Wall Street Zen Downgrades WPP (NYSE:WPP) to Sell

WPP (NYSE:WPP) was downgraded by equities researchers at Wall Street Zen from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Sunday.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of WPP in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of WPP in a report on Monday, January 12th. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Finally, Zacks Research raised WPP from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, WPP has an average rating of “Reduce”.

WPP Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of WPP stock opened at $18.61 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $21.33 and a 200 day moving average of $22.99. WPP has a fifty-two week low of $17.25 and a fifty-two week high of $49.12.

Institutional Trading of WPP

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of WPP by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 10,186,191 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $255,164,000 after acquiring an additional 47,289 shares during the period. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD raised its holdings in WPP by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 3,240,219 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $72,775,000 after purchasing an additional 48,714 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in WPP by 12.3% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 861,579 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $21,555,000 after purchasing an additional 94,162 shares in the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP grew its holdings in WPP by 12.2% in the second quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 626,371 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $21,930,000 after purchasing an additional 68,271 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of WPP by 10.8% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 470,900 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $16,486,000 after buying an additional 45,866 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.34% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting WPP

Here are the key news stories impacting WPP this week:

• Positive Sentiment: WPP will consolidate its creative agencies into a single holding/creative umbrella as part of a strategic overhaul touted by the new CEO — aimed at simplifying client offerings, boosting creativity scale and cutting duplication across networks. WPP to overhaul creative agency structure in strategic rethink — FT
• Positive Sentiment: Reports specify major brands such as Ogilvy, VML and AKQA will be realigned under one creative umbrella — a move that could improve cross-agency coordination and present a clearer proposition to large clients. WPP to realign Ogilvy, VML and AKQA under one creative umbrella
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and live coverage are weighing in on the news; general reporting (markets live) is providing context but not new operational detail — keep watching for management guidance and timing. WPP and Ocado: Markets live
• Negative Sentiment: A sell-side style rating downgrade (Wall Street Zen lowered to Sell) adds immediate negative sentiment and could pressure the stock if more brokerages follow; downgrades highlight investor concern about near-term execution and margins during the reorganisation. WPP (NYSE:WPP) Rating Lowered to Sell at Wall Street Zen

WPP Company Profile

WPP plc (NYSE: WPP) is a British multinational advertising and public relations company headquartered in London, England. Recognized as one of the world’s largest communications services groups, WPP provides a wide array of marketing, advertising, media investment management and data consultancy services. Through its integrated network of agencies—among them Ogilvy, Grey, GroupM and Wavemaker—the company delivers creative content, brand strategy, digital transformation and media planning solutions to clients across virtually every industry.

Established in 1971 by Martin Sorrell as Wire and Plastic Products, the firm underwent a strategic transformation in the 1980s, focusing on acquisitions that expanded its capabilities into advertising and communications.