Live-Nachrichten • May 09
WPP Appoints Chief Transformation Officer as AI and Data Take Center Stage in Growth Strategy WPP has appointed Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as Chief Transformation Officer to lead the Elevate28 growth strategy and drive the group’s operational evolution.
The new role includes responsibility for embedding AI and data into WPP’s core operations and delivering fully integrated, AI-enabled solutions for clients.
WPP Media leaders highlight a shift from traditional media planning toward broader marketing planning, supported by AI platforms such as WPP Open and a stronger focus on micro-marketing and commerce.
For you as an investor, these updates point to WPP leaning further into technology, particularly AI, across both its internal operations and client-facing services. The Chief Transformation Officer role is designed to simplify how the company operates and to connect its product and enterprise tech teams more tightly with day-to-day delivery. This is presented by management as part of the Elevate28 plan, which focuses on reshaping WPP’s operating model around integrated, data-rich offerings.
On the client side, comments from WPP Media’s Priti Murthy indicate that the company is positioning itself less as a pure media buyer and more as a broader marketing partner. AI-powered tools such as WPP Open, micro-marketing capabilities, and integrated commerce are described as becoming more central to how it works with brands. When you assess WPP, it is worth considering how effectively these organisational and technology shifts might influence client retention, share of wallet and the company’s ability to compete for more complex, multi-channel briefs. Ankündigung • May 02
WPP PLC Appoints Peter Agnefjäll as Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Member, Effective May 11, 2026 WPP PLC announces the appointment of Peter Agnefjäll to its Board as Non-Executive Director, with effect from May 11, 2026. Peter began his career at IKEA as a graduate trainee in 1995 and held a number of senior positions before serving as Chief Executive Officer and President of the IKEA Group (Ingka Holding B.V.) from 2013 to 2017. During this period, he led the company's growth agenda and move into omnichannel retail, new shopping and distribution formats. Since leaving executive office, Peter has served on a number of boards in a non-executive capacity. He joined the Supervisory Board of Ahold Delhaize, a multinational retailer in 2019 and served as its Chair between 2021 to 2025. From 2018 until recently, he served on the Board of Directors of Orkla ASA, an OBX listed industrial investment company focused on brands and consumer-oriented businesses. He held a non-executive position at Wizz Air between 2018 to 2021 and was a member of the board of advisors of the footwear retailer, Deichmann SE from 2018 to 2023. Peter is a member of the Council on Sustainability Transformation, convened by the specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM. He holds an M.Sc. in Business Administration from Linköping University. On appointment, Peter will become a member of the WPP Board Audit Committee. Ankündigung • Apr 30
Wpp plc Reaffirms Earnings Guidance for the for 2026 WPP plc reaffirmed earnings guidance for the for 2026. For the period, The company anticipates LFL revenue less pass-through costs to decline in the mid to high-single digits in the first half of 2026 with an improving trajectory in the second half and expect headline operating profit margin for the full year to be 12% to 13%. Ankündigung • Apr 16
WPP Reportedly Considers Strategic Sale of Burson Amid Corporate Restructuring WPP plc (LSE:WPP) is exploring the sale of Burson (The Burson Group LLC), marking the first major portfolio adjustment under chief executive Cindy Rose. This strategic review, announced on April 13, 2026, indicates Rose's commitment to streamline WPP's operations as it navigates challenging market conditions. The company has enlisted Goldman Sachs to assess potential options for the public relations firm, although both WPP and Goldman Sachs declined to provide further comments on the matter. A potential divestment would represent a significant shift in WPP's focus, particularly as the company has previously sold a majority stake in FGS Global to KKR for GBP 1,300 million. The review of Burson's future comes in light of recent financial results that show WPP's PR division generated GBP 667 million in revenue in Fiscal year 2025, reflecting a 6% like-for-like decline. This downturn is attributed to weaker discretionary spending, notably across Europe. Overall, WPP reported a revenue drop to GBP 13,550 million in Fiscal year 2025, an 8.1% decline, with headline operating profit decreasing by 22.6% to GBP 1,321 million. Since Cindy Rose took the helm in September 2025, she has emphasized simplification through her Elevate28 strategy, which aims to reduce complexities and improve integration across WPP's core offerings in media, creative, production, and technology. Within this framework, the role of public relations appears to be diminishing, leading to speculation that Burson may not fit into WPP's long-term strategic vision. Ankündigung • Apr 11
