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Investing.com - WPP Plc (NYSE:WPP) has received a downgrade from CFRA following the advertising giant’s reduced 2025 guidance and announcement of its CEO’s upcoming departure. The stock, currently trading at $29.62, sits near its 52-week low, though InvestingPro analysis suggests the company may be undervalued at current levels.
The advertising and marketing services company now expects like-for-like net sales to decline 3% to 5%, a significant downward revision from its previous forecast of flat to -2% growth. WPP also projects headline operating margin compression of 50 to 175 basis points, compared to its earlier "around flat" guidance. Despite these challenges, the company maintains a strong dividend profile, with a current yield of 9.14% and a 33-year track record of consecutive dividend payments.
Both revised metrics fall short of company-compiled consensus expectations, which had anticipated a more modest 1.7% net sales decline and just a 10 basis point margin contraction. CFRA attributes the weaker outlook to "accelerating client pullback and reduced support from net new business." Get deeper insights into WPP’s financial health and access 10 key InvestingPro Tips, along with comprehensive analysis in the Pro Research Report.
The research firm expressed particular concern about the timing of WPP’s CEO departure, scheduled for the end of 2025, which it describes as creating "a dual crisis of performance and leadership at the worst possible time." CFRA noted this leadership transition compounds strategic concerns raised by the surprise trading update. The company currently trades at a P/E ratio of 8.68, with InvestingPro’s Financial Health Score remaining GOOD despite recent challenges.
While acknowledging that WPP’s profitability guidance appears realistic given cost-cutting measures implemented through the first half of 2025, CFRA warned the company would be "the most vulnerable player in the space, with limited ability to capitalize on any industry recovery until leadership stability is restored."
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