Short Interest in WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) Decreases By 64.6%

WPP plc (NYSE:WPP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 75,700 shares, a decrease of 64.6% from the March 15th total of 213,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 135,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold.

WPP Price Performance

WPP stock traded up $0.86 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $48.39. The stock had a trading volume of 500,553 shares, compared to its average volume of 143,718. WPP has a one year low of $41.13 and a one year high of $60.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The firm's 50 day moving average is $46.88 and its 200 day moving average is $45.99.

WPP Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 5th. Investors of record on Friday, June 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.244 per share. This represents a yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 7th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WPP. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of WPP by 187.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 617 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its stake in WPP by 48.2% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 864 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its holdings in WPP by 166.8% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 675 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 422 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in WPP by 54.0% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 973 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of WPP during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. 4.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered WPP from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of WPP from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of WPP from a "buy" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $46.00.

WPP Company Profile

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.

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