Wpp plc Appoints Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as Chief Transformation Officer WPP PLC has announced the appointment of Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as Chief Transformation Officer. In this newly created role, Anne-Isabelle will be responsible for designing, implementing and embedding the operations that underpin Elevate28, WPP's three-year growth plan unveiled in February 2026. She will spearhead initiatives that foster innovation and efficiency to transform WPP's integrated offer to clients, aligned with the company's mission to become the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands, ensuring that the company shows up differently with agile, outcome-driven solutions that deliver measurable growth. She will lead organisational transformation across WPP, working closely with the company's product and enterprise tech teams to harness AI, technology and data to unlock new capabilities and drive operational excellence. Anne-Isabelle will also partner with the company's people function to make culture a strategic lever for transformation, building an agile, high-performance mindset across the organisation that accelerates change, embeds new ways of working and attracts world-class talent. She joins WPP from The Estee Lauder Companies, where she led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, including shaping the company's "One ELC" operating model and transforming its enterprise marketing, data and analytics capabilities. She led the transformation and redesign of Enterprise Technology teams and served as a core member of the company's AI taskforce, responsible for leading AI strategy and implementation, including the scaling and adoption of tools as well as driving value realisation from AI across the business. Previously, Anne-Isabelle has held leadership roles at world-class consultancies including Accenture, Masai - a Bain & Co spin-off - and Kearney. She also has a background leading data and digital marketing agencies. Anne-Isabelle will be based in New York and will sit on WPP's Executive Committee. Major Estimate Revision • Apr 07
Consensus EPS estimates increase by 109% The consensus outlook for fiscal year 2026 has been updated. 2026 EPS estimate increased from UK£0.056 to UK£0.116. Revenue forecast steady at UK£9.57b. Net income forecast to shrink 16% next year vs 7.4% growth forecast for Media industry in the United Kingdom . Consensus price target broadly unchanged at UK£3.01. Share price rose 2.7% to UK£2.40 over the past week. Ankündigung • Mar 23
WPP plc(LSE:WPP) dropped from FTSE All-World Index (USD) WPP plc(LSE:WPP) dropped from FTSE All-World Index (USD) Ankündigung • Mar 21
WPP plc, Annual General Meeting, May 08, 2026 WPP plc, Annual General Meeting, May 08, 2026. Location: rose court, 2 southwark bridge road, se1 9hs, london United Kingdom Ankündigung • Mar 06
WPP Announces Change of CEO of WPP Media U.S, Effective March 4, 2026 WPP has named Nancy Hall CEO of WPP Media U.S. following a months-long search for a leader of the division helmed by WPP Media global CEO Brian Lesser. Hall is stepping into the role after a nine-month stint as the company’s chief client officer. Prior to that, she was North America CEO at Mindshare, a WPP-owned media agency. She brings nearly 25 years of experience to her new post, having worked across adland holding companies including IPG and Conversant, which as part of Epsilon was later acquired by Publicis. In those roles, Hall helped to build out programmatic and tech capabilities designed to drive client outcomes. The news comes five months after the departure of Sharb Farjami, who served in the role for less than two years. Since his exit, Lesser has helmed WPP Media U.S. in an interim capacity. Hall’s appointment is effective immediately. Major Estimate Revision • Mar 05
Consensus EPS estimates have been downgraded. The consensus outlook for earnings per share (EPS) in fiscal year 2026 has deteriorated. 2026 revenue forecast decreased from UK£9.73b to UK£9.60b. Now expected to report a loss of UK£0.23 per share instead of UK£0.395 per share profit previously forecast. Media industry in the United Kingdom expected to see average net income growth of 18% next year. Consensus price target down from UK£3.57 to UK£3.09. Share price fell 4.2% to UK£2.72 over the past week. New Risk • Mar 04
New minor risk - Share price stability The company's share price has been volatile over the past 3 months. It is more volatile than 75% of British stocks, typically moving 7.2% a week. This is considered a minor risk. Share price volatility indicates the stock is highly sensitive to market conditions or economic conditions rather than being sensitive to its own business performance, which may also be inconsistent. It also increases the risk of potential losses in the short term as the stock tends to have larger drops in price more frequently than other stocks. Currently, the following risks have been identified for the company: Major Risk Interest payments are not well covered by earnings (1.4x net interest cover). Minor Risks Paying a dividend despite being loss-making. Share price has been volatile over the past 3 months (7.2% average weekly change). Declared Dividend • Mar 02
Final dividend of UK£0.075 announced Shareholders will receive a dividend of UK£0.075. Ex-date: 4th June 2026 Payment date: 3rd July 2026 Dividend yield will be 5.5%, which is higher than the industry average of 3.2%. Sustainability & Growth Dividend is being paid despite the company being loss-making over the last 12 months. However, the dividend is well covered by cash flows (30% cash payout ratio). The dividend has decreased over the past 10 years, indicating a lack of growth and stability in payments. Price Target Changed • Feb 28
Price target decreased by 9.1% to UK£3.25 Down from UK£3.57, the current price target is an average from 13 analysts. New target price is 18% above last closing price of UK£2.75. Stock is down 57% over the past year. The company is forecast to post a net loss per share of UK£0.23 next year compared to a net loss per share of UK£0.20 last year. Reported Earnings • Feb 27
Full year 2025 earnings: EPS misses analyst expectations Full year 2025 results: UK£0.20 loss per share (down from UK£0.50 profit in FY 2024). Revenue: UK£13.6b (down 8.1% from FY 2024). Net loss: UK£215.0m (down 140% from profit in FY 2024). Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates. Revenue is expected to decline by 13% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in the United Kingdom are expected to grow by 2.4%. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has fallen by 43% per year but the company’s share price has only fallen by 36% per year, which means it has not declined as severely as earnings. Ankündigung • Feb 26
