Blue Trust Inc. Acquires 2,789 Shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP)

Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) by 378.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,526 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,789 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in WPP were worth $180,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in WPP by 26.0% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 120,564 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $5,715,000 after acquiring an additional 24,899 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in WPP by 15.9% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 199,110 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $9,115,000 after acquiring an additional 27,384 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new position in WPP in the first quarter worth approximately $39,000. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its position in WPP by 9.0% in the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 34,765 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,592,000 after acquiring an additional 2,862 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in WPP by 72.0% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 191,401 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $9,247,000 after acquiring an additional 80,102 shares during the period. 4.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on WPP. StockNews.com raised shares of WPP from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, September 8th. Citigroup raised shares of WPP to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th.

WPP Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WPP opened at $53.06 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $49.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $49.04. WPP plc has a 1 year low of $41.20 and a 1 year high of $54.21.

WPP Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 11th will be paid a $0.954 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 11th. This is a boost from WPP’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.24. This represents a dividend yield of 5.7%.

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.