WPP (NYSE:WPP) Lowered to Equal Weight Rating by Barclays

Barclays cut shares of WPP (NYSE:WPP) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of WPP from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com downgraded WPP from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th.

WPP Stock Down 1.2 %

WPP opened at $40.56 on Friday. WPP has a twelve month low of $40.14 and a twelve month high of $57.37. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $47.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.79, a P/E/G ratio of 7.06 and a beta of 1.25.

WPP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.9728 per share. This is an increase from WPP’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 6th. This represents a yield of 6.2%. WPP’s payout ratio is presently 32.50%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WPP. Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in WPP by 52,800.0% during the fourth quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 529 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of WPP by 453.5% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,179 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 966 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of WPP by 92.4% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,247 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 599 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of WPP in the third quarter valued at approximately $84,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of WPP by 57.0% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,168 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $111,000 after buying an additional 787 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.34% of the company’s stock.

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.