Wpp plc Proposes Final Dividend for 2025, Payable on July 3, 2026 The Board of WPP plc has proposed a final dividend of 7.5 pence per share for 2025 (2024: 24.4 pence per share) giving a full year dividend of 15.0 pence per share (2024: 39.4 pence per share). The record date for the final dividend is 5 June 2026 and the dividend will be payable on 3 July 2026. Valuation Update With 7 Day Price Move • Feb 04
Investor sentiment deteriorates as stock falls 16% After last week's 16% share price decline to UK£2.57, the stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 6x. Average forward P/E is 10x in the Media industry in the United Kingdom. Total loss to shareholders of 70% over the past three years. Ankündigung • Jan 20
WPP plc to Report Fiscal Year 2025 Results on Feb 26, 2026 WPP plc announced that they will report fiscal year 2025 results at 8:00 AM, GMT Standard Time on Feb 26, 2026 Ankündigung • Dec 22
WPP plc(LSE:WPP) dropped from FTSE 100 Index WPP plc(LSE:WPP) dropped from FTSE 100 Index Ankündigung • Nov 14
Wpp Appoints Elav Horwitz as First Chief Innovation Officer WPP announced the appointment of Elav Horwitz as its first Chief Innovation Officer, a new role created to solidify its leadership in applied AI and deliver groundbreaking technology-driven solutions for clients. In this new position, Elav will be responsible for connecting WPP's world-leading partners with the company's unparalleled creative and strategic talent. Her remit will focus on fostering a culture of collaboration and agile innovation to drive applied AI and client transformation, and to redefine how clients engage with commerce, create compelling content and shape culture. In her new role, Elav will continue to report to WPP Chief Technology Officer Stephan Pretorius.
A leading voice for responsible technology and innovation, Elav also serves as an advisor to influential groups like the Spotify and Meta Creative Councils, and she's a founding member of the leadership community Chief. Elav's appointment as Chief Innovation Officer underscores WPP's continued investment in technology and data and follows a series of recent hires to bolster WPP's innovation capabilities, including Daniel Barak as WPP's first Global Creative and Innovation Lead, Sarah Salter as VP of Global Partnerships & AI Innovation and Mathieu Albrand as Director of AI Strategy and Innovation. The expanded team will continue to work closely with Elav and Stephan to drive WPP's innovation agenda forward. Price Target Changed • Oct 31
Price target decreased by 11% to UK£3.94 Down from UK£4.41, the current price target is an average from 11 analysts. New target price is 37% above last closing price of UK£2.88. Stock is down 65% over the past year. The company is forecast to post earnings per share of UK£0.43 for next year compared to UK£0.50 last year. Valuation Update With 7 Day Price Move • Oct 30
Investor sentiment deteriorates as stock falls 17% After last week's 17% share price decline to UK£3.03, the stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 7x. Average forward P/E is 12x in the Media industry in the United Kingdom. Total loss to shareholders of 55% over the past three years. Ankündigung • Oct 30
WPP plc Revises Earnings Guidance for 2025 WPP plc revised earnings guidance for 2025. For the period, 2025 guidance -Based on trading year to date and the outlook for the fourth quarter, company expect LFL growth in revenue less pass-through costs of negative 5.5% to negative 6.0% (vs. negative 3% to negative 5% previously). Similarly, company expect headline operating profit margin to be around 13% (vs. previous guidance of down 50 bps to 175 bps year on year excluding the impact of FX). Ankündigung • Oct 23
WPP plc Launches WPP Open Pro WPP PLC launched WPP Open Pro, a new edition of its AI marketing platform, WPP Open, designed to empower brands of all sizes to plan, create and publish campaigns independently. WPP Open Pro will expand WPP's reach across the global advertising market while also offering an efficient route for existing clients to leverage WPP's platform and tools. WPP Open Pro represents a significant shift in the industry, with WPP being the first of its peers to provide a range of integrated, AI-powered delivery models. The new platform enables WPP to service the evolving needs of its current client base and grasp the opportunity to increase its addressable market of brands that may not have previously had the resources to benefit from its expertise. Built on WPP Open - which will continue to be at the centre of WPP's managed service offering that combines talented global teams with integrated technology - WPP Open Pro packages three powerful, connected functional areas into a simple interface that allows marketing teams, from established enterprises and WPP clients to emerging businesses, to: Plan with AI-powered strategy: users can access WPP's foundational data and insights to develop campaign strategies, better understand audiences and evaluate competitive landscapes quickly. This is powered by AI agents which draw on WPP's deep proprietary, partner and industry data. Create content at scale: marketers can generate on-brand, channel-specific ads and content in seconds, automating production while maintaining brand integrity and driving performance. Publish campaigns: WPP Media clients can seamlessly integrate with, and hand off to, WPP's Open Media Studio for enhanced media execution. Alternatively, the platform allows brands to publish content directly to major ad