WPP raises outlook again after strong Q3 demand

WPP, the world's biggest advertising company, lifted its full-year underlying net sales guidance again on Thursday after third-quarter trading easily beat forecasts on demand from the United States, Britain and Germany.

WPP said that its core metric, known as like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs, jumped 15.7% in the third quarter, well ahead of forecasts of 9.5% and almost 7% upon its performance in the same quarter of 2019, before the pandemic.

The British group raised its full-year outlook for growth to a range of 11.5% to 12%, from 9-10%.

Also Read | WPP net sales return to growth as clients spend for the recovery

WPP said that in August it had returned to 2019 business levels a year ahead of plan as clients rushed to benefit from a global economic recovery from the pandemic.

"Our very strong performance goes well beyond a cyclical recovery, with like-for-like growth over 2019 at 6.9% in the quarter," Chief Executive Mark Read said.

"Clients across all sectors and geographies are making significant investments in marketing, particularly in digital media and e-commerce services."

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