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WPP (WPP) AI Stock Analysis

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GB:WPP

WPP

(LSE:WPP)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
327.00p
▲(17.16% Upside)
WPP's overall stock score is driven by solid financial performance and attractive valuation, offset by bearish technical indicators. The company's strong cash flow and operational efficiency are positive, but high leverage and stagnant revenue growth pose risks. The low P/E ratio and high dividend yield suggest potential undervaluation, but the current downtrend in stock price indicates caution.
Positive Factors
Cash Flow Management
Strong cash flow management enhances WPP's ability to invest in growth opportunities and sustain operations, providing a buffer against economic fluctuations.
Operational Efficiency
High EBIT and EBITDA margins indicate effective cost management and operational efficiency, contributing to sustained profitability and competitive positioning.
Return on Equity
Improved return on equity signifies effective use of shareholder funds to generate profits, enhancing investor confidence and supporting long-term growth.
Negative Factors
Revenue Growth
Negative revenue growth indicates challenges in expanding market share and customer base, which could impact long-term strategic objectives and competitiveness.
High Leverage
High leverage increases financial risk and limits flexibility, potentially affecting the company's ability to invest in growth and respond to market changes.
Net Profit Margin
Low net profit margin, despite improvement, suggests challenges in converting revenue into profit, which could hinder long-term financial health and shareholder returns.

WPP (WPP) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)

WPP Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWPP is a leading global communications services group that provides a wide range of marketing and advertising solutions. Operating in over 100 countries, WPP encompasses multiple sectors including advertising, media investment management, data investment management, public relations, branding and identity, and digital marketing. The company is known for its diverse portfolio of agencies, which offer services such as creative development, media planning and buying, content creation, and performance marketing, catering to a broad spectrum of industries and clients worldwide.
How the Company Makes MoneyWPP generates revenue through a variety of channels primarily by charging clients for its advertising and marketing services. Its revenue model is largely based on project fees, retainers, and commissions on media spending. Key revenue streams include fees for creative services, media buying, and data analytics, with a significant portion of earnings coming from long-term contracts with major brands. Additionally, WPP benefits from performance-related incentives tied to the effectiveness of its campaigns. The company also engages in partnerships and acquisitions to expand its offerings and enhance its market presence, further contributing to its revenue growth. Factors such as digital transformation, increasing demand for integrated marketing solutions, and client retention play crucial roles in sustaining WPP's earnings.

WPP Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture. While there were significant achievements in strategic transformation, margin improvement, and debt reduction, these were offset by challenges in net revenue decline, China market difficulties, and declines in creative and public relations segments. The sentiment remains cautious due to macroeconomic uncertainties and regional performance weaknesses.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strategic Transformation Progress
The company made significant progress in strategic transformation, including investment in WPP Open and a stronger balance sheet. Strong strategic progress, better new business performance in the second half, and improved cash conversion were noted.
Operating Margin Improvement
Headline operating margin improved to 15%, up 40 basis points year-on-year, benefiting from structural cost savings and disciplined cost management.
Debt Reduction
Year-end net debt reduced to GBP 1.7 billion, a GBP 0.8 billion reduction year-on-year, aided by strong working capital management and the sale of FGS Global.
AI and Data Investment
Significant investment in AI and data (GBP 250 million) with a focus on enhancing tools and deployment across teams. Incremental P&L investment of over GBP 30 million was made.
Client Growth and Retention
Top 10 clients grew 2.8% throughout the year, and the top 25 clients grew 2%, indicating strong client retention and growth.
Successful New Business Wins
Improved new business performance in the second half with wins including Amazon, J&J, and Unilever.
Negative Updates
Net Revenue Decline
Net revenue growth came in at minus 1%, consistent with the lower end of guidance range, impacted by historical client losses and weaker discretionary spend.
China Market Challenges
Challenging trends in China led to an 80 basis point drag, with a significant decline in performance expected to continue in the first half of 2025.
Decline in Creative Agencies
Global integrated creative agencies saw a like-for-like decline of 3.9% in 2024, driven by the loss of a healthcare client assignment and continued weakness in project-based work.
Public Relations Decline
Public Relations saw a like-for-like decline of 1.7% in 2024, with performance impacted by the loss of healthcare client assignments and a challenging environment for client discretionary spend.
Regional Performance Weakness
North America declined by 0.7%, the United Kingdom by 2.7%, and the rest of world by 2.6%, largely driven by macroeconomic pressures and client loss impacts.
Increased Finance Costs
Net finance costs increased to GBP 280 million due to higher interest rates following bond refinancing.
Company Guidance
In the call, the guidance for 2025 highlighted several key metrics and strategic priorities. The company reported a net revenue decline of 1% in 2024, which was at the lower end of their guidance range due to challenging trends, particularly in China, and weaker discretionary spending. Despite these challenges, they achieved a stronger headline operating margin of 15%, up 40 basis points year-on-year, supported by structural cost savings and disciplined cost management. Investment in AI and data saw a GBP 250 million commitment, with an additional GBP 30 million incrementally over the year. The company's strategic focus includes driving efficiency and effectiveness through their WPP Open platform, which has seen significant adoption and is expected to further enhance productivity and client engagement. For 2025, they anticipate like-for-like revenue ranging from flat to a decline of 2%, with margins expected to remain flat. The company also aims to improve cash conversion, which was 86% in 2024, alongside reducing net debt, which stood at GBP 1.7 billion at year-end. The strategic outlook for 2025 emphasizes leveraging AI, data, and technology to deliver better client outcomes, with continued focus on simplifying the organization and enhancing collaboration.