platforms. Integrated differentiation in a crowded market WPP Open Pro stands apart from competitors by offering a comprehensive, integrated solution for campaign implementation, connecting strategy, content creation and performance optimisation with enterprise-grade consistency. Bringing together some of the most powerful and specialised capabilities of WPP Open, the new platform is an ideal solution for distinct business units or regional teams within a global brand, giving them the freedom to adapt campaigns and personalise content while ensuring global brand compliance. Crucially, it is also designed to help cater to the unserved segment of the worldwide advertising market. It is equally valuable for a performance-based marketer in a fast-moving sector like ecommerce or finance, who needs to rapidly create, test and optimise high volumes of ads to drive measurable outcomes. Furthermore, WPP Open Pro also provides smaller businesses, startups and growing brands with direct access to professional-grade tools and WPP's intelligence, allowing them to generate quality content and publish campaigns, thereby expanding their potential for market growth. Ankündigung • Oct 16
WPP plc Appoints Keith Weed as Member of Nomination and Governance Committee, Effective 15 October 2025 WPP plc announced that Keith Weed has joined the Nomination and Governance Committee, effective 15 October 2025. The Nomination and Governance Committee membership with effect from 15 October 2025: Philip Jansen as chair, Angela Ahrendts, Senior Independent Director, Tom Ilube, Non-Executive Director, Keith Weed, Non-Executive Director. Ankündigung • Oct 10
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against WPP plc Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced that the WPP class action lawsuit seeks to represent purchasers or acquirers of WPP plc common stock between February 27, 2025 and July 8, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Captioned Marty v. WPP plc, No. 25-cv-08365 (S.D.N.Y.), the WPP class action lawsuit charges WPP and certain of WPP's top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The WPP class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to WPP's projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth while also minimizing risk from seasonality and macroeconomic fluctuations. In truth, according to the complaint, WPP's optimistic reports of its potential to achieve new client bid wins and retain its existing clientele fell short of reality as WPP's media arm was not equipped to compete effectively and had begun to lose market share to its competitors. The WPP class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 9, 2025, WPP published a trading update for the first half of 2025, alerting investors that WPP had allegedly "seen a deterioration in performance as Second Quarter has progressed," attributing the deterioration to both "continued macro uncertainty weighing on client spend and weaker net new business than originally anticipated," at least in part due to "some distraction to the business" as a result of the continued restructuring of WPP Media a.k.a. GroupM. The complaint also alleges that in a same-day press release, WPP further announced that CEO, defendant Mark Read, "will retire from the Board and as CEO on 31 December 2025." On this news, the price of WPP stock fell more than 18%, according to the complaint. Upcoming Dividend • Oct 02
Upcoming dividend of UK£0.075 per share Eligible shareholders must have bought the stock before 09 October 2025. Payment date: 03 November 2025. Payout ratio is on the higher end at 90%, however this is supported by cash flows. Trailing yield: 11%. Within top quartile of British dividend payers (5.4%). Higher than average of industry peers (4.1%). Ankündigung • Sep 16
WPP Media Appoints Sushant Mishra as Growth Lead – North WPP Media has announced the appointment of Sushant Mishra as Growth Lead – North, where he will be responsible for spearheading the Growth Cluster in the region. In his new role, Mishra will focus on building solutions-led strategies that move beyond conventional media metrics like reach and frequency, and instead address deeper business problem-solving for clients. According to Mishra, the next wave of growth for agencies will hinge on enabling SME segments to scale, with a sharper emphasis on media, technology, and AI-driven outcomes. Mishra brings over 15 years of experience across digital transformation, marketing strategy, and business growth. Most recently, he co-founded Petlicious Superfoods India, where he built a pet food brand focused on sustainability, subscription-led retention, and automation-driven customer engagement. Prior to that, he was Director – Digital & Head of Media at Ola Electric, leading full-funnel digital marketing and driving pre-bookings, awareness, and strategic partnerships during the EV brand’s aggressive growth phase. He also held senior roles at Grofers (now Blinkit) as Senior Director – Digital Marketing & Partnerships, and at Starcom MediaVest Group, where he served as VP & Business Head – North. This appointment signals WPP Media’s intent to deepen its data-driven, SME-centric growth strategy in India’s northern market. Ankündigung • Aug 29
Andrew Scott to Retire as Chief Operating Officer and from the Board of WPP plc at the End of the Year 2025 WPP plc announced that Andrew Scott has informed the Company that he will retire as Chief Operating Officer and from the Board at the end of the year 2025. Andrew will work with incoming CEO Cindy Rose during that period and thereafter as Senior Advisor to transition his various roles and responsibilities to other senior executives as well as supporting strategy execution. Andrew joined WPP in 1999 as Director of Corporate Development. He held a number of other senior roles, including Chief Operating Officer for Europe, before being appointed global Chief Operating Officer in 2018 where his responsibilities included leading WPP's country structure in key markets. In 2023 he was appointed to the Board. Throughout his time with WPP Andrew has been instrumental to the Company's development and growth. Leading WPP's M&A activity, he has been responsible for many of the acquisitions that helped create the business. Declared Dividend • Aug 10
