WPP plc (NYSE:WPP - Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Friday after the company announced a dividend. 867,710 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 327% from the previous session's volume of 203,331 shares.The stock last traded at $40.31 and had previously closed at $41.06.
The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Friday, July 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be paid a $0.9728 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 6th. This is an increase from WPP's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.95. This represents a dividend yield of 6.2%. WPP's dividend payout ratio is 8.04%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com lowered WPP from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, November 18th. Barclays lowered WPP from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets upgraded shares of WPP from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th.
Get Our Latest Research Report on WPP
WPP Price Performance
The company has a fifty day moving average price of $47.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $50.02. The company has a market cap of $8.47 billion, a PE ratio of 6.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.06 and a beta of 1.25.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On WPP
Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WPP. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in WPP in the third quarter valued at $1,479,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of WPP by 45.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 6,397 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $335,000 after purchasing an additional 2,007 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in WPP by 92.4% during 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. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in WPP by 22.5% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 19,658 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 3,615 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of WPP by 67.6% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 55,963 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,863,000 after purchasing an additional 22,578 shares in the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
WPP Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
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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