Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) Earns Hold Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) in a report issued on Friday. The brokerage set a “hold” rating on the business services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. BNP Paribas raised shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from an “underperform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $38.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Interpublic Group of Companies from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $34.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $29.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Argus cut shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $33.50.

Interpublic Group of Companies Stock Performance

NYSE IPG opened at $27.53 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $28.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $29.75. Interpublic Group of Companies has a 1 year low of $26.30 and a 1 year high of $35.17. The firm has a market cap of $10.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.04 and a beta of 1.11.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) last released its 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, equities research analysts predict that Interpublic Group of Companies will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Interpublic Group of Companies declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 12th that permits the company to buyback $155.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to repurchase up to 1.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Interpublic Group of Companies

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 70.3% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 253,172 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $8,008,000 after purchasing an additional 104,514 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 2,679.9% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 30,523 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $965,000 after purchasing an additional 29,425 shares during the last quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. increased its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 7.4% in the third quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. now owns 12,937 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $409,000 after acquiring an additional 886 shares during the period. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 8.9% during the third quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 12,409 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $393,000 after acquiring an additional 1,015 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 2.9% in the third quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 14,058 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.43% of the company’s stock.

About Interpublic Group of Companies

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.