Wpp Plc (NYSE:WPP) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Consensus "Hold": Six brokerages give WPP a consensus Hold rating (1 sell, 4 hold, 1 buy), with recent analyst moves including Barclays upgrading to equal weight and mixed views from firms like Citigroup and Weiss.
• Dividend announced: WPP will pay a $0.5079 dividend on July 6 to shareholders of record June 5 (ex-dividend date June 5), with the report citing a 616.0% yield.
• Stock and financials: Shares opened at $18.63, trading a 12-month range of $14.81–$40.94 with 50‑day and 200‑day moving averages of $16.93 and $19.45, and the company shows a debt-to-equity of 1.48 and current/quick ratios of 0.89.

Wpp Plc (NYSE:WPP - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Hold" by the six brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company.

Several research firms have commented on WPP. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of WPP in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Wall Street Zen raised WPP from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 14th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d+)" rating on shares of WPP in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Barclays raised WPP from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th.

WPP Stock Performance

WPP opened at $18.63 on Wednesday. WPP has a twelve month low of $14.81 and a twelve month high of $40.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $16.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.45.

WPP Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 5th will be given a $0.5079 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 616.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 5th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WPP

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in WPP by 38.9% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,852 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 519 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of WPP by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 7,766 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 654 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC grew its position in shares of WPP by 47.7% in the third quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 2,038 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 658 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of WPP by 105.8% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,395 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 717 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of WPP by 6.0% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 13,704 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 776 shares during the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About WPP

WPP plc NYSE: WPP is a British multinational advertising and public relations company headquartered in London, England. Recognized as one of the world's largest communications services groups, WPP provides a wide array of marketing, advertising, media investment management and data consultancy services. Through its integrated network of agencies—among them Ogilvy, Grey, GroupM and Wavemaker—the company delivers creative content, brand strategy, digital transformation and media planning solutions to clients across virtually every industry.

Established in 1971 by Martin Sorrell as Wire and Plastic Products, the firm underwent a strategic transformation in the 1980s, focusing on acquisitions that expanded its capabilities into advertising and communications.

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