0.72−46.8%+96.3%0.25—
66
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+21.0%24.8%0.90−67.2%+233%-0.04—
67
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.44—
68
RTXRTX Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+18.6%24.3%0.83−52.0%+317%0.17—
69
GSThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+19.6%28.6%0.77−48.8%+521%0.56—
70
BTIBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. · Tobacco
Whole market+18.7%22.0%0.90−56.1%+98.2%0.24—
71
MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+17.8%21.4%0.88−53.7%+140%0.39—
72
BNYBank of New York Mellon Corp · Banks
Whole market+22.7%24.4%0.97−50.5%+341%0.60—
73
WMBThe Williams Companies, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+24.6%24.0%1.04−68.1%+288%0.37—
74
MARMarriott International, Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+22.0%28.6%0.84−61.3%+544%0.52—
75
EEni S.p.A. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+23.0%25.6%0.94−61.4%+278%0.16—
76
MFCManulife Financial Corporation · Life Insurance
Whole market+22.6%24.0%0.97−57.5%+373%0.45—
77
HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+21.0%26.8%0.85−50.8%+694%0.56—
78
KMIKinder Morgan, Inc. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+18.7%22.5%0.88−55.1%+163%0.34—
79
CTASCintas Corporation · Business Services
Whole market+16.5%23.1%0.78−48.4%+808%0.40—
80
AFLAflac Incorporated · Life Insurance
Whole market+19.0%20.8%0.95−54.9%+335%0.41—
81
ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. · Specialty Retail
Whole market+18.1%29.5%0.71−51.4%+312%0.41—
82
TDGTransDigm Group Incorporated · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+16.4%28.0%0.69−62.6%+543%0.51—
83
ACGLArch Capital Group Ltd. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+20.1%24.5%0.87−53.8%+309%0.19—
84
HEIHEICO Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+17.3%27.8%0.71−57.7%+809%0.35—
85
KOFCoca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. · Food & Beverages
Whole market+22.3%24.7%0.94−55.1%+119%0.43—
86
IHGInterContinental Hotels Group PLC · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+21.4%26.6%0.86−59.3%+383%0.58—
87
PAAPlains All American Pipeline, L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+27.0%25.6%1.06−87.9%+64.0%0.28—
88
BCHBanco de Chile · Banks
Whole market+25.2%28.2%0.94−58.4%+180%0.19—
89
UNMUnum Group · Life Insurance
Whole market+30.6%29.3%1.06−81.0%+256%0.14—
90
WESWestern Midstream Partners, LP · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+23.5%27.6%0.91−91.9%+128%0.40—
91
CLHClean Harbors, Inc. · Environmental Services
Whole market+23.1%28.6%0.88−64.5%+588%0.41—
92
RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated · Insurance
Whole market+19.7%27.3%0.80−65.8%+199%0.26—
93
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%0.70—
94
BSACBanco Santander-Chile · Banks
Whole market+19.5%29.0%0.76−63.9%+154%0.32—
95
ARMKAramark · Food Services
Whole market+17.9%28.5%0.72−72.3%+137%0.29—
96
OHIOmega Healthcare Investors, Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+16.4%24.2%0.75−66.9%+202%0.32—
97
ENSGThe Ensign Group, Inc. · Health Care Facilities
Whole market+19.8%26.8%0.81−55.5%+896%0.36—
98
AMAntero Midstream Corporation · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+20.0%25.9%0.84−92.9%—0.34—
99
PSOPearson plc · Education Services
Whole market+18.5%27.9%0.75−58.4%+155%0.27—
100
WABWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Same or nearby category+25.6%26.2%1.00−64.1%+264%0.51—

CRH against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against CRH, compared period by period and year by year.

