OFI Invest Asset Management Purchases Shares of 1,347 The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG)

OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,347 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $36,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Personal CFO Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Interpublic Group of Companies in the fourth quarter valued at $753,000. Amundi grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 133.6% in the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 5,402,201 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $150,393,000 after acquiring an additional 3,089,387 shares during the period. Lifeworks Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Interpublic Group of Companies in the fourth quarter valued at $209,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 18.9% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 15,335 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 2,443 shares during the period. Finally, Andra AP fonden grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 31.4% in the fourth quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 538,471 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $15,088,000 after acquiring an additional 128,771 shares during the period. 98.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Interpublic Group of Companies

In other Interpublic Group of Companies news, CFO Ellen Tobi Johnson sold 21,427 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.82, for a total value of $574,672.14. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 143,373 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,845,263.86. This represents a 13.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.42% of the company’s stock.

Interpublic Group of Companies Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of IPG opened at $28.22 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $26.15 and a 12-month high of $35.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.52 billion, a PE ratio of 15.42 and a beta of 1.14. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $27.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.44.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.15 by ($0.04). Interpublic Group of Companies had a net margin of 6.45% and a return on equity of 27.10%. As a group, research analysts predict that The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Interpublic Group of Companies declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 12th that authorizes the company to repurchase $155.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the business services provider to buy up to 1.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Interpublic Group of Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Interpublic Group of Companies’s payout ratio is 72.13%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Interpublic Group of Companies in a research report on Sunday. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Interpublic Group of Companies from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $32.00 to $39.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Barclays upgraded Interpublic Group of Companies from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $32.00 to $36.00 in a report on Friday, January 24th. Argus cut Interpublic Group of Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Interpublic Group of Companies from an “underperform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $38.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $33.50.

Interpublic Group of Companies Company 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.