First half dividend reduced to UK£0.075 Dividend of UK£0.075 is 50% lower than last year. Ex-date: 9th October 2025 Payment date: 3rd November 2025 Dividend yield will be 8.7%, which is higher than the industry average of 3.2%. Sustainability & Growth Dividend is not adequately covered by earnings (90.3% earnings payout ratio). However, it is covered by cash flows (61% cash payout ratio). The dividend has increased over the past 10 years and has been stable with no material reductions to payments, indicating a long track record of dividend growth and stability. Earnings per share is expected to grow by 29% over the next 3 years, which should maintain adequate earnings cover for the dividend. Reported Earnings • Aug 08
First half 2025 earnings released: EPS: UK£0.041 (vs UK£0.19 in 1H 2024) First half 2025 results: EPS: UK£0.041 (down from UK£0.19 in 1H 2024). Revenue: UK£6.66b (down 7.8% from 1H 2024). Net income: UK£44.0m (down 79% from 1H 2024). Profit margin: 0.7% (down from 2.8% in 1H 2024). The decrease in margin was driven by lower revenue. Revenue is expected to decline by 11% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in the United Kingdom are expected to grow by 2.7%. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has fallen by 22% per year whereas the company’s share price has fallen by 23% per year. Major Estimate Revision • Jul 14
Consensus EPS estimates fall by 13% The consensus outlook for earnings per share (EPS) in fiscal year 2025 has deteriorated. 2025 revenue forecast decreased from UK£10.6b to UK£10.3b. EPS estimate also fell from UK£0.611 per share to UK£0.534 per share. Net income forecast to grow 9.8% next year vs 7.4% growth forecast for Media industry in the United Kingdom. Consensus price target down from UK£6.07 to UK£4.88. Share price fell 20% to UK£4.15 over the past week. New Risk • Jul 10
New major risk - Revenue and earnings growth Earnings are forecast to decline by an average of 2.1% per year for the foreseeable future. This is considered a major risk. Ultimately, shareholders want to see a good return on their investment and that generally comes from sharing in the company's profits. If profits are expected to decline, then in most cases the share price will decline over time as well. In addition, if the company pays dividends it will also likely need to reduce or cut them, striking a dual blow to total shareholder returns. Currently, the following risks have been identified for the company: Major Risk Earnings are forecast to decline by an average of 2.1% per year for the foreseeable future. Minor Risk High level of debt (45% net debt to equity). Ankündigung • Jul 10
WPP plc Announces Chief Executive Officer Changes, Effective 1 September 2025 WPP plc announced that Cindy Rose has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, effective 1 September 2025. Cindy succeeds Mark Read who will step down as CEO on the same date. Mark will continue to work with Cindy to support the transition until the end of the year. Cindy has extensive experience as a leader in the technology, telecommunications, media, entertainment and creative industries gained at world-leading brands. She has spent the last nine years in senior leadership positions at Microsoft where she is currently Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise. In this role she helps the world's largest companies use digital technology and AI to drive business transformation. Before being appointed to her current Microsoft role in March 2023, Cindy was President of Microsoft Western Europe and CEO of Microsoft UK. Other previous roles include Managing Director of the UK consumer business at Vodafone and Executive Director of Digital Entertainment and Media Sales at Virgin Media. She also spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company, ultimately as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Disney Interactive Media Group, EMEA. Cindy has been a Non-Executive Director on the WPP Board since 2019. She is a graduate of Columbia University and New York Law School, and an Advisory Board Member at Imperial College Business School in London and McLaren Racing. Cindy has British and American citizenship and will be based in both London and New York. She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours in recognition of her services to UK technology. Price Target Changed • Jul 09
Price target decreased by 7.3% to UK£5.77 Down from UK£6.23, the current price target is an average from 11 analysts. New target price is 35% above last closing price of UK£4.29. Stock is down 41% over the past year. The company is forecast to post earnings per share of UK£0.57 for next year compared to UK£0.50 last year. Ankündigung • Jul 09
WPP plc Provides Earnings Guidance for the First Half and Fiscal Year 2025 WPP plc provided earnings guidance for the first half and fiscal year 2025. For the first half, the company expected like-for-like (LFL) revenue less pass-through costs to decline by negative 4.2% to negative 4.5%, with a decline of negative 5.5% to negative 6.0% in second quarter which, although impacted by one-off factors, is below expectations. Company expect the lower revenue less pass-through costs, coupled with severance action at WPP Media, to result in first half headline operating profit in the range of £400 million to £425 million, which is consistent with a margin decline of 280 to 330 bps year-on-year (excluding FX).
