Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Has $4.01 Million Holdings in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG)

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its position in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG) by 4.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 122,986 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 5,682 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management’s holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies were worth $4,014,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Black Creek Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 14.1% during the third quarter. Black Creek Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,722,563 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $278,649,000 after buying an additional 1,204,630 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 1.8% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,291,211 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $266,286,000 after buying an additional 167,810 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 5.2% in the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 8,385,274 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $240,317,000 after buying an additional 414,110 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 24.6% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,635,459 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $132,852,000 after acquiring an additional 916,574 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,038,225 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $87,076,000 after acquiring an additional 160,312 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.43% of the company’s stock.

Interpublic Group of Companies Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:IPG traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $30.96. The company had a trading volume of 2,560,081 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,996,272. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $27.20 and a one year high of $40.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The company has a market capitalization of $11.68 billion, a PE ratio of 11.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $31.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.46.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.01. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 9.97%. The business had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.38 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. will post 2.78 EPS for the current year.

Interpublic Group of Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This is a boost from Interpublic Group of Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.26%. Interpublic Group of Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

IPG has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Interpublic Group of Companies from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $36.00 price target for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $35.13.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Ellen Tobi Johnson sold 40,393 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $1,300,654.60. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,844,870. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Ellen Tobi Johnson sold 40,393 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total transaction of $1,300,654.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,844,870. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Christopher F. Carroll sold 18,382 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total transaction of $591,900.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 42,390 shares in the company, valued at $1,364,958. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 249,646 shares of company stock worth $8,038,601. 0.42% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.