Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) Stake Reduced by Candriam S.C.A.

Candriam S.C.A. lessened its stake in shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) by 36.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 71,712 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 41,468 shares during the period. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in Omnicom Group were worth $6,170,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. World Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 209.7% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,311 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,720,000 after buying an additional 17,815 shares in the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Omnicom Group in the third quarter valued at $713,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 40.9% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 29,750 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,077,000 after purchasing an additional 8,643 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 2.0% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 489,039 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $50,562,000 after purchasing an additional 9,774 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 19.7% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 231,068 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $23,860,000 after purchasing an additional 38,022 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.97% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on OMC shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Omnicom Group from $110.00 to $99.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Barclays lowered their price target on Omnicom Group from $121.00 to $110.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Macquarie reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of Omnicom Group in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Argus cut Omnicom Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Omnicom Group from $119.00 to $116.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Omnicom Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $108.25.

Omnicom Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE OMC opened at $84.90 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. Omnicom Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $79.57 and a 12 month high of $107.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $84.42 and a 200-day moving average of $94.36. The company has a market capitalization of $16.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.98.

Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The business services provider reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.38 by $0.03. Omnicom Group had a return on equity of 36.39% and a net margin of 9.44%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.20 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Omnicom Group Inc. will post 8.25 EPS for the current year.

Omnicom Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 11th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.30%. Omnicom Group’s payout ratio is currently 37.58%.

Omnicom Group Profile

Omnicom Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of advertising and media, precision marketing, commerce and branding, experiential, execution and support, public relations, and healthcare.