How do CRH's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at CRH, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than CRH with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityCRH: 15.2% a year, volatility 31.4%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%VMI: 13.8% a year, volatility 32.7%BCC: 11.0% a year, volatility 41.1%SSD: 10.3% a year, volatility 31.7%LPX: 3.5% a year, volatility 40.2%CX: 8.1% a year, volatility 39.6%CXT: 12.9% a year, volatility 33.3%JHX: −6.8% a year, volatility 44.5%WFG: −4.0% a year, volatility 34.1%OC: 6.2% a year, volatility 36.1%ROCK: −12.2% a year, volatility 41.7%EXP: 4.5% a year, volatility 32.9%URI: 24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%NUE: 21.8% a year, volatility 37.4%PWR: 39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%USLM: 35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%MLM: 6.5% a year, volatility 27.1%VMC: 8.0% a year, volatility 26.6%CRHSPY (S&P 500)VMIBCCSSDLPXCXCXTJHXWFGOCROCKEXPURINUEPWRUSLMCATMLMVMC10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityCRH: 15.2% a year, volatility 31.4%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%VMI: 13.8% a year, volatility 32.7%BCC: 11.0% a year, volatility 41.1%SSD: 10.3% a year, volatility 31.7%LPX: 3.5% a year, volatility 40.2%CX: 8.1% a year, volatility 39.6%CXT: 12.9% a year, volatility 33.3%JHX: −6.8% a year, volatility 44.5%WFG: −4.0% a year, volatility 34.1%OC: 6.2% a year, volatility 36.1%ROCK: −12.2% a year, volatility 41.7%EXP: 4.5% a year, volatility 32.9%URI: 24.3% a year, volatility 39.1%NUE: 21.8% a year, volatility 37.4%PWR: 39.3% a year, volatility 37.2%USLM: 35.6% a year, volatility 36.1%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%MLM: 6.5% a year, volatility 27.1%VMC: 8.0% a year, volatility 26.6%CRHSPY (S&P 500)BCCSSDLPXCXCXTJHXWFGOCROCKEXPURINUEPWRUSLMCATMLMVMC
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.+39.3%37.2%
USLM United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.+35.6%36.1%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.+31.1%31.9%
URI United Rentals, Inc.+24.3%39.1%
NUE Nucor Corporation+21.8%37.4%
CRH This pageCRH plc+15.2%31.4%
VMI Valmont Industries, Inc.+13.8%32.7%
CXT Crane NXT, Co.+12.9%33.3%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
BCC Boise Cascade Company+11.0%41.1%
SSD Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.+10.3%31.7%
CX CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.+8.1%39.6%
VMC Vulcan Materials Company+8.0%26.6%
MLM Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.+6.5%27.1%
OC Owens Corning+6.2%36.1%
EXP Eagle Materials Inc.+4.5%32.9%
LPX Louisiana-Pacific Corporation+3.5%40.2%
WFG West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.−4.0%34.1%
JHX James Hardie Industries plc−6.8%44.5%
ROCK Gibraltar Industries, Inc.−12.2%41.7%
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Has CRH consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares CRH with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than CRH helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than CRH over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
CRH CRH plc (this page)—−2.2%−14.4%−27.6%−31.8%−26.4%+64.2%+103%+236%31.4%0.61−53.3%—$57B—
URI QualifiedUnited Rentals, Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+1.4%+3.3%+29.0%+24.3%+5.2%+164%+196%+1,270%39.1%0.75−63.3%—$65B—
NUE QualifiedNucor Corporation5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+8.1%+13.6%+29.9%+55.6%+93.7%+92.9%+167%+569%37.4%0.72−57.2%—$59B—
