WPP PLC (WPP) Fell Due to Revenue Growth Falling Short of Expectations

Core Insights - Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value Fund's third-quarter 2025 investor letter highlights strong equity market performance, with major indices reaching all-time highs driven by enthusiasm for AI, anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts, and robust corporate earnings [1] - The fund outperformed the Russell Midcap Value Index, achieving a gain of 7.74% compared to the index's 6.18% [1] Company Analysis: WPP plc - WPP plc is identified as a leading ad agency holding company, experiencing pressure due to lower-than-expected revenue growth and disappointing Q2 earnings results [3] - The stock of WPP plc saw a one-month return of 8.57%, but it has lost 62.46% over the past 52 weeks, closing at $21.16 per share with a market capitalization of $4.575 billion as of December 09, 2025 [2] - The introduction of a new CEO with expertise in digital transformation and AI is viewed as a potential catalyst for the company's turnaround, with expectations of mid-teens returns from capital return and organic growth [3] Hedge Fund Interest - WPP plc was held by 11 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, an increase from 8 in the previous quarter, indicating growing interest among institutional investors [4] - Despite recognizing WPP plc's potential, the company is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with certain AI stocks being perceived as offering greater upside potential and lower downside risk [4]