WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) have earned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $46.00.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of WPP from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. Citigroup raised shares of WPP to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th.

WPP Stock Down 2.6 %

NYSE WPP opened at $46.51 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $46.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $47.95. WPP has a 12 month low of $41.13 and a 12 month high of $54.21.

WPP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 11th will be given a dividend of $0.954 per share. This represents a yield of 5.7%. This is a boost from WPP’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 11th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WPP. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD raised its holdings in WPP by 46.5% in the first quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 3,350,015 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $158,791,000 after acquiring an additional 1,062,708 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in WPP by 40.5% in the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,155,648 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $54,974,000 after acquiring an additional 332,914 shares in the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP raised its holdings in WPP by 7.0% in the second quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 652,269 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $30,232,000 after acquiring an additional 42,690 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in WPP by 24.5% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 321,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $14,759,000 after acquiring an additional 63,363 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in WPP by 15.9% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 199,110 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,115,000 after acquiring an additional 27,384 shares in the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About WPP

WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies.