Core Insights - The study conducted by Stagwell, in partnership with Axel Springer, Teads, and The Trade Desk, reveals that Germany has the highest proportion of 'news junkies' among all surveyed markets [1] Group 1: Study Overview - The survey involved 11,282 adults in Germany, contributing to the latest installment of the News Advertising Study [1] - This study builds on previous News Advertising studies conducted in regions including Asia Pacific, Canada, the U.S., and the UK [1]

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW ), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, will report financial results for the three and twelve months endedDec. 31, 2025, onTuesday, Mar. 10, 2026, before market open. Stagwell will host a video webcast to review those results the same day at8:30 AM (ET). ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry includes a wide range of services such as advertising, branding, digital marketing, and healthcare marketing, with key players like Interpublic and Omnicom [2] - The pandemic has significantly changed how industry players operate, leading to a focus on strategic initiatives and demand sources to adapt to the post-pandemic environment [2] Current Economic Context - The economy showed resilience with a GDP growth of 4.4% in Q3 2025, up from 3.8% in Q2, and non-manufacturing activities remained strong, as indicated by the Services PMI staying above 50% for 19 consecutive months [3] - Demand for services in the industry is stable, with revenues and cash flows expected to gradually return to pre-pandemic levels, supporting stable dividends for most players [4] Digital Marketing Trends - There has been an increase in digital media consumption, with consumers spending more time on various platforms, benefiting agencies that provide digital marketing services [5] Industry Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 90, placing it in the top 37% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects [6] - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining 25.3% compared to the S&P 500's growth of 14% [7] - The industry is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 8.83X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 22.52X and the sector's 18.01X, with historical trading ranges between 7.47X and 14.26X [10] Company Highlights - **Publicis Groupe S.A. (PUBGY)**: The company has shown strong organic momentum, with investments in AI and talent leading to higher revenue quality and margin strength. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 3.1% to $2.35 [14][15][16] - **Omnicom Group (OMC)**: The company offers a broad range of services and focuses on consumer-centric solutions, which helps in driving stable revenue growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 2.5% to $9.58 [19][20][21] - **Stagwell (STGW)**: The company emphasizes a digital-first marketing approach and has maintained its 2026 EPS estimate at $1.1, indicating stability in its earnings outlook [26][23]

Core Insights - Stagwell's agencies made a significant impact during Super Bowl LX, delivering standout commercials for various clients and achieving recognition with two ads in the top 10 of the USA TODAY Ad Meter [1][2] Advertising Highlights - e.l.f. Beauty's campaign featured a telenovela-style ad starring Melissa McCarthy, emphasizing humor and cultural timing [4] - Grubhub's first Super Bowl ad addressed consumer frustrations with delivery fees, positioning the brand as consumer-friendly [4] - Kinder Bueno's ad showcased a space-themed adventure, transforming negative moments into positive ones through the brand's product [4] - Liquid I.V. highlighted the issue of dehydration in a humorous way, using toilets to convey the message [4] - The NFL's campaigns focused on youth coaches and community engagement, featuring notable NFL players [4] Off-Field Activations - Dairy Queen created a buzz with a campaign linked to rumored halftime appearances, engaging fans with contests and custom merchandise [7] - Don Julio celebrated Latinidad culture through an episodic social series, enhancing consumer engagement [7] - Frank's RedHot's campaign featured a humorous take on game day food culture, starring Ludacris [7] - Perdue aimed to introduce its Air Fryer Ready Crispy Wings in Buffalo, NY, leveraging local partnerships [7] - Starbucks highlighted the role of coffee runners in a grand narrative, reinforcing community connections [7] Research and Insights - The Harris Poll provided insights into American engagement with the Super Bowl, including spending and co-viewing trends [10] - HarrisX launched its 2026 Super Bowl Ad Index, conducting extensive ad testing to evaluate creative performance [10] - The Marketing Cloud's HarrisQuest will release a report on brand lift and consumer sentiment related to the Super Bowl [10] Technology and Innovation - Code and Theory enhanced NFL.com to support the league's direct-to-consumer strategy, significantly increasing site traffic and subscriber growth for NFL+ [7]