For 2025, the company expected LFL revenue less pass-through costs - original guidance of flat to negative 2% anticipated an improvement in the sequencing of net new business through the year and some scope for deterioration in the macro environment. With the macro environment weighing more heavily on client spending and less support from net new business (including pull forward of losses originally anticipated in 2026), company is updating Fiscal Year guidance for LFL revenue less pass-through costs to negative 3% to negative 5%, consistent with limited improvement from first half. expect these to deliver an improved margin in the second half. Company expected these to deliver an improved margin in the second half. Valuation Update With 7 Day Price Move • Jul 09
Investor sentiment deteriorates as stock falls 19% After last week's 19% share price decline to UK£4.29, the stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 8x. Average forward P/E is 14x in the Media industry in the United Kingdom. Total loss to shareholders of 36% over the past three years. Ankündigung • Jul 09
WPP plc to Report First Half, 2025 Results on Aug 07, 2025 WPP plc announced that they will report first half, 2025 results on Aug 07, 2025 Upcoming Dividend • May 29
Upcoming dividend of UK£0.24 per share Eligible shareholders must have bought the stock before 05 June 2025. Payment date: 04 July 2025. Payout ratio is on the higher end at 78%, however this is supported by cash flows. Trailing yield: 6.6%. Within top quartile of British dividend payers (5.7%). Higher than average of industry peers (4.3%). Price Target Changed • May 01
Price target decreased by 7.8% to UK£6.57 Down from UK£7.13, the current price target is an average from 12 analysts. New target price is 13% above last closing price of UK£5.80. Stock is down 28% over the past year. The company is forecast to post earnings per share of UK£0.63 for next year compared to UK£0.50 last year. Ankündigung • Mar 31
WPP plc, Annual General Meeting, May 23, 2025 WPP plc, Annual General Meeting, May 23, 2025. Location: rose court, 2 southwark bridge road, se1 9hs, london United Kingdom Reported Earnings • Mar 30
Full year 2024 earnings: EPS misses analyst expectations Full year 2024 results: EPS: UK£0.50 (up from UK£0.10 in FY 2023). Revenue: UK£14.7b (flat on FY 2023). Net income: UK£542.0m (up 393% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 3.7% (up from 0.7% in FY 2023). Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 26%. Revenue is expected to decline by 8.6% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in the United Kingdom are expected to grow by 1.8%. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has fallen by 28% per year but the company’s share price has only fallen by 16% per year, which means it has not declined as severely as earnings. Ankündigung • Mar 11
Bain, WPP Reportedly Plan to Break Up Kantar The Kantar Group Limited is set to be broken up and sold by Bain Capital Private Equity, LP and WPP plc (LSE:WPP), Ivan Levingston and Daniel Thomas of The Financial Times reported. Bain and WPP are seeking to cash in their investment while facing a difficult time for initial public offerings. A source close to the process said the sale of the business would be quicker and a surer way to raise money. Declared Dividend • Mar 02
Final dividend of UK£0.24 announced Dividend of UK£0.24 is the same as last year. Ex-date: 5th June 2025 Payment date: 4th July 2025 Dividend yield will be 6.1%, which is higher than the industry average of 3.2%. Sustainability & Growth Dividend is covered by both earnings (78% earnings payout ratio) and cash flows (36% cash payout ratio). The dividend has increased by an average of 1.4% per year over the past 10 years and has been stable with no material reductions to payments, indicating a long track record of dividend growth and stability. EPS is expected to grow by 18% over the next 3 years, which should provide support to the dividend and adequate earnings cover. Price Target Changed • Feb 28
Price target decreased by 9.1% to UK£7.81 Down from UK£8.59, the current price target is an average from 13 analysts. New target price is 21% above last closing price of UK£6.44. Stock is down 9.8% over the past year. The company is forecast to post earnings per share of UK£0.63 for next year compared to UK£0.50 last year. Reported Earnings • Feb 27