PWR QualifiedQuanta Services, Inc.4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather−7.2%−5.8%−1.5%+35.6%+35.3%+263%+425%+2,045%37.2%1.08−45.5%—$90B—
USLM QualifiedUnited States Lime & Minerals, Inc.4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather−7.0%+1.4%−22.5%−11.8%−21.2%+166%+359%+803%36.1%1.03−45.9%—$3.1B—
CAT QualifiedCaterpillar Inc.3/5 short3/3 long−11.2%−15.9%−8.8%+22.2%+37.7%+203%+288%+936%31.9%1.01−43.4%—$333B—
VMI QualifiedValmont Industries, Inc.3/5 short2/3 long−3.8%−14.2%+10.3%+10.0%+10.9%+98.7%+91.1%+288%32.7%0.56−48.9%—$8.7B—
BCC Paper, Lumber & Forest ProductsBoise Cascade Company5/5 short1/3 long+0.8%+0.8%−8.6%+3.8%+8.7%−6.6%+68.3%+383%41.1%0.46−56.5%—$2.7B—
SSD Construction MaterialsSimpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.5/5 short1/3 long+4.1%−2.6%+0.2%+10.2%+3.3%+39.6%+63.6%+369%31.7%0.47−44.5%—$7.4B—
LPX Paper, Lumber & Forest ProductsLouisiana-Pacific Corporation5/5 short1/3 long+11.2%+1.9%−1.0%−10.4%−19.0%+40.9%+18.7%+347%40.2%0.28−59.5%—$5.1B—
CX Construction MaterialsCEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.4/5 short1/3 long+2.5%−17.5%−14.0%−10.5%+8.4%+76.2%+47.3%+25.2%39.6%0.39−83.7%—$15B—
CXT Industrial - MachineryCrane NXT, Co.5/5 short0/3 long+22.1%+9.7%+21.4%+18.4%−16.0%+14.2%+83.7%+213%33.3%0.53−60.0%—$3.2B—
MLM Construction MaterialsMartin Marietta Materials, Inc.5/5 short0/3 long+1.6%−8.2%−18.8%−19.7%−18.6%+26.0%+37.1%+206%27.1%0.37−48.3%—$30B—
VMC Construction MaterialsVulcan Materials Company5/5 short0/3 long+6.4%−6.5%−10.8%−10.0%−10.7%+32.9%+46.8%+159%26.6%0.42−49.2%—$34B—
JHX Construction MaterialsJames Hardie Industries plc5/5 short0/3 long−0.8%+5.9%+20.4%+27.1%+24.3%+7.6%−29.7%+93.2%44.5%0.07−60.3%—$15B—
WFG Paper, Lumber & Forest ProductsWest Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.4/5 short0/3 long−7.5%−2.2%+2.2%+7.2%+3.0%+4.4%−18.5%+149%34.1%0.05−78.7%—$5.0B—
OC Construction MaterialsOwens Corning3/5 short0/3 long−7.4%−19.9%−8.7%+0.6%−9.9%−3.4%+35.3%+158%36.1%0.35−66.6%—$8.8B—
ROCK Manufacturing - Metal FabricationGibraltar Industries, Inc.3/5 short0/3 long−7.9%−11.9%−4.6%−23.4%−45.7%−36.9%−47.8%+8.6%41.7%-0.10−66.5%—$1.1B—
EXP Construction MaterialsEagle Materials Inc.2/5 short0/3 long−3.6%−14.3%−16.0%−18.0%−27.0%+12.9%+24.5%+138%32.9%0.30−63.8%—$5.3B—
KNF Construction MaterialsKnife River Corporation2/5 short0/3 long−7.6%−34.9%−42.9%−29.6%−21.0%+2.6%————−55.3%—$2.9B—
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How did CRH do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where CRH ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with CRH and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of CRH; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places CRH among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of CRH20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
CRH This pageCRH plc—+36.9%+35.9%+81.3%−20.5%+27.1%+8.8%+57.0%−25.2%+7.1%+22.3%+23.1%−3.0%+30.4%+7.1%−0.5%−20.8%+17.6%−23.1%−16.4%+45.4%+12.4%+35.4%+67.8%−27.7%−4.1%−17.2%+23.0%+57.0%+14.5%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 9 of 294 of 205 of 205 of 1912 of 1915 of 1915 of 195 of 1912 of 1914 of 1915 of 195 of 1910 of 195 of 1814 of 189 of 1818 of 1812 of 187 of 1811 of 174 of 1613 of 168 of 167 of 1612 of 1612 of 168 of 153 of 143 of 137 of 12
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF15 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
URI United Rentals, Inc.15 of 28+15.9%+24.0%+63.6%+7.0%+43.3%+39.1%+62.6%−40.4%+62.8%+45.6%−28.9%+30.9%+71.3%+54.0%+29.9%+132%+7.5%−50.3%−27.8%+8.7%+23.8%−1.9%+79.0%−52.6%+68.9%−21.5%−48.3%+71.5%—
