WPP (WPP) H1 2025 Earnings Call August 07, 2025 04:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsMark Read - CEO & Executive DirectorJoanne Wilson - CFO & DirectorBrian Lesser - CEOAdam Berlin - Executive Director - European Media Equity ResearchAdrien de Saint Hilaire - DirectorJulien Roch - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsLaura Metayer - Equity Research AnalystAnnick Maas - Director - Media & Internet Equity Research AnalystSteve Liechti - Media AnalystOperatorGood morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome t ...

WPP (WPP) H1 2025 Earnings Call August 07, 2025 04:30 AM ET Speaker0Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to WPP twenty twenty five Interim Results Conference Call and Webcast. Today's conference is being recorded. Now I would like to hand it over to WPP CEO, Mr.Mark Reed. Please go ahead, sir.Speaker1Thank you very much, and, good morning, everybody, and welcome to our twenty twenty five interim, results earnings call, and thank you for joining us. I'm on today's call with, Joanne Wilson, our CFO ...

INTERIM RESULTS 07 August 2025 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward- looking statements give the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements may include, among other things, plans, objectives, beliefs, intentions, strategies, projections and anticipated future economic performance based on assumptions and the like that are subject t ...

Core Insights - Criteo has announced a partnership with WPP Media to enhance commerce intelligence for Connected TV (CTV) advertising, leveraging Criteo's real-time commerce signals and WPP Media's Open Intelligence to improve advertiser reach and effectiveness [1][4][7] Group 1: Partnership Overview - The collaboration aims to provide advertisers with curated audiences based on high-fidelity commerce signals, which can be activated across any Demand-side Platform (DSP) [2] - Criteo's Commerce Grid Supply-side Platform (SSP) enables advertisers to implement commerce-first CTV strategies, linking ad exposure to measurable outcomes such as foot traffic and sales [3][5] Group 2: Market Impact - Criteo's real-time commerce signals are derived from 17,000 e-commerce sites and 200 global retail partners, representing over $1 trillion in annual e-commerce sales, which helps create high-intent shopper audiences [5] - The partnership is designed to allow brands to access these high-intent segments across their preferred DSP partners, streamlining the activation process [5][6] Group 3: Strategic Goals - The collaboration seeks to merge traditional brand marketing goals with emerging metrics of performance-driven commerce media, facilitating full-funnel strategies in CTV [4][7] - The initiative emphasizes not just improved targeting but also the ability for brands to reach broad audiences with precision and measurability akin to digital advertising [7]

Core Viewpoint - Pomerantz LLP is investigating potential securities fraud or unlawful business practices involving WPP plc and its officers or directors, following a significant decline in the company's financial guidance and stock price [1][3]. Financial Performance - On July 8, 2025, WPP reduced its 2025 guidance for like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs to a decline of 3% to 5% and anticipated a year-on-year decrease in headline operating profit margin of 50 to 175 basis points, excluding foreign exchange effects [3]. - The company noted a deterioration in performance as the second quarter progressed, attributing this to a challenging economic environment and macroeconomic uncertainty affecting client spending and weaker new business [3]. Stock Market Reaction - Following the announcement of the revised guidance, WPP's American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price fell by $6.48, or 18.09%, closing at $29.34 per ADR on July 9, 2025 [3].

Core Viewpoint - Pomerantz LLP is investigating potential securities fraud or unlawful business practices involving WPP plc and its officers or directors [1] Financial Performance - On July 8, 2025, WPP reduced its 2025 guidance for like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs to a decline of 3% to 5% and anticipated a year-on-year decline in headline operating profit margin of 50 to 175 basis points, excluding foreign exchange effects [3] - WPP reported a deterioration in performance as the second quarter progressed, attributing this to a challenging economic backdrop and expected continued macro uncertainty affecting client spending and weaker net new business than initially anticipated [3] - Following the announcement, WPP's American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price fell by $6.48, or 18.09%, closing at $29.34 per ADR on July 9, 2025 [3]

