WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) Shares Purchased by Optiver Holding B.V.

Optiver Holding B.V. raised its stake in shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP - Free Report) by 104.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 141,488 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 72,342 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V. owned about 0.07% of WPP worth $7,272,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Aquatic Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in WPP by 144.4% in the fourth quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 12,462 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $641,000 after buying an additional 7,362 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC purchased a new position in WPP during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,287,000. Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in WPP by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 56,210 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,889,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of WPP by 7.9% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 484,996 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $24,928,000 after buying an additional 35,412 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of WPP during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $309,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.34% of the company's stock.

WPP Stock Down 0.7 %

WPP traded down $0.28 during trading on Thursday, reaching $38.28. The company's stock had a trading volume of 262,732 shares, compared to its average volume of 202,925. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.54. The company has a market cap of $8.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.41, a PEG ratio of 7.06 and a beta of 1.06. WPP plc has a 1 year low of $31.52 and a 1 year high of $57.37.

WPP Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be issued a $0.9728 dividend. This is a boost from WPP's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.95. This represents a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. WPP's dividend payout ratio is presently 8.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on WPP. Barclays lowered shares of WPP from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded WPP from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on WPP in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set a "neutral" rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

WPP 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.