NUE Nucor Corporation16 of 29+42.0%−31.9%+33.8%+17.4%+118%−1.8%+11.9%−16.4%+9.6%+52.2%−14.9%−5.4%+27.6%+13.1%−6.3%−2.8%+4.2%−19.4%+12.8%+70.5%+30.9%+89.1%+37.7%−20.6%+35.7%−26.6%+28.2%−9.4%−4.5%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.16 of 27+33.7%+46.6%+51.7%+24.6%+59.5%+77.8%+35.8%−22.9%+12.2%+72.1%−28.7%−10.1%+15.7%+26.7%+8.1%−4.4%+5.3%−24.6%+33.5%+49.3%+64.7%+9.5%+109%−77.3%−52.1%+71.0%+28.0%——
USLM United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.15 of 29−9.6%+189%+64.4%+9.9%+13.7%+27.2%+35.1%−7.4%+2.5%+39.0%−23.9%+20.1%+29.8%−21.6%+42.5%+22.1%+44.2%−21.0%+0.6%+14.0%+134%+67.2%+85.6%−33.0%+14.8%−27.5%−1.7%0.0%−15.2%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.16 of 29+60.3%+24.7%+25.9%+18.6%+16.0%+27.0%+19.5%−17.6%+75.0%+42.1%−23.0%+3.5%+3.4%+1.6%−1.5%+68.5%+33.2%−36.8%+20.5%+7.8%+20.7%+19.7%+86.1%−9.8%+13.7%+4.1%+4.7%−3.0%+31.2%
VMI Valmont Industries, Inc.14 of 29+32.2%+32.5%−28.7%+33.1%+44.4%+18.6%+36.5%−32.4%+18.9%+34.4%−15.4%−14.0%+9.9%+51.4%+3.1%+14.0%+28.9%−30.7%+61.5%+67.2%+34.8%+10.1%+21.0%+36.3%−20.0%+16.2%+17.6%−27.7%−4.3%
BCC Boise Cascade Company7 of 12−37.5%−4.0%+107%+1.5%+62.2%+37.0%+59.1%−38.4%+77.7%−11.9%−31.3%+26.0%—————————————————
SSD Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.15 of 29−1.9%−15.7%+125%−35.6%+50.2%+17.5%+50.8%−4.4%+33.5%+30.4%+0.4%−4.7%+13.3%−0.2%+10.7%+16.7%−1.4%+6.1%−15.0%−12.1%+4.8%+38.0%+54.6%+14.8%+12.4%+16.5%+16.9%+12.3%+44.9%
LPX Louisiana-Pacific Corporation11 of 29−21.1%+47.9%+21.5%−23.4%+113%+27.9%+36.4%−13.7%+38.7%+5.1%+8.7%−10.5%−4.2%+139%−14.7%+35.6%+346%−88.3%−34.4%−19.5%+4.7%+51.4%+122%−4.4%−14.9%−24.1%−20.7%−0.9%−7.5%
CX CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.12 of 26+106%−26.4%+91.1%−40.2%+31.0%+37.1%−19.7%−35.6%−2.9%+49.8%−43.1%−10.4%+24.7%+90.6%−47.7%−5.7%+34.5%−62.1%−19.9%+20.1%+69.0%+45.4%+28.8%−9.3%+43.8%−32.2%———
CXT Crane NXT, Co.14 of 29−18.2%+3.5%+64.9%+0.6%+33.4%−7.7%+22.0%−17.8%+25.8%+54.1%−16.7%−11.1%+48.3%+1.8%+16.2%+37.7%+84.3%−58.7%+18.9%+5.3%+24.2%−4.7%+57.1%−21.0%−8.3%+45.4%−29.9%+5.7%+51.5%
MLM Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.14 of 29+21.3%+4.1%+48.6%−22.7%+56.1%+2.6%+64.2%−21.5%+0.6%+63.7%+25.1%+11.8%+7.7%+27.6%−16.5%+5.2%−6.1%−25.7%+28.8%+36.9%+44.9%+16.1%+56.3%−33.1%+11.6%+4.5%−33.4%+72.1%+59.8%
VMC Vulcan Materials Company15 of 29+11.7%+14.1%+30.8%−14.9%+41.1%+4.1%+47.1%−22.3%+3.2%+32.7%+45.1%+11.0%+14.2%+32.5%−9.5%−13.7%−21.7%−9.1%−10.3%+35.1%+26.4%+17.4%+30.2%−20.0%+2.1%+22.2%−7.3%+31.2%+71.8%
JHX James Hardie Industries plc14 of 25−32.6%−20.3%+116%−55.4%+41.6%+51.0%+71.4%−31.7%+13.3%+28.6%+20.9%+1.6%+23.9%+47.1%0.0%−7.7%+134%−41.2%−22.2%+18.0%+26.7%+2.1%+47.3%+32.1%+140%————
WFG West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.9 of 18−28.1%+2.6%+20.3%−23.1%+49.9%+47.9%−8.8%−19.5%+73.5%−5.0%−33.0%+17.0%+32.7%+83.3%−13.0%+51.1%+40.9%−24.9%———————————
OC Owens Corning8 of 19−33.0%+16.6%+77.2%−4.2%+20.9%+18.1%+50.6%−51.7%+80.3%+11.2%+33.5%−10.5%+10.1%+28.8%−7.8%+21.5%+48.2%−14.5%−32.4%——————————
ROCK Gibraltar Industries, Inc.12 of 29−16.1%−25.4%+72.1%−31.2%−7.3%+42.6%+41.7%+7.8%−20.8%+63.7%+56.5%−12.5%+16.6%+14.3%+2.9%−13.7%+31.7%−21.4%−33.6%+3.1%−2.0%+41.8%+33.3%+9.5%+0.5%−24.3%+3.1%+15.2%−24.8%
EXP Eagle Materials Inc.16 of 29−15.9%+22.1%+53.6%−19.6%+65.1%+12.0%+49.2%−45.9%+15.5%+63.9%−20.1%−1.4%+33.1%+130%−7.5%+10.2%+43.8%−46.7%−16.4%+7.8%+43.4%+61.9%+72.2%+10.5%+18.2%−29.4%−3.7%+35.7%+68.9%
KNF Knife River Corporation1 of 2−30.8%+53.6%———————————————————————————
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Risk and diversification

