WPP posted better than expected revenue growth for the September quarter, with a strong result from GroupM.
Revenue less pass-through costs, a metric used by WPP, showed like-for-like at 0.5%, ahead of analyst forecasts.
This put North America at +1.7%, Western Continental Europe +2.2% and UK flat, partially offset by a 2.2% decline in Rest of World, reflecting a continued drop in China (-21.3%).
Australia reported 2.3%, the first positive number for a year.
Global Integrated Agencies grew 0.5%. GroupM growth was 4.8%, offset by a 3.1% fall at integrated creative agencies.
Full year guidance is unchanged with 2024 like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs of -1% to 0%.
The market liked what it saw. WPP shares were up 6% on the London Stock Exchange to 820.80 pence.
Comparing WPP's result to its peers is difficult because of the different ways of reporting growth. IPG reported flat organic revenue growth in the September quarter, Publicis Groupe posted 5.8% organic growth and Omnicom 6.5%.
WPP reported "strong progress" on strategic initiatives with new products, capabilities and solutions launched within WPP Open, our AI-powered marketing operating system.
Burson, GroupM and VML are on track to deliver targeted savings and build “simpler, stronger” businesses.
“We saw growth in North America, Western Continental Europe and India, though trading in China remains difficult,” said CEO Mark Read
“Most importantly, we returned to form in new business, winning Amazon’s media account outside the Americas and securing our media relationship with Unilever, including taking back the retail media and activation business in the United States.
“Our success with two of the world’s top ten advertisers demonstrates the renewed competitiveness of our offer. We are also proud to be supporting the new Starbucks leadership team with our recent creative win in the United States.
“Our people are increasingly embedding AI in the way that we work and deliver creative and media campaigns to clients, with usage of WPP Open up 107%6 since the beginning of the year.
“Supporting this, the creation of VML and Burson, and the simplification of GroupM, are delivering a stronger business and structural cost savings.
“We are encouraged by progress during the quarter, but with recent new business wins primarily impacting 2025 and continuing macroeconomic pressures our expectations for the full year remain unchanged.”
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