Sanctuary Advisors LLC Sells 1,614 Shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP)

Sanctuary Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) by 25.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,783 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 1,614 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC’s holdings in WPP were worth $231,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. HF Advisory Group LLC lifted its position in WPP by 23.8% during the 3rd quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 6,668 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $341,000 after acquiring an additional 1,280 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WPP by 102.3% during the third quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 38,791 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,984,000 after purchasing an additional 19,615 shares during the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management boosted its position in shares of WPP by 72.8% in the 3rd quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 94,710 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $4,845,000 after purchasing an additional 39,894 shares in the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WPP in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, MQS Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WPP in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $286,000. Institutional investors own 4.34% of the company’s stock.

WPP Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of WPP opened at $39.72 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $8.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.65, a P/E/G ratio of 7.06 and a beta of 1.25. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $46.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.90. WPP plc has a 12 month low of $38.90 and a 12 month high of $57.37.

WPP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 4th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th will be issued a $0.9728 dividend. This represents a yield of 6.2%. This is an increase from WPP’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. WPP’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded WPP from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 18th. Barclays downgraded shares of WPP from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets raised shares of WPP from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th.

WPP Profile

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.