Full year 2024 earnings: EPS misses analyst expectations Full year 2024 results: EPS: UK£0.50 (up from UK£0.10 in FY 2023). Revenue: UK£14.7b (flat on FY 2023). Net income: UK£542.0m (up 391% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 3.7% (up from 0.7% in FY 2023). Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 26%. Revenue is expected to decline by 10% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in the United Kingdom are expected to grow by 2.4%. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has fallen by 28% per year but the company’s share price has only fallen by 12% per year, which means it has not declined as severely as earnings. Ankündigung • Feb 12
WPP plc to Report Fiscal Year 2024 Results on Feb 27, 2025 WPP plc announced that they will report fiscal year 2024 results on Feb 27, 2025 Ankündigung • Jan 02
WPP Appoints Deepa Jatkar as India Head of Its Opendoor, Amazon's Media Unit WPP has named Deepa Jatkar as the India lead for OpenDoor, its specialised unit dedicated to handling Amazon's media planning and buying operations. This appointment marks a strategic move to bolster WPP's capabilities in India, a critical market for Amazon. According to the company, Jatkar joined Wavemaker India in 2023 as chief growth officer, and brings over two decades of experience in media and consumer technology. Previously part of Meta India's global sales and marketing team, she played a key role in the India sales leadership group before transitioning to WPP's Wavemaker. It is understood that at OpenDoor, Jatkar will lead a team that spans multiple disciplines, including media, business consultancy, tech, and public relations, all tailored to meet Amazon's needs. Ankündigung • Dec 03
KKR European Fund VI, a fund managed by KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) completed the acquisition of an additional 50% stake in FGS Global Inc from WPP plc (LSE:WPP) for approximately $780 million. KKR European Fund VI, a fund managed by KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 50% stake in FGS Global Inc from WPP plc (LSE:WPP) for approximately $780 million on August 7, 2024. Prior to the transaction, KKR held 28% stake in FGS. The proposed transaction is supported by FGS management. The proceeds from the sale of approximately $770 million will be used to reduce WPP's leverage. For the period ending December 31, 2023, FGS Global Inc reported total revenue of approximately $470 million, operating profit of $87 million and EBITDA of $90 million. The board of WPP considers that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable as far as WPP shareholders are concerned.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The deal has been approved by the board of directors of WPP. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2024. As of August 7, 2024, the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024. The transaction is reflecting significant value accretion to WPP shareholders since 2020.
Goldman Sachs International acted as financial advisor to WPP plc. Melissa Sawyer, Matt Goodman, John Karol, Isaac Wheeler, Ha Jin Lee, Andrew Thomson, Heather Coleman and Mario Schollmeyer of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as legal advisors to FGS Global Inc. Alvaro Membrillera, Pelin Demirdere Eski, Adam Wollstein, Steven Choi, Anna Van de moortel, Ian Barratt, Jia Meng and Emma Flett of Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisors to KKR & Co. Inc.
KKR European Fund VI, a fund managed by KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) completed the acquisition of an additional 50% stake in FGS Global Inc from WPP plc (LSE:WPP) on December 3, 2024. Ankündigung • Nov 14
WPP plc (LSE:WPP) acquired remaining unknown minority stake in The & Partners London Limited. WPP plc (LSE:WPP) acquired remaining unknown minority stake in The & Partners London Limited on November 13, 2024. T&Pm will continue to operate as a standalone multi-disciplinary agency, while collaborating closely with other WPP agencies. As part of the move, T&Pm is placing WPP’s AI-powered marketing operating system, WPP Open, at the core of its innovative marketing models, to drive further growth through cutting-edge solutions for clients.
