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WPP shares surge after first-half results show less decline than feared
The company said it has removed 8,468 roles since the first half of 2025 through restructuring and cost savings, and it plans to raise at least £200 million from disposals.
WPP NV shares jumped as much as 29% on Thursday after Britain’s biggest advertising group reported first-half results that were worse than last year, but better than investors expected. The rally pushed the stock above 20% at one point and toward its highest level since September, after management said the turnaround is beginning to take hold.
Revenue less pass-through costs fell 4.7% to £4.75 billion (about $6.4 billion), which was ahead of expectations for a 6.5% decline. The company also reported second-quarter improvement, with the revenue decline narrowing to 2.8% after a weaker first quarter, while headline operating profit fell 2.7% to £398 million and adjusted pre-tax profit declined 7.7% to £277 million.
CEO Cindy Rose said WPP’s simplified structure and cost cuts are driving progress. She described placing creative agencies under a new WPP Creative organization alongside media, production and enterprise solutions, and said the company has removed 8,468 roles since the first half of 2025 through restructuring and savings.
WPP also said it has sold 15 non-core assets and expects to raise at least £200 million from disposals. The update framed the performance as sequentially improving, with legacy account losses still weighing results, but momentum showing up in the second quarter, according to Yahoo Finance.