WPP plc (LON:WPP) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

WPP plc (LON:WPP – Get Rating) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 1,152.40 ($14.44).

Several brokerages have issued reports on WPP. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on WPP from GBX 1,170 ($14.66) to GBX 1,230 ($15.41) in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of WPP from GBX 1,200 ($15.03) to GBX 1,250 ($15.66) and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on WPP from GBX 1,240 ($15.53) to GBX 1,260 ($15.78) in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Shore Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of WPP in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded WPP to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from GBX 920 ($11.52) to GBX 1,158 ($14.51) in a report on Thursday, January 19th.

Insider Buying and Selling at WPP

In other news, insider Mark Read sold 154,765 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 933 ($11.69), for a total transaction of £1,443,957.45 ($1,808,790.49). Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

WPP Price Performance

WPP stock opened at GBX 888.60 ($11.13) on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 172.61, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 938.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 912.11. The firm has a market capitalization of £9.51 billion, a PE ratio of 1,457.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.21. WPP has a 1 year low of GBX 713 ($8.93) and a 1 year high of GBX 1,082 ($13.55).

WPP Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 8th will be issued a GBX 24.40 ($0.31) dividend. This is a boost from WPP’s previous dividend of $15.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a yield of 2.4%. WPP’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6,393.44%.

WPP Company Profile

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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.