WPP plc (LSE:WPP) completed the acquisition of remaining unknown minority stake in The & Partners London Limited on November 13, 2024. Ankündigung • Oct 23
WPP plc Reiterates Earnings Guidance for the Full Year 2024 WPP plc reiterated earnings guidance for the full year 2024. For the year, the company reiterated LFL revenue less pass-through costs of -1% to 0%, with fourth quarter facing a tougher comparative than third quarter and macro uncertainty. Improvement in full year 2024 headline operating profit margin of 20-40 bps (excluding the impact of FX). Upcoming Dividend • Oct 03
Upcoming dividend of UK£0.15 per share Eligible shareholders must have bought the stock before 10 October 2024. Payment date: 01 November 2024. The company is paying out more than 100% of its profits but is generating plenty of cash to support the dividend. Trailing yield: 5.1%. Lower than top quartile of British dividend payers (5.5%). Higher than average of industry peers (3.6%). Ankündigung • Aug 09
KKR European Fund VI, a fund managed by KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) entered into an agreement to an additional 50% stake in FGS Global Inc from WPP plc (LSE:WPP) for approximately $780 million. KKR European Fund VI, a fund managed by KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 50% stake in FGS Global Inc from WPP plc (LSE:WPP) for approximately $780 million on August 7, 2024. Prior to the transaction, KKR held 28% stake in FGS. The proposed transaction is supported by FGS management. The proceeds from the sale of approximately $770 million will be used to reduce WPP's leverage. For the period ending December 31, 2023, FGS Global Inc reported total revenue of approximately $470 million, operating profit of $87 million and EBITDA of $90 million. The board of WPP considers that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable as far as WPP shareholders are concerned.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The deal has been approved by the board of directors of WPP. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2024. Goldman Sachs International acted as financial advisor to WPP plc. Melissa Sawyer, Matt Goodman, John Karol, Isaac Wheeler, Ha Jin Lee, Andrew Thomson, Heather Coleman and Mario Schollmeyer of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as legal advisors to FGS Global Inc. Alvaro Membrillera, Pelin Demirdere Eski, Adam Wollstein, Steven Choi, Anna Van de moortel, Ian Barratt, Jia Meng and Emma Flett of Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisors to KKR & Co. Inc. Declared Dividend • Aug 09
First half dividend of UK£0.15 announced Dividend of UK£0.15 is the same as last year. Ex-date: 10th October 2024 Payment date: 1st November 2024 Dividend yield will be 5.7%, which is higher than the industry average of 3.2%. Sustainability & Growth Dividend is not covered by earnings (208% earnings payout ratio). However, it is well covered by cash flows (46% cash payout ratio). The dividend has increased by an average of 6.4% per year over the past 10 years and has been stable with no material reductions to payments, indicating a long track record of dividend growth and stability. The company's earnings per share (EPS) would need to grow by 131% to bring the payout ratio under control. EPS is expected to grow by 82% over the next 3 years, which means the dividend may need to be reduced to reach a sustainable payout ratio. Reported Earnings • Aug 08
First half 2024 earnings released: EPS: UK£0.19 (vs UK£0.10 in 1H 2023) First half 2024 results: EPS: UK£0.19 (up from UK£0.10 in 1H 2023). Revenue: UK£7.23b (flat on 1H 2023). Net income: UK£205.0m (up 83% from 1H 2023). Profit margin: 2.8% (up from 1.6% in 1H 2023). Revenue is expected to decline by 5.5% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Media industry in the United Kingdom are expected to grow by 2.4%. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has fallen by 28% per year but the company’s share price has only fallen by 11% per year, which means it has not declined as severely as earnings. Ankündigung • Aug 07
WPP plc Declares Interim Dividend for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024, Payable on 1 November 2024 WPP plc declared interim dividend of 15.0p (2023: 15.0p) for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The record date for the interim dividend is 11 October 2024, and the dividend will be payable on 1 November 2024. Ankündigung • Jul 30
WPP plc Announces Board Changes WPP plc announced the appointment of Philip Jansen to its Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair-designate. He will join the Board on 16 September 2024 and will succeed Roberto Quarta as Non-Executive Chair of WPP from 1 January 2025. Philip was Chief Executive of BT Group from 2019 to February 2024. Before that he was CEO of Worldpay, the technology-led global payments services group. Previous roles include CEO and then Chairman of Brakes Group, and a variety of senior positions in Sodexo Group. Philip began his career at Procter & Gamble, going on to hold marketing director roles at Dunlop Slazenger and Telewest before moving into general management first at Telewest and then MyTravel. He was a non-executive director of Travis Perkins for four years. Philip led Worldpay through the UK's largest ever fintech IPO, having overhauled its technology infrastructure and invested in areas such as data analytics and cyber security. He also led the merger with US counterpart Vantiv to create Worldpay Inc. At BT Group, the global provider of telecommunications and related digital services, he oversaw the strategy to modernise, future-proof and simplify the business. In addition to being Chair, on joining the Board Philip Jansen will be appointed as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee and succeed Roberto Quarta as Chair of that Committee on 1 January 2025. Roberto Quarta will retire from the Board on 31 December 2024. Ankündigung • Jun 28
WPP plc to Report First Half, 2024 Results on Aug 07, 2024 WPP plc announced that they will report first half, 2024 results on Aug 07, 2024 Upcoming Dividend • May 30
Upcoming dividend of UK£0.24 per share Eligible shareholders must have bought the stock before 06 June 2024. Payment date: 05 July 2024. The company is paying out more than 100% of its profits but is generating plenty of cash to support the dividend. Trailing yield: 4.9%. Lower than top quartile of British dividend payers (5.8%). Higher than average of industry peers (3.3%). Ankündigung • Apr 26
WPP plc Reaffirms Revenue Guidance for the Year 2024 WPP plc reaffirmed revenue guidance for the year 2024. For the year, LFL revenue less pass-through costs growth expected to be 0-1%. 
