Publicis FY revenues beat forecasts despite wider industry slowdown

3rd Feb 2026 07:36

(Sharecast News) - Advertising giant Publicis reported stronger‑than‑expected full-year underlying revenues on Tuesday, buoyed by a run of major client wins as it continued to outpace rivals including WPP.

Publicis said organic revenues rose 5.6% in 2025, ahead of its upgraded guidance range of 5% to 5.5% and defying a broader industry slowdown as brands reined in spending amid tougher macro conditions. Growth accelerated to 5.9% in the fourth quarter, with chief executive Arthur Sadoun saying clients were investing more aggressively to capture market share.

Sadoun pointed to a 98% client retention rate and a series of high‑profile wins - including Coca‑Cola's North American media buying account and LinkedIn's global media mandate - as key drivers of the group's outperformance. He added that it felt like "groundhog day", with Publicis once again guiding for another year of 4% to 5% organic revenue growth despite the wider industry downturn.

Publicis also expects to deliver an operating margin above the 18.2% recorded last year, supported by revenue growth outpacing headcount. However, Sadoun cautioned that trading conditions across the sector had become more challenging amid geopolitical tensions and broader economic uncertainty, saying it had not been "this tough since Covid".

As of 0755 GMT, Publicis shares were untraded at €86.38 each.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com