WPP (NYSE:WPP) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

WPP (NYSE:WPP) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Separately, Citigroup raised WPP to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $46.00.

WPP Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WPP opened at $47.40 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.86. WPP has a 12 month low of $41.13 and a 12 month high of $54.21. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $46.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.02.

Institutional Trading of WPP

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WPP. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its holdings in WPP by 46.5% in the first quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 3,350,015 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $158,791,000 after acquiring an additional 1,062,708 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in WPP by 40.5% in the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,155,648 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $54,974,000 after acquiring an additional 332,914 shares during the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP boosted its holdings in WPP by 47.9% in the fourth quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 567,653 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $27,003,000 after acquiring an additional 183,955 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in WPP by 72.0% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 191,401 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,247,000 after acquiring an additional 80,102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in WPP by 24.5% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 321,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $14,759,000 after acquiring an additional 63,363 shares during the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.