Core Insights - Allison Worldwide has been appointed as the official public relations firm for the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards (NACTOY) [1] - The partnership aims to enhance NACTOY's communications strategy and media engagement, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted voice in vehicle evaluation [2] Company Overview - Allison Worldwide is a global communications agency founded in 1994, specializing in automotive, mobility, and industrial sectors [1][7] - The agency is known for its digital-first, data-led approach, providing comprehensive communications, PR, influencer, analytics, and marketing support to a diverse range of clients [7] NACTOY Overview - NACTOY is recognized for its independent jury of automotive journalists and a rigorous evaluation process that assesses vehicles on innovation, design, safety, performance, and value [3][8] - The awards are announced annually at the Detroit Auto Show, highlighting the most outstanding new vehicles [3][8] Partnership Details - The partnership commenced on February 1, 2026, and aims to elevate the visibility of the awards process and the perspectives of jurors [6] - Jeff Gilbert, president of NACTOY, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the importance of the awards in the industry [4] - Rebecca Lindland, managing director of Automotive at Allison, highlighted the alignment of values between Allison and NACTOY, focusing on credibility and informed judgment [6]

Group 1 - 55% of voters disapprove of how immigration enforcement agencies are enforcing laws in U.S. cities, with 40% strongly disapproving [1] - 80% of voters want ICE and CBP to identify themselves during enforcement, and 86% support body camera requirements for agents [1] - 67% of voters want local officials to cooperate with federal authorities to deport criminal illegal immigrants [1] Group 2 - 63% of voters attribute the economy to Trump over Biden, marking an 11-point increase [1] - 55% of voters say Trump policies have been consistent with campaign promises, and 54% believe Trump has accomplished a lot in his first year; 15 of 22 key Trump policies continue to receive majority support [1] Group 3 - Democrats hold an 8-point lead in the 2026 midterm generic ballot among registered voters, and a 4-point lead among likely voters [1] - 64% of voters want a Democratic transition in Venezuela to be a key priority for the administration [1] - 59% of voters say the U.S. should support Iran regime change [1] - 69% of voters say maintaining NATO is more important than acquiring Greenland [1]

Core Insights - The partnership between Spotter and Stagwell aims to integrate premium creator-led media into modern marketing strategies [1] - This collaboration connects Spotter's network of long-form creators with Stagwell's global marketing capabilities, enhancing brand engagement [1] Company Overview - Spotter is recognized as a leading creator platform focused on the next generation of entertainment [1] - Stagwell operates as a global challenger network that leverages AI to transform marketing practices [1] Strategic Implications - The partnership allows brands to transition from temporary influencer campaigns to ongoing, impactful creator-led programming [1] - This strategic alignment is expected to provide brands with access to influential creators and premium storytelling on a global scale [1]

Core Insights - Harris Poll has launched Harris QuestRQ, a next-generation reputation system designed for business, communications, and marketing leaders [1] - The system connects live corporate reputation metrics with over three decades of proprietary ranking data, allowing firms to measure their reputation in real-time [2] Group 1: System Features - Harris QuestRQ features an always-on corporate pulsing system that links reputation movements to over seventy-five metrics of brand health, providing continuous reputation intelligence [2] - The platform is modular and customizable, supported by consulting expertise to translate data into actionable strategies across various departments [4][5] - It operationalizes reputation insights at scale, enabling organizations to use reputation as a shared measure of enterprise performance [6] Group 2: Market Relevance - The concept of 'Cultural Relevance' is introduced as a new benchmark for how company actions resonate with audiences, highlighting the tension between trust and relevance [4] - Organizations across various sectors, including financial services and healthcare, have utilized the underlying Reputation Quotient framework to guide leadership decisions and manage crises in real-time [5] Group 3: Strategic Importance - Reputation is increasingly viewed as a valuable asset, with leaders needing real-time visibility to make informed decisions [5] - Harris QuestRQ transforms reputation management from a reactive process into a proactive strategy, providing clarity for building resilient brands [7]

Core Viewpoint - Stagwell has launched Quarter Creek Ventures, an incubator fund aimed at funding and scaling innovative ideas in adtech, AI implementation, and AI-enabled marketing services [1] Group 1: Company Initiatives - Quarter Creek Ventures will provide capital, expertise, and market access to support innovators in transforming ambitious concepts into viable businesses [1]

Core Insights - Stagwell has appointed Slavi Samardzija as the first Global Chair of Media and Commerce while he continues as Chief Data and Platforms Officer [1][3] - This leadership unification aims to enhance the integration of media and commerce within the company [1][3] Company Overview - Stagwell is a challenger holding company focused on transforming marketing through a combination of creativity and technology [5] - The company operates in over 45 countries and aims to drive effectiveness and improve business results for clients [5] Financial Performance - The media and commerce agencies under Samardzija's oversight generated approximately $600 million in net revenues over the last twelve months [2] - The group comprises over 3,500 employees globally [2] Leadership and Strategy - Slavi Samardzija brings over 25 years of experience in data and technology, which is crucial for Stagwell's data and platform strategy [3] - The company emphasizes the need for seamless integration of data, media, and commerce to enhance client outcomes [3][4]