How CRH has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were CRH's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents CRH's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1989, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means CRH fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringCRH fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2008 financial crisis−65.6%−26.4%Jul 2007Aug 20103.1 yearsJan 20176.4 years
Covid crash−53.3%−26.1%Jan 2020Mar 20202 monthsAug 20205 months
Dot-com bust−51.9%−38.6%Jan 2000Oct 20022.8 yearsJan 200415 months
No named crash−39.0%+11.8%Jan 2026Oct 20269 monthsNot yet—
2022 bear market−38.7%−23.0%Jan 2022Sep 20228 monthsMar 20236 months

How did CRH do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far CRH, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than CRH.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
CRH This pageCRH plc—−5.6%−38.7%−49.8%−24.6%−7.5%−22.8%−30.2%−1.0%−57.1%−44.6%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF8 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
URI United Rentals, Inc.2 of 10−14.5%−35.4%−55.3%−43.3%−6.7%−45.7%−50.5%−3.6%−91.2%−77.3%
NUE Nucor Corporation5 of 10−10.3%−40.8%−41.5%−23.5%−6.0%−24.3%−23.9%0.0%−68.3%−44.8%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.5 of 10−4.0%−21.7%−40.8%−22.1%−7.1%−35.4%−21.6%−1.7%−69.6%−97.1%
USLM United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.6 of 10−10.1%−21.6%−26.9%−11.5%−4.0%−21.0%−11.6%−0.7%−59.1%−54.2%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.3 of 10−9.7%−30.1%−33.1%−28.5%−7.3%−26.0%−33.2%−2.2%−73.3%−42.5%
VMI Valmont Industries, Inc.6 of 10−5.9%−17.6%−44.1%−25.8%−5.3%−17.0%−29.6%−2.7%−67.9%−37.8%
BCC Boise Cascade Company2 of 6−6.4%−34.8%−49.6%−42.5%−6.5%−43.7%————
SSD Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.5 of 10−5.9%−42.9%−42.3%−32.1%−4.2%−20.2%−16.2%−3.9%−57.2%−25.7%
LPX Louisiana-Pacific Corporation3 of 10−4.7%−37.5%−58.8%−27.0%−7.0%−26.3%−43.5%−0.7%−93.4%−62.8%
CX CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.1 of 10−7.1%−51.9%−57.1%−35.8%−9.4%−54.3%−65.5%−2.6%−87.4%−37.5%
CXT Crane NXT, Co.3 of 10−7.4%−23.6%−54.8%−32.0%−8.0%−20.3%−32.0%−4.2%−77.3%−39.6%
MLM Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.7 of 10−8.1%−32.7%−44.1%−20.2%−4.8%−33.6%−21.8%0.0%−56.3%−45.3%
VMC Vulcan Materials Company4 of 10−7.2%−32.5%−43.4%−27.1%−7.3%−22.8%−26.4%−1.3%−61.0%−39.7%
JHX James Hardie Industries plc5 of 10−3.5%−52.3%−54.3%−33.4%−6.6%−25.1%−22.6%0.0%−71.2%−38.2%
WFG West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.6 of 9−4.0%−31.1%−66.5%−22.2%−8.6%−32.7%−28.2%0.0%−46.8%—
OC Owens Corning2 of 9−6.4%−26.0%−53.3%−28.9%−8.2%−15.7%−43.5%−4.1%−81.0%—
ROCK Gibraltar Industries, Inc.2 of 10−9.9%−45.4%−43.3%−29.2%−10.1%−31.2%−31.6%−7.5%−81.7%−38.6%
EXP Eagle Materials Inc.2 of 10−7.5%−37.8%−52.3%−33.9%−7.3%−44.4%−37.6%−3.5%−63.6%−30.4%
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How closely does CRH move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares CRH with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than CRH's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
CRH This pageCRH plc111%137%0.811.20
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.141%61%2.311.22