WPP Financial Statement Overview

Summary
WPP demonstrates solid operational efficiency and cash flow management, with improving profit margins and cash conversion. However, growth in revenue has stagnated, and the balance sheet reflects high leverage which may pose a risk if not managed carefully. The company needs to focus on enhancing revenue growth while managing its debt levels.
Income Statement
75
Positive
WPP showed strong EBIT and EBITDA margins at 8.99% and 13.18% respectively in 2024, indicative of good operational efficiency. However, the net profit margin improved to 3.68% from a low base, reflecting challenges in translating revenue into net income. Revenue growth was slightly negative in 2024, signaling a need to enhance top-line performance.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio is high at 1.83, suggesting significant leverage. However, return on equity improved to 15.60% in 2024, indicating effective use of equity to generate profit. The equity ratio is relatively low at 13.63%, highlighting a potential risk with high liabilities compared to assets.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
WPP's free cash flow grew by 14.81% in 2024, showing strong cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio improved, indicating better cash conversion, while the free cash flow to net income ratio is robust, emphasizing strong cash flow relative to net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue14.18B14.74B14.84B14.43B12.80B12.00B
Gross Profit2.25B2.45B2.52B2.54B2.20B2.01B
EBITDA1.51B1.90B1.83B2.03B1.78B-1.85B
Net Income381.00M542.00M110.40M682.70M637.70M-2.97B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets23.39B25.51B26.62B28.82B27.87B36.17B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.44B2.64B2.22B2.49B3.88B12.90B
Total Debt6.75B6.35B6.88B7.18B6.83B15.75B
Total Liabilities19.99B21.77B22.79B24.66B23.80B31.12B
Stockholders Equity3.16B3.48B3.38B3.68B3.62B4.73B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow763.00M1.17B1.02B477.60M1.74B1.78B
Operating Cash Flow912.00M1.41B1.24B700.90M2.03B2.05B
Investing Cash Flow102.00M278.00M-380.40M-408.90M-638.40M-163.40M
Financing Cash Flow-1.73B-989.00M-904.70M-1.91B-2.06B-250.50M

WPP Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
£921.11M10.1186.56%1.85%-2.60%3.10%
66
Neutral
£2.93B7.6911.44%11.43%-4.54%86.79%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
59
Neutral
£299.37M22.167.16%3.42%15.99%
58
Neutral
£377.46M23.769.53%4.79%-5.98%-74.21%
57
Neutral
£160.00M20.8918.23%1.12%-21.19%-29.54%
45
Neutral
£146.52M-0.44-45.75%4.95%-14.27%-15466.67%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GB:WPP
WPP
279.10
-515.05
-64.86%
GB:FOUR
4Imprint
3,250.00
-1,692.26
-34.24%
GB:SAA
M&C Saatchi plc
128.00
-70.53
-35.53%
GB:NFG
Next Fifteen Communications
320.50
-39.42
-10.95%
GB:YOU
Yougov plc
263.50
-194.16
-42.42%
GB:SFOR
S4 Capital Plc
20.00
-11.70
-36.91%

