Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) Short Interest Up 21.0% in February

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) saw a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 18,980,000 shares, a growth of 21.0% from the January 31st total of 15,680,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,490,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.6 days. Approximately 9.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Omnicom Group Trading Up 0.9 %

OMC opened at $83.36 on Friday. Omnicom Group has a twelve month low of $79.57 and a twelve month high of $107.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market cap of $16.38 billion, a PE ratio of 11.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.98. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $84.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.45.

Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The business services provider reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 business posted $2.20 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Omnicom Group 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. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 11th. Omnicom Group’s dividend payout ratio is 37.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Omnicom Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Omnicom Group by 645.2% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 313 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Omnicom Group by 146.6% in the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 328 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Omnicom Group by 153.8% during the fourth quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 330 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in Omnicom Group by 708.8% in the fourth quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 461 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. 91.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Omnicom Group

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.