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Why Investors Should Hold Interpublic Group (IPG) Stock Now

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The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG - Free Report) is currently benefiting from its solid liquidity and shareholder-friendly returns.

IPG’s earnings and revenues for 2022 are expected to improve 5.4% and 3.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Shares of IPG have gained 18.9% in the past six months compared with the 6.8% growth of the industry it belongs to.

Zacks Investment Research
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Factors That Augur Well

Interpublic’s current ratio at the end of third-quarter 2022 was 1.05, higher than the current ratio of 1.01 reported at the end of the prior-year quarter. An increasing current ratio vouches for a company’s efficiency in meeting its short-term obligations.

Commitment to shareholder returns makes Interpublic a reliable stock for compounding wealth over the long term. In 2021 and 2020, IPG paid out $427.7 million and $398.1 million of dividends, respectively. In 2019 and 2018, IPG made $363.1 million and $322.1 million of dividend payments. Such moves highlight a company’s commitment to create value for its shareholders and underline its confidence in its business.

A Risk

Interpublic’s cash position is affected by seasonality in its business. This is because of its clients’ fluctuating annual media spending budgets and the changing media spending patterns, varying throughout the year with different localities. Seasonality is observed in the first nine months of a year, with the maximum impact felt in the first quarter.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Interpublic currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (BAH - Free Report) and CRA International, Inc. (CRAI - Free Report) .

Booz Allen carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), presently. BAH has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.9%.

Booz Allen delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.8%, on average.

CRA International carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. CRAI has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.3%.

CRA International delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 25.7%, on average.
 

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