USLM United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.111%65%1.700.68
CAT Caterpillar Inc.148%122%1.211.27
URI United Rentals, Inc.177%165%1.071.90
VMI Valmont Industries, Inc.105%115%0.911.27
SSD Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.117%129%0.911.30
MLM Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.83%93%0.900.88
NUE Nucor Corporation154%176%0.871.65
BCC Boise Cascade Company136%163%0.841.52
VMC Vulcan Materials Company75%91%0.830.83
LPX Louisiana-Pacific Corporation154%201%0.761.73
CXT Crane NXT, Co.108%147%0.731.38
OC Owens Corning115%160%0.721.44
WFG West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.127%180%0.711.68
EXP Eagle Materials Inc.108%153%0.711.31
JHX James Hardie Industries plc119%189%0.631.56
CX CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.104%183%0.571.39
ROCK Gibraltar Industries, Inc.73%138%0.531.17
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What diversifies CRH?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with CRH's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing CRH with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which CRH lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% CRH and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202220182014201120102008200720022001200080/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
CRH CRH plc (this page)1.00+103%0.61−20.5%−25.2%−3.0%−0.5%−20.8%−23.1%−16.4%−27.7%−4.1%−17.2%30.7%+15.2%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.35+225%1.34+6.0%−19.8%+8.1%−16.1%−1.8%−20.8%−7.4%———25.6%+18.2%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.47+101%1.04+10.4%−8.7%+23.8%———————26.1%+15.9%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.49+323%0.97−33.5%−9.1%+30.2%+6.8%+19.0%−44.7%+6.0%−47.0%−14.6%—28.6%+20.4%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.23+126%0.96−0.8%−1.9%−2.2%+9.6%+29.3%+4.9%+30.4%———25.6%+16.7%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.18+177%0.93+64.4%−18.2%−8.7%+2.8%+21.9%−39.0%+36.8%−14.8%−18.2%+24.4%26.0%+17.9%
EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF0.43+153%0.89−28.9%−9.9%+7.0%−21.8%+22.8%−45.3%+6.4%−24.4%+2.1%—27.2%+17.3%
AMLP EnergyAlerian MLP ETF0.34+111%0.89+25.5%−12.6%+4.8%+10.2%——————26.1%+16.6%
DBMF AlternativesiMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF-0.36+59.7%0.82+21.6%—————————23.8%+15.4%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202220182014201120102008200720022001200080/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
CRH CRH plc (this page)1.00+103%0.61−20.5%−25.2%−3.0%−0.5%−20.8%−23.1%−16.4%−27.7%−4.1%−17.2%30.7%+15.2%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.23+479%1.55+54.1%−24.5%+23.0%+8.1%+21.4%−39.6%−9.8%−8.3%−2.5%+108%26.3%+20.6%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.40+3,143%1.47+1.3%−16.3%+12.9%−24.4%+2.8%−20.5%−25.7%−65.1%−25.6%−2.3%31.1%+32.8%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.48+1,636%1.46+17.0%+0.8%−10.4%−17.0%+8.7%−15.2%+2.1%−9.4%+73.7%−71.1%29.9%+28.7%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.16+413%1.44+51.8%−28.4%+29.3%+11.8%+13.8%−40.4%+29.7%−27.2%+4.9%+61.2%25.9%+20.1%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.13+690%1.41+86.6%−8.2%+0.4%———————26.2%+22.8%
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Common questions

