Interpublic Group Upgraded to Neutral by UBS Group

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) has received an upgrade from UBS Group, moving from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating as announced in a note to investors on Thursday.

This change is part of a larger trend in which various analysts have been assessing the company recently. For instance, StockNews.com has initiated coverage on Interpublic Group, designating it with a "hold" rating. Further, Barclays improved its stance on Interpublic Group, upgrading it from an "equal weight" to an "overweight" rating, while also raising the target price for shares from $32.00 to $36.00.

Additionally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. made a notable upgrade, shifting their rating from "neutral" to "overweight" and increasing the price objective from $32.00 to $39.00 in a report issued on January 27th. Macquarie reiterated a "neutral" rating, setting a price target of $31.00, whereas BNP Paribas upgraded its rating from "underperform" to "outperform" with a price target of $38.00.

To summarize the analyst opinions, one analyst currently rates the stock as a sell, four analysts have given it a hold rating, and four have given it a buy rating. Data from MarketBeat highlights that Interpublic Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $33.75.

Stock Performance

On Thursday, Interpublic Group's stock dipped by $0.11 during midday trading, reaching a price of $26.67. The trading volume for the day was 1,509,237 shares, compared to the average volume of 4,817,064 shares. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.90. Notably, the stock has experienced a fifty-two week low of $26.30 and a high of $35.17.

Interpublic Group is categorized with a market capitalization of approximately $9.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.58, and a beta of 1.11. Additionally, the company possesses a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, with both current and quick ratios listed at 1.09.

The company's latest earnings report was disclosed on February 12th, where it reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.11, slightly short of the expected $1.15. The return on equity for the company stands at 27.76%, accompanied by a net margin of 7.44%. Analysts project that the company will post an EPS of 2.80 for the current fiscal year.

Furthermore, the board of Interpublic Group has approved a stock buyback plan aimed at repurchasing up to $155 million in shares, indicating confidence in the company's stock price.

Institutional Investors

Many institutional investors and hedge funds have recently adjusted their stakes in Interpublic Group. Notably, AMF Tjanstepension AB boosted its position by 70.3% during the 3rd quarter. This increase involved acquiring an additional 104,514 shares, resulting in a total of 253,172 shares valued at approximately $8,008,000. Similarly, Swedbank AB raised its stake by 2.1%, resulting in ownership of 613,367 shares valued at $19,401,000.

Other investors, including Vontobel Holding Ltd. and B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC, have also expanded their positions. Currently, institutional investors hold approximately 98.43% of Interpublic Group's stock.

Company Overview

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. provides a range of advertising and marketing services internationally. The organization operates through three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions; Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions; and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. Its Media segment, for instance, offers media services, advertising technology, and data management services under well-known brand names.

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