Wpp Plc (NYSE:WPP) Given Average Rating of "Reduce" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Wpp Plc has received an average broker rating of "Reduce," with two sell ratings, two hold ratings, and one buy rating from analysts.
• The company has recently seen significant activity from institutional investors, including Osaic Holdings Inc. increasing its stake by 105.8% in the second quarter.
• Wpp has declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.5033 per share, with an impressive dividend yield of 1,060.0%.

Shares of Wpp Plc (NYSE:WPP - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Reduce" from the five analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company.

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded WPP from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Sunday. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of WPP in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Kepler Capital Markets lowered WPP from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of WPP in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered WPP from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On WPP

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of WPP by 105.8% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,395 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 717 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in shares of WPP by 63.4% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 44,950 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,574,000 after acquiring an additional 17,444 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WPP during the second quarter worth about $204,000. Vident Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of WPP by 26.9% during the second quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 7,859 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 1,665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of WPP during the second quarter worth about $714,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.34% of the company's stock.

WPP Stock Performance

WPP stock opened at $24.35 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $26.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.61. The company has a market capitalization of $5.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.97. WPP has a 1-year low of $24.01 and a 1-year high of $57.37.

WPP Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.5033 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 1,060.0%. WPP's payout ratio is presently 8.21%.

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.

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