River Global Investors LLP Takes Position in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG)

River Global Investors LLP purchased a new position in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 166,000 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $5,417,000. Interpublic Group of Companies accounts for about 1.0% of River Global Investors LLP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 10.6% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 56,942 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,632,000 after purchasing an additional 5,445 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 9,774 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 691 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 383,010 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $10,977,000 after buying an additional 48,265 shares in the last quarter. Bailard Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 32.0% during the third quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 14,915 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 3,613 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 2.7% in the third quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 1,244,092 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $35,656,000 after acquiring an additional 32,200 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.43% of the company’s stock.

Interpublic Group of Companies Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:IPG traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $30.72. 2,066,467 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,566,049. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $27.20 and a twelve month high of $40.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The business has a 50-day moving average of $31.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.42. The company has a market capitalization of $11.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.93, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.13.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.18 billion. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 9.97%. Interpublic Group of Companies’s revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.38 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. will post 2.78 EPS for the current year.

Interpublic Group of Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a $0.33 dividend. This is an increase from Interpublic Group of Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.30%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Interpublic Group of Companies’s payout ratio is currently 46.98%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 9th. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $36.00 target price on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Interpublic Group of Companies from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $35.13.

Insider Buying and Selling at Interpublic Group of Companies

In other Interpublic Group of Companies news, CFO Ellen Tobi Johnson sold 40,393 shares of Interpublic Group of Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $1,300,654.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,844,870. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Interpublic Group of Companies news, CFO Ellen Tobi Johnson sold 40,393 shares of Interpublic Group of Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $1,300,654.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,844,870. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Christopher F. Carroll sold 18,382 shares of Interpublic Group of Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $591,900.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 42,390 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,364,958. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 249,646 shares of company stock valued at $8,038,601 in the last three months. 0.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Interpublic Group of Companies Profile

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. The Media, Data & Engagement Solutions segment provides media and communications services, digital services and products, advertising and marketing technology, e-commerce services, data management and analytics, strategic consulting, and digital brand experience under the IPG Mediabrands, UM, Initiative, Kinesso, Acxiom, Huge, MRM, and R/GA brand names.