WPP Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesFinancial Disclosures
WPP Faces Revenue Decline, Initiates Strategic Review for Growth
Negative
Oct 30, 2025

WPP’s third-quarter 2025 trading update reveals a challenging period with revenue down 8.4% year-over-year and a like-for-like decline of 3.5%. The company has revised its full-year organic growth guidance to a decline of 5.5% to 6.0% and is undergoing a strategic review to return to growth. CEO Cindy Rose has outlined plans to simplify and integrate offerings, enhance execution, and expand into enterprise and technology solutions. Key initiatives include leadership changes, an extended partnership with Google, and the launch of WPP Open Pro, an AI platform for marketing. Despite the current downturn, WPP is optimistic about building a high-performance culture and improving financial performance, with further details to be shared in the new year.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Hold with a £480.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
WPP Launches WPP Open Pro: A New AI Marketing Platform
Positive
Oct 23, 2025

WPP has launched WPP Open Pro, an advanced AI marketing platform designed to allow brands to independently plan, create, and publish campaigns. This new platform is set to expand WPP’s reach in the global advertising market by providing brands of all sizes with access to WPP’s AI capabilities, thus transforming marketing delivery and expanding the company’s addressable market. By integrating strategy, content creation, and performance optimization, WPP Open Pro offers a comprehensive solution that caters to both large enterprises and smaller businesses, enabling them to rapidly generate and deploy campaigns with consistency and compliance.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Hold with a £480.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
WPP Announces Board Committee Membership Change
Neutral
Oct 16, 2025

WPP has announced a change in its Board Committee membership, with Keith Weed joining the Nomination and Governance Committee effective 15 October 2025. This change reflects WPP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its governance structure, potentially impacting its strategic direction and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Hold with a £480.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
WPP Grants Conditional Share Award to CEO Cindy Rose
Neutral
Sep 9, 2025

WPP has granted a conditional share award to its CEO, Cindy Rose, under the 2022 Executive Performance Share Plan. This award compensates for incentives she forfeited upon leaving her previous employer and is set to vest in tranches from December 2025 to September 2030, contingent on her continued employment.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Buy with a £439.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Regulatory Filings and Compliance
WPP Updates Share Capital and Voting Rights Information
Neutral
Sep 1, 2025

WPP has announced that as of August 29, 2025, its issued share capital consisted of 1,091,394,251 ordinary shares, with 12,591,893 held in treasury, resulting in a total of 1,078,802,358 voting rights. This update is crucial for shareholders to determine their notification requirements under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Sell with a £360.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
WPP Announces Retirement of COO Andrew Scott
Neutral
Aug 29, 2025

WPP announced the retirement of Andrew Scott as Chief Operating Officer and Board member by the end of the year. Scott, who joined WPP in 1999, has significantly contributed to the company’s growth and strategic direction, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, and will assist in transitioning his responsibilities to other executives while supporting strategy execution.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Sell with a £360.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures
WPP Reports Challenging H1 2025 with Strategic Repositioning Efforts
Neutral
Aug 7, 2025

WPP reported a challenging first half of 2025, with revenue and operating profit margins declining compared to the previous year. Despite these challenges, the company has made significant progress in repositioning WPP Media and enhancing its data and AI capabilities through strategic acquisitions and initiatives. The interim dividend was set at 7.5p, reflecting a strategic review and future capital allocation policy. WPP continues to focus on sustainable growth and financial flexibility, with a commitment to investing in AI and data to improve competitiveness and client services.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Hold with a £730.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Regulatory Filings and Compliance
WPP Announces Total Voting Rights and Capital Update
Neutral
Aug 1, 2025

WPP PLC has announced its total voting rights and capital as of July 31, 2025. The company reported an issued share capital consisting of 1,091,394,251 ordinary shares, with 12,591,893 held in treasury, resulting in 1,078,802,358 total voting rights. This information is crucial for shareholders to determine their notification requirements under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:WPP) stock is a Sell with a £485.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WPP stock, see the GB:WPP Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 31, 2025