Group 1 - WPP appointed Cindy Rose as the new CEO, effective September 1, succeeding Mark Read, who is leaving four months earlier than expected [1] - WPP lowered its 2025 performance forecast, expecting a year-on-year decline in net revenue of 3% to 5%, a significant increase from the previous forecast of a maximum 2% decline [1] - The company faces challenges due to a sluggish global economy impacting client spending, particularly in Asia, and concerns over the rise of artificial intelligence in advertising [1] Group 2 - WPP's chairman, Philippe Jansen, highlighted Rose's experience in digital transformation and AI, which is crucial as the industry undergoes fundamental changes amid economic uncertainty [2] - Goldman Sachs noted that Rose's appointment could alleviate market concerns regarding management succession uncertainty, maintaining a "neutral" rating on WPP's stock with a target price of 600 pence, indicating nearly a 40% upside potential from the stock's closing price on July 9 [2] - The stock has declined nearly 47% since the beginning of the year, with Goldman Sachs identifying key risks including macroeconomic conditions, competitive execution, client retention, and the impact of generative AI on the advertising industry [2]

Group 1 - WPP appointed Cindy Rose as the new CEO, effective September 1, to address significant challenges following a major profit warning [1][2] - The company experienced a drastic reduction in profit expectations, leading to a 19% drop in stock price on Wednesday, reaching a 16-year low [1][2] - Cindy Rose has a strong background in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, which is expected to add value to WPP during a time of fundamental industry changes [1][2] Group 2 - WPP has lost several major clients and is facing reduced client spending and fewer new business opportunities, contributing to the profit downgrade [2] - The company was overtaken by Publicis as the largest advertising group globally last year, highlighting its competitive struggles [2] - The rise of artificial intelligence is impacting WPP, as clients are increasingly able to manage their marketing activities independently [2]

Core Insights - WPP's shares dropped 18%, reaching $29.34, the lowest since Covid began, due to disappointing quarterly earnings and lowered profit forecasts [1][2] - The advertising sector is experiencing significant disruption from AI technologies, which can perform tasks at much lower costs than traditional methods [2] - Trading volume for WPP was nearly eight times its average, coinciding with a poor performance on the London Stock Exchange [3] Company-Specific Developments - WPP Media, a key subsidiary, was recently terminated by Paramount after 20 years, and Coca-Cola shifted its North American media buying to Publicis [4] - CEO Mark Read indicated that the lowered profit forecast was due to client losses and economic uncertainty, while acknowledging distractions in the business [5] - The implementation of a new strategy for WPP Media is ongoing, but improvements in business performance have not yet been realized [5] Industry Context - Other major advertising agencies, such as Omnicom and Interpublic, also saw declines of 3% in their stock prices [3] - Digital ad sellers like Meta and YouTube continue to show steady growth, contrasting with the struggles faced by traditional advertising firms [6] - The overall advertising environment remains uncertain, as highlighted by comments from industry leaders [5]

Core Viewpoint - The advertising industry is facing significant challenges, with WPP's unexpected profit warning indicating a potential downturn, leading to a decline in shares across major ad groups and raising concerns about the impact of AI on traditional agency business models [1][2][10]. Company Summary - WPP has reported a combination of client losses, a slowdown in new business pitches, and cautious marketing strategies due to economic uncertainty, forecasting a revenue decline of 3% to 5% for 2025 [2][4]. - The outgoing CEO of WPP highlighted that new business pitches in 2025 are at one-third of the level compared to the same period last year, reflecting decreased marketer confidence [4]. - WPP has lost key clients, including Pfizer and Coca-Cola's North America account, and has undergone restructuring efforts to enhance competitiveness, which have caused distractions within the business [16][18]. - WPP plans to invest £300 million (approximately $407 million) annually in AI and related technologies, including an investment in Stability AI and the development of an AI-powered platform called WPP Open [14][15]. Industry Summary - The advertising sector is grappling with the rise of AI, which presents both opportunities and threats, as it may streamline services traditionally offered by agencies and challenge their business models [3][5]. - Analysts have noted a sharp decline in new business pitches, suggesting that corporate clients may be replacing some agency services with in-house AI solutions [5][9]. - Major agency groups like Publicis and Omnicom are committing to invest hundreds of millions in AI to adapt their operations [11]. - The competitive landscape is shifting, with Publicis performing well and maintaining its rating despite downgrades for WPP, IPG, and Omnicom due to immediate risks posed by AI [17][18].