⚠️ Not investment advice. This is a quantitative research tool; every decision is the user's own responsibility. Past performance does not guarantee future results.⚠️ Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
⚠️ Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🔓 Sign up freeSee the full rankingSign in with Google
← Back to the full ranking · All companies

WPP WPP.L

United Kingdom Communication Services
3.9/10
AI Analyst score
3.91 GBP
Last price at analysis date · analyst target 3.87 (-1.1%)
🛒 Where to buy WPP.LPartner brokers · UK (LSE) · sample 200.00 € orderUK (LSE)
Meridian is paid by these brokers at no extra cost to you; this is not investment advice. Public fee schedules · commission and FX, taxes excluded · Compare all 22 brokers by real cost →
No partner-broker fees for this market yet · Broker cost comparison →
🔴 SELL — Avoid until a stabilization of the business and a significant reduction in leverage are confirmed.

WPP is a British multinational advertising and public relations company that offers communication, marketing, and digital transformation services to large brands through agencies like Ogilvy and GroupM. WPP shows very weak financial health (net debt/EBITDA of 8.31) and deeply negative growth (earnings -57.5%), justifying its low scores. Its valuation looks cheap (forward P/E 7.06, FCF yield 17.65%), but it is a value trap if the business does not stabilize.

Financial health
1.4
Quality / Moat
3.8
Valuation
5.0
Growth
0.9
Dividend
0.7
Momentum
6.0
Risk & Context
7.3

Detailed metrics

Market and fundamental data as of the analysis date.

💵 Valuation
P/EN/D
Fwd P/E7.06
EV/EBITDA15.94
P/B1.62
P/S0.32
PEG4.26
Market cap4.22 B GBP
Enterprise value9.24 B GBP
🏰 Quality and moat
ROIC (approx.)5.5%
Gross margin15.94%
FCF conversion128%
Operating margin4.09%
📈 Profitability and margins
ROE-6.62%
ROA1.10%
Net margin-1.81%
FCF744.2 M GBP
FCF yield17.65%
🏦 Solvency and liquidity
Total debt7.18 B GBP
Net debt4.82 B GBP
Cash2.36 B GBP
EBITDA580.0 M GBP
Net debt / EBITDA8.31
D/E257.60
Current ratio0.87
Quick ratio0.87
🚀 Growth
Revenue growth-4.40%
Earnings growth-57.50%
EPS (TTM)-0.22 GBP
EPS (Fwd)0.55 GBP
💰 Dividend and risk
Dividend yield0.04%
Payout113.9%
Beta0.73
Analyst consensusHold (15)
Target price3.87 GBP
52-week range2.19 GBP – 4.13 GBP
⚠️ Main risk: Extreme leverage (net debt/EBITDA of 8.31) combined with a structurally declining business and an uncovered dividend (payout 113.87%) is the biggest risk for WPP.
See the full analysis and compare with the rest of the ranking →

Full AI report

Generated automatically from the metrics, the macro context and the company's news.

WPP is a British multinational advertising and public relations company that offers communication, marketing, and digital transformation services to large brands through agencies like Ogilvy and GroupM. WPP shows very weak financial health (net debt/EBITDA of 8.31) and deeply negative growth (earnings -57.5%), justifying its low scores. Its valuation looks cheap (forward P/E 7.06, FCF yield 17.65%), but it is a value trap if the business does not stabilize.

Score by category

CategoryScore
Financial health1.4
Quality / Moat3.8
Valuation5.0
Growth0.9
Dividend0.7
Momentum6.0
Risk & Context7.3

OVERALL SCORE: 3.9/10

Context and risks

WPP has a very high net debt/EBITDA of 8.31, and its advertising business is sensitive to the economic cycle. The context of rising interest rates in the UK (ECB hiking) makes its debt service more expensive, although the effect is already partially reflected in its low financial health score.

News considered in the analysis

  • Guinness owner Diageo hires WPP CFO with cost-cutting bonafides — La salida del CFO de WPP hacia Diageo es una pérdida de talento ejecutivo, pero no afecta materialmente a los fundamentales; el mercado ya lo ha descontado parcialmente.
  • Diageo brings in former Britvic, Tesco executive Joanne Wilson as CFO — Noticia sobre Diageo, no sobre WPP; sin impacto directo en la empresa analizada.
  • European Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Edge Higher in Friday Trading; Down for Week — Movimiento de mercado genérico sin información específica sobre WPP.
  • CFOs On the Move: Week ending Sept. 25 — Listado de movimientos de CFOs; ruido sin impacto valorativo.
  • When Everything’s Priced at a Premium, Where Do Tech Brands Find New Buyers? — Artículo de opinión sobre el sector tecnológico; sin información nueva sobre WPP.

Verdict: Avoid until a stabilization of the business and a significant reduction in leverage are confirmed.

Main risk: Extreme leverage (net debt/EBITDA of 8.31) combined with a structurally declining business and an uncovered dividend (payout 113.87%) is the biggest risk for WPP.

Other Communication Services companies

Neighbours in the sector ranking, to compare without going back to the index.

See all 1,000+ companies in the index →

Automatically generated analysis from fundamental, market and news data. Not personalised financial advice — a research tool, not an individual recommendation. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Last update of this analysis: 2026-09-28. Legal notice, privacy & cookies.