What was CRH's worst drawdown?

CRH's deepest decline since it began trading in 1989 was 65.6%, from July 2007 to August 2010. It took about six years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were CRH's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, CRH's best year was 2023, when it returned 81.3%. Its worst was 2002, with a return of -27.7%.

Is there a better investment than CRH?

Among CRH's popular alternatives, CAT earned more for the risk it took than CRH over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 43.4%, against 53.3% for CRH. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, TT (building products) and CMI (industrial machinery) earned more than CRH with less volatility over the past 5 years. TT returned 22.7% a year at 27.7% volatility, against 15.2% a year at 31.4%.

Is CRH more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. CRH's volatility over the past 5 years was 31.4%, 1.8 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, CRH's return lands within 31.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is CRH's Sharpe ratio?

CRH's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.61, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so CRH earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is CRH with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, CRH's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.67 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against CRH instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a CRH holding.

What are the best alternatives to CRH?

Of the 19 popular alternatives we compared, six outperformed CRH in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: URI, NUE and PWR.

Did CRH outperform the S&P 500?

CRH finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 14 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +36.9%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did CRH do in stock market crashes?

CRH fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in two of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in eight. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when CRH fell 49.8% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

What diversifies CRH?

These had a low correlation with CRH over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.35), EMLP (correlation 0.47) and SMH (correlation 0.49); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.23), CLS (correlation 0.40) and FIX (correlation 0.48). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to CRH

Other stocks and ETFs