Interpublic Group of Companies Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:IPG)

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders acquired 2,295 call options on the company. This is an increase of 137% compared to the average volume of 969 call options.

Interpublic Group of Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE IPG traded up $2.77 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $32.03. 5,247,589 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,043,058. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $30.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $30.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.80 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.09. Interpublic Group of Companies has a one year low of $26.88 and a one year high of $35.17.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The business services provider reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.70. The firm had revenue of $2.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.30 billion. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 27.76% and a net margin of 7.44%. The company’s revenue was down 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.70 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Interpublic Group of Companies will post 2.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Interpublic Group of Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.12%. Interpublic Group of Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.26%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 15.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 29,844,859 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $943,993,000 after purchasing an additional 3,920,975 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 12,426,923 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $393,064,000 after buying an additional 270,857 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,449,534 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $298,107,000 after buying an additional 81,265 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,842,846 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $199,063,000 after purchasing an additional 828,150 shares during the period. Finally, Ariel Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 5,710,448 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $166,117,000 after purchasing an additional 193,898 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.43% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $36.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. Macquarie reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $31.00 price target on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. UBS Group cut shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $34.00 to $29.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Interpublic Group of